What to do with a Tengu?


Pathfinder Society

Grand Lodge 2/5 *

I recently got the chance to attend a con and managed to pick up a Tengu cert. The thing is I don't have any CLUE what to do with it.

A rouge seems like the obvious choice, and there aren't many at my usual location, but honestly I don't know much about rouges. Let alone a Pathfinder Society rouge.

I could do a gunslinger just as easily, but then I feel like I'm not getting the full worth from that sword proficiency.

In short, what would YOU do with a Tengu character?

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8

Trscroggs wrote:


In short, what would YOU do with a Tengu character?

Wrong person to answer probably, since mine is still sitting in the folder I put it in from PAX East. But I have a few ideas that might help you out.

I think a tengu monk would be fun, you'd use unarmed strikes in place of your natural jazz, but the flavor of pecking and clawing would be awesome.

And an archer druid or a falconer ranger also seems to call toward the tengu pretty hard.

Silver Crusade

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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Tengu monk going Crane Wing style would be pretty cool.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/55/55/5

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You can trade the sword trained for the ability to pick 3+ your int modifier exotic eastern weapons instead. (advanced race guide)

OR

You can keep the sword trained and pick up weapon finesse for an elven curve blade if you find yourself getting into melee despite your best efforts.

I made an inquisitor archer that's Probably going to take a few levels of fighter. Snagged Disable device as a class skill with the vagabond child trait, so with that and a wicked perception bonus I can be a faux rogue.

And i get to use my own feathers for fletching.

Dark Archive 4/5

Weird one because of the constitution penalty, but you could have a great natural attacker as a barbarian. The Advanced Race Guide lets you trade Swordtrained for two claw attacks; from there pick up fiend totem for a gore and go crazy.

The Exchange 2/5 Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

I made a tengu inquisitor which worked out pretty well. Tengu clerics seem like an easy call too.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

Trscroggs wrote:

I recently got the chance to attend a con and managed to pick up a Tengu cert. The thing is I don't have any CLUE what to do with it.

A rouge seems like the obvious choice, and there aren't many at my usual location, but honestly I don't know much about rouges. Let alone a Pathfinder Society rouge.

Well, I'm sure one of the women on the boards could answer this much better than I, but I'm not sure that rouge would do much for a Tengu. I mean what, you're going to make your cheek feathers pink or something?

(Come on, the rest of you were thinking it too... ;D)

Sorry Trscroggs, rouge is make-up, Rogue is a class. I couldn't help myself.

I've never played a Tengu, so I can't really say much, but I had been eyeing trying a Tengu monk for a home game. Was thinking Flowing Monk with Crane Style could be quite fun to play out.

"I lift my wings in the air and tuck one leg up under me while standing on the other one." "What are you doing?!" "Crane-style, duh!"

5/5

Tengu Druid so you can wildshape into a bird..

5/5 5/55/55/5

Kyle Baird wrote:
Tengu Druid so you can wildshape into a bird..

There's a feat for that ! :)

Dark Archive 3/5

Seems like they're meant to be rogues. I already had a rogue, so I made mine a cleric. Not the least bit optimized, but I enjoy him.

If I had the chance to do it over again, I'd go with monk.

There's some pretty cool stuff in the advanced race guide I'd like to play with at some point, too.

Liberty's Edge 1/5

Our campaign had a temgu Maneuver Master monk. He tripped everything in sight, and whomped them when they tried to get up. His combination of Flurry of Maneuvers and Combat Reflexes meant that surrounding him was a really bad idea.

Then the shadows got him...
In pace requiescat

3/5

I wouldn't become to enamored of the sword proficiency, unless you are planning on making a sword based rogue (they in fact to have a rogue archetype made for just that in the ARG) or a light fighter.

I am enamored of the idea of a Tengu ranger specializing in archery - either core or guide, skirmisher or yokai hunter archetypes.

The wisdom and dexterity work well for the ranger archer, and help keep you out of combat with the low constitution slow. Your backup sword is slightly better then the typical ranger melee weapon, and you have the BAB to take advantage of it (even if you have only mediocre archer strength). The tengu wings feat from the ARG can make you a flying archer (although I consider it a marginal feat at best, it would allow you to escape ground based enemies who get to close without having to pull a potion of fly).

I suppose that on some level, a gunslinger is equivalent and mechanically better in damage output then a ranger - although I prefer a rangers flexibility.


cleric of cayden cailean with an agile rapier. had lots of fun with it

Sovereign Court 5/5

I made mine into a dual sword wielding fighter but just for fun gave him ranks in profession fletcher.

Scarab Sages

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What would *I* do with a Tengu?
Well, there's barbeque sauce, and roasted Tengu legs to sell at the Absalom Faire, and pretty feathers for a lady's hat, and Tengu pâté, Tengu a l'Orange, Stuffed Tengu, Southern fried Tengu sandwich, Tengu gumbo, fricasseed Tengu, Tengu tacos, Tengu noodle soup, Peking Tengu, General Tso's Tengu, lemon-pepper Tengu, boneless Tengu breast, Tengu fillet, Tengu tartar, bacon-wrapped Tengu, pickled Tengu feet ....

I *Love* Tengu!!!!

The Exchange 5/5

Tengu gun tank named Two-gun Sam....

Scarab Sages

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nosig wrote:
Tengu gun tank named Two-gun Sam....

... who is well informed, so he can "follow his Knows"?


W. Kristoph Nolen wrote:

What would *I* do with a Tengu?

Well, there's barbeque sauce, and roasted Tengu legs to sell at the Absalom Faire, and pretty feathers for a lady's hat, and Tengu pâté, Tengu a l'Orange, Stuffed Tengu, Southern fried Tengu sandwich, Tengu gumbo, fricasseed Tengu, Tengu tacos, Tengu noodle soup, Peking Tengu, General Tso's Tengu, lemon-pepper Tengu, boneless Tengu breast, Tengu fillet, Tengu tartar, bacon-wrapped Tengu, pickled Tengu feet ....

I *Love* Tengu!!!!

chicken fried tengu. a perennial favorite. :)

-S

1/5

My Tengu drunken barbarian grappler is a lot of fun play. He will be causing trouble in the grand convocation in just a few days.

Grand Lodge 4/5

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Uktabi wrote:
My Tengu drunken barbarian grappler is a lot of fun play. He will be causing trouble in the grand convocation in just a few days.

And he comes pre-marinated, to boot. ;)

Sounds like Barbarian BBQ to me, at least.

Explosive Runes!:
Throw another Tengu on the barbie!

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Zen Archer - if/when- they fix the flurry thing

5/5 *

kinevon wrote:
And he comes pre-marinated, to boot. ;)

I think you technically meant pre-basted :P

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Quote from Arisstocats

Uncle Waldo: "Prime Country Goose A la Provencale, stuffed with chestnuts"...? "And basted in white wine." Hic!
Thomas O'Malley: Basted? He's been marinated in it.

I think Marinated fits better

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Mine turned into a Tengu Alchemist. Doing so shored up his penalties nicely.

The Exchange 5/5

W. Kristoph Nolen wrote:
nosig wrote:
Tengu gun tank named Two-gun Sam....
... who is well informed, so he can "follow his Knows"?

but tends to vote against things... "as "he always no's"

2/5

As you can see, you can do anything with a Tengu that you want, so what do you want, OP?
If you want to take advantage of the Tengu, look at themes that:
1) Are extra-birdy (Druid/Ranger/more?)
2) Use unusual blades (temple sword monk, double-sword fighter, etc.)
3) Involve tagging damage onto attacks (like Sneak Attack, Bardsong, Divine Favor, Favored Enemy, etc.) because of the beak.
4) Involve diplomacy to use those languages.

I kind of like the thought of the bird singing as a Bard for humor.

Don't sweat the stats, they're secondary.

Based on the feats mentioned above (which I haven't seen), I'd probably go Barb 2 (gore)/Rogue X for the h.p. boost needed to melee.
At 4th level (Barb 1/Rogue 3), claws feat for three primary attacks at 18 or so Str (raging) for +7 claw/claw/bite +4 +2d6 sneak each.
Power attack for weapon+13 average. (Plus perhaps bleed.)
Now that's a bird. (Pick up Barb-gore after that for another sneak)
Add that flying feat for quick getaways (and because flying rocks) as your AC/h.p. will be lower than other tanks and you're set.
And you'll have plenty of skills to use those languages.

"Don't rile the bird, Nolen!" :P

Silver Crusade 4/5

What to do with a tengu? The tango, of course!!!

Grand Lodge 4/5

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Couple of ideas:

-Necromantic full caster, modelled off the Skeksis from the Dark Crystal. Wear an enormous robe and go 'Aaaaghnhnhgh' and do weird stuff with your fingers/claws when you're roleplaying. Wear loads of disgusting jewellery.

-Fighter/Samurai swordsman, modelled off the Final Fantasy reinterpretation of Gilgamesh. Travel the realms, collecting the blades of your vanquished foes until your name lives in legend. Get a Shih Tzu dog companion that you've dubbed 'Humbaba' to join you on your adventures.

-Feral claw fighting Tengu. Barbarian totem fighter works great but I also think picking up fighter feats and seeing what options you can take with rend feats, crane style and lunge/weapon focus/specialization is worth a look. Really gory, crazed old Tengu pit-fighter with half his feathers missing would be great. He's spent half his life in Chelish gladiatorial pits and he's never. gonna. stop. fighting.

-Dashing scoundrel. Arcane Duelist bard is my favourite, but with ARG the Tengu rogue archetype seems intriguing. Possibly a Tengu expatriate who's studied with Aldori swordlords? Pretend to be a rooster.

-Pirate Tengu. Possible one lvl dip into Gunslinger then the rest Ranger or fighter? Take Sword and Pistol and Opening Volley as feats. Not sure if this can be optimized but it'd definitely be cool. Take max ranks in perception and buy a telescope.

-Curveblade wielding Inquisitor or dual wakizashi-Ninja in service of Yaezhing, The Blood Minister, patron God of Judges, Lawyers and Assassins.
BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD, I MEAN MINISTER. WE HAVE A PROCESS NOW.

In short, the Tengu are the best race on Golarion and they deserve more love or even a Kwan Lai Pathfinder Lodge. Cawwww.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Kuro Poe wrote:


-Feral claw fighting Tengu. Barbarian totem fighter works great but I also think picking up fighter feats and seeing what options you can take with rend feats, crane style and lunge/weapon focus/specialization is worth a look. Really gory, crazed old Tengu pit-fighter with half his feathers missing would be great. He's spent half his life in Chelish gladiatorial pits and he's never. gonna. stop. fighting.

I forgot to mention, you need to base this character off a medium sized crow equivalent of Mickey Rourke.


Kuro Poe wrote:
-Pirate Tengu. Possible one lvl dip into Gunslinger then the rest Ranger or fighter? Take Sword and Pistol and Opening Volley as feats. Not sure if this can be optimized but it'd definitely be cool. Take max ranks in perception and buy a telescope.

I see what you did there...

1/5

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Our favorite Tengu NPC is a Rogue/Real Estate Developer

5/5 5/55/55/5

Take Boat wrote:
Our favorite Tengu NPC is a Rogue/Real Estate Developer

No need to be redundant...

4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

I'm thinking of just going with the Adv Race Guide (Rogue)Swordmaster archetype...

Unless anyone knows a way to get Flurry with non-monk swords...

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

There's I believe a cleric feat that lets you flurry with your deity's weapon

Silver Crusade 4/5

Eric Clingenpeel wrote:
There's I believe a cleric feat that lets you flurry with your deity's weapon

??? I'd love to know what feat that is.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

UC wrote:

Crusader’s Flurry

You learned to use your deity’s favored weapon as part of
your martial arts form.
Prerequisites : Channel energy class feature, f lurry of
blows class feature, Weapon Focus with your deity’s favored
melee weapon.
Benefit: You can use your deity’s favored weapon as if it
were a monk weapon.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

early in the morning?

Grand Lodge 4/5

LazarX wrote:
early in the morning?

I think the Tengu needs to be beer basted, in that case.

Grand Lodge 4/5

I'm not understanding the food jokes. Who eats crows!? @_@

Sovereign Court 5/5

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BigNorseWolf wrote:
Take Boat wrote:
Our favorite Tengu NPC is a Rogue/Real Estate Developer
No need to be redundant...

Well its not really redundant, just because all Real Estate Developers are rogues doesn't mean that all rogues are Real Estate Developers, some are politicians.

Sovereign Court 2/5

Tengu Cleric with the Trickery Domain-

Stealth = Yes
Casting = Yes
Dex and Wisdom = yes and yes
Elven Curve Blade = Yes
Aldori Dueling Sword = Yes

The possibilities are endless, be tricky, devious, cunning, and control the board to your liking while staying wildly dark and dangerous.

I don't have my books with me, or I would post a full build. With that being said I have built this guy, and is fantastically enjoyable. A cleric who doesn't simply have to heal the party, but can sneak, stab, sneak, then heal.


Corvus Cailean wrote:

And i get to use my own feathers for fletching.

Buhhhh!? (that is the sound of my brain imploding)

Scarab Sages

Re: food jokes .... While I would never eat crows, I "eat crow" every time I have to admit I'm wrong. ;) Maybe its a Southern thing. :)

Re: fletching, maybe it's like cultures that have made rope out of human hair?

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