Hi Folks!
Our group is going to be starting Kingmaker in the new year. I am the host for our games, and so have been designated the "leader". With a rudimentary introduction to the Kingmaker Kingdom roles, I'm under the impression that Charisma is a big deal.
I've been mulling over some character concepts and I just can't find the right fit.
----- Ideas
Priorities:
1) Maximal Charisma Utilization (Single Attribute Focus)
2) Leading (skills, roleplay, leadership feat)
I was planning on a starting Charisma around 26.
My current frontrunner is Master Summoner, worshiping Arqueros, summon good monster feat, and taking Evolved Summons as often as possible. I would plan to use the Eidelon as a super-scout with the "Skilled" evolution, and count on my summoned monster to actually do the damage.
Mesmerist is currently my second-place option, but I'm not sure what kind of kingdom would be built by an elusive master liar.
The Heavens oracle is tempting, especially with Color Spray and Cha to all saves. Skills seem terrible, and a curse could be a major detractor.
I've peeked at Eldritch Scion Magus, but I think that could get MAD fast and has skill problems.
----- Rules
We can use all Paizo products, and expand with GM approval. I personally would prefer to stick to Paizo.
My knowledge of archetypes is mediocre, and I am familiar with about 10% of the feats. Noble Scion (War) seems like good one...
We are using the "Race Builder" rules from Advanced Race Guide, with 20 RP and a 20 point buy.
----- Other Background
I just played an awesome Thassilonian Transmutation focused crafting wizard with annihilation spectacles for Rise of the Runelords, so I would prefer to avoid sorcerer.
I like to play a variety of characters, but in general I don't like pet-based classes. I thought the summoner would be an extreme exception, as it would be solely focused on versatile pet-power.
A Paladin/Oracle is a great choice. My first PFS character to level 12 was/is a Paladin of Irori (not the archetype, didn't exist then) with 1 level or Lore Oracle for the CHA to AC. I loved this character. I took extra revelation to use CHA for Knowledge Skills too.
If you still can't think of anything that really strikes your fancy, I don't want to give anything away, but talk with your GM about the CHA thing.
I know you said you wanted to avoid sorcerer, but I just have to say that Imperious bloodline is very flavorful for this AP.
Im biased towards the bard.
All of it is paizo , if you can get your GM to allow master performer + grand master performer and use the combo of flagbearer + banner of ancient kings...
You would be giving quite the buff , you can max out CHA and go for a build trying to make people fail enchant saves or illusion saves , skill wont be a problem since you are a bard also.
Heavens Oracle with really stacked charisma can do some pretty crazy things. Persistent and Heightened is kind of a given. If you take Dual Cursed you can be throwing around Quickened Ill Omen as a level 4. Nothing says fearsome authority like seriously hexing someone with a hand-wave.
On the other side of the equation the Oracle can have a pretty effective physical presence as well, and an Oracle specializing in Color Spray may well want to look at that angle. A STR/CHA or DEX/CHA Aasimar is perfect for it; some may accuse cheese, but the alternate Aasimar ability to maintain Lesser Age Resistance makes being a middle-aged Aasimar a straight +1 to all mental abilities without a drawback (short of getting dispelled). Amateur Swashbuckler works very nicely with Oracle - I've been looking at a Warsighted Oracle Dervish Dance build that uses the Swordmaster's Flair: Blue Scarf to go +5ft. reach scimitar.
Bard:
* CHA-Fokus
* Skillpoints
* Class Skills
* very useful spell list for that role
* Flagbearer and banner of the ancient Kings rock the "The King is here to lead his men"-trope
Kobold dragon herald is in my opinion the best face character ever. Looking at the kobold's alt. race trait jester, the racial trait golden scaled for kobold's and this bard racial archetype, they can't be beat except by straight up brainwashing sorcerers and that's boring anyway.
Bard seems like a perfect fit.
...Or, if homebrew is allowed, you could use the Warlord Fighter archetype found here. ;)
I was planning on a starting Charisma around 26.
How?
We are using the "Race Builder" rules from Advanced Race Guide, with 20 RP and a 20 point buy.
Just be aware that you will absolutely break the default expectations of the AP with this setup. A lot of Kingmaker is fairly easy anyway since there are is a lot of 1/day encounters, for the most part even the basic races with 15 point buy and a reasonable level of optimization will find it, with a couple of exceptions, to be pretty much a cakewalk.
Custom 20 point races with 20 points of attributes probably won't ever feel like they are facing a worthy challenge.
CHR is important for the Kingdom Building, but you don't need anywhere near a starting value of 26 to run an effective kingdom and I suspect that if you go that high (and others similarly have hyper-focused attributes) you will pretty much make the early kingdom building super easy (later is it easy for anyone.)
Anyway, YMMV but I would think really hard about what kind of game you want to play, if you want it to be a challenge at all, and how much your GM will be willing to customize from the standard path.
OK. I think I have the starting point of a build.
Concept: This will be the divine child of Magdh, the Eldest power, and a noble Aldori swordlord. Magdh, a fey demigod of complexity and Fate has sent divine power directly into Saturn Surlova. He will set forth to the Stolen Lands, prepared to lead and rule through sheer force of personality.
20 Race Points:
0 Half-Fey/Half-Human
4 Advanced Ability Scores (+2 all physical, -2 Wis, +4 Cha)
4 Advanced Charisma (+2)
5 Advanced Charisma (+2)
1 Weapon Familiarity (Scythe, Polearms)
2 Gift of Tongues (+1 Bluff/Dip, 2 Languages per Linguistics Rank)
2 Static Feat (Scion of War) Cha to Init
2 Static Feat (Skill Focus Diplomacy)
Ability Scores: 20 Point buy
Str 14 = 12 +2
Dex 9 = 7 +2
Con 14 = 12 +2
Int 14 = 14
Wis 6 = 8 -2
Cha 26 = 18 +4 +2 +2
Build Plan: Oracle (Lore) 1 / Mesmerist X / VMC Bard
Trait 1: Illuminator (+2 Dip)
Trait 2: Reactionary (+2 Init)
L1 Oracle (Lore); Sidestep Secret Revelation; Feat (Extra Revalation) Lore Keeper
L2 Mesmerist (Cult Master) 1
L3 Mesmerist (Cult Master) 2; Feat (VMC Bard) Bardic Knowledge
L4 Mesmerist (Cult Master) 3
L5 Mesmerist (Cult Master) 4; Feat Flagbearer
L6 Mesmerist (Cult Master) 5
L7 Mesmerist (Cult Master) 6; Feat (VMC Bard) Inspire Courage/Comp
This build would add Charisma to:
Initiative (Noble Scion) L1
AC (Sidestep Secret) L1
Reflex (Sidestep Secret) L1
All Knowledge Checks (Lore Keeper) L1/L3 Bardic Knowledge
Will Saves (Towering Ego) L3
The plan would be to mostly talk and cast. Saturn should get 8 skill points per level after 1st (6), and fun save or sadness abilities via Mesmerist.
Diplomacy starts at 1 Rank + 3 Class Skill +8 Ability +3 Skill Focus +2 Racial +2 Trait = +19, with +1/2 per level from Cult Master.
The confusing part is how to incorporate Flagbearer with Inspire Courage and the Morale bonus from Cult Master, and how to incorporate morale and competence bonuses.
I've also considered trying to include the Imperious bloodline Eldritch Heritage feats, which would add Charisma as an insight bonus to Diplomacy, Knowledge, and Linguistics related to humans. Improved Eldritch Heritage adds flat increases to morale bonuses, which would stack nicely with Flagbearer.
Your thoughts?
@Gugu_Meditation: I did try to incorporate the "Here is your King!" stuff with the flagbearer feat. It should be awesome.
@Dave Justus: I really toned down the combat element of my character, and our GMs frequently include custom monsters, bad guys with class levels, and supplemental challenges to the AP. I would anticipate the same with our next campaign.
Be a ninja!
Charisma helps with ki, and all the face skills.
Add Leadership.
Charisma helps with lots of followers, but does cap unless you use 3.0 Epic Leadership.
Think of it. The ultimate mission: create a kingdom that you rule for your own masters.... And no one known you are a ninja, because you disguise yourself as an (extra)ordinary bloke.
/cevah