Even the simplest of us can have moments of brilliance. Take me for example. I just a day or two ago had one of the better ideas I've ever had in all my years of gaming, but I need advice in the execution. Here's the skinny:
My best friend/GM is starting a new PBEM/PBC campaign in a quasi-czarist Russian setting (it's a third party published setting, one I don't know, so if you recognize it, please, no spoilers or metagaming). Due to the small size of our group, we're each playing two characters. I immediately hit on the idea of playing a Cossack (sorry, quasi-cossack). I didn't want a paladin or cavalier, for flavor reasons, so, being a long-time fan of rangers, I went with Horse Lord/Skirmisher. I was having a hard time coming up with a second character concept, when I ran across the Rough Rider fighter variant. I began wondering if it wouldn't make a better "Cossack" than the Horse Lord. That's when I had my Epiphany: that's my second character. I worked it out with my GM, and here are the particulars: twin brothers, one set of randomly rolled stats, arrayed any way for each. Level 1, Human only. Must be played with distinctive personalities and approach to combat. Canon only. I have access to a 2009 printing CR and the net via my phone, so please be patient. I would like to get advice on tweaking each PC, then moving this discussion to a different part of the boards to report on how the two flesh out as played side-by-side. Here's what I came up with:
Stat rolls: 18, 17, 16, 13, 11, 9
The brothers Rodenkov
Sergei
Human Horse Lord/Skirmisher Ranger
Favored Class: Ranger
STR 17
DEX 18
CON 16
INT 11
WIS 13
CHA (9+2) 11
Traits: Savanna Child (Handle Animal); ?
Level 1 Class: Ranger (+1 Hit Point)
Feats: Mounted Combat; Skill Focus: Ride
Skills:
Handle Animal
Knowledge Geography
Knowledge Nature
Perception
Ride
Stealth
Survival
(I'm considering making his INT 9 and his CHA 11+2=13. I know he can take Mounted Combat as a ranger fighting style bonus at L4, but given the concept I thought he should already have it. I plan to make him a slightly better horseman and his brother a better fighter, though neither will be a slouch at the other's forte.)
Nikolai
Human Rough Rider Fighter
Favored Class: Fighter
STR 18
DEX 17
CON 16
INT (9+2) 11
WIS 11
CHA 13
Traits: Veteran of battle; ?
Level 1: Fighter (+1 Hit Point)
Feats: Mounted Combat; Power Attack; Skill Focus: Ride
Skills:
Ride
Handle Animal
Intimidate
So, thoughts?
Aaaanyone?
One last bump....