All,
TLDR: My core-book-only rogue is locked in, for better or worse, as I will lay it out below; we play tonight. But whats a good direction to go long term? Thanks!
Long Explanation:
An old college friend wants to run a Pathfinder game over Teamspeak using Roll 20 but he doesnt know Pathfinder and so is limiting us to the Core book for this campaign. So he got 4 people to make characters on 20 points for the point buy using Core rules only. This won't change.
We have a dex-based archer-oriented Ranger. We have a Cleric focusing on turning undead. We have a Barbarian who uses a greatsword. And we have me, an Int-based Rogue, who really doesnt want to fight at all, at least not yet. :) That last one is my character.
My friend is running some Pathfinder module thats just a one-time scenario starter adventure (for now) and we are all villagers going on a rite of adulthood celebration picnic kinda thing (thats how my character views it). Her family went to the big city and so she grew up as a well-educated city kid, but her parents returned to the home village so she is a bit of an odd rogue. A bit of an oddity.
I dont mind her having a sub-optimal start, even if it negatively impacts long term play. :) Thats the whole point. But I am wondering, once things get serious, if she doesnt die, WHERE SHOULD SHE GO FROM HERE? :)
Here are her stats and details:
ST 10, DX 16, CN 12, IN 18, WI 7, CH 12. Human. Her +2 went to INtelligence. Her concept is that she picked up all the in-character social and int skills from her class, plus stealth, but otherwise got none of the physical ones. She is impulsive (hence the low Wisdom) but due to it causing problems for her, she picked up (instinctively) IRON WILL and ALERTNESS as her human starting feats. She has 1 rank in each of the following skills: Appraise, Bluff, Craft Alchemy, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Knowledge Local, Linguistics, Perform Flute, Profession Alchemist, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth, and Use Magic Device. Thats based on 8 skills for rogue, 1 for human, 4 for int. Her Favored class bonus is on HP, and so her starting HP are 10. She uses a Rapier, and Padded Armor (city girl) and Dagger, but never expects to actually fight at this point in her life. That will change. :) Her starting languages are probably common, elvish, draconic, and I can pick 3 more (due to Int and Linguistics).
Anyway, this character is interested in mechanical devices, magic, gadgets, how things work, etc. She is social, but aside from Sense Motive and maybe Diplomacy and Knowledge Local, her desires lie more towards Disable Device, Perception, and Use Magic Device, and knowledge/curiosity generally.
I figure she could aim towards Arcane Trickster. Not because of Sneak Attack at range, but really because she is a jack of all trades and spellcasting was something she wanted to do but her parents didnt pay for. And while we might never play that long, technically she could work towards level 9 spells at level 20. Or she could go all Wizard from here out. Or she could remain some kind of pure rogue who is all about maxing UMD. I love the idea of her being great at UMD, since she views it as a gadget skill. She wants to remain great at disable device and perception and sense motive tho (long story).
Or you know, I'm open to other options. But this is the character as she has to start at this point. Its based on her background as a village infant transplanted to the city, raised as a student/alchemist/merchant-to-be, but she always wished she could cast spells. But she likes devices and gadgets too. But where should she go? How should she grow?
I would appreciate any help! Core feats and equipment etc only! Thanks!
TLDR: My core-book-only rogue is locked in, for better or worse, as I have indicated above; we play tonight. But whats a good direction to go long term? Thanks!
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I would recommend to pick up at least 2 levels of fighter while you level up to get some essential combat feats, more hp and more bab. Then go back to level rogue. You could do first level rogue, 2nd level fighter, 3rd level rogue, 4th level fighter. So you can pick up combat expertise line of feats or whatever else you intend to use. it will increase your survival significantly and not even hurt you the slightest in your role.
So you are saying I should give up her dreams of learning more about magic or skill stuff? :) I figured with ST of 10, going Fighter would be a bit unrealistic. Especially with a Barbarian and a Ranger in the party.
I think she would prefer being ranged, avoiding danger other than traps, maybe casting spells or using magic devices from range, and figuring things out.
But I will consider combat-heavy options. Its just a surprising direction to consider. :)
Still listening! :) And thanks!
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It's Not really that bad with 18 int, let see you have :
2+4 = 6 skill points, you add one more if you are human from skilled:
7 skill points.
Not all fighter are strength based, there are a couple of dex and int based fighter. Even some archetypes made around dex or ranged and int based fighters but since it's a core game only you can't take advantage of these archetypes. Lore Warden fighter archetype would have been perfect for your character. A fighter archetype which gives more skill points for int based skills.
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So you are saying I should give up her dreams of learning more about magic or skill stuff? :) I figured with ST of 10, going Fighter would be a bit unrealistic. Especially with a Barbarian and a Ranger in the party.
Finesse and Sneak Attack help greatly with the low str.
What I would suggest as it fits well with your concept and will also add damage is to take the Minor Magic rogue talent and then add Arcane Strike as a feat.
You party is already lacking for an Arcane Caster, so Multi Classing into Wizard would not be a bad idea at all. Are you married to being human? If not, Elves make fantastic int rogues and wizards. If you do that, you can forgo the Alertness, since elves have keen senses anyhow.
If you do go the wizard route, Illusion fits best with being a rogue, and also fits your character concept of not wanting to fight. Conjuration also fits well, as you can summon minions to fight for you.
Finally, make sure you pick up levels of wizard sooner rather than later. A caster lives and dies by their caster level, so you don't want to be to far behind.
We played for a couple of hours. Was fun, kinda light-hearted so far. Hard to tell how the campaign will shape up. I was definitely the least effective from a combat perspective, but my skills were pretty useful. I told a bunch of BS stories and drank a lot of wine, and encouraged everyone else to tell BS stories.
It was a good time. That's all I can tell so far. :)
You could take a level in Wizard, and then aim for arcane archer, you will get some half decent casting abilities and keep your bab etc up too. As there are no arcane casters in your party then your all be it limited arcane spells will be handy
I second (third?) the idea of picking up a level of Wizard next level and aiming towards Arcane Trickster. Or even if you don't a level of Wizard is still handy. At the very least it will help your Will save. :)
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Arcane Trickster is your best bet - you NEED to leverage that high Int or you'll be doing nada in combat for the entire campaign. You'll probably need Weapon Finesse, so pick that up with a feat or the Finesse Rogue talent.
If you opt for a more martial route with Fighter/Rogue (which you'll need to do if you don't go Wizard), I would find a way to pick up the Pragmatic Activator trait and try to boost your UMD. You'll need a utility belt.
Alternately, Alchemist could fit the character quite well. Throwing bombs seems like a natural fit for her, though trading them in for Sneak Attack via Vivisectionist is also perfectly reasonable.
Why arcane trickster? Poor BaB, low HP, class abilities not that great. The Arcane archer has good BaB, good HP, decent skill points and only loses 3 caster levels. The class abilities aren't too shoddy either. Also it will be much better in melee combat. Just because it has archer in the name - the BaB and extra HP will apply when attacking in melee as well.