Starting the Skulls & Shackles AP soon and this looks like an opportunity to RP a nasty PC.
So the idea of Mr Chuckles the twisted murderer was hatched.
Skill wise Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (Comedy), Profession (Cook).
Feats Cbt Expertise and possibly Improved Channel.
Traits: Birthmark and two World Magic for Prestidigitation. Bar-room Tale-spinner as a free campaign trait..
Domains: Undeath & Trickery
Then I got playing around with options and a couple level dip in Archaeologist Bard and getting Extra Performance instead of Imp Channel.
Pros:
Free up a trait, those poison pies need to be tasty.
Fate's Favoured synergy with the Archaeologist buff.
Still fits with Norgorber's portfolio.
Still works within the concept.
Get more class skills and skill points.
Greater selection of weapons.
Cons:
Behind a level in Cleric spell casting.
No Birthmark trait...Unholy Symbol kinda obvious. Although I could get past that with some thought.
Armour kinda puts a dampener or Bardic spells but do-able.
Any thoughts? Suggestions?
Kinda thinking out loud really...
Thanks in advance.
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I think, rather than dipping, you should just go Inquisitor if you want that list of things in the 'pros' column. It's a very good class and fits Norgorber perfectly.
Giving up caster levels to try and do the concept with Archaeologist is not notably different thematically, and worse mechanically.
So I'd go flat-out Cleric or Inquisitor, your choice, but no dip.
I think you should make him so that no one knows he's a cleric of Norgorber.
Combat Reflexes not Expertise...doh!
And yes Cleric is a must...
And Channeling is fairly important...
Anymore ideas?
Definitely agree that if you're taking Prestidigitation in order to change items' flavor, and you're already taking Profession (Cook), then you already know how to bake tasty pies. So I'd leave out the Prestidigitation. Birthmark is great, though, I'd keep that. Fate's Favored is also a Faith trait, so you can only have one, and I think Birthmark works better to keep your cover.
How do you plan on playing him in combat? That will matter a lot for your final build.
ETA: You're planning on using Death's Kiss to create a selective channel? Interesting, but make sure your GM is cool with the Undead subdomain. Norgorber has access to Murder (and Death), but not Undead by the books. And what are your plans with the Combat Reflexes?
More to add: I'd almost be tempted to go with Death and Deception as your domains if you plan on using Combat Reflexes. Then you can use Bleeding Touch as an AoO and Sudden Shift to reposition yourself into the proper position to trigger more AoO.
Prestidigitation is there for two main reasons. Its a really useful and versatile cantrip and it will enable the PC to "poison" food with rotted meat, etc...something difficult to cover no matter how many ranks in Profession (Cook) you have.
PC certainly not neutral...
Undead swaps out the Bleeding Touch power for Death's Kiss to keep healing channels viable out of combat. Still keeping the Death's Embrace 8 lvl ability.
Fate's Favoured only there if not dipping. Too good to abandon IF taking Bard levels. So its either/or with Birthmark.
Channeling...an experiment really seeing how useful/effective using the variants (Disease to Sicken for example) so I am loath to lose that in an Inquisitor build. Also Undead creation is high on priorities, Skulls & Shackles...gotta have a skeleton crew! :)
Inquisitor...Interesting idea, originally I dismissed this as not fitting to well. Then I scratched out the name and worked the mechanics around hunting down victims rather than church heretics. Going to look at that closer.
If peeps think something is duff then please explain why and offer an alternative. "I don't think you should do X" without explanation isn't that useful without a "why".
Thanks again for input, people.
If you want to tickle your gm a bit play a halfling. There is a well established church of Norgerber on Bag Island (one of the largest islands in the Shackles) albeit a secret church. The halfling inhabitants don't mind it too much since they like killing slavers. The str penalty does hurt but the dex and charisma boosts are helpful especially if you are going to multiclass bard.
+1 for inquisitor though as the church of Norgerber has their little ritual once/year. They kidnap a random person off the streets, doesn't matter who they are, and sacrifices them on an alter in the name of their god.
If you want to be an inquisitor and channel, you can take a single level of cleric and then the channeling scourge feat to keep your channel dice up.
Hmm...I hadn't noticed this...
*goes back to play with Herolabs*
So let's check... The Trickery domain is just for the extra class skills, right? Also, I'm still wondering why Combat Reflexes is important for this build.
Since Inquisitors get Bluff, Disguise, and Stealth as class skills, Trickery might not be the best second domain for you. I'd consider Knowledge. Of course, Undead becomes your Inquisitor domain.
Still, ask your GM about Undead. According to the books, Norgorber faithful don't get access to the Undead subdomain, only the Murder subdomain. But if your GM is cool with it, great.
As for your traits, I'd go with Birthmark and... talk to your GM to see if you can take Potent Concoctions (Faiths of Corruption) or Venom-Drenched (Halflings of Golarion).
Which book does it say no access to Undead subdomain? No issues with it using Herolabs.
Combat Reflexes for reach weapon and AoO.
Norogorber on pathfinderwiki No undead subdomain. Herolab isn't always right.
Thank you.
:)
Check the APG book itself, you'll see it there.
How do you plan on boosting your Reach/AoO with your class abilities?
Also, if you're seriously interested in a Reach/AoO + Undead Channeling character, you might prefer Urgathoa, Zon-Kuthon, or Zyphus as your deity...
Oh! Check out the Dragon Empires deity of Fumeiyoshi! You get the Undead subdomain and proficiency with the naginata (martial reach weapon)!
(Now I'm imagining the adventurer version of Cook Teh from Jade Empire.)
Hmm...
Back to checking out Domains or GM fiat...
I did tinker with a Zon-Kuthon build, may revisit that.
Thanks again.