One item focused character for "Birthright" based homebrew

[Secane]

I need help making a character that is not dependent on items or uses only 1 item.

Currently I am playing a Zen Archer 4/ Inquisitor 1 in a homebrew with a focus on political intrigue, as an adviser/helper to the ruler of the country.

We start out quite strong, 25 point buy, 1 feat or 2 traits, defence bonuses (no need for armor) and bloodlines from the Birthright setting.

To prevent items abusing and due to our status as rulers and not strictly adventurers, the GM gives us very little gold and uses a "main item upgrade" system, where we pick 1 item we own and upgrade it as we level.
This however has lead to me finding my Zen Archer not ideal for the campaign, as I depend on a variety of arrows to by pass DR and find it very hard to conceal my bow in situations that call for it.

I need advice on making a character that don't depend on a wide variety of items. With the focus on only 1 item, which could possibility obtain extra effects found in minor artifacts.
This character also won't have access to a large flow of money, so classes that need to buy their ammo, spells or items are not ideal as well.

With the race restricted to half-elf, I am currently look at playing a Druid (Shaman) or a Summoner (Master Summoner).
Can anyone give me more ideals/advice?

[ShadowcatX]

Zen archer would pretty much have been my go to suggestion for a martial character. Having to use arrows to bypass DR is going to go away as you level (and shouldn't be a problem early on, given that regents have enough money spending a few gp to purchase silver and cold iron arrow heads wouldn't be a problem).

Other than that any full caster (summoner counts) will do fine. Give them a + to casting stat head band, maybe try and get a resistance bonus to saves on it as well, and you'll be fine.

[Secane]

The other 2 characters in my party is an Oracle of War and a Dragon blooded Sorceress (Going dragon disciple).
We do have a lot of casters.

I can get silver and cold iron arrows for free. It is just that we just faced a enemy with incorporeal, and I had to resort to using my much more expensive ghost blanched arrows to defeat it.

I'm worried that as the game goes on... it will get harder to play a martial character, when compared to my 2 fellow full caster party members.
Given the limits on items.

Are there any martial characters (other then zen archer) that is not as dependent on items?

[ShadowcatX]

It will get harder to play martials as the game goes on. Casters are less item dependent, which is one of the things that DMs of "low magic" games never seem to realize. I mean, it is going to happen anyways, but lacking magic items makes it far worse.

Normally I'd say your best bet would be paladin because their smite can bypass any damage reduction and imbuing a spirit into your weapon can help make up for the lack of magic, but in a game where you're fighting other good aligned people you're significantly less likely to be able to smite.

[Orfamay Quest]

Magus. Use the weapon enhancements you get from the class to accomplish what you need.

Druid is probably also good, and if you build it right can still almost work as a martial.

And tell your GM to stop being such a richard.

[Secane]

@ShadowcatX & Orfamay,

That's is what I am thinking, play a class that can cover the the weapon enhancement by itself!

I leaning more towards, paladin, taking the option to play a CG version that fits the setting.

So what do you all think about a lv 4 Paladin and 1 lv of Oracle of Lore (we REALLY need a knowledge monkey.) With Sidestep Secret to help out with AC.

@Orfamay,
My GM is really great with unusual stories and settings, it is just that he prefers other games systems, having started with 3.5.

I think he just wants to avoid the whole crazy buying spree that is the nature of Pathfinder/3.5.

[Secane]

Does anyone has any suggestions or insights?

[Orfamay Quest]

Secane wrote:

@Orfamay,
My GM is really great with unusual stories and settings, it is just that he prefers other games systems, having started with 3.5.

I think he just wants to avoid the whole crazy buying spree that is the nature of Pathfinder/3.5.

The problem is that blanket rules like "only one item" really screws martials a lot more than casters. If I wanted to avoid the "crazy equipment spree" that is Pathfinder and therefore ruled that I wanted to run a by-the-book Pathfinder game with the "minor" emendation that no one was permitted any weapons or armor, would this be a balanced modification?

[soupturtle]

Magus works well, especially with archetypes like bladebound (get a magic weapon automatically) and kensai (don't need armor).

Clerics and inquisitors both get (greater) magic weapon and magic vestment on their spell list. If you take the protection domain, that covers your cloak of resistance. If you're a cleric and can somehow get the protection and growth domains you get barkskin as well, which covers an amulet of natural armor.

Having said all that, I would have thought a zen archer is pretty good. I really don't see what the problem is with having to spend a few hundred gold on situational arrows. If your GM doesn't even provide a few hundred gold for consumables, you really should be playing another system altogether.

Also, a paladin is a terrible 'knowledge monkey' due to having very few skill points. A magus would work well, on the other hand, since those are int-based.

[Kayerloth]

Secane wrote:

Does anyone has any suggestions or insights?

- Ranger, Rogue and Bard are going to be the best "skill monkeys" by virtue of getting the most skill points per level. Rogues and Bards will have the largest lists of class skills. An Archer out of any sort of non caster, I would think, will have the easiest time adapting to the need to bypass various sorts of DR given they merely need to change arrows not weapons. However, sufficiently high weapon enhancement bonus will bypass pretty much anything short of DR/Epic. Creatures with DR, Incorporeal and similar abilities become potentially far more dangerous in magic rare and/or low magic campaigns (and it sounds as if your campaign is at least magic rare).

- Why is it hard to conceal your bow? Or more specifically why is it harder than a Longsword or Greatsword would be? Why if you are the ruler(s) or his closest advisors do you need to conceal them? I get waving them around and or threatening everyone in sight is generally poor diplomacy and frowned on but usually the king and his bodyguards are armed, at least in their own homes.

- Glamered and Called properties are your friends when you do need to be inconspicuous or avoid bearing arms and armor. Sleight of Hand skill maybe useful in conceal small weapons on your person if you need to.

- And just how close to Birthright is the campaign? It's been a decade plus since I ran around on Cerilia but I have vague memories that summoning stuff might not be such a great idea or that at least carries risk but if you are considering it then perhaps I remember incorrectly or the GM is altering things.

[Secane]

@ Orfamay, it is not really 1 item only, we do start with 6k in gold. Its just that my GM made it clear that other then our "chosen item" he is not going to give out much gold, hence getting a full set of items may not be ideal.

@soupturtle, I forgot to mention, we get 2 extra skill points each lv. I'm thinking of dipping into Oracle of Lore to use Cha in place of Int for knowledges Or the one that gives a extra +20 to a knowledge check.

@Kayerloth, I can hide my bow, but I can't hide my arrows... :(

As for the campaign it self, it uses Birthright as a base, but with some major changes.

For example, our country is based off Medoere, but we worship Eilistraee instead and the people are a mix of Humans, Good Drow and Half-Drows.