So I will be starting Kingmaker here in a couple days (Thursday).
Sources: Core, APG, UM, Kingmaker Players Handbook. (Although it is in UM, there will be no Superior Summoning for me . . .Pre Game GM limitation.)
House Rules: No stat below 7. Only one stat below 10.
Point Buy: 20
Special:
- Hero Points: Yes.
- Traits: 2+1 Campaign.
- Words of Power: No.
- Eldritch Bloodlines: No.
Inspired in part by the "Accidental Character" concept. I decided to start with a starving beggar . . .
“Lookie here, someone is hunting for that little gutter snipe.”
Hadassah heard the voice over the din of the morning market and quickly dove behind a stall, working her way around the market slowly.
A chorus of laughter had broken out in the center of town. Two guards dressed in silver plate bearing the crest of the Medveyd, and a third dressed in gold gilded plate, obviously the captain, hushed the crowd.
“We are to return Hadassah Savat to Swordlord Medvyed. Now.” The larger of the two guardsmen, clearly tired of the conversation loosened his sword in its scabbard. “If you have seen her, please tell me where I may find her, else clear the way.”
“Aye, I have seen her, what of it? Is there a reward?” Jacob took a moment to suck some of the filth from his blackened teeth before continuing, “If I tell you where she is, will there be a hanging?”
“Likely not, however; if I don’t start getting some straight answers hanging might just be the solution I have been looking for. Where is she?”
“Meh, stop giving them a hard time, Jacob, you know damn well that she and that filthy mother of hers slept in the inn’s stables last night.” Carlotta spit the word ‘mother’ as if it were some insult or perhaps a bitter poison just tasted.
“There she is!” a small boy yelled from across the square, pointing out Hadassah and jumping up and down excitedly, as if he had just won some game. “Look, she is running away!”
Roars of laughter erupted again as Hadassah lept from her hiding spot, and began running full tilt for the woods.
“I knew there was going to be a hanging, well after them you fools,” laughed Jacob swatting the rump of a guard's horse. [b]“She is getting away!”
The thunder of the hoofbeats leaving town echoed in her ears. Soon, a burning sensation began to creep into Hadassah’s lungs, dodge under that branch, over that stump. She was quick and agile. Men on horses couldn’t ride the narrower trails, she just needed another half mile. The pain in her legs was increasing with every step. Hadassah was small and lean. A lifetime spent begging in the gutters had left her small and weak, even by halfling standards. Down there, horses can't run over the rocky dried creek bed. Her hair had gone white before seventeen. Only another couple hundred yards, I am almost there. Her lungs were on fire as she bolted down a new path, sliding down a hill, under some brambles. A fox hole, I can fit in there. With the last of her strength, she charged up the hill she was so close.
“Got ya!” the guards large, beefy, armored hand clamped down around her neck dragging her up off her feet and across the pommel of his saddle, “come on, back to the captain.”
Hadassah squirmed and twisted in the grip of the huge human, but he was faster than he looked and soon she was done. It had been days since her last meal, and she had no more energy to fight.
Unceremoniously, the guard dropped Hadassah from his saddle into the muck of the square.
“Hadassah?” asked the Captain.
“Aye.”
"Hadassah Savet?"
He looks confused, "Aye. I am, what of it?"
“People of Coldbrook, are you certain that this is Hadassah Savet?”
Again the raucous howls lf laughter, “Aye, aye, we are certain,” snickered Jacob.
“Very well. Being identified by the people of this . . . village, and being found in the time and place described herein, and as you have proclaimed your own self to be Hadassah Savet,”
“Need me to fetch the rope?” interrupted Carlotta.
The captain removed his helm, golden curls toppled down to frame his weathered face. Piercing blue eyes honed in the bitter old woman. A cool silenced her, and she quickly retreated behind her husband, Jacob.
“Being satisfied that you are indeed Hadassah Savet,” the captain unfurled a parchment tucked into his belt.
“Lady Hadassah Savet, Governess of Coldbrook and its environs, and beloved of the Medvyed," he read, "you are hereby ordered to return to accompany me to your swordlord for further instruction.” Finishing, the captain shot Jacob and his wife a withering glance, “however, if you wish, we do have time for a hanging, my Lady.”
Now, this character is going to be in Kingmaker, so please no spoilers about the campaign, or if you do, at least spoiler tag them.
Here is the character I will be running.
Female Halfling Master Summoner
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Statistics
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Str 7, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 20
Feats ??? Most likely Childlike...
Traits
- Noble Born - Medvyed,
- Poverty-Stricken,
- Well-Informed (Diplomacy)
Skills
- Diplomacy +9 (Why the beggar is allowed to sleep in stables. If I take Childlike at level 1, this will change to Bluff),
- Knowledge (nature) +5 (Helps keep beggars alive),
- Spellcraft +5 (That special talent dormant in all accidental heroes),
- Survival +5(also helps keep beggars alive)
Our hero is brought to the castle, cleaned, trained a bit, geared, and set loose. She thinks she is nothing more than advanced cannon fodder to slow something horrible down while the Lords wait for a real hero to arrive. Slowly her power will grow, and a hero will blossom.
Plans:
Level 1 and 3 Feats: I like both of these, one for RP reasons, the other for pure utility.
Level 5 Feat: NO IDEA, please help. I am thinking Extra Evolution or Craft Wondrous Item.
Level 7 Feat:
I am debating losing the hero point thing to get bonus feat so I can take both I want at level 1 and start looking for something at levels 3 and 5.
So what I am looking for is some feedback, inspiration, advice, or anything else you care to throw my way that is in some way constructive.
Why no superior summoning?
Why no superior summoning?
Was told no superior summonings.
EDIT: The GM for this one is letting us have Leadership, so I will not hassle at all about taking Superior Summonings. Original post edited for clarity on that issue.BTW Hurray for PRE game GM limitations. I always hate it when 4-5 sessions in the GM decides to remove some class feature. Yay for GMs who take the time to go over your character with you and talk to you about limiting features BEFORE game play begins.
Ah OK then... so only Core, APG, and UM... crap UC has some feats that help Halflings... at least halflings using slings and slingstaves.
Hmm... what kind of Eidolon you planning on building and how are you wanting to use it? And what monsters are you planning to summon?
Has your GM specified whether they are running it as a Combat or Role-Playing based campaign? If RP focused then childlike, if combat focused you might take Imp. Init.
Also I would rework your stats a little bit. As it stands your character will be hurting in combat. I'd say increase CON and DEX. Unless you want to absolutely rely on summoned beings and your allies for awhile.
UM has Superior Summoning... so, yeah: why no Sup Summ for you?
Apart from that: it's a summoner. Can't go wrong here. I'd switch Dex and Con, because the smarter foes will likely go for you first, having figured that killing the master will kill the critters, too.
Otherwise, you should try to fit in Toughness somewhere.
Also I'd try to streamline how your monsters are handled in round-based play, otherwise your fellow-PCs are going to get annoyed quite quickly with the delay - having them all go on your initiative and preparing stat carts to have your standard critters' vital statistics ready on a glimpse.
Nitpick: If she is indeed a beloved of the Medvyed, I'd have the guard seizing her sanctioned, I mean: trying to suffocate her while picking her up, restraining her freedom and dumping her in the muck? Excuse meeeeee? This counts as royal assault and would be punishable by the sword (at least in my campaign).
Ruyan.
Edit: Ninja'ed while AFK...
Right now, the plan is to start the Eidolon as a medium sized serpentine, arms and claws. That will give 3 natural primary attacks. Early on, it will be my personal tank.
I will likely choose Disable Device, UMD, Intimidate, and ??? as class skills for the Eidolon.
When I am able to, I plan to re-evolve the Eidolon to a small serpentine with Skilled:Disable Device; Skilled: Stealth, Skilled: Perception, and Limbs(Arms). The feats will match the Skilled evolutions. It will become my scout.
I plan on summoning Celestial Eagle most often for levels 1-3.
Small elementals for specific tasks, but I think I will still be mainly relying on Celestial Eagles 3-5.
Level 5, probably switch to Lantern Archon, Celestial Aurochs and Celestial Wolverines, depending on the job I need done.
Level 7 going for hound archon as my go to summons.
I have already applied the templates, printed 8 laminated index cards for each of the above, so I can track them easier, and hopefully not slow down combat too much.
His campaigns are always combat and RP heavy, so you can not exclude one for the favor of the other. RP provides better rewards as a general rule especially early on.
Nitpick: If she is indeed a beloved of the Medvyed, I'd have the guard seizing her sanctioned, mean: trying to suffocate her while picking her up, restraining her freedom and dumping her in the muck? Excuse meeeeee? This counts as royal assault and would be punishable by the sword (at least in my campaign).
I think she will be so grateful to the guards for rescuing her from the gutters that it may never occur to her that they did any wrong. Also, compared to how a gutter rat is usually treated, it was likely a kindness that she was not simply drug back by her hair. At the time, she had no idea who she was, she was not hung, it was a good day. Still debating whether or not she will have the villagers hung though...
EDIT:
If I Sanction the guard, and have to guards hand Jacob and Carlotta as well, I will put an L in my alignment.
If I Hang Jacob and Carlotta, but leave the other villagers and guards go alone, I will put a C in my alignment as well as an N or a G.
If I let everyone off the hook, I will put a G in my alignment, as well as a C or a N.
If I burn the village to the ground, I will put an E in my alignment.
Wait RuyanVe... are you saying I ninja'd you... by the gods the world is ending.
Anyway on topic:
I recommend CHA: 16 and increasing CON and DEX these 3 attributes can make or break a Summoner if they aren't handled carefully... trust me.
Sounds cool, Jus me - the cards would earn you a big in my group!
Hm, I'd have Jacobs and Carlotta watched and if you can afford your own servants have them taken in, groomed and presented to their (new) liege lord/lady.
If you do not plan/have to be the party's face, I agree with Azaelas and drop CHA so you can afford a little more Dex/Con.
Ruyan.
I recommend CHA: 16 and increasing CON and DEX these 3 attributes can make or break a Summoner if they aren't handled carefully... trust me.
Tweaked stats a little more:
Str 7, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 18
Cha=16 before racials
Party of 4:If you do not plan/have to be the party's face, I agree with Azaelas and drop CHA so you can afford a little more Dex/Con.
- Halfling Master Summoner (C'est Moi)
- Human Alchemist(No archetype, bomb chucker going for as many stink bombs as possible as fast as possible)
- Elf Witch(Heal/Buff/Debuff) I know she took Evil Eye and Extra Hex(Cackle)
- Half Elf Ranger (Switch hitter, Falchion/Composite Long Bow)
Alchemist and Witch are Pioneers, and Half Elf is a Bastard. So I am pretty sure I am the face, though I have not seen their completed builds.
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For any summoner, I suggest a point in spell Focus: Conjuration (Almost all your good spells are conjuration) and then Augmented Summoning (It specifically affects your Summon Monster Spell-like Abilities).
As for Eidolon, my suggestion is Biped, I think it's the gold standard because it gains 5ft of reach every time it's size increases. It's also not as dependent on a strict evolution build, so you can afford to spend some points on utility evolutions.
Quadruped is not bad if you want a pouncer build.
Definitely look at Improved Natural Attack Feat and Improved Damage Evolution. They stack and can get one of your natural attacks (I suggest claws) up to wicked damage.
For any summoner, I suggest a point in spell Focus: Conjuration (Almost all your good spells are conjuration) and then Augmented Summoning (It specifically affects your Summon Monster Spell-like Abilities).
As for Eidolon, my suggestion is Biped, I think it's the gold standard because it gains 5ft of reach every time it's size increases. It's also not as dependent on a strict evolution build, so you can afford to spend some points on utility evolutions.
Quadruped is not bad if you want a pouncer build.
Definitely look at Improved Natural Attack Feat and Improved Damage Evolution. They stack and can get one of your natural attacks (I suggest claws) up to wicked damage.
Problem is as Master Summoner, I only get 1/2 the evolution pool, so I don't think I can build a combat capable Eidolon past level 3-5. Luckily, that is when my summons start to kick in.
EDIT: Well, half evolution pool, and half everything else down the line. My Eidolon is level 2 when everyone else's is level 4..
A master summoner’s class level is halved (minimum 1) for the purposes of determining his eidolon’s abilities, Hit Dice, evolution pool, and so on. The eidolon otherwise functions as normal.
This ability replaces the summoner’s normal eidolon ability."
I forgot about Augmented Summoning.
Your stats should allow you to survive and still be a good face. Though I recommend raising strength up fairly quick for the carry limits, even if it is just Mule back cords.
I forgot about Augmented Summoning.
Your stats should allow you to survive and still be a good face. Though I recommend raising strength up fairly quick for the carry limits, even if it is just Mule back cords.
Augmented summoning is free at 2nd level for Master Summoner, so don't need to take the pre-req.
Augmented summoning is free at 2nd level for Master Summoner, so don't need to take the pre-req.I forgot about Augmented Summoning.
Your stats should allow you to survive and still be a good face. Though I recommend raising strength up fairly quick for the carry limits, even if it is just Mule back cords.
Yeah I know that... it was almost embarrassing as I just finished reading the archetype before posting on this thread...
Though STR will cause problems with loot/gear.
That's what the others are for. This or get some Muleback Cords.
Looks like a nice group, with you as face.
Ruyan.
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For any summoner, I suggest a point in spell Focus: Conjuration (Almost all your good spells are conjuration) and then Augmented Summoning (It specifically affects your Summon Monster Spell-like Abilities).
As for Eidolon, my suggestion is Biped, I think it's the gold standard because it gains 5ft of reach every time it's size increases. It's also not as dependent on a strict evolution build, so you can afford to spend some points on utility evolutions.
Quadruped is not bad if you want a pouncer build.
Definitely look at Improved Natural Attack Feat and Improved Damage Evolution. They stack and can get one of your natural attacks (I suggest claws) up to wicked damage.
Problem is as Master Summoner, I only get 1/2 the evolution pool, so I don't think I can build a combat capable Eidolon past level 3-5. Luckily, that is when my summons start to kick in.
EDIT: Well, half evolution pool, and half everything else down the line. My Eidolon is level 2 when everyone else's is level 4..
A master summoner’s class level is halved (minimum 1) for the purposes of determining his eidolon’s abilities, Hit Dice, evolution pool, and so on. The eidolon otherwise functions as normal.
This ability replaces the summoner’s normal eidolon ability."
Ah, I missed the Archetype. Well on the plus side, that saves you taking the feat Augmented Summoning since you get it for free.
And don't sell your Eidolon short. Sure, it's not going to be as good, but you can still make a nasty one, and he'll have buddies! :D
That's what the others are for. This or get some Muleback Cords.
Looks like a nice group, with you as face.
Ruyan.
Which I had already mentioned ;P though a belt of giant strength or even a belt of physical perfection(is that its name?) Can be better once you can afford it.
Eidolons, whether their powerlevel is over 9000 or only 253, can be handy to have whether they are a scout, flanker, or the party tank. Or any other role.
And UMD is a wonderful skill for any Spellcaster and skill monkey.
I am not sure I want to take UMD when it will be one of the go-to skills of me Eidolon soon enough. Not like I will be able to afford a wand before third level anyhow..
True but using a scroll or wand of a Sorcerer/Wizard spell or even Cleric spells.
I am still debating on UMD, I think It will be one of the top 4 skills for Eidolon
(Perception, Disable Device, Perception, and UMD)
But, I think I will hold off on allocating many points to the skill until third-fourth level when I know more about how everything will shake out.
You'll have better Charisma than the Eidolon, and thus be better at UMD. I'd recommend sticking your Survival on the beastie, personally. =)