Trying to recommend a class for a friend for the Runelords game we're picking up. He was playing an elven wizard, but I don't think it was "action-y" enough for him.
Originally we had a party of; Elven Wizard, Half-Orc Druid, Half-Elf Ranger/Rogue, and Drow Magus. The Half-Elf Ranger/Rogue dropped out of the game, and now (a few months later) we're starting up again in the middle of the Skinsaw Murders.
So what class would you recommend for a 3 man party including a Drow Magus and a Half-Orc Druid for the remainder of runelords?
I know it's harder to play without a full party, but unfortunately he's not really interested in playing a cleric or non-human. -_-
Any other suggestions?
*making the character today, so any timely advice would be great. Thanks!
If I'm reading you right-- your friend wants "more action," wants to play a human, and doesn't want to play a cleric. (The druid should be able to handle the curing but not the buffs vs undead.)
So depending on his preferences...
Human fighter is always a winner. Lots of action. Lots of bonus feats.
Maybe also take a couple of levels in rogue, since you don't have one.
If he wants a fighter with some spell like abilities... Inquisitor is cool. Read the inquisitors guide for suggestions. Depending on deities and domains they can have nice special abilities... travel domain gives speedy movement, feather domain gives animal companion, might wanna look for some bonuses vs traps or vs undead.
If he still wants to play a spellcaster, but wants something blastier-- try a sorcerer with a cool bloodline. If he's willing to stretch a bit... an Efreet (fire genie heritage, but still looks pretty human) player gets some nice firey bonuses, and can change any spell to the fire element. Or very similar a Djinn (air genie) player gets electricity bonuses, and can change any spell to electricity.
I would second Apocalypso on Human Fighter. They can be really fun, and they definitely get up close and face lots of the action, as well as holding the versatility of being able to serve as an archer if necessary.
With respect to the fighter depending on how he wants to go. I have found a two-weapon wielding fighter to be very "action-y" and very fun.
Can't go wrong with a human fighter [two handed] archtype.
What kind of action are we talking about? Are we speaking the tanking sort of variety where he rushes in and bashes stuff?
Or are we talking like a blaster sort of caster "I make things explode!" sort of thing?
With a magus and a half-orc druid (depending on how they're built- melee focus, animal companion, etc), you may already have some degree of melee capability already. A good alternative to the wizard might be the alchemist, which is VERY good at making things explode. Plus they can have a secondary focus as a buffer/healer/utility caster via the extracts (infusions). Elf alchemist might work (+2 Int, +2 Dex) as a refashioning of his wizard if the player and the DM go for a rebuild.
Have a look at the samurai too. If the player is a bit newer a two-handed samurai is easy to build, fun to play and has lots of cinematic flavor.
Katanas, however, will be in short supply in the treasure hoards as the module is written.