I was going to write out some sort of explanation for this whole thing, but instead I went against it because I do not feel like spending time to explain.
Basically my choices are Gnome or Halfling and I need to make a front line fighter. Level 1, Pathfinder Society Rules and I do own the Core 5 (Core, UM, UC, APG and Race Guide.), so that is my limited material beyond whatever else PFS allows.
I was thinking Dip Paladin and then go fighter, or full in either/or. Though some feat and simple build suggesstions would be nice.
Also, for Halfling I was thinking of taking Fleet of Foot or whatever it is that raises your speed to 30.
Gnomes and Halflings unfortunately don't make great melee characters because -2 to strength really hurts in the long run, and then being slow and lower weapon damage on top of that is just a kick in the nads. Usually you overcome this by downplaying the low strength with something like dervish dance.
Is there anything in particular you want to do with this character? Have an interest in a particular kind of casting, playstyle, or something you want to do beyond being a melee character who's a little on the short and slow side? Lots of ways to play finesse if your going that route.
I know they do not make good melee characters, smaller weapon and -2 strength suck. I am not worried about speed since both my allies are a Gnome and a Halfling. (Party of short folk.).
So being a melee/close range character I was leaning towards Paladin or Fighter, I have never done a Paladin in Pathfinder so I thought it would be fun to try out.
I am probably going to go Weapon Finesse/Dervish Dance to be able to put out some damage. My planned job is to be the one taking/avoiding the hits so the other two don't get squished. One of them is a Rogue, so they need a melee, the other I do not know there class other than I was informed ranged.
Dervish dance is interesting, and I've been curious about having a gnome or paladin mounted character - either paladin, cavalier, or barbarian with the right ability. Mounted combat loses a lot of its problems when your mount can come with you anywhere you go.
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Have you Tried a Mounted Little Character? Paladins, Cavalier/Samurai, Fighter, Barbarian, Inquisitor or Ranger?
All can access Mounts/animal companions in some fashion (archetypes/domains) and will up your land speed. Since the mount is Medium it can go anywhere the party can go.
Because of Spirited Charge you do x3 damage on a charge. Smite damage, Challenge damage, Favored Enemies all add up and are multiplied by 3.
I feel the paladin can reach the best numbers when smiting followed by a cavalier With his challenge ability. But the Ranger is not far behind them damage wise. The other classes I've never witnessed in action but I am having a Blast playing a Halfling Beast Master Ranger with mounted combat feats. I chose the Ranger because of the Archetype that allows me to use Exotic mounts more then a war pony or riding dog. I ride a Giant Gecko and climb walls and charge people on the ceilings. Its kinda funny all the places you can climb and trivializes scouting with your High movement and climbing. Not to mention the ranger gets a lot more skills then a paladin or Cavalier.
Lastly Have you thought of Using a companion as your "front liner"? Play a druid, cleric, or Sorcerer and gain access to the Animal companion.
I've witnessed a Wildblooded Fey Sorcerer take Boon companion as there first feat and then use Enlarge person on the Animal companion at level 1. The companion was rather dominate. A sorcerer has spells that would make a Animal companion super hard to kill and super strong. With Share spell you can cast spells that normally would not target an animal.
Bulls strength, Mirror Image, Enlarge Person, Paragon Surge, Fly, Stone skin, Mage armor, RAGE, Poly-morphs, False life, Invisibility, ext ext.
A small sorcerer with a Roc pet will have a bad ass Melee pet and a cool mount they can ride as well if you so desire.
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Not sure how the idea of having an Animal Companion being the front liner slipped my mind. Summoner, Druid or Fey Sorcerer could all do those well.
I have been giving Consideration to doing Cavalier or Paladin and using a Lance with a Medium Mount and charging. That is probably where I was going to end up going.
I may have to go with that Sorcerer Idea...I do love Sorcerers.
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In PFS wand of Infernal Healing allows you to heal your Animal companion as well as yourself. I will say it is defiantly different.
Either way have fun. If you need some more help start a new thread with a General idea of character concept like class, some feats you want to work in, maybe skills you would like to have. I look at the boards enough I will see it and help you with the rest of the community.
I'm waiting to do the Wildblooded Fey Sorcerer when I get the Kitsune Boon. The Enchantment DCs would be insanely difficult to pass. Just take the non Language dependent ones like Hideous laughter, Terrible remorse...and watch the enemies be helpless before your big nasty Beast.
If you want to do a Halfling Paladin, see if you can take your first level as Bard (Dawnflower Dervish). You get Dervish Dancer as a bonus feat at 1st level, and you can use inspire courage on yourself for +2 attack and damage. That lets you do a Dex/Charisma build for a frontliner, which capitalizes on the Halfing race traits.
Halfling cavaliers are pretty decent front liners, and the medium mounts can go anywhere without causing problems.
If you want to do a Halfling Paladin, see if you can take your first level as Bard (Dawnflower Dervish). You get Dervish Dancer as a bonus feat at 1st level, and you can use inspire courage on yourself for +2 attack and damage. That lets you do a Dex/Charisma build for a frontliner, which capitalizes on the Halfing race traits.
Halfling cavaliers are pretty decent front liners, and the medium mounts can go anywhere without causing problems.
Don't ask me how I forgot about that Archetype, specially since the only non-core supplemental I own is Inner Sea Magic.
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I will be honest That is a strong suggestion to mix 1 level of Dawn-flower Dervish Bard and Paladin.
Start the dance in the surprise round or in a round before you set up your charge. The 1 level dip will add so much to the character as well. It is +2 to hit and +6 on the spirited charge. It offers a means to do damage off your mount as well with a scimitar. With a Lance + Scimitar + Halfling sling staff you can buy-pass all low level resistances on none smite targets. You will get great skills outside your paladin List.
Very strong indeed.
Ever since I played one, a Halfling Paladin with Power Attack, and Elven Curved Blade, and Weapon Finesse has been my favorite.
For Golorion flavor, be an escaped slave from Cheliax and use your old chains(few forged into a spiked chain) as your go-to weapon!
For Golorion flavor, be an escaped slave from Cheliax and use your old chains(few forged into a spiked chain) as your go-to weapon!
For extra flavor, shoot yourself in the foot. Awww yeah! Everyone will love you! Until you tell them to carry you anyway. I mean, you did shoot yourself in the foot. They also might not like you being a cliché... You know, maybe this needs more thought.
Not everything has to be the absolute best, you know. Sure, the Spiked Chain isn't the ECB, but the ECB finesse/power attack isn't a barbarian raging with a falchion for 2d4+13 points of damage at 1st level either. ;p
Not everything has to be the absolute best, you know.
Don't remember saying it was, just noting that it isn't the best, though in a little bit of an extreme way. I've actually seen a lot of escaped halflings already. It can be flavorful depending on the person playing, but its not exactly unique or new.
Could you imagine a Halfling with a spiked chain though? High voice shrieking "fear my two handed finessable D6! I spent 2 feats to do this and I'm not afraid to use this!"
Playing the underdog is fun tho.
Its one thing to play an underdog, its another thing to shoot yourself in the foot to be the underdog. The underdog motif is best done with roleplay rather than mechanical for a number of reasons.
A d6 backed up by smite and power attack and, later on, Dex from Agile and the Weapon Bond...
I am going with the Halfling Bard/Paladin, I think it will be enjoyable for me. And no, no slave background, not really my thing in this case.
Just looking at Feats now since my main weapon will be a Scimitar. So many to choose, so few feat slots.
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Well lets see some options are:
Feats for damage:
Weapon Focus-Scimitar
Improved Critical-Scimitar
Arcane Strike
Power Attack (if you dump Str then at least you have Piranha Strike.)
Piranha Strike
Risky Striker
Feats for Intimidate:
Cornugon Smash
Dazzling Display
Feat for a Typical Paladin:
Extra Lay on Hands
Feat for Flavor:
Shatter Defenses
Extra Performance
Feats for Skirmishing:
Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack/Whirlwind Attack
Vital Strike
Feats for Defense:
Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack/Lightning
Cautious Fighter
Extra Lay on Hands
Just take your Pick based on what your play style is.
The thing I see with the option your going with is your AC will be lower due to not wearing heavy armor BUT Your saves will be awesome.
You can use wands/scrolls/potions to get spells like Mirror Image, Blur, Bark skin, Resinous Skin, ext ext.
I would defiantly invest in Use Magic Device as a skill as it will be invaluable to this character. You can be using spells Like Lead Blades to increase your damage further. Wand of Longstrider to get 10 ft more movement for 1 hour.
The Halfling Favored Class Option for Paladin is Amazing do not over look it.
Other then that Have fun.
I know you have already made a plan, but here is a rough layout for a swashbuckler halfling I think could be pretty effective, set up at level 8. Saves are the weak spot, partially made up by charmed life.
Level 8 swashbuckler halfling
Str 10
Dex 20 (22)
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 8
Cha 16 (18)
Racial Trait - Fleet of Foot
Skills - Acrobatics, Climb, Bluff, Perception (primarily)
Traits - Andoren Freedom Fighter, Fortified Drinker
Feat -
1. Weapon Finesse (Bonus)
1. Pirahna Strike
3. Improved Unarmed Strike
4. Crane Style
5. Cautious Fighter
7. Dodge
8. Osyluth Guile
Deed
1. Derring-do
3. Precise Strike
7. Superior Feint
Items - (~33k of gear)
+1 Agile, Keen Rapier
Belt of Incredible Dexterity +2
Headband of Alluring Charisma +2
Ring of Protection +1
Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier
Cloak of Resistance +2
Amulet of Natural Armor +1
+1 mithral chain shirt
+1 buckler
wayfinder with clear spindle ioun stone
(eventually, also gloves of dueling and dusty rose prism ioun stone)
At level 8:
Take -2 to hit, gain +6 to AC (or +10 with Osyluth Guile vs. on opponent). Base AC 28; fighting defensively 34 - 38 at level 8, spend a panache for 4 more points of AC.
Saves (with +2 cloak) of F/R/W +7/15/4 plus charmed life (+4) 4/day plus +2 vs. mind affecting after drinking alcohol
Attacks +15/+10 (including fighting defensively), 1d6+8 (plus +8 from precise strike,which is not multiplied on crit)), 15-20/x2; pirahna strike for another -3/+6 to damage