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I have an idea to build a character inspired by Bottle from the Malazan series.
Its for a military game my friend is putting together. I want to play a sly (but inexperienced, a bit naive) mage type with access to more "primal" magic than usual so I'm thinking shaman.
The problem is that in books Bottle's Warren in Meanas which in pathfinder terms would be primarily illusion.
If I go Nature Oracle I can get the abilities to speak to different types of animals (this is important to the concept even though its not a great hex to take).
Through wandering hex I can get wizard spells for the illusions and as a human I can get some of the classic cleric spells.
I want him to be a magical jack of all trades but master of none. Might have a tool that can just about do the job but not perfectly. We have no other dedicated caster so I need to do a lot. Does that make sense?
The rest of the party will be a human ranger (archery focused - longbow refluffed as a crossbow for *reasons*), half-orc (trell) alchemist (bomber - the sapper), human stalker (from path of war - there's always a sneaky knife specialist in the marines!), and an as yet unknown but they like playing straight up beat people over the head characters so likely a fighter or barbarian.
Stats were done by everyone rolling and we take the best persons rolls for each of us. We got: 17, 16, 16, 14, 11, 10
So... What to build for this special ops marine unit?
As an avid Malazan reader, I am not quite sure why you do not use the sorcerer as a base for Bottle. It would allow you to have free access to all the illusion spells you want and gives you the magical jack of all trades you want him to be (Human favorite class bonus). Furthermore, you could use his mother or the Eres'al as the patron that is responsible for his sorcerous power. Finally, Kobold Press released the 'Green' bloodline that provides the sorcerer with the 'speak with animals' ability.
An oracle can take the Veiled Illusionist PrC at 6th level. Can you wait that long for your illusions? I haven't seen an illusion-type homebrew oracle mystery, sorry.
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As an avid Malazan reader, I am not quite sure why you do not use the sorcerer as a base for Bottle.
Mainly because the party as it stands will need to have someone capable of removing status effects so a divine class will be easiest.
I also don't think Bottle is all that charismatic! But thanks for the heads up on the Green bloodline its certainly something to think about.
Shaman jumped out at me due to Bottle messing around with Holds, his use of dolls, and other implments being less refined but also having surprisingly effective results. I don't recall any mention of his mother - his grandmother, a Jakatan hedge witch taught him magic didn't she?
I also like the wandering hex mechanic for representing warrens and I can't really explain why.
Avr - had completely forgotten about veilled illusionist. I wonder if its worth a dip or going full hog into it. Oracle could fit with him being touched (literally and inappropriately) by the Eres'al. But again charisma isn't how I wanna go! :(
I'm going to put a few builds together.