So, in the campaign I'll be playing in soon, I have a wonderfully planned out sorcerer who will be abusing the bluff skill to the maximum potential and essentially gathering a mass of followers (False Priest ftw) by pretending to be a religious leader. Anyway, I'm giving him Leadership, and I need help deciding on my cohort.
She needs to be a yandere, super-devoted-to-the-point-of-madness type, and needs to be able to actually protect a squishy caster. I was thinking Samurai, with my PC as her 'feudal lord', since she could fight beyond the point of death to save him.
Any input/ideas? She's not going to be one of those 'extra damage' cohorts, but an actual RP figure and PC-important individual. A few of the other PCs are all excited to have a psycho amongst them, so I want to use her to the best of my ability.
Think Yuno Gasai from Future Diary, Tharja from Fire Emblem: Awakening, etc.
I wholely approve of the concept.
Now as for the build, you don't need her to be a Samurai per say, the aspect of the Resolve Ability that keeps one alive at negative HP is easily replicated by feats(such as Diehard & the Deathless line) depending on the level of the Cohort. So I ask, what level is she?
Plus if you're looking for a character that isn't just extra damage; Samurai isn't the class. It's literally 90% of what they do with a challenge. Also, I would stay away from the Sorcerer as her lord, since the interest of a Yandere character is her potential to turn on her interest, it wouldn't make sense for her to become weaker should she betray her master(which she would, she'd lose her order bonuses should she turn on him).
So as an alternative build... I'd build her as a Magus. She'd be martially focused, but just competent enough in magic she could be a threat to her Master. Not to mention she could easily Nova opponents(not great sustain though), which could subtly unsettle their allies is she shows a particular level of disinterest in her ability to murder others(or be cheerful as she murders if you'd prefer). And if you still want some some samurai flavor, build her as a Kensai. Heck build her as a Bladebound Kensai, so she can talk to her sword about her object of obsession.
Sir, I think I'm in love. That is PERFECT.
Combat reflexes, bodyguard, and in harm's way.
Then take the helpful trait. As a non-action in the play of an AoO you can have her give +4 to your AC. If you go order of the dragon then that bonus will increase as well.
IF you go magus then you can take arcane strike and grab the gloves that allow you to add the bonus from your arcane strike to the bonus you grant when increasing ac through Aid Other (which is what you will be doing).
Then if they DO hit you can still have the bodyguard take the hit.
I... Think I love you.
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I THINK I LOVE YOU, SO WHAT AM I SO AFRAID OF!?
Answer: I'm afraid that I'm unsure of a love there is no cure for.
Ok, so how do you build this class? With the two archetypes, I feel a little overwhelmed with all the options. I should be focused on melee combat COMPLETELY, right? And only on self-buffing or some control type spells?
Yes you should be based around combat. Self-Buffs & Blast spells are preferred since it'll be less efficient for her and should be something she uses sparingly. The infamous crit-able 10d6 Intensified Shocking Grasp should be her show stopper, build around it. Or Acid Touch/Other Touch Spell if you'd prefer for flavor. It shouldn't be her go to though, since she has so few spells and you don't want her to put out damage unless she has/wants to.
So, I recommend doing the staple Dervish Dance build like my brother did if you're overwhelmed(even if it's a bit generic). And IMO, Kensai makes Magus way easier to play since it strips down a lot of its abilities. Like, Blackblade trades out your 3rd level arcana(thus denying you Extra Arcanas till 6, and your 9ths taken by Kensai).
1 Weapon Finesse
1B Weapon Focus (Scimitar)
3 Dervish Dancer
5 Extra Arcane Pool/Whatever
5B Intensified Spell/Whatever
7 Weapon Specialization(Scimitar)
9 Extra Arcana/Crit Focus(if Human)
11 Extra Arcana/Critical Versatility(if Human)
Etc...
Arcana:
3 N/A Blackblade
6 Arcane Accuracy/Whatever
9 N/A Critical Perfection
Etc...
Only other tip for her is that don't forget the Black Blade has its own abilities like B. B. Strike, which lets her change the damage type of her blade, which can be nifty and is the only real tricky part.
I find it kinda funny that when I had a yandere idea, nobody cared.
Now this guy gets showered with love for coming up with a similar concept.
Anyway, I'd say go with the suggestions Darth Grall is throwing since they look good.
But the Black Blade might be as much a good thing as a bad one, due to the weapon being sentient and whatnot.
I find it kinda funny that when I had a yandere idea, nobody cared.
Now this guy gets showered with love for coming up with a similar concept.
Anyway, I'd say go with the suggestions Darth Grall is throwing since they look good.
But the Black Blade might be as much a good thing as a bad one, due to the weapon being sentient and whatnot.
I must have missed it sir, when'd you put it up?
As for the BB being a bad thing, normally I'd agree but it really makes the NPC self reliant. They're not very dependent on money, though they do benefit. Canny defense & Dex give them decent AC while the BB gives them a weapon they don't have to pay for, on level. Without any GP, they're not too far behind on AC & AB values.
Plus, it makes it all the creepier when they're talking to themselves to know something is listening and whispering back.... so for the flavor alone the BB is worth it. Plus, if both the BB and the cohort are being run by the DM; then they should be in alliance. If not, well that could be some fun for the group too.
It was around the start of 2012, but I guess it doesn't matter.
And yeah, I guess the BB's potential is in the hands of the group itself.
The cohort will be in my hands, and not to toot my own horn, I'm a pretty damn good role player. Since I'm a player in this game, it's a lot easier for me than DMing numerous NPCs. Not to mention I don't trust the DM to do the trope justice.
But yeah, I love the idea of her being a super creep, stroking her blade while whispering about my PC. She essentially was a member of this military academy who saw my PC preaching one day and just completely abandoned her training to follow him.