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This is for a Jade Regent campaign that I will GM for my group.
One of them, who is very keen on roleplay challenges and not very good at complicated rules (eg, always forget some of his bonuses to attack and damage rolls, does not really know his spells when he plays a caster), wants to play a female version of Jason Bourne or the Total Recall hero with multiple personalities !!!
Basically an amnesic spy who remembers nothing of her past and played so many roles in her life that she wakes up every morning convinced that she plays a new role (something like a theatrical persona rather than a complete personality though).
His idea is that he will have his 1st-level character sheet while I (the GM) will have his true character sheet.
I like this premise and I will build his character's theoretical development as if it was one of my own.
I am looking for advice about any class/archetype/PrC/feat that might work well with this concept. 3pp welcome.
Race is likely human, but any race is okay except for those usually considered "ugly" (ie with negative CHA modifier).
He would like to play a rather charismatic lady and no casting abilities, or simple ones "like a Paladin's abilities".
Ninja seems like an awesome fit, especially considering the AP, but I feel that it is a bit too obvious and I wonder if there could be some nice twist out there.
Master Spy prestige class. Along with rogue or possibly Bard.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16
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This is for a Jade Regent campaign that I will GM for my group.
One of them, who is very keen on roleplay challenges and not very good at complicated rules (eg, always forget some of his bonuses to attack and damage rolls, does not really know his spells when he plays a caster), wants to play a female version of Jason Bourne or the Total Recall hero with multiple personalities !!!
Basically an amnesic spy who remembers nothing of her past and played so many roles in her life that she wakes up every morning convinced that she plays a new role (something like a theatrical persona rather than a complete personality though).
His idea is that he will have his 1st-level character sheet while I (the GM) will have his true character sheet.
I like this premise and I will build his character's theoretical development as if it was one of my own.
I am looking for advice about any class/archetype/PrC/feat that might work well with this concept. 3pp welcome.
Race is likely human, but any race is okay except for those usually considered "ugly" (ie with negative CHA modifier).
He would like to play a rather charismatic lady and no casting abilities, or simple ones "like a Paladin's abilities".
Ninja seems like an awesome fit, especially considering the AP, but I feel that it is a bit too obvious and I wonder if there could be some nice twist out there.
While Ninja/Master Spy definitely makes sense for this idea, also consider the Oracle class, in that the power of some deity or something has made the character forget his past, but in times of dire need his crazy magical powers resurface, but he remembers none of it.
If I were trying to be as Jason Bourne as possible, I would do a straight Fighter - Lore Warden. I'd get some Two Weapon Fighting Feats, Improvised Weapon Feats, Unarmed Combat Styles (Like Dragon Style - I love the ability to move through difficult terrain). I love Power Attack, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Punishing Kick + Unarmed Combat, Combat Reflexes, and some human feats, like Fast Learner + Improvisation + Improved Improvisation (Its like getting +4 on all your skills that have Zero Rank). Even a 3 level Paladin dip wouldn't be bad at all. Getting Divine Grace and Health is a pretty sweet deal.
The bard is the quintessential jack of all trades. I think that if you do a finesse build with the archeologist archetype, then you can easily play a rogue, illusionist, healer, or dervish fighter to name a few. Those are the fundamental four as far as character types. Roll a d4 and that's the role you play... You could have him do that every time he takes damage... That would be hilariously awesome!
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If you want something with a decent CHA rating, you can run a Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger. The person does decently when talking and having conversation, but when the character somehow obtains that strange firearm that he recollect using in a flashback, he becomes extremly lucky (lvl 2 feat) or deadly (lvl 1 grit)
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So, the PFSRD just found a word to make it fit.
Just a guess.
Anyway, I would actually suggest something else to the OP.
If your PC is okay playing an elf then make them a Brightness Seeker!
When Brightness Seekers are killed they are reincarnated as animals and then return to themselves when they gain a level.
SO, either your PC begins as an animal until level 2 (ask your player, my response to this would be: "SO AWESOME!" but others might not) or after being an animal something goes wrong and they return with amnesia.
That would give a different cool: they washed up on a shore because they'd levelled as a fish and suddenly become an elf again deep underwater!
Rogue or Ninja into Master Spy is good. For a real laugh, go with the full on change: Alchemist into Master Chymist.
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One way to explain the memory would be an enhanced, unstable version of Hidden Knowledge. The enhancements would be duration and number of memories, but it is unstable so some of their personality leaks out at different times.
Maybe have the tattoo be on their head, under their hair, so they are very unlikely to find it unless you push them in that direction.
FYI Amnesia can be given by a Curse. We were discussing it as one way to hold sorcerer prisoners.
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Wow. Lots of good ideas and nice twists here. Indeed it fired my own imagination. Thanks a lot to all who contributed here.
I believe I will go the ninja way, with maybe a little of Master Spy. The Red Mantis possibility will definitely appear, but as a career opportunity given to the PC.
There is a "chosen of the western gods" theme which seems to be developing in this group of PCs. I have to think some more about it. Prophecies and all some such ...
Concerning the other possibilities raised, this is my take on it :
- Bard : he is already playing one in RotRL (and grew to be rather bored with it) and is not interested in a full caster. Also he seems to be looking for a thousand faces character rather than a real jack of all trades.
- Oracle : I have indeed envisioned a divine intervention (a deal made between the PC's original master and a trickster god such as Sun Wukong to create the perfect infiltrator) but Oracle is out : full caster and the Curse is rather obvious : not much mystery there. Also we already have an Oracle (future Rage Prophet) in the party.
- Fighter : not enough of the thousand faces here for my taste. Might change if the player expresses a strong desire for a combat role (not expressed this far. I will have to ask him).
- Paladin : seems a bit too restrictive in alignment and conduct for the shifty/unstable character the PC seems to envision. Also would likely not fit well with the Red Mantis career opportunity
- Gunslinger : Big No-No in my game, sorry.
- Brightness Seeker : too convoluted for my taste even if the base idea is very good
- Alchemist : we already have one in the group. Also full caster is out.