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Lately I've been thinking about making a geisha-style character for PFS, either a Lotus Geisha archetype or a standard Bard. Combat capability would likely be low, but social skills and knowledge skills would be high. What I'm wondering is, how well suited would such a character be to your usual PFS module? Are there enough situations that allow for more a peaceful resolution of some sort that would make playing the character worthwhile? Or would playing a geisha just be a waste of time?
Developer
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Face characters are excellent. There are several scenarios that actively penalize a group that is socially incompetent. Beyond that, many GMs react favorably to characters who seek noncombat resolutions.
That said, not every encounter will have a peaceful solution. Some creatures are magically compelled or simply unwilling to negotiate. There will be times when social skills will not avail you, but for one member of a 6 person group to be a social specialist? It's not only useful, it's advisable, I'd say.
Lotus Geisha is still pretty good in combat, too.
Just don't resign yourself to only-social skills or you'll probably get bored.
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I run a non-combat bard - very high social skills.
it tends to be a real dice roll. Some scenarios are great fun, as I point out that the other PCs are there to handle the "big nasty things" and she just deals with the social parts. I do though have other PCs at her level to fall back on when the Judge says "this one is a dungeon crawl, with no talking at all." or when I hit the (rare) Judge who doesn't like to resolve things outside of combat.
That said, she is one of the FUNNEST PCs that I have to run. Great fun to play, and always remembered fondly by my fellow players and judges (at least I think so).
That said, I did look over the Geisha archetype, but went with Street Performer ... not sure why. Maybe I already had the PC when Geisha came out... anyway,
This PC type can be great fun, but have a fall back character to run for those games that just don't have any social interaction in them. (If the only time you get to talk to an NPC is during the VC Briefing and with the other PCs... maybe don't run this one.)
We have one in the local scene and she is really fun to play with. My only caveat with super heavy "face" characters is to make sure to know your GMs in your area. Some of the fun of these characters comes from aceing social encounters and even bypassing normally combat encounters. However, some GMs (from experience) can be a bit of a stickler about running the scenario "by the book" and not letting you avoid scenarios as 100% written.
Basically, just make sure you know your GMs. I think geisha bard really shines with when "creative solutions" are not only allowed but encouraged, so just make sure you'll get the chance to do that.
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I like to combine the face-quality of a character with combat effectiveness. A good example is my main character, Gavin Lokarin. Stats are pretty evened out, always put points into Diplomacy and sometimes into Sense Motive. His social skills aren't quite top-tier, but they're always high enough to get him through those scenes that require them.
I'm a big fan of the Lotus Geisha, though flavored as a cultured and refined seductress... how much skills play a role in your game depend greatly on your GM in a homebrew campaign, but in our Skull and Shackles campaign the Lotus Geisha is the captain and is already considered the stuff of legend.
Also, don't discount the ability to turn a foe or take them out of the fight with enchantment spells.
As others have said, do NOT neglect to prepare some combat useful spells, even if its simple buffs debuffs. They don't even need to deal damage. If you are combat-gimped it will give other classes a chance to focus on their strengths. You can revive allies, keep an eye on doors where additional enemies may appear from, and the like. The social skills aspect goes without saying. Depending on what turns your crank, this could be a very fun character for you... or not.
For the irony and comedy of it, you should play a male geisha though. :)
Step 1: Cast grease on the enemy.
Step 2: Giggle coyly behind your hand.
Step 3: ? ? ?
Step 4: Skittles
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I have started a male Lotus Geisha in PFS & I have had a lot of fun with him.
I have spent way too much time watching/reading anime/manga that have beautiful, deadly,androgynous male characters. I also went through a bit of a Kabuki & Noh theater "phase" recently. :)
The Lotus Geisha works really well for my play-style.
Never neglect combat. PFS there is almost always combat, and it can be a real drag if you aren't helping out. That said, I appreciate someone giving me a +2 to attack and damage, and after a while it doesn't eat up your action economy and you have enough spells slots to not have be a little spammy with them.
There are social situations in many of the PFS scenarios, but I have yet to play one completely without combat. Don't forget you only dedicate 3 skill points at most to social skills, and versatile performance only makes it easier, so you may very well be capable of branching out into other skills. Versatile performance can even put let you use skills that don't use charisma with a performance, really helping you out.
There are two geishas in pathfinder Max. The OP was talking about using the Lotus Geisha or the standard bard. Your thinking of this Geisha.
I certainly hope you'll rock the facepaint.
While a bard build may be combat ineffective directly, they are usually formidable force multipliers, which means they more than hold up their end of a combat scenario if played correctly.
If you make everyone else at the table more effective in combat, you don't need to do damage yourself.
Lotus Geisha is not proficient with whips of any kind right? That means neither normal whips nor scorpion whips?
What´s the best weapon and combat tactics then on a lotus geisha?