Starting Kingmaker- Advice on a class?

[Where is my drink]

So, long story short here:
We are currently about to start the Kingmaker campaign, but according to our GM we are likely not going to make it past level 4-5. People are moving soon etc etc.. But we really want to get a new player involved and get a little playtime in for her.

There will be 3 of us, and the other 2 players classes will be a Monk and a Ranger with 2 weapon fighting(so I assume melee). We are not allowed to be Evil characters and all that jazz.

Now in my other game I am an inquisitor and I love it. I can do decent damage, I have a few spells which are useful enough, and I have skills all day which makes most of my roleplaying(my favorite part of the game) a lot of fun.
I have tried a paladin in a different game and seen what some other classes can do, but I am having a hard time finding something that has something that really grabs me.

I was thinking gunslinger or Oracle maybe... But honestly I have no clue at this point what would be fun. Rogue has the skills but Im not sure about damage at those levels...

TL;DR
Making a new character for Kingmaker, only going to level 5, other two players are a melee ranger and a monk. Want something that has cool skills and can roleplay in a fun way, but isnt useless in combat.

Thanks!

[Pan]

I would vote Oracle.

[phantom1592]

I'm loving my Paladin. He's been fun for all his levels.

[lemeres]

How about a bard? They have decent enough melee options (arcane strike is always good for adding a point or two of damage, and the longsword is not bad for a decent 2handed strength build), and you can use your performance to add bonuses to everyone's attack and damage. And quite honestly, the vanilla bard has the most access to skills out of any class. It also has access to some arcane magic and healing which should help given the other two characters.

Inquisitors are also good in a similar vein. They have less of the raw buffing ability, but they are just as good in melee. You could also go for a ranged build with their bow access.

[BornofHate]

I would recommend playing a caster of any type. If only to show the new player what casting spells is like.

[Insain Dragoon]

Bard, Magus, Oracle, alchemist, and Sorceror are great options. They have tons of flavor!

A bard archer is a fine build for this game considering how melee centric the group seems. Always get precise shot.

Oracle, alchemist, and sorc can put on ranged hurt or utility.

Skill wise bard, alchemist, and Oracle offer the most.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

I recommend a High Charisma Type character. A Sorcerer is a good class for Kingmaker as is the Oracle. It is their first game so keep it simple and fun. Nothing is hard about a set spell list and leveling a Sorcerer.

I feel bard and alchemist is too overwhelming to a new player as it requires proper play to be good and newbies do not have proper play. And since your going to just level 5 keeping it to a simple class will help them not think the game is too overwhelming at first.

[Mydrrin]

Oracle is my vote.

[Insain Dragoon]

Make sure the new player DOES NOT pick a Rogue. Rogues need true min maxing to even be useful, so a new player should avoid Rogue like the plague.

[Belafon]

If you're only going to level 4 or 5...

I recommend a bard for you and an oracle of battle for her. (I would recommend a sorcerer or wizard for you if you were going to higher levels.)

Battle is fairly straightforward and makes a decent archer at low levels. It also gives you a healer without forcing her into the "the new girl plays a healer" straightjacket. All in all it's a good introduction to all the aspects of Pathfinder (fighting, spellcasting, and has decent skills). You playing a bard takes the pressure off her to not be the only "face" and provides good buffing and spells at those low levels. That duo gives you plenty of overlap but doesn't make anyone redundant.

[deuxhero]

Insain Dragoon wrote:

Make sure the new player DOES NOT pick a Rogue. Rogues need true min maxing to even be useful, so a new player should avoid Rogue like the plague.

Or a non-zen archer Monk.

[EsperMagic]

Even a cavalier is surprisingly fantastic character early levels excepot for one plot point.

[Umbranus]

Bard!

[Giridan]

I personally love Oracle, but If your GM is allowing ACG, Shaman is an excellent spell casting class. Oracle is good still, Personally I prefer Oracle to Cleric. Although the Curse is kind of burdening, You have the option to dip into rage prophet, which is one of my favorites. I guess what i'm saying is: go shaman, if not, go Oracle.

[Where is my drink]

I think I will go with bard... still torn about oracle.

But let's see a build, level 1, 20 point buy. Anyone wanna assist me on that?

And...go!

Also, thanks for the great positive feedback, its been great

[Where is my drink]

Probably would go ranged if the damage isn't decent by the way

[SmiloDan]

Newbies should play rangers. They're fun and easy and introduce lots of gaming concepts as they level up (bonus feats, pets, spells), and have lots of the skills newbies like to use and the skills that are always useful (Perception!).

For a 3 person party, I would play a cavalier, druid, or summoner to get a pet.

[Mordo the Spaz - Forum Troll]

Witch.

[G.ame O.perational D.irector]

>.> try this on for size

Start as a monk until 2nd (master of many styles) *crane style* you can have all three feats by second level if you start as a human.

Then fighter (swordlord)... focus all your feats into that dueling sword it's really pays off at 8th level when you choose to get the prestige class swordlord

If you feel froggy maybe a dip into the duelist prestige class though your looking at what benefits you get out of it as compared to the SL prestige class they both are good it's just what flavor you want.

This combo with three ranks in acrobatics for the bonus to fighting defensively and the crane wing bonus on top of that and the repost

It get's nasty as all hell and damn difficult to hit the AC alone out classes every thing in the CR had one of my players come up with this combo by 8th level he had something like a 38AC which made him a hell of a tank because he would get in and taunt bad guys and get them to come after him and waste attacks, while he relied on his evasion from the monk class to help him get out of most of the artillery the casters were throwing into the melee.

last time I encourage my players to make things that work together... this is what they come up with.

[Sir Thugsalot]

If the campaign is a short one, I'd avoid "end-loaded" classes (i.e., spellcasters) and go for high cinema:

human 20pt
STR+17
DEX:14
CON:14
INT:11
WIS:12
CHA:12

Traits: any two granting class Diplomacy and Sense Motive
01 barb1 Extra Rage, Raging Vitality
02 fight1 [Cad archetype], Power Attack
03 fight2 [Dirty Maneuvers], Combat Reflexes, Pushing Assault
04 barb2 STR>18, [Reckless Abandon +1]

Concept: kick-all-the-ass-and-bed-all-the-wenches muscle-bound charmer. Your main weapon is a bardiche.

Maxed skills: Diplomacy, Intimidate, Acrobatics, Sense Motive
1-rank skills: Swim, Climb, Ride, Handle Animal, Bluff

Role: King

[Where is my drink]

Alright, I almost feel bad for the change of heart, but I decided on a Gunslinger at the last moment. Not sure what came over me, but I guess I figured if it was going to be a short campaign I may as well try out something interesting to me that might be good or lame.

Thank you for all the help though, I really want to play a bard in some future game, for sure.

[Mordo the Spaz - Forum Troll]

Best of luck.

Don't feed the trolls.