Playing in a Skull and Shackles game. I started as the tank. I played a barbarian, and when he died, an antipaladin. Later, when the AP died, and we lost our wizard player, I decided to run a wizard, as the party didn't have another arcane caster.
It was exceedingly powerful, as well run wizards tend to be, but I HATED the prep work, so after a few sessions I "downgraded" to a goblin firebomber alchemist. Still frickin' powerful, but again, a bit more homework and prep work than I like. Plus, fire resistance makes me cry. But, that's beside the point. With stink bomb I'm effective, but I'm kind of a one trick pony, and I really dislike the extract mechanic. (I guess I just dislike being a prepared caster).
Anyways, we later got a sorcerer, so I feel my role as the non-divine caster is no longer strictly necessary.
So, now I'm fishing for simple, but effective and not one dimensional character ideas that will fit in with the rest of the group.
We have - an undine shaman with a swashbuckler one-level dip, a human scout/knifemaster rogue with a fighter one-level dip, a drow sorceress, and a vanilla human crit-fisher fighter who wields a falcata two-handed.
I dislike bards for the most part, I've found prepared casters to be too much of a headache, and if I do go full tank, I'd like to not outshine the pure fighter too much in straight DPS, as its her thing, she's a relatively new player, and she is enjoying being useful and having a defined niche (all of them are pretty much that way...one more reason I'm not wanting to stick with the alchy is he's outshining the rogue as the resident sneaky guy and he's a new player too I'd like to get some spotlight).
Suggestions?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't really have a ranged martial character. Paladin (Divine Hunter) Could potentially be a unique class to play as.
I tend to have a habit of abusing familiars...rolling knowledge and perception using me and the familiar...wand use abuse, etc, to the point where while I'm not banned from using a familiar, the GM is happier when I don't have a pet. It's supposed to be fun for him,too, so even though he hasn't said no, I know it annoys him, so I'm trying to avoid it.
The sorceress is a buffer with a hint of blasting, in her words.
The shaman is life for his primary mystery, and he usually hits with save-or-die and save-or-suck stuff, and is our primary (pretty much only) healer.
Paladins are the only GM-banned class, due to the nature of the AP.
Wouldn't oracle overlap with shaman too much?
Not sure if this helps, but my last few characters have been CN, CN, CE, and CN. Pretty much all but the Barbarian, who was a feral full orc, were selfish pricks. I'd like to break that habit so far as is possible for a pirate party. The barbarian was fondly remembered as simple, but loyal and aggressive if someone threatened his friend...kinda like a dog, almost, heh.
My favorite races are halflings (but not gnomes), elves, and monstrous races, like hobgoblins, orcs, and the like. I'm disinclined to play an elf this time around, due to the drow animosity inherent in the race.
I'm also developing an interest for dwarves of late, mainly cause literally nobody had played one for any of their characters this entire AP.
We're level nine, by the way, so "late bloomers" are an option.
I find early entry via SLA to be abhorrent cheese of the highest degree and will not use it.
Hmm...If I think of anything else that might help, I'll let you know!
The thing with a switch hitter is I end up defaulting to one or the other and end up wishing I didn't end up eating my feats splitting my focus.
I like the inquisitor and monk ideas, specifically zen archer, as I have liked the archetype since it came out and never really played one.
Aren't they a little MAD for classes, though? We're only 15-point buy. :(
Both seem pretty good for a dwarf, which is nice...
Why not give a Bolt Ace a try? They are about as sad as you can get.
I think this may be the only game where when someone asks for something simple to play, the first suggestion is a raging priest who can share the rage with the team who also has a sentient tumor that can detach and reattach on command.
Not a criticism, just cracks me up.
Okay, you're warming me up to inquisitor. The conversion inquisition seems really powerful. But...
The sorceress already is a face, and the shaman is pretty decent on charisma, too, so the first level ability might be overkill.
I think I'd end up more MAD if I multiclassed cleric with inquisitor, because I'd hate to waste channel, channel scourge is a thing, and quick channel actually makes channeling worth it.
Besides, is the drop in BAB and inquisitor abilities worth it for an extra domain, a couple first level slots I inevitably won't use due at lousy CL 1, and access to one feat?
Zen Archer does seem much simpler, but isn't it kind of a one trick pony? Or am I missing something? I do realize a ZA is kinda magic proof, though, which is cool.