Preamble: I have two main issues I would like reviewed: 1) is the concept itself, suggestions to make it more fleshed would be appreciated, 2) is actually streamlining the higher concept into something usable. I have bolded the few aspects of the character that I'm fairly set on but would appreciate additional views and opinions.
So we're starting up a new homebrew game which is inspired in part by the core themes of Game of Thrones: honor, ambition, loyalty and likely also betrayal. This is going to be a first for me as a player in a few ways; chiefly that I've never played in a low magic / low fantasy game before. There will still be the more urbane monsters, magics, and mysteries but to a much lesser degree. For example there might be a dozen proper wizards on the continent, the 'monstrous' races will be relegated to the far outskirts of human settled lands, there will not be much in the way of planar creep (demon incursions, Elder Things, etc.). This is also going to involve a great deal more politics, positioning and tact than my standard knife-psycho fighters. We'll be playing lorded nobles or adjacently positioned people who act as intermediaries for the king.
I have decided that the general feel of my character is going to be akin to that of the Dothraki, less horseman (mounted combat is a mess no one wants to deal with) more nomadic tribal leader with a flair towards the 'noble savage'. The hills and wastes are savage lands and I think that it'd work to run a half-orc, diluted through a few generations (pick up Skilled racial trait). So in keeping with the savage lands feel I've decided to go with a multi-class Barbarian / Sorcerer. The sorcerer would be the aspect that separates this character from the rest of his tribe and raises him to actual renown. I know there's the Bloodrager and it's a lovely hybrid but I think the Urban Barbarian fits the feel and direction of the character better especially since a lot is going to take place in city / court. The bloodline feels best kept to the Orc Bloodline, this means I get my Darkvision back but people will think he's stern or glowering from constantly suffering the dazzled condition but meh, builds flavor. This could also work itself into political leverage should someone find out his true linage.
I have not pinned down the weapon I intend on using and I think it speaks to the characters being. I'm trying to avoid the greataxe, greatsword, generic standbys. The thematic elements from GoT might lend itself more to something similar to a Kopesh or the War Scythe. I personally like the visual of the Gandasa (Bhuj) since it adds an exotic feel despite being a martial weapon. Ultimately I'm not worried too much about damage or any of the crunch, I want something that will speak to my character being an alien with regards to culture. I would prefer a one handed weapon since it lends itself more to the nomadic elements.
I've wanted to try out the Words of Power alt rules for a while instead of standard spells. The GM has approved and thinks the feel of 'word magic' is much more fitting of the setting. I know it's going to be a little nerfed in comparison and a bit more headache but cue cards should alleviate some of that and a non-tactics driven game should afford me some leeway. In keeping with the feel of low magic / low flash I'm probably going to be picking Evocation and Conjuration as my opposed schools. If anyone has experience with Words of Power I'd be grateful on ways to tackle it.
I think you need to separate the flavor from the mechanics, first. You want a character that is thematically a barbarian. But does it need to be the barbarian class? Could it just be a nomadic barbarian sorcerer?
Is your concept more about casting spells, or hitting people with a weapon? Because you won't be able to do both with that combination of classes. If you want to hit people with a weapon, then maybe Sorcerer 1/Barbarian X can give you the flavor you want without sacrificing too much martial prowess. If you want to actually be casting spells effectively, however, I would say go single-class Sorcerer. If you want to carry around a weapon for the first few levels, you can still do that.
So, what is it you want out of the Barbarian levels? What is it you want out of the Sorcerer levels?
Evocation and Conjuration as my opposed schools.I'm not sure what you mean here, the Sorcerer doesn't have any opposed schools, the Wizard does.
Oh, yeah. You are exactly right, I was humoring a wizard aspect initially and I guess the notion of opposition schools sorta stuck with me. Regardless I will be going very light on learning effect words that duplicate effects from those two schools. 'Subtle magic' seems to be more the flavor for this idea.
I think you need to separate the flavor from the mechanics, first. You want a character that is thematically a barbarian. But does it need to be the barbarian class? Could it just be a nomadic barbarian sorcerer?
Is your concept more about casting spells, or hitting people with a weapon? Because you won't be able to do both with that combination of classes. If you want to hit people with a weapon, then maybe Sorcerer 1/Barbarian X can give you the flavor you want without sacrificing too much martial prowess. If you want to actually be casting spells effectively, however, I would say go single-class Sorcerer. If you want to carry around a weapon for the first few levels, you can still do that.
So, what is it you want out of the Barbarian levels? What is it you want out of the Sorcerer levels?
I see what you mean. I really would like to have my cake and eat it too with both classes but I'll end up with something supremely watered down as a result. I'm pretty smitten with that Urban Barbarian, it just works conceptually. I'm going to see if the GM will allow the archetype to be applied to the Bloodrager. That should solve this question of 'how much splash' to throw into it.
:EDIT:
I think I'm trying to get a martial sorcerer which is a bit tough to facilitate effectively. I'm stuck on the image of the barbarian / savage more than any of the mechanical aspects of it. You're right in that I could just as easily put up whatever window dressing flavor over it. I'm going to consider Magus.
The emphasis should probably be on melee combat, combat casting, using any magical abilities for self-buff and opponent-debuff (fear and cowing people?) but nothing really flashy like throwing fireballs or rays of ice.
The Urban Barbarian is pretty much only ever worth it if you are going for a dex-based build. Now, it is very good for a dex-based build, but unless you're planning on going into Fencing Grace or whatever i would highly recommend sticking with the regular Barbarian (by which I mean only taking the Invulnerable Rager archetype).
What I want out of the martial class is the ability to be able to reliably enter a melee combat situation and not get smeared into paste. Doing damage is a plus but I hate the one trick pony.
What I want out of a caster class is the ability to be flexible to my situation. Therefore I'm primarily looking for a spontaneous caster since I'm going to be using Words of Power.
Magus (Eldritch Scion) might just work for this purpose. I can reskin it to suit it.
Unfortunately due to some bizarre design decisions the Eldritch Scion is really bad. What you're describing (a spontaneous arcane caster with great versatility as well as the ability to hit stuff in combat) sounds like a Bard to me. The Chelish Diva archetype lets you cast in heavier armors if you're interested in that; the Dervish Dancer and Archaeologist archetypes are also good for Bards using 2-handed weapons, as well as dropping performance in favor of self-buff abilities that basically turn you into the group's primary martial character.