Do the human ethnicities of Golarion have any weapons or other equipment unique to their culture? Like how the Shoanti have bolas that do lethal damage. I'm especially interested in examples of Shoanti and Ulfen gear for a character I'm working on.
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Earthbreakers and klars originate from Shoanti culture as well, along with the combined "Thunder and Fang" fighting style that uses both of them together. The klar itself is traditionally made using a skull form one of the indigenous species of igant gecko.
The hide shirt was originally written with the Shoanti in mind too, on the armor front.
There's also all the different kinds of Shoanti war paint out there, which are really cool. I believe they were all introduced in Curse of the Crimson Throne, most likely in History of Ashes.
Earthbreakers and klars originate from Shoanti culture as well, along with the combined "Thunder and Fang" fighting style that uses both of them together.
How does THAT work? Earthbreakers are two-handed. Also, I need to make a character who uses that now.
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It's actually really neat. :)
The klar was made to be used in tandem with the earthbreaker. It's a reinforced gecko skull worn on your forearm, with a punching blade coming out of its mouth. This leaves that hand free to hold stuff. The klar itself can function as a shield or a weapon from round to round. When Shoanti use a klar on their off-hand and hold the rest of their earthbreaker in it, magic happens. :D I believe Thunder and Fang may have changed between it's 3.5 rules debut in Crimson Throne and its Pathfinder incarnation, but IIRC it resulted in being able to treat the klar and earthbreaker as a dual weapon.
Also, it helps the visual if you imagine the shaft of the breaker as longer than what was often portrayed in early drawings of that weapon. Hugo Solis' take on it is probably my favorite visual for the earthbreaker.
I went looking through the PFSRD to see if the Shoanti war paint had been updated. The version they have is from Crimson Throne, but I could have sworn it was updated and reprinted somewhere else. If it hasn't, I strongly recommend doing a quick home conversion, because it's a wonderfully flavorful option. I'm definitely going to have them around in our Shattered Star game.
There's also that "barbarian chew", which uses certain herbs to enhance/lengthen the ability to rage. That use of local herbs to induce raging might make for a neat parallel if you give some of the Ulfen a chemically-induced berserker rage option as well.
So the klar can be used as a buckler? I dont recall reading that anywhere. Hmmmm... Can magi use spell combat when using a buckler or klar? The character this is for is a magus with a Shoanti father and an Ulfen mother.
That is amazing amazing artwork!
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I believe it was oringally compared to a buckler. It functions similarly at least, when it's being used as a shield that is.
And yep, the magus idea has come up and been confirmed before too. This gets especially weird when one considers taking the Black Blade approach with it. Especially if that dead lizard influences its personality. :D
If you're going for a Shoanti/Ulfen character, there's a lot to pay with as there's no shortage of ways for those cultures to meet, ranging from happy to tragic. Are you familiar with the Nolands?
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The most obvious examples would be the Aldori Dueling Sword (Brevoy and Mivon), the Falcata (Taldor), and the Kopesh (Osirion). The Varisians have an affinity for bladed scarves and starknives, but those aren't entirely unique to their culture.
As for the Ulfen, it seems that they traditionally avoid heavy armor, and are instead prefer to carry shields paired with either an axe or a spear. They also wear a lot of furs, whether trophy pelts from mighty beasts they've slain or simply as an extra layer to keep out the cold. Ulfen barbarians often wear the pelts of wolves or bears in order to make themselves more intimidating and perhaps to channel some of that animal's strength and fury.
Other than that, most Ulfen are hunters and woodsmen to some degree when they're not being traders or raiders, and Erastil is particularly associated with Ulfen culture, so a lot of them are likely skilled with the longbow as well.
Edit: Oh yeah, the Noland Raiders! Think vikings on horses or a significantly less principaled version of the Rohirrim from Lord of the Rings. Just the the south are a group of less bloodthirsty (but no less formidable) horsemen of mixed Ulfen and Varisian descent in the Velashu Uplands.
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Yeah, that particular region is used as a dumping ground of sorts for both the Ulfen and Shoanti to exile their undesirables. The Velashu Horselords are primarily occupied with keeping them out of Varisia IIRC.
Can't help but think of them like a bunch of Mad Max villains wearing Ulfen and Shoanti aesthetics with none of either culture's sense of honor.
I believe it was oringally compared to a buckler. It functions similarly at least, when it's being used as a shield that is.
I'll have to keep that in mind for future characters.
And yep, the magus idea has come up and been confirmed before too. This gets especially weird when one considers taking the Black Blade approach with it. Especially if that dead lizard influences its personality. :D
He actually IS a bladebound! but, his black blade is a rhoka he inherited when his parents (retired adventuring companions) were murdered by a winter witch and her fey minions.
If you're going for a Shoanti/Ulfen character, there's a lot to play with as there's no shortage of ways for those cultures to meet, ranging from happy to tragic. Are you familiar with the Nolands?
No, I'm not, but see above as for how the two met.
Oh yeah, the Noland Raiders! Think vikings on horses or a significantly less principaled version of the Rohirrim from Lord of the Rings. :P
Since his father is from the Hawk Clan and he has the Shoanti Steed trait, thats even more fitting.
Another klar question: can I use Spell Combat on rounds I attack with the klar?
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Ah. Well there's still plenty of places for two cultures to have more peaceful meetings. The Hawk Clan and Velashu are pretty close and the most welcoming of interaction with other cultures out of the Shoanti tribes. And there's plenty of Ulfen that prefer the mercantile route to raiding(at least indiscriminate raiding). That character's going to be easy to fit just about anywhere you need it to be with those origins. :)
Regarding klars and spell combat, gonna have to leave that for someone more familiar with the magus. All them fiddly bits.
I almost want to respec my character as a fighter for Thunder and Fang, now. But I need to have him done soon. At least I know what my next martial character is going to be.