Now, generally, I try to avoid multi-classing in most cases.
But for me, Alchemist has been a very tempting mistress indeed.
Trading 4-7 levels, a main of Gunslinger and Ninja are the two biggest offenders for me.
Gunslinger: "There's a lot of them... How about THIS? (volley of bombs)"
Ninja: "It appears I have been discovered. Sucks to be you! (BOOM)"
Despite my general inclination towards mono-classing in pathfinder, every once in a while a splash of one class draws my imagination and runs with it.
The flavor makes me grin so much, I can't help but consider it further.
I ask you, fellow Pathfinders:
If you were going to flavor a class with a few levels of another, which one, with what, and why?
Alternatively, I'll accept Prestige Class targets that don't typically match up. (Such as Witch into Eldritch Knight - also on my list)
Please Note:
This is not an optimization question - this should be more organic, and less number-crunchy.
I'm wondering, from a purely style point of view, what SOUNDS fun to you!
(Whether or not it actually is fun, in practice, is a whole different topic)
A Beastmorph/Vivisectionist Alchemist dashed with a level or two of Drunken Brute Barbarian
Perfect for the angry, tortured soul who tries to drown in a bottle while occasionally hulking out and tearing people limb from limb
"Don't take away my Ale. You wouldn't like me when I'm sober..."
Oh man, I do have to say I like that mental image!
I'm currently playing a Battle Cleric who worships a deity of vengeance and I'm going to start dipping into Barbarian to create a Cleric who becomes enraged whenever acts of Evil are performed on himself or others and doesn't come out of rage until the Evil is suppressed (or he runs out of rage rounds; In which case I'll just cast Rage on myself and continue Role-Playing.)
My friends are playing Chaotic Neutral Ninja and Inquisitor, which has already caused some tension and dispute over particular subjects, such as an Ogre that surrendered and begged to be spared. In that situation I even went so far as to attempt to Grapple the Inquisitor to keep the poor creature alive.
I really like this idea and it creates some flavorful play aside from the usual Lawful Good nonsense.
(I know Barbarians aren't technically supposed to be Lawful, but what's in an alignment? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.)
LG alignment derail #848598693 avoided by:
Summoner with a small dip into Mysterious Stranger Gunslinger
A failed naval officer who is haunted by the spirit of his sunken ship, one that he should have followed to the bottom of the sea
Well, you can have a strong personal moral code without being lawful.
The two CNs sound like they just want their official License to Kill. =P
Interesting notions though, if not that far off.
Makes me a little of the old Warpriest and Champion of Gwynharwyf prestige classes.
HAH! Like his first mate, serving from the beyond?
I have a LOT of love for the options Summoner can provide.
I hope to run one as a Planar Diplomat, collecting favors.
His Eidolon would effectively be his Secretary/Bodyguard.
I envision the eidolon for the naval officer to be sort of based off the Maiden miniature from Reaper.
A worn-down figurehead from the ship come to life, trailing brine and broken planking in her wake
Again, another nice piece of flavor! Really love that mini too. O.o;;
Would be a must-buy if you ran that character idea.
Houndmaster: "Who let the dogs out? Me. ME. ME!"
Hah. Question - would they also be a halfling, gnome or other creature that could ride the dogs? :)
So Huntmaster Cavalier and... Master Summoner? Weak Eidolon, but it could serve as your mount-wolf/dog/whatever~
I remember when I saw the Beastrider Cavalier variant, I got really excited... then I realized that Displacer Beasts were WotC Copyright, and they didn't exist in Pathfinder, and became very sad. ;-; That woulda been sooooooo awesome.
Another character I've made is a Strix Beastmaster Ranger who has become a member of a murder of crows. It's actually quite effective with the +1 greater designating crossbow I bought for it.
I almost always multiclass; staying with just one class is boring to me, even though it tends to make my character less powerful.
An idea I've been slinging around is an alchemist monk. Basically a monk that takes one alchemist level for every two monk levels. I like the idea of a monk who can self buff; mage armor, shield, enlarge person...
Plus it fits with some of the legendary monks from Chinese culture; with an alchemist, you could play a Wong Fei Hung style character; a skilled doctor and healer as well as a martial artist.
I've been looking at the Strix race with a passing interest - that keeps coming back.
I want to play one some day, but I'm not sure how or why. Hasn't come to me yet.
The investigator that goes sick-house on uncooperative suspects could be interesting.
Might need to brief your party on your... Methods. Heh
Do agree on the fitting Legendary Monks idea, and certainly sounds neat.
See, of all the classes you CAN use for a smattering of Multiclass, I feel Alchemist really takes the cake.
You might take some Fighter for feats, or Rogue for Sneak Attack or Skills or Evasion...
But all of those are taken exclusively for mechanical reasons. Very little flavor to it, though no less effective.
Alchemist on the other hand... Really, it just oozes with flavor in most combinations I can think of.
Almost every class could have a reason to study alchemy, except perhaps Barbarian, if for no other reason than restricted lab access. Even then, raging with bombs?
In fact, I'm really surprised Paizo hasn't created a Mystic-Theurge-Esque PrC that lets you progress Wizard with Bombs and Infusions.
You'd lose bonus feats, discoveries, and other Mutagens, but hey. Still awesome.
Would fit even better with a Witch. Really, I'd consider almost ANY arcanist that rose parallel to Alchemist! Even summoner, if eidolon didn't suffer point loss. =P
New Contribution:
Samurai Cleric - No deity - Preaches their cause.
Tries to convince others to follow the honorable way of life.
My only question: Would it be Samurai lead 3/1, Cleric lead 3/1, or even up 1/1?
Either would fit the notion really.