Ok, so I ran this as an NPC once and I am gearing up to join a World's Largest Dungeon game.
I wanted to see if anyone else has ever run anything similar.
The concept is that you are an eclectic adventurer.
You take no more than 1 levels in any given class.
The upside is that you always benefit from that front loaded stat distribution (your saves end up being quite insane).
The downside is wonky BAB progression (based on class selection) and non-existent spellcasting.
Oh yeah, say good by to any favored class bonus.
In my (limited) experience with it, the build works better as a martial class rather than a caster (you just can't get the spells/caster level).
The “Everyman”
Scores
*Assuming +0 stat modifier.
Note: Obviously this particular build isn’t perfect due to the paladin/barbarian levels which have conflicting alignments (though alignment CAN change and some GMs might be nice :-D ).
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I tried something like this myself once as a theory.
The biggest problem is BAB. Only full-BAB classes will let you advance it, and there are only 6 of them (and as you said, Paladin and Barbarian don't mesh) which means if the game goes anywhere past level 9 or 10 you're going to start struggling to hit.
Full-BAB prestige classes are your only real means of averting this, but for some the prereqs are so steep you're hurting yourself more than helping.
Arcane Archer might be worth it if you plan to use a bow, since with your BAB issues you'll want Weapon Focus anyway.
Assassin is the simultaneously the easiest and hardest PrC to qualify for, depending on how your GM feels about evil characters. It's pretty front-loaded as well, so it'd be worth it even without a BAB boost.
Battle Herald only needs one level each of Cavalier and Bard, if you can spare the skill points.
Duelist is easy enough to qualify for, but only if you're going for a Finesse build. All it really offers at level 1 is +1 BAB, +1 AC, and +1 damage.
Holy Vindicator will cost you a single feat and one level of Cleric, but all you'd get out of it is another point of BAB and a +1 to your shield's AC if you spend a standard action.
Horizon Walker costs six ranks in a skill you'll never use and a feat you'll never need, in exchange for a favored terrain. I dismissed it as worthless the first time, but in a World's Largest Dungeon campaign where you'll always be in the same terrain? The feat you need (Endurance) is also one of the ones you'll need for Stalwart Defender, which gives you a pretty sweet combat power, so you might decide to grab HW anyway.
Pathfinder Chronicler isn't full-BAB, but Deep Pockets might justify the skill rank expenditure.
And that's just Core and APG-- the PFSRD lists a ton more. If you can track down the books the right ones are in, you might get to Level 20 with more PrC's than base classes!
Totally agree.
In like an ECL 5 game, it works nicely.
If you are going above that, you might want to talk to your GM about using 3rd party classes that are full BAB.
The other option is do like 1 level in all 6 classes and rinse and repeat or just start taking fighter levels to build out your feats.
Then again if you really want something from a class like bard or whatnot and you don't mind taking a -1 to your BAB it can be a good trade. Not a lot of full BAB classes give you Will saves (Paladin is the only core one I think).
If you want to hit up like rogue/inquisitor/etc you can always adjust your expectations on BAB and aim to be like medium BAB (ala rouge).
As a side note, deep pockets is ALWAYS worth it :-)
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Your other option is to grab a level in every class with a decent spell list and load up on wands. If rogues can pump their UMD and get by with a bandolier of wands, why couldn't you?
Actually, I forget the rules for UMD, but with one level each of Cleric, Wizard, and Bard, you'd be styling on 1st-level wands alone and never need to make a UMD check. A wand of Bless makes that level of Cleric as good as a full-BAB class for you, Enlarge Person is great on any martial type, and Shield is always nice as well.
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I have a friend who got challenged to play one in pfs. He turned out quite well be the last time I saw him in action, level 9 or 10. I imagine the higher you go the more it falls apart but if you we for enough full bab prestige classes I guess you should do alright.
With the new acg classes you have a few more options as well, though for the most part one level is not much different than their parent classes.
For prcs I'd shoot for duelist, eldritch knight (assuming sla), celestial knight, chevalier, furious guardian, golden legionaire, grand Marshall, Hellknight enforcer, holy vindicator, horizon walker, living monolith (looses a bab, but ability is pretty good), pit fighter, sentinel, stalwart defender, steel falcon and student of war.
Some other notable shout outs would be monk(sohei/master of many styles and 3 good saves), shadowdancer (depending on your build path you may very well meet all the requirements anyway), alchemist (mo strength), and life Oracle or cleric (qualify for some prcs)
Hmm, looking at this list i may try the challenge!! Seems like figuring out a build that works would be fun.
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Here's a rough draft for a ranged Everyman Paladin of Erastil build for fun:
S 12
D 16 (18 After Bonus)
C 14
I 14
W 12
C 7
Level Class Feat Special
1 Paladin (Divine Hunter) point blank, rapid reload, Precise Shot
2 Monk (Zen Archer) (Rapid Shot)
3 Gunslinger Iron Will
4 Barbarian (Urban)
5 Fighter (unbreakable) Dodge endurance/diehard
6 Ranger (wild Stalker) Low Light Vision
7 Celestial Knight Clustered Shots
8 Furious Guardian
9 Chevalier Many Shots
10 Horizon Walker
11 Hell knight commander Toughness
12 Stalwart Defender
13 Steel Falcon quickdraw
14 Grand Marshal
15 Golden Legionaire Deific Obedience
Everyman through level 15. You should be able to pretty effectively switch between archery and guns, using archery at range and guns close up. You only loose 1 BAB through level 15, and since you can target touch if needed you should do fine. You can also punch stuff if it gets close or your so inclined, which you probably won't do a ton, but I imagine it may come in handy occasionally.
I went with human because of the skills (need lots of skills just to take all these classes) and of course the feat. You could probably make some slight adjustments and use an Aasimar if you were so inclined. I went with wild stalker for low light vision, if I had darkvision I'd likely have gone Warden so I can increase a Favored terrain and add another one.
He's probably not the most hardcore you could have, but for an AP or a PFS he should be sufficient to carry you through the game.
For the next few levels I'd probably go:
16 Kensai Weapon Focus (Longbow)
17 Sentinel
18 Arcane Archer
19 Cavalier/Samurai
I think I'll try a martial mockup too.
Edit: I was trying to make him PFS legal, with the new rules on alignment changes it would probably be best to start with barbarian and then follow the plan as intended so you only need to spend 2 PA on alignment shifts. Delays you being good at range for an extra level though...use some GM Credit maybe:)
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Pretty sure that Half-Elves can get feats that make all classes their favored class, and that humans can get their hands on a feat that lets them get multiple favored class bonuses.
Also, the Boon Companion feat lets you use levels in other classes to increase your animal companion's power, so it can be the fighting type character and the PC can buff it.
Also also, I believe there's a trait that lets you count a few non-caster levels as caster levels for one of your casting classes.
Edit: Also also also, have this guy as the party wand user. after all, he's going to have practically every spell list after a while so he doesn't even need use magic device.
It'd be a lot more feasible if you use fractional BAB; i.e. you get .75 BAB when you take a level of monk and .75 BAB when you take a level of rogue, which effectively equals +1 BAB. Always round down.
That (helps) solve the BAB issue by quite a bit, I'd wager, and ameliorate the problem of constantly having to qualify for PrC to stay on track.
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It'd be a lot more feasible if you use fractional BAB; i.e. you get .75 BAB when you take a level of monk and .75 BAB when you take a level of rogue, which effectively equals +1 BAB. Always round down.
That (helps) solve the BAB issue by quite a bit, I'd wager, and ameliorate the problem of constantly having to qualify for PrC to stay on track.
It was pretty rough for the ranged build, but check out my melee build!
Human Paladin of Torag! Probably better ways to do this, but I dig Torag and his obedience is one of the best martial ones in the game.
S 18
D 12
C 14
I 14
W 12
C 7
Level Class Feat Special
1 Barbarian Weapon Focus (Warhammer), Iron Will
2 Cavalier (Gendermae) Power Attack
3 Paladin (Divine Hunter) Deific Obedience (Torag), Precise Shot
4 Monk (Sohei) Toughness Dodge
5 Fighter (unbreakable) Quick Draw endurance/diehard
6 Gunslinger
7 Ranger (Wild Stalker) Rapid Reload Low Light Vision
8 Sentinel
9 Furious Guardian Clustered Shots
10 Celestial Knight
11 Stalwart Defender Deadly Aim
12 Chevalier
13 Grand Marshal Rapid Reload
14 Hell knight commander
15 Steel Falcon
16 Golden Legionaire
17 Horizon Walker
18 Living Monolith
I actually ended up liking this guy a lot better I think. A lot less finagling. In his current build I have the feat prerequisites for every PRC by level 5. I could easily stretch this out over several levels if I'd like to. Heck, if I change the order of the PRC's I could actually cut out gunslinger and Ranger from this build at lower levels, which may be desirable as some of the PRC's grant much better abilities IMO.
So I have him max out some melee feats early on, and then dip into ranged for versatility, mostly so he can reliably use his gun when he feels like it, or bust out a bow for when neither warhammer or gun really help.
By level 18 he's lost two BAB, though he gains a swift action embiggin for one of them and all the wonderful benefits of one level of monk (which includes a prerequisite feat) for the other. The enlarge synergizes extremely well with defensive stance too, allowing you to pretty much be a giant boulder none shall pass. Thats not too terrible at all!
He should be able to hold up pretty well, will have a nice HP pool, decent defenses and offenses and contribute in most situations. He may not deal as much damage as consistently as the archer/gunslinger above (but really who is as consistent without pounce). I think he'd make a fine addition to most parties! And he's PFS legal as well, so he should fly in most games.
Indeed. Having run it ranged, caster, and melee. Full BAB (or close to it) it was more viable.