I've decided to play my first character in any system that is not some variation of bard. That being said, I decided to get as close as I can to an Oni Monk of Lamashtu, but have been having trouble settling on a build.
If anyone feels so inclined, I was hoping that some of ya'll could cast the most constructively critical eyes upon my build ideas in the hopes of pointing out my potential foolishness before I bring it to a table and get the character locked into something terrible.
Stats are 16 STR (10 points), 14 DEX (5 points), 14 CON (5 points), 14 INT (5 points), 9 WIS (-1 point), 7 CHA (-4 points) before racial adjustments.
Stats are 18 STR, 14 DEX, 14 CON, 14 INT, 11 WIS, 5 CHA after racial adjustments.
Tiefling claws alternate racial
Prehensile Tail alternate racial
fiendish sprinter alternate racial
Scaled Skin (fire) alternate racial
Mother's Bite, Religion Trait
Indomitable Faith, Faith Trait
1: Barbarian 1, Urban Barbarian Archetype, Level feat: Extra Rage
2: witch 1, White Haired Witch archetype, Hedgehog Familiar
3: Barbarian 2, Lesser Fiendish Totem, Level feat: Combat Reflexes
4: Rogue 1, Thug & Scout archetype
5: Rogue 2, Level feat: Stand Still, Rogue talent: ninja trick: pressure points
6: Rogue 3
7: Rogue 4, Level Feat: Extra Rogue Talent: Ninja Trick, Slow Reactions, Rogue talent: offensive defence
8: Rogue 5, bonus attribute to strength
9: Rogue 6, Level Feat: Step Up, Rogue talent: bleeding attack
10: Rogue 7
11: Rogue 8, Level Feat: Lunge, Rogue talent: befuddling strike
12: Rogue 9, bonus attribute to strength
Having been playing diplomacy and face characters exclusively for some time, I think I'm going to have a lot of fun playing up the complete lack of tact that accompanies a charisma of 5. The int is mostly for extra skill points for linguistics and bonus languages, as I wanted the character to speak both Ignan and Tien at character creation. The level of witch is fairly important for flavor reasons, although the barbarian levels are decidedly less important. I'm planning on playing up the willful deformity aspect of Lamashtu, by both intentionally scarring and tattooing the character and by having her offer to tattoo everyone she likes with Profession(tattooist), and ignoring outright the less family friendly aspects of the god.
As far as equipment is concerned, I'm planning on limiting myself to only items and effects that cause physical changes to the user. A proper worshiper of Lamashtu doesn't put much faith in magics that don't physically shape you into being better at your task.
This is going to mean largely getting things like an Amulet of Mighty Fists, a Cloak of the Manta Ray or Tentacle Cloak, a wand of Monstrous Extremeties, a Helm of the Mammoth Lord or Mask of the Krenshar, and maybe Giant Fist Gauntlets. Ioun stones would need to use the implantation method from seeker of secrets, and she would likely seek to get a new tattoo or scar in every new place she visited. A magical tattoo if at all possible.
The backstory for this character is largely written, but fluid in case of new ideas. Apart from that, my largest concerns are about legality and functionality. I'd rather have an unoptimized character that played how I wanted and was indisputably legal than a character that was an absolute monstrosity on the battlefield, but that relied on vague and potentially incorrect interpretations of the rules.
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It's probably important to mention that in terms of combat playstyle, my original intent was to play the character as though she was one member of a pack of wild dogs. She would establish a mental hierarchy in the party and would weigh their suggestions based on their relative rank. In combat, she would fight single-mindedly and aggressively, seeking the flank whenever possible, full attacking if close enough and charging if not. She would probably pick a single target, being either whatever was closest to her or whatever looked the physically weakest, and attacking it as aggressively as possible until either it died or her designated pack leader managed to convince her that something else was more important.
Largely because I want to have some use outside of combat. I figure that picking up some extra skill points that I can invest in Linguistics and various knowledge skills will allow me to contribute something when the scenario does not revolve around seek and destroy, so long as I don't take any points in Knowledge Religion. All of my other characters have been exclusively support characters, so it's an unsettling idea to have only one role in which I can contribute to the party. As for the the flavor of rogue, both thug and scout fit the character, far better than any of the other archetypes that I could see.
The lack of knowledge religion is also a flavor choice. The character is very passionate about the deformity aspect of Lamashtu, and treats it with the same dedication that most true monks worship Irori. She believes in reaching some form of enlightenment through the perfection and training of her physical form. She's simply too impatient to due it the old fashioned way and instead seeks to improve herself by replacing her inferior body parts with superior ones through whatever means she has available to her. Magic, alchemy, divine gratification, and experimental surgery are all acceptable routes to physical improvement.
I did debate going the Master Chymist route as well, but considering the many arguments for and against the Vestigial arms + additional claw attacks, I decided to stray away from it to avoid table variation with legality.
You can't take the Mother's teeth trait in PFS unless you are playing a goblin character created with a goblin boon.
You can't take the Mother's teeth trait in PFS unless you are playing a goblin character created with a goblin boon.
Goblins of Golarion. Well, it looks like you're correct. My mistake. I thought that came from a different source.
I suppose I could take Adopted for Tusked, but it doesn't fit the flavor quite as well. Perhaps the Cloak of Fangs?
I suppose I could take Adopted for Tusked, but it doesn't fit the flavor quite as well. Perhaps the Cloak of Fangs?
I'm not familiar with that trait. If you're referring to the toothy alternate racial trait available to half-orcs, you can't gain that with adopted. Racial traits are not race traits... adopted doesn't allow you to pick up standard or alternate racial traits listed under race descriptions, only traits listed in the Traits section.
Not trying to rain on your parade, but I'm just familiar with the topic from brainstorming up a Lamashtu-worshipping PFS character. I don't think there's a viable way for an oni to pick up a bite attack without gaining it from class features, spells or magic items, unfortunately.
I'm not familiar with that trait. If you're referring to the toothy alternate racial trait available to half-orcs, you can't gain that with adopted. Racial traits are not race traits... adopted doesn't allow you to pick up standard or alternate racial traits listed under race descriptions, only traits listed in the Traits section.
Not trying to rain on your parade, but I'm just familiar with the topic from brainstorming up a Lamashtu-worshipping PFS character. I don't think there's a viable way for an oni to pick up a bite attack without gaining it from class features, spells or magic items, unfortunately.
While Toothy would be fantastic given that it's a primary attack, it was not what I was referring to. Tusked is a race trait from Orcs of Golarion, which requires either half-orc or orc as the race. Given that it's a race trait and not a racial, that fortunately makes it legal both for adopted and for PFS. Thanks again for looking out for these, though. It's much better to catch them here than at the table.
Pathfinder Player Companion: Orcs of Golarion]
Feats: all feats on pages 24–25 except Destroyer's Blessing and Fire God's Blessing; Spells: all spells on pages 28–29 except enemy's heart and shield the banner; Traits: all traits on pages 22–23 except Blessing of the Feast, Demented Inventor, and Tribal; Other: orc sorcerer bloodline on page 14
There is some contention on whether it's allowed to be used as a primary or secondary account, though. I suppose I should just limit myself to using it as a secondary trait.
Good catch, I forgot about OoG. The additional resources don't limit its material to half-orc-only for PFS, so it should work.
Why not Trapper/Freebooter Ranger?
The Natural Weapon style is fitting, the BAB is full, D10 HD, and the Skill points are high.
I hadn't seen freebooter before, that's pretty cool. I kinda like that idea now that you mention it. My biggest issue with ranger is the idea of being nature friendly doesn't quite fit the character concept. It may play better with both numbers and flavor as long as I find an archetype or something that doesn't let me pick up divine spells. I'll have to look through them a little more thoroughly.
Well, Lamashtu is actually very nature friendly.
Just not in the way most are comfortable with.
My regular tables tend to have a lot of children and their parents about, so those in the know are going to be doing our best to ignore that aspect of the deity altogether at 4 out of 5 games.
That's true. How odd do you think it would be to wear a papoose into battle? Perhaps only as a stylized familiar pouch, but even so, it may be a fun flavor concept
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Well, I have a very heavy Lamashtu themed Oracle/Barbarian in my current RotRL game.
She is very much the "mother" of the group.
See here for some of her trials, and tribulations.
Those poor little goblins! They definitely needed rescuing. I'd say you did the right thing on all counts.