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Make him constantly comment on wood-types in relation to coffin construction, like "Hmm, Oak. Rots slow, hard to shape."
Have him ask people what they'd put on their gravestone.
Have him always mentioning that people should have an updated will.
Have him actually be concerned with burying dead enemies.
When in camp, have him dig a 1 foot deep hold that he sleeps in, as he feels more comfortable in a grave-like bed.
Have him comment on how hard certain dirt types are to dig through.
Have him randomly interject burial related stories/facts in conversations about other topics.
Have him tell stories of some of the most mutilated bodies he ever had to work with.
And do all this with an attitude that it's completely normal to discuss such subjects.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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Great start Fleshgrinder.
Maybe he giving his liking to death he carves and makes items from bone.
Fleshgrinder got you started with some great RP ideas, but I wanted to consider how to take this theme and run with it as far as class/feat choices. Here's what I'm thinking:
Alchemist (Preservationist/Internal Alchemist/Reanimator). He can then carry around bottles of dead animals that he can animate to fight for him, AND he can survive up to his Con score in hours without breathing, so he could actually bury himself each night to sleep. He'd also be able to create undead at higher levels, sacrificing some bomb damage (which it sounds like you probably wouldn't use much anyway).
Being an Alchemist also has the added benefit of giving you Throw Anything as a bonus feat at first level, so that you can qualify for:
Improvised Weapon Mastery - Lets you use the shovel with no penalties. It would probably be closest in damage potential to something like a trident, but with either slashing or bludgeoning damage, so you'd be looking at 2d6 damage (1d8 + effective size increase from Improvised Weapon Mastery).
Also take one level of Monk of the Empty Hand to get Flurry of Blows with your shovel.
Now you have a gravedigger who has spent so much time lying buried in the earth that he learned how to raise the dead to dig graves faster for him. He carries bottled animal corpses around that do his bidding, and he can attack very quickly with his weapon of choice, his trusty shovel.
I like the bottled animal idea a lot.
I would also keep one that you never actually use in combat. I'd, personally, make it a pickled still-born child, but your mileage may vary.
Then have the character always talking to it.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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Great start Fleshgrinder.
Maybe he giving his liking to death he carves and makes items from bone.Fleshgrinder got you started with some great RP ideas, but I wanted to consider how to take this theme and run with it as far as class/feat choices. Here's what I'm thinking:
Alchemist (Preservationist/Internal Alchemist/Reanimator). He can then carry around bottles of dead animals that he can animate to fight for him, AND he can survive up to his Con score in hours without breathing, so he could actually bury himself each night to sleep. He'd also be able to create undead at higher levels, sacrificing some bomb damage (which it sounds like you probably wouldn't use much anyway).
Being an Alchemist also has the added benefit of giving you Throw Anything as a bonus feat at first level, so that you can qualify for:
Improvised Weapon Mastery - Lets you use the shovel with no penalties. It would probably be closest in damage potential to something like a trident, but with either slashing or bludgeoning damage, so you'd be looking at 2d6 damage (1d8 + effective size increase from Improvised Weapon Mastery).
Also take one level of Monk of the Empty Hand to get Flurry of Blows with your shovel.
Now you have a gravedigger who has spent so much time lying buried in the earth that he learned how to raise the dead to dig graves faster for him. He carries bottled animal corpses around that do his bidding, and he can attack very quickly with his weapon of choice, his trusty shovel.
Good alchemist Discoveries to go along with this:
Preserve Organs: Protect your own internal organs to reduce crit chances.
Mummification: Gain some undead resistances.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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Great start Fleshgrinder.
Maybe he giving his liking to death he carves and makes items from bone.Fleshgrinder got you started with some great RP ideas, but I wanted to consider how to take this theme and run with it as far as class/feat choices. Here's what I'm thinking:
Alchemist (Preservationist/Internal Alchemist/Reanimator). He can then carry around bottles of dead animals that he can animate to fight for him, AND he can survive up to his Con score in hours without breathing, so he could actually bury himself each night to sleep. He'd also be able to create undead at higher levels, sacrificing some bomb damage (which it sounds like you probably wouldn't use much anyway).
Being an Alchemist also has the added benefit of giving you Throw Anything as a bonus feat at first level, so that you can qualify for:
Improvised Weapon Mastery - Lets you use the shovel with no penalties. It would probably be closest in damage potential to something like a trident, but with either slashing or bludgeoning damage, so you'd be looking at 2d6 damage (1d8 + effective size increase from Improvised Weapon Mastery).
Also take one level of Monk of the Empty Hand to get Flurry of Blows with your shovel.
Now you have a gravedigger who has spent so much time lying buried in the earth that he learned how to raise the dead to dig graves faster for him. He carries bottled animal corpses around that do his bidding, and he can attack very quickly with his weapon of choice, his trusty shovel.
Good alchemist Discoveries to go along with this:
Preserve Organs: Protect your own internal organs to reduce crit chances.
Mummification: Gain some undead resistances.
Now that you've got me thinking about this one, I'm of course putting together a build. I'm thinking a gruff Dwarf whose father was a gravedigger, and his father's father, and his father's father's... you get the picture. I'll post the build when I get some more of it done. Thank you for the awesome idea, DrkMagusX!
Worth noting: if you're looking for something a bit more sinister, the Witch grave walker might also be something to check out. Lots more necromancy to it as well.
You could even ask the DM to allow a "custom shovel" that is, mechanically, an axe. Since, of all weapons, a sharpened shovel probably most emulates an axe.
An inquisitor might be interesting too. Especially one with the Death or Repose domain abilities. Or a paladin with some unsanctioned spell badness.
Check out this "Let's Play" video of Quest for Glory 4: around 2 minutes you are introduced to Igor, who is just full of 'graveyard humor.'
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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You could even ask the DM to allow a "custom shovel" that is, mechanically, an axe. Since, of all weapons, a sharpened shovel probably most emulates an axe.
Build Created:
Fluff: This guy has been a gravedigger all his life, and thanks to adventurers, conquerers, necromancers, and the like running through his town all his life, he's become adept at dealing with people (or dead things) trespassing in his graveyard.
Gravedigger Alchemist:
Race: Dwarf
Traits: Caretaker (+1 Heal), Ghost Sight (bonus to see undead)
Alternate race trait: Lorekeeper (+2 on Kn(history))
Favored class bonus: Dwarf Alchemist (+1/4 natural armor bonus from mutagen)
Starting ability scores (20 point buy): Str 14/Dex 15/Con 16/Int 14/Wis 12/Cha 6
1st level: Alchemist (Preservationist/Reanimator/Internal Alchemist) 1
Feat 1: Dodge
2nd level: Alchemist 2
Discovery 2: Preserve Organs
3rd level: Monk (Empty Hand) 1
Monk bonus feat: Catch Off-Guard
Feat 3: Blind-Fight
4th-20th level: Alchemist
Discovery 4: Extend Potion
Feat 5: Combat Expertise
Discovery 6: Bottled Ooze
Feat 7: Moonlight Stalker
Discovery 8: Enhance Potion
Feat 9: Wind Stance
Discovery 10: Mummification
Feat 11: Fight On
Discovery 12: Lingering Spirit
Feat 13: Improvised Weapon Mastery
Discovery 14: ?
Feat 15: Lightning Stance
Discovery 16: Eternal Potion
Feat 17: Improved Blind-Fight
Discovery 18: ?
Feat 19: Greater Blind-Fight
In combat, he can throw bombs (max of 7d4 at 20th level), but mostly he uses his trusty shovel. His darkvision, combined with the Blind-Fight feats and Moonlight Stalker let him ignore miss chances that would hinder most other people. Wind Stance and Lightning Stance give him concealment when he moves, and Lingering Spirit and Fight On will keep him alive when most others would be dead and gone. He can use Bottled Ally to throw out an animal at the beginning of combat, and at higher levels he can create undead minions to do labor for him or even fight for him if necessary.
I can't WAIT to try this build out!
I actually prefer the witch idea, or an oracle with the Bones mystery, instead of an alchemist. An alchemist seems too sophisticated concept wise for a grave digger. I think an oracle is a better fit.
Game-Printer,
Free yourself. The character classes only exist as a vector for different skills and abilities. There is nothing inherent in an alchemist's powers that make him sophisticated, only your perception. Classes are made to (hopefully) fit character concepts, not vice-versa.
Professor who has kleptomania =Rogue?
Univesity student who wants to study magic but cannot learn it =Sorceror
Nature-lover who sings to self in the woods =Bard.
There is no reason to limit which class to give yourself, just because all professors have to be wizards, or all alchemists have to be Tesla :)
Game-Printer,
Free yourself. The character classes only exist as a vector for different skills and abilities. There is nothing inherent in an alchemist's powers that make him sophisticated, only your perception. Classes are made to (hopefully) fit character concepts, not vice-versa.Professor who has kleptomania =Rogue?
Univesity student who wants to study magic but cannot learn it =Sorceror
Nature-lover who sings to self in the woods =Bard.There is no reason to limit which class to give yourself, just because all professors have to be wizards, or all alchemists have to be Tesla :)
It's not an actual limitation, rather different classes spark different creative ideas in me. So it's my perceptions, exactly, and I consider that a strength, not a weakness.
In my mind's eye, alchemist and grave digger draws a blank, well not a complete one, but a very weak resolution. To me grave digger and most casters don't fit either, but a witch or an oracle does spark some creativity from me when looking through the eyes of a grave digger.
Besides, I think it really is, I don't care for the alchemist class, much - it's got it's place, but doesn't do much for me.
Might want to consider a pick for a weapon. 1. There are already stats for it and 2. It is still a digging tool so that stays with the theme.
Sounds fun.
May want to double-check that you can use Ghost Sight with your GM, though as it originated from Wayfinder and may be considered 3rd party. I had a Inquisitor of Pharasma with it and remember being thrown off a bit when I realized it wasn't actually from a Paizo product (not to disparage Wayfinder, but most GM's I've seen prefer to vet 3rd party products first).
Thematically, I'd have tried to find some way to get the Eldritch Heritage (Undead), especially for the "Grasp of the Dead" power. With the CHA on the posted build though, that's definitely not happenening.
-TimD
I actually prefer the witch idea, or an oracle with the Bones mystery, instead of an alchemist. An alchemist seems too sophisticated concept wise for a grave digger. I think an oracle is a better fit.
If you think of him more as a mortician and gravedigger, the alchemist is the perfect fit.
The true and would work in that concept - I didn't think of that. I guess mortuary science wasn't first on my mind. I saw an Oracle of Graves without something of a new Graves mystery - not so darkly necromantic, more a guardian of the dead motif.
Plus he had ideas of wielding his shovel as a melee weapon, which is even less arcane caster like - which also edged me to my direction of thought, instead of an alchemist.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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Sounds fun.
May want to double-check that you can use Ghost Sight with your GM, though as it originated from Wayfinder and may be considered 3rd party. I had a Inquisitor of Pharasma with it and remember being thrown off a bit when I realized it wasn't actually from a Paizo product (not to disparage Wayfinder, but most GM's I've seen prefer to vet 3rd party products first).
Thematically, I'd have tried to find some way to get the Eldritch Heritage (Undead), especially for the "Grasp of the Dead" power. With the CHA on the posted build though, that's definitely not happenening.
-TimD
Good catch, totally missed that Ghost Sight wasn't directly from Paizo. :-D
I'm pretty sure there's a weapon somewhere called a Monk's Spade that actually is a shovel.
Too tired to look it up at the moment, but that may be worth looking into.
Reaper has your miniature and even your half-ogre cohort.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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In fact, a Duergar Inquisitor of Magrim, the Dwarven god of the afterlife, sounds very suited for this.
I would try to get favored ennemy undead, probably from ranger or perhaps rogue/ninja.
This would help you in your hatred against those things that don't know where they belong.
Or go that half-undead line and help your fellow dead to find their peace.
You could even ask the DM to allow a "custom shovel" that is, mechanically, an axe. Since, of all weapons, a sharpened shovel probably most emulates an axe.
Building on this...
I would give the shovel a name ("Digger?"), and he might consider it his best friend, to the point that he might actually converse with it (hushed whispers, or openly... your call). For example, coming upon a battlefield: "Woah, Digger... we're going to have a lot of work to do here."
I'm pretty sure there's a weapon somewhere called a Monk's Spade that actually is a shovel.
Too tired to look it up at the moment, but that may be worth looking into.
Found it.
Ultimate Combat, page 131. The monk's spade. I.e. the weapon that is already a shovel without the need for any homebrew.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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You could even ask the DM to allow a "custom shovel" that is, mechanically, an axe. Since, of all weapons, a sharpened shovel probably most emulates an axe.Building on this...
I would give the shovel a name ("Digger?"), and he might consider it his best friend, to the point that he might actually converse with it (hushed whispers, or openly... your call). For example, coming upon a battlefield: "Woah, Digger... we're going to have a lot of work to do here."
The Monk's Spade is perfect! I need to check out the Eastern Weapons more often. That means you can drop several of the feats I had listed for just a Wpn Prof. Sweet!
How would this character dress? Would he look like the reaper?I actually envision him in simple overalls and boots, maybe wearing a hat that is low over his eyes for some mystery.
I'd give him a long, filthy coat too. He can hide all his potions and mutagens in the pockets, along with other more macabre trinkets.
I think Alchemists can also wear light armor, so you could have it be a heavy leather coat.
I'm pretty sure there's a weapon somewhere called a Monk's Spade that actually is a shovel.
Too tired to look it up at the moment, but that may be worth looking into.
Found it.
Ultimate Combat, page 131. The monk's spade. I.e. the weapon that is already a shovel without the need for any homebrew.
A monk's spade is not a shovel regardless of the word "spade"
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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A monk's spade is not a shovel regardless of the word "spade"I'm pretty sure there's a weapon somewhere called a Monk's Spade that actually is a shovel.
Too tired to look it up at the moment, but that may be worth looking into.
Found it.
Ultimate Combat, page 131. The monk's spade. I.e. the weapon that is already a shovel without the need for any homebrew.
Ah, yeah looking at pictures, it's not a shovel by any means. Back to my previous plans! lol
A Pick is a digging tool and a weapon on the list. There are even 2 types.
Duel weilding light picks is an awesome image IMO.
Well, let's look at simple weapons so you don't need to blow a feat just to use it.
You can use clubs and maces, so a shovel that acts mechanically like a club or mace works.
You got spears... you could KIND of wield a shovel like a spear. They have x3 crit, so that makes them attractive.
You could also transition more from gravedigger into the whole mortician idea and use a cleaver/knife instead.
Or a sickle.