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Good day to you,
TLDR: Help me build a good herald/scout goblin.
I have one of those question about a paladin and a surrendered goblin sticking around, I am asking how to build the goblin. Here is a bit of background: The game is taking place in Fangwood, spread between Nirmathas and Lastwall. I am playing an Half-Orc Shinning Redeemer Paladin of Sarenrae but also playing it as a redeemer since it matches his back story. My 3 best skills are (in that order) Diplomacy, Ride and Sense Motive and I have just taken the Squire feat. I am following the code of Sarenrae laid out in Faiths of Purity. Our group is pretty easy going as the game is structured to have allow us to get in and out of the game should we be absent on a game night.
Now, onward to the situation at hand: In the last game, my fellow adventurers and I have killed all goblins in a village/camp(no innocent goblins anywhere) except for those that fled, those goblins for some strange reason were famished. At the end of the combat, a lone goblin stood in the middle of the camp entangled, I requested him to surrender and he quickly obeyed. After having traded food rations for information. As we concluded, the goblin told us he would be eaten by his barghest leader or burned to death by the alchemist shaman so he'd follow us anywhere.
After the game, the GM informed me that he could become my squire if I wished it. So I promptly started thinking of a concept that needs to minimize Murch the goblin's impact on the game:
-He would need to be able to get in town without me having to sponsor him all the time.
-He should have fast overland travel to act as a relay between PC still in town or to fetch me something.
-Be able to scout as we're rogue-less.
-Have minimal impact on group relations.
So I thought of building an herald/scout archer type of character to maximize his use of dexterity. I'm thinking of making him an Herald Squire (Cavalier, Order of the Dragon)/Infiltrator-Skirmisher (Ranger, Archery Style). I am putting his Dex as a primary stat and charisma as his second most important ability score.
So I am looking for a progression from level 1 to level 10 with a 25-pts build goblin, 2 traits, with only Paizo material, no 3rd party material allowed. There is no need for insane DPR or min/maxing but I simply want him to contribute to combat and be able to enter towns without being smitten by the local lawful stupid paladin.
I was thinking of:
Traits:
Honest & Ambitious
Levels:
Level 1-Cavalier: Order of Dragon, Challenge, Mount: Wolf, Introduction -Feat: Mounted Combat
Level 2-Ranger: Favored Enemy:Humans, Track, Wild Empathy
Level 3-Ranger: Combat Style:Archery, Style Feat:Point Blank Shot -Feat:Precise Shot
Level 4-Cavalier: Fleet of Foot
Level 5-Cavalier: Transcend Language -Feat:Rapid Shot
Level 6-Cavalier: Challenge, Expert Trainer
Level 7-Ranger: Adaptation: Skill Focus: Diplomacy, Endurance - Feat:Horselord
Skill Ranks
Every level: Diplomacy, Stealth and Survival.
Thanks for taking the time to read that wall :)
Shameless bump to see if anyone can suggest something, really at a loss here to make sure this squire is useful at level 1.
A scout absolutely has to max perception; more than stealth even. Order of the Dragon even gets it as a class skill. He's going to need a few ranks in ride too...
I'm not sure what you expect a first level non-caster to do to punch well above their weight. A few flasks of alchemists fire may help but basically the concept you've got doesn't lend itself to any of the obvious ways to try to be unreasonably good for his level.
Thanks for the tips avr. Taking note of the alchemists fire and I guess tanglefoot bags also.
Taking the Squire feat limits the choice of classes to Full Martial classes only, this is why I have chosen to go the Herald/Scout way with him. I can probably cut those roles. Would a magus contribute more at those lower levels (Level 1 to 4), when I hit level 7 I will be able to retrain him to another class since we're using the retraining/downtime rules.
As an additional detail, since I am a Redeemer Paladin, the goblin will be starting Neutral Evil and gradually shifting towards Neutral Good/Lawful Good.
OK, I understand; I wasn't familiar enough with the squire feat to know it needed non-casters only. Someone chucking alchemists fire or, just maybe, a gunslinger is about as useful as you could make a goblin squire in a fight.
Yes, a low-level magus could contribute in a fight more easily. It does need intelligence and doesn't directly benefit from charisma so switching Murch to it might be hard though. A bard could contribute without having to strike a blow himself and so might be easier to make useful (also a better scout & diplomat by far).
Squire feat requires the Squire to be single-classed, does it not? And, indirectly (due to fluff listed before the feat) a member of your knightly order. Has your DM waived these limitations? Its pretty obvious he is not worred about the 2nd (I wouldnt either, its more fun for the Goblin to prove himself with you and THEN get inducted into the order), but the 1st severely limits your options. The Cha penalty isnt so bad if it werent for the 'shoot Goblins on sight' mentality. Assuming they avoid that,there is a more RP-heavy solution--you give him papers sealed with wax imprinted with the symbol of your order to carry that explain the situation and the Goblins job. That should get him past most guards and whatnot without being butchered. Be sure to mention in the papers that you are trying to 'redeem' or at least civilize the little guy and all but the most kill-happy of Paladins should stay their hand.
Awesome suggestions Arturius. My GM has indeed handwaved the requirement to be a member of the order yet but I was not aware of the no multi-classing part, I guess I will have to keep him single-classed until he has proven himself.
With your suggestion, I guess I could simply skip the Herald part and simply make him an Archery Ranger with an eventual emphasis on Mounted Combat.
The official sealed papers is really a good idea, I guess I will have him wear a pin like the rest of our group so he can be instantly recognised as not a threat and to give him time to explain his business in town.
I wish I could rename this thread: Help me build a goblin scout ranger cohort...
Thanks guys for the excellent input!