Cossack Character

[Paul Migaj]

Need some opinions on fleshing out a Cossack character.
Where would be the most appropriate homeland for such a character? Mendev?
I have the character using a scimitar and pistol, and being an excellent horseman.
What other feats, skills, equipment etc would you all suggest to fully represent the flavor of such a character and the Cossacks raiding culture?

I plan on making him a rogue with a level of gunslinger for just a touch of firearms. Would you also take levels of ranger or barbarian?

Thanks in advance.

[BltzKrg242]

Brevoy seems the most "russian" like land that I can recall.

Mounted combat seems a must. Ride by attack later.

Seems like he's going to get all mixed up with a lot of dips.

[Wolfsnap]

Why not make him a Cavalier?

[ShadowcatX]

Rogue is definitely out and barbarian is probably not a great choice if you're using firearms (though urban barbarian on the other hand. . .). I'd probably make him a cavalier / gunslinger. To maximize combat potential I'd go gunslinger 5, then into cavalier. For flavor I'd go cavalier 4 (to get expert trainer so I can get my mount up to my level) then into gunslinger or maybe start with a level of gunslinger.

[Kirth Gersen]

If you were playing Kirthfinder, the horse totem barbarian is perfect for that sort of thing. For a straight Pathfinder game, Cavalier seems like your best bet.

[Eric Clingenpeel]

Check out Hongal from the Dragon Empires. The wiki doesn't have a lot on it, but the primer and gazetteer.

I'd post more than this, but don't want to get into trouble.

Dragon Empires Gazetteer wrote:

With the exception of those few who dwell in the cities,

the Tian-Las are a nomadic people. While they often travel in
smaller groups, these groups band together to form huge,
townlike encampments of anywhere from a few dozen to
several thousand people when they halt. Hongal’s nomads
have strict codes of honor and bravery, and sometimes
honor their horses more than their own families.

[Andrew R]

Cossack is a horseman first and foremost, cavalier with some gunslinger or isn't their an archetype for a gun using cavalier?

[tonyz]

Ranger with mounted combat style. Cossacks were frontiersmen as well as raiders... But, honestly, just about any combination of horses, preferably light/fast, and some decent skills, would let you build a Cossack. It's not like they have a required academic course of study or something.

[notabot]

The river kingdoms pretty much perfect for Cossacks, since their homeland IRL is Ukraine. Which looks amazingly like the river kingdoms. River kingdoms are south of Brevoy (Russia) and east of Ustalov (Romania) and North of Taldor (Byzantium), though technically Galt is in between. Pretty much perfect location for semi independent river based horselords.

[Cole Deschain]

For a fantasy gaming Cossack? I'd take Ranger over Barbarian (purely personal choice).

Say one level of Cavalier (since they get their horse at level 1, unlike Rangers, which used to be how I built my Cossacks), Order of the Dragon (for loyalty to his comrades in arms), and then try to ignore all the bannery formalized army stuff the Cavalier picks up later in favor of insane bravery and skill.

[Korpen]

Cavalier with the Emissary archetype sounds pretty much spot on.
As the emissary loose heavy armour and the support abilities in return for more mounted mobility feats (for both mount and rider) it is very much in the spirit of a Cossack.
Especially when one considers that the lance is the weapon the Cossack cavalry is most famous for.

[Eric Hinkle]

notabot wrote:

The river kingdoms pretty much perfect for Cossacks, since their homeland IRL is Ukraine. Which looks amazingly like the river kingdoms. River kingdoms are south of Brevoy (Russia) and east of Ustalov (Romania) and North of Taldor (Byzantium), though technically Galt is in between. Pretty much perfect location for semi independent river based horselords.

I have to agree with this, it does seem like a perfect place for them along with Iobaria.

But with all the 'cossacks are always horsemen' -- am I mistaken, or did some of the Ukraine cossacks not also work as river pirates? I remembr reading a biography of the cossack leader Stenka Razin which pointed out the piratical raids he launched through the Black Sea against Turkish and Persian shipping.

[therealthom]

Don't forget the dancing!

[Alexander Arid]

This is an interesting idea, I'm glad someone made a post about it. I thought on this idea and here is my conclusion.

The Cossack Style
Class:rated from most accurate to less accurate: 1. Cavalier(Cossacks are cavalry soldiers) 2. Fighter/gunslinger(while being a cavalry unit they made good use of firearms on foot and mounted). 3. Bard(if you are interested in combining historical Cossacks with fantasy magic a bard would be your best bet. when people think of Cossacks they often think of their cultural side involving music and dance)

Region: I have to agree with the others on Brevoy or the river kingdoms.

Items: unfortunately paizo does not have the Cossack favorite the sabre but the scimitar will work just as well. As for ranged if you are building an early Cossack then a composite bow will work, for a later Cossack firearms are your best bet. for armor you need to do light armor.

Skills: you should focus on the more physical skills especially ride and handle animal.

Feats: mounted combat would be the main feat along with other necessary feats for your class.

Alignment: any chaotic

Well that's all I could come up with, hope it helps.