Evil isn't exactly my shtick, nor is magic. It seems to me that if there's benefit to be had by going Evil with a capital E, it's for casters. Strictly martial types don't get all that much of the goods of being bad.
I could play an Antipaladin I suppose, but that's a caster. I'd rather stay strictly nonmagical if I can.
I have a barbarian going already or I could've done the Demon totem. That'd be neat.
Then again, perhaps I could get the benefit of one of the more martial evil races. Duergar fighter? Hobgoblin Cavalier? Goblin Gunslinger?
I'll take any ideas, really, although I prefer the hardbooks because I'll always have those on hand. If it's from a softbook please state the source.
Thanks!
Nah, no mustache--shiny, bald head and a nasty scar.
In all seriousness, fighter works perfectly for an evil character. Most evil characters I've seen played were fighters (the mercenary sort). Mercenaries generally don't care much about what they are asked to do, or how they go about doing it, so long as they get paid (unless of course they have some sort of code, which still works for LE).
Probably just advice, but I keep thinking of an evil executioner and his buddy prepping someone on the battlefield for their "on the field execution."
If you have another melee ally in the party, look at Butterfly sting. One of you guys can be the crit fisher, pass up the crit, and give the other the auto crit on a x4 or higher weapon (there are ways... And they are freakin scary)
On getting x5, a level 4 kensai magus or level 13 weapon master get's an ability to up the damage multiplier. If you ever reach 20, that weapon master will be able to have a x4 weapon be x5 all day, and x6 when you need it.
I'm enjoying being a Lawful Evil Monk right now. Well, he'll be swapping to Lawful Neutral soon but whatever. Seems to fit your needs of a martial class with an alignment that's not a cackling evil idiot. Hobgoblins have a special Monk archetype as well, though if you have a good Wisdom score it's probably inferior AC wise. I prefer Human.
Though the Ironskin Monk DOES have some neato class features, for sure. They seem like they'd make a good tank at later levels. Make sure to take that one Hobgoblin alternate trait with the +1 Natural Armor.
All of these are badass ideas! I like the executioner idea. What book is butterfly sting in? I could wield a Scythe and be badass. Badass counts for a LOT. Maybe specialize in dirty tricks and poke people's eyes out 'n stuff.
Strix ain't a bad idea either, though I'd probably not be a Barbarian. Straight-up fighter is fine.
Ironskin monk IS cool. Not sure about the AC stuff, but DR is very very nice. I'm not entirely sure what level we'll start at, if at all. Basically this is where we go with one of our current games if we get a total party wipe.
Full BAB classes: Barbarian (already doing one), Cavalier/Samurai (Maybe ride a T-Rex? An undead steed?), Fighter (badass), Antipaladin (spells, meh), Ranger (available in a spell-free version), Monk (honorary full BAB.) Gunslinger (Maybe go for siege weapons? Why blow only one enemy away when you can take down a village and say, "We got 'em!")
And: Rogue (while not full BAB has zero spells.)
*Twirls mustache*
Well, if you go monk, you might want to look into snake style or Hamatulatsu for flavor. I suggest this since both make your unarmed strikes do piercing damage, which is just a nice image. Hamatulatsu is specifically designed to inflict the most pain and leave vicious scars, but it mainly for a cult of devil worshiping nuns in Cheliax. The group does take in orphans of all genders, so it would not be hard to justify.
Hamatula Strike is a semirelated feat that works for any piercing weapon. Hamatulatsu is only a prerequisite if you try to apply it to unarmed strikes. The feat basically lets you use a dagger/sword/spear/etc. to impale the target and take a free grapple on a hit. Nice both mechanically and visually.
A ranger with the Trapper archetype is perfect for an evil Bounty Hunter.
Are you looking for serious evil or comical evil?
Feral Gnasher (a Goblin Barbarian archetype) is quite comical, full BAB, and very bitey. I've been very intrigued by it.
An Orc, Hobgoblin, etc. could be quite powerful in a martial role, but is typically more serious. Orcs can be particularly awesome in the martial role given their massive +4 racial bonus to STR. Orc Cavaliers are able to ride some interesting steeds, as well, and you can get a few things that even Beast Rider Cavaliers normally can't get, including megafauna and wargs.
These are all very cool. So I've got some archetypes and classes to discuss with my group when next we meet. My top picks...
Trapper Ranger, a Gnome with poison race traits and toxic traps with a bounty hunter feel. Archery combat style. Has desire to let no type of creature go untasted. (Don't let him do the cooking.)
Fighter flavoured as an executioner, or a Strix fighter if allowed.
The Half-Orc Rogue variant (not likely as one of the usual suspects almost always rogues it up)
LE Monk variants. I like the snake style, yes.
I expect my party will already have a cleric of sorts, a gish/oracle type, and a rogue type. I'll probably take the Trapper ranger if there's no overlap. It looks very cool and could be both of use in combat and out of combat. Spend my free time crafting poisons with the Master Alchemist feat and gnome capabilities.
If no one is roguing it up I may try the Half-Orc archetype out of ARG, because huge amounts of sneak attack with a Greataxe or a cleaving whip is also badass.
Thanks for your help. :evilgrin:
Evil rogue too generic? How about a puppy kicking shadow dancer or a wicked red mantis assassin?
Or are you forgetting the #1 reason to play an evil martial character. Assassin!
(Though I'd ask your GM if you could use the rules for the ninja's "assassinate" talent rather then their death attack).
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I once played a Human Ranger 4/ Fighter 4/ Assassin # With human as my favored enemy, was a lot of fun but then it was a city based campaign so lots of prey abound. Was wielding a pair of tomahawks going two weapon style he could deal out a good amount of damage to humans. … Got killed by a Golem as DR really damaged his potential and I was the front line for the group.
Depending upon the scenario it may or may not work.
Anti-Paladins are fun. There's something to be said about being evil just for evil's sake.
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For the evil monk angle, may I recommend the hungry ghost/qiggong combo with Snake Style for a Shang Tsung-type character? Mostly martial, but with a few ki powers like scorshing ray, dragon's breath, shadow step, and the like.
Beating people down and ripping out their soul to power your evilness.
Bonus points if you shout "Finish Him!" every time you kill someone.
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Any martial class will work, but the fun will come from a unique role-play of the evil character. I do NOT suggest translating evil into sex offender.
If by chance you decide on fighter, I would go with some of those anti-spell caster feats like step up, spell breaker, etc. With an evil game, you never know when an in-party kill might be necessary.
Very, very good point. Spellcasters. Can't trust 'em as far as they can throw you. (Without magic, of course.)
Evil Fighter:
1. Power attack, Combat Exp.
2. Cleave (replace later)
3. Imp. Dirty Trick
4. Step Up
5. Following Step
6. Disruptive
7. Greater Dirty Trick
8. Combat Reflexes, (Replace Cleave w/ Step Up and Strike)
9. Critical Focus
10. Spellbreaker
11. Bleeding Critical
12. Teleport Tactician
As a rough draft. Race: Orc (+4 Str!). I'd rework it a bit, Orc's get a special feat that gives an additional +3 disruption when using an Orc Weapon, among other things. The only orc weapon I can think of is the double axe, which is badass but requires TWF. There's some neat abilities in that feat, perhaps I will make a weapon master build of it.
Race: Duergar, evil slavers that can DOUBLE IN SIZE AND GO INVISIBLE!
Of course there are others. The badass evil races are badass.
No sex offense. Cannibalism and the eating of intelligent humanoids is definitely on the menu. (pun not intended.)
Shang-Tsung is a WICKED inspiration. For that idea maybe go Monk of the Lotus and flavor the 12th level ability as stealing their soul. Does that stack with Hungry Ghost?
I looked at the assassin. It's... okay. I'd probably be willing to make a small assassin; a Gnome with the evil race traits and poison manufacture as with the ranger. A duergar would make an EXCELLENT assassin, what with being invisible.
Is there a way to specifically go for the coup de grace? I think grappling to pinning to tying up to a dagger in the chest would do it.
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Intimidation build! Intimidate is an awesome skill both in combat and out, and is clearly the most fun skill to roleplay.
Cavalier (Gendarme, Order of the Cockatrice)
1: Intimidating Prowess, Power Attack, Mounted Combat
2: Braggart (Dazzling Display as a standard action and get +2 attack vs. demoralized opponents)
3: Ride-By-Attack
4:
5: Spirited Charge, Skill Focus (Intimidate)
6:
7: Cornugon Smash (free Intimidate check with every Power Attack)
Then for extra intimidation fun dip one level into Thug.
Anybody who talks about assassins seems to ignore the best option for assassins: Halfling Vivisectionist with Child-like and Pass For Human.
I pretend to be a child, then I dissect you.
I love the Cavalier. Easily my favourite class. Gendarme is a poor archetype for them. I'd prefer Emissary. Trick Riding in medium armor? Yes please.
This particular GM tends to run very closed corridor campaigns. It'd make a smaller character more suitable unfortunately.
Gnome Emissary, Wolf Mount.
1. Power Attack, Mounted Combat (Bonus)
2. Dazzling Display (Order bonus)
3. Taunt (Bluff=Intimidate, no size penalty PERIOD. Intimidate a garganutan creature.)
4.
5. Ride-By Attack, Mobility (Bonus)
6. Spirited Charge (6th level bonus feat)
7. Combat Reflexes
8. (Order: AOO's on ally's criticals.)
9. Skill Focus* Trick Riding (Bonus, available in Med Armor)
10.
11. Eldritch Heritage*
12. Furious Focus (12th level bonus feat)
13. Improved Eldritch Heritage*
14. Mounted Skirmisher (Bonus)
15. Improved Eldritch Heritage part 2*, (Order Ability: Add CHA to everything 1/day)
16.
17. Greater Eldritch Heritage
18. Stunning Assault (18th level bonus feat)
19. Dreadful Carnage
20.
*Not sure the specific Eldritch Heritage I'd choose. I'm very fond of the Serpentine bloodline; poison bite, bluff enhancing familiar, armor class bonuses, and swarm of snakes are all useful. Abyssal bloodline is a good choice, but some of these feats will be replaced in that case. Orc bloodline is not available as it's in the bendy-books. The Undead Bloodline has the added benefit of a Frightening touch ability, minor energy resistances and OK DR, it can summon an area effect, and finally going incorporeal. You don't bring your mount with you while incorporeal. If I take a bloodline where not the whole chain is required, move the Dreadful Carnage chain up the line and take will save feats.
The mount will make use of the In Harms Way/Mounted Combat trick.
If leadership is possible I can move a few things around, but that might get me a flying mount.
Also, here's an Orc build I threw together.
Orc Evil Fighter
Weapon Spec: Orc Double Axe
1. TWF, Power Attack
2. Weapon Focus
3. Step Up
4. Weapon Specialization
5. Orc Weapon Expertise: Defense
6. Disruptive
7. ITWF
8. Orc Weapon Expertise: Disrupter
9. Combat Reflexes
10. Spellbreaker
11. Double Slice
12: Two-Weapon Rend
13: Following Step
14: Step Up and Strike
15: Teleport Tactician
16: Greater Weapon Focus
17: Greater Weapon Spec
18: Penetrating Strike
19: Greater Penetrating Strike
20: GTWF
Note, you get a +7 total disruptive bonus as it stacks. The archetype will probably be the two-weapon warrior as critical hits aren't this guy's shtick by AOO's are. In that case, your dodge bonus to AC gets very good, and you have a +2 shield bonus from the Defense weapon expertise. Plenty of weapon specific feats here mean being disarmed would be crippling.
I've always been intrigued by the idea of a Blight Druid as the "Ultimate Evil." Vermin empathy is just "crawling" (*wink) with evil, and Miasma (making him sickening just to be near) and Plaguebearer (touching him can cause a disease) would be pretty awesome traits for a bad guy to have.
I know you said you wanted to stay away from magic, but if your DM would allow you to give up other class features to take these it could be a lot of fun.
Once you've chosen a class I'd suggest you come up with a compelling background for your character which describes why he or she is evil. Otherwise you won't be able to fully empathize with your character; it will feel like you're a mustache-twirling bad guy. Substance might be lost, in this case.
The funnest evil character I've played was a former cleric turned necromancer. He had lost his daughter to the plague and was obsessed with finding a means to resurrect her. For the character to work, resurrection magic was unavailable (the setting was pretty low-magic and death was pretty much permanent). The only way he could bring her back was to resort to necromancy (he thought). He made sure to regularly cast gentle repose on his daughter's corpse whilst expanding his necromantic studies.
Was a blast to play because I really understood his motives. Ended up killing another player character at one point because he stumbled upon my character's secret (necromancy was punishable by death).
Not recommending PVP or anything... but sometimes it happens. There were no hard feelings in this case. I mean, initially the player was upset, but when I explained my character's position and his motivations everything fell into place and he could appreciate why it had happened.
Anyways, good luck with your evil campaign! They are a challenge.