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My Society group wants to start a campaign of Rise of the Runelords, and I'm eager as ever to participate. I'm trying to think of concepts to base a new character around, and currently the Shoanti have my interest. However, the player's guide for RotRL does not incorporate the APG character classes, so I was looking for some advice on them.
Currently, I'm interested in either the Shriikiri-Quah (Hawk Clan) and Skoan- Quah (Skull Clan) for a background, and planning ideas accordingly. But my information on the individual tribes does not cover much. So, what I need from the rest of you are a few bits of info or advice as to how well a concept would work for the given tribe.
For instance:
Witch- I'm thinking a Skull Clan witch would be quite fun, but having a little trouble deciding on patron spells. Also, how well are witches received by Shoanti? Seems like they would be a good fit, but I want to make sure!
Summoner- Also unsure of this one, as it might be made to fit any of the clans. Hopefully you guys and girls have better ideas about how to incorporate a Shoanti Summoner? Again, how well are these received by Shoanti?
Cavalier- I read that the Sun Clan is famous for their mounted warriors, but don't know how well one would work with Shoanti. Perhaps just a mounted Barbarian instead?
Ideas, please! All advice and info on the tribes is welcome! :)
If you can get your hands on Pathfinder 10 (Curse of the Crimson Throne book 4, A History of Ashes), there's a nice section in the middle providing a lot more insight into the Shoanti and their various tribes.
As for my opinion, I'm not sure how well a summoner would be received by the Shoanti, given the clearly unnatural origin of the eidolon. Arcane magic in general tends to be frowned on by most tribal societies. Though perhaps it could be reflavored/explained as some sort of communing with the spirits.
A witch could easily be a version of a tribal shaman sort, given the animistic nature of Shoanti culture. Hawk clan would have good reason to commune with animals, while Skull clan might have more traditional spirit ties.
As for Cavalier, it might be a bit of an awkward fit. Of the clans, I think it would best fit the Spire clan, as they are the diplomats of the Shoanti. Their rite of passage involves venturing out and meeting with members of the other clans. You could choose an order that reflects a dedication to the Shoanti people and try to ease tensions between tribes.
An Oracle would be an easy fit into tribal life, particularly a nature oracle among the Hawk clan. It could be a tribal shaman of sorts.
I don't really see a good way for an Alchemist, Inquisitor, Magus, or Gunslinger to fit tribal culture.
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If you want to take interest in the Shoanti race, there is a Companion booklet that coverfs that area. It is called Varisia, Birthplace of Legends.
It gives information on the background of the clans, what types of tatoos that might perk your interests, as well as a few traits that might fit your character, like a steed that you can call via whistling which you can ride bareback. Other features include the infamous Thunder and Fang Feat, which let you use an Earthbreaker (A two-handed weapon) in one hand, and fight with your klar (a shield) as a light weapon.
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I've made a Goliath (D&D3.5) under pathfinder rules that was part Cavalier and used an earthbreaker. He had a lot of thematic ties with the shoanti.
For him, I focused less on the mounted aspect of Cavalier and more on the teamwork feats - putting him into the role of Team Captain, getting people where they needed to be and smashing the opposition.
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The Varisian Companion mentioned above describes a very thematic weapon combo called Thunder and Fang, using the Earthbreaker (a giant maul) in one hand and a Klar (spiked shield) in the other.
A build focused on this style will almost have to be at least part fighter, since it is pretty feat intensive, but a multiclassed Thunder and Fang fighter/barbarian would be a lot of fun to play - and could be dripping in Shoanti style.
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I just checked and I had worked out a straight barbarian Shoanti build that comes together with Thunder and Fang at level 5. He still pulls his weight pretty well up until that point, two-handing an Earthbreaker with a huge STR, so he isn't exactly slacking through level 4.
Human (Shoanti) Barbarian - Thunder and Fang Build
Starting Stats (after human +2 to STR):
STR:18 DEX:15 CON:14 INT:10 WIS:10 CHA:8
All bumps to STR.
1) Weapon Focus: Earth Breaker; Weapon Focus: Klar
2) Lesser Beast Totem
3) TWF
4) Superstition
5) Thunder and Fang
6) Witch Hunter
7) Improved TWF (assumes a +2/+2 DEX/STR belt by level 7)
8) Spell Sunder
9) Extra Rage Power: Beast Totem
10) Greater Beast Totem
11) Extra Rage Power: Eater of Magic
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Purchased the Varisian Player Companion. Good stuff, indeed. Thanks for the recommendation. Now I'm leaning towards Oracle or Witch, however. Still working with the Skull Clan for a background. If I use the Ancestors mystery as an oracle, I'd still be somewhat of a warrior as well, whereas Ancestors Patron for Witch means being a buffer. There's also the Spirits patron as well, which seems to fit quite well. I'm leaning away from the Bones/ Necromancy aspects, because it seems to indicate that this clan prefers their dead to -stay- dead. And who can blame them? :P
Still, I need to think of a good reason for him to be an adventurer, as this tribe in particular is not one to venture around much. Any thoughts?
The Viking fighter archetype actually works well for a Shoanti Thunder and Fang fighter. You gain extra shield bonus to AC (the klar is a shield), the ability to Intimidate as a free action (eventually), and you swap out Weapon Training for Rage, without needing to multiclass. You can also pick up rage powers in place of fighter bonus feats.
As for oracle vs witch, it depends on the party needs. A spontaneous, Charisma based divine caster fills a different role than a prepared, intelligence based arcane caster. That said, I'd lean more towards an oracle specifically because of the martial aspects. The way I see it, everyone in Shoanti culture is a capable warrior. An 8 Strength witch with no armor or weapon probably wouldn't cut it so well.
Ancestors Oracle of the Skull Clan is one of my backups for our CotCT campaign.
My RotRL PC was a half elven monk/ranger after finding mention somewhere of Shoanti bare hand fighting. stun/disarm/grapple works really well in theme, and favored enemy helped out with tohits once we got out of cities.
IIRC, I went spire clan for the one who fosters off to the other clans, and fostered under the Hawk, but this was before the Varisian player companion was out.
also, SHARE THAT TRAVEL MAP with your GM. all the distances are already labeled with travel times. They will squee.
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I'm a huge Shoanti Fan! So much so that most of my PC's recently have been Shoanti.
If you go the Thunder & Fang route Ranger is a good class too! Being able to TWF while dumping DEX for STR is nice!
To learn more about Shoanti get Varisia: Birthplace of Legends and Curse of the Crimson Throne: History if Ashes.
I know I'm a year late to the conversation, but we're starting a Rise of the Runelords/Shattered Star campaign. I was interested in playing an oracle. After reading about the Shoanti, I'm going for the Rage Prophet. Perfect combination for the character.