So, I'm writing a series of stories, set in Golarion under (mostly) PF rules; the characters are largely gestalt, but I'm classing them more for thematic purposes than solely min-maxed. I have a few ideas I want to throw out here and get some advice on; I'd prefer them to work, in addition to holding to a theme.
The star is a Fighter-Magus (no archetypes), at least until he hits 7 and then Magus may become something else, not sure yet. Don't really feel like this guy needs work.
I have a half-Drow Sound Striker Bard-Vivisectionist/Internal Alchemist, functioning out of combat as a courtesan-spy. Figured I'd feat her with the Whip Mastery line to make her somewhat combat useful; I would appreciate other ideas, as I want to keep her classes but she's rather encounter-stupid if she doesn't initiate it.
Next is a Vudrani Were-Ape Monk-Magus. I'm not sure on the Magus bit, I feel like it could be better served as a different class, but I do like the idea of gorilla-slapping with spells. Haven't archetyped him yet, and would appreciate thoughts on that.
Lastly, I have a Dwarf Spellslinger Wizard-Hunter, possibly Packmaster but unclear on that. He's where I'm getting stuck. I love the Spellslinger, and don't want to change it much, but his second class is throwing me off. I say Hunter now, but I have also considered Slayer, Ranger, and (possibly my new choice) Eldritch Archer Magus. I feel like Spellslinger and Eldritch Archer makes one hella-beefy gun, but I'm also having some difficulty reconciling why he'd choose those paths rather than fully studying both, or going straight wizard-gunslinger.
In addition, I'm also looking for missing bits for the party, as well as fun little ideas for other characters. The main argument I'd have against some ideas is time; how do these people have the time to learn a Gestalt sum of class features? For example, the Drow has been in possession of a Ring of Sustenance since she was 12, and is now in her 30s. The Dwarf is older, and it doesn't much matter if he goes Spellslinger-Eldritch Archer, since after a fashion those are the same thing.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Magus-Monk: Be careful about stacking classes in stories - it can get repetitive, and characters really ought to be distinct. This combo is a lot like your first character in terms of the role they'd play. I'd go a Shamanistic route here, saying that shapeshifting and magic came together as they studied. ...So, basically, a Druid.
I hadn't considered the Shaman, and I frankly like that a lot more. I really did not want to stack Magi, but aside from Bloodrager, I couldn't think of a good way to incorporate spells in with his ferality. Thank you!
Hunter-Wizard: If you're having trouble reconciling the choice, you probably need to change it. I actually had a Spellslinger-style character once, and I sort of gave them a custom archetype to make it practical. XD Mostly courtesy of their weapon. Gunslinger/Wizard could certainly be done - in which case they study magic to help them get where they want to go, but when it comes down to it, they usually use guns to take down foes (ESPECIALLY those that are resistant to magic). Learning to use a firearm isn't actually that hard as long as you have regular practice, especially if we're talking stuff like pistols.
You're right; it only takes a feat to get the proficiency. I'm planning him as, essentially, the anticaster; Spell Smasher and Magic Resistant alternate race traits, with the +2 concentrate trait to cheat the penalty. He doesn't hate magic, like that 3.5 class I don't remember, but knows how disruptive casters can be. So he sits back and shoots them. This kind of justifies Spellslinger-Eldritch Archer, especially if I don't spell him like the Wizard he is and instead make everything about the gun. I just...don't really know how else to do him, since the best counter for magic is other magic.
And thanks for responding!
Setting Changes
I am messing with the setting quite a bit, but mostly in minor ways; the half-Drow is raised in a community of the same, hiding in Nidal since the Age of Darkness, as an example. I didn't want the chore of making an entire world, and I -do- like the Inner Sea, but some things are tweaked...like in most home campaigns ;) I'll have to check out the Counterspell school; I miss a lot of good options trying to sort through them all!
Inquisitor
I had. Though I hadn't really dismissed it yet, it didn't quite follow the personality I had for him. Since it hasn't been written yet, though, that can always change!
Mesmerist/Fey Sorcerer Kitsune is pretty thematic and its also known by the name of "Master Grand Overlord" :P
Mesmerist/Fey Sorcerer Kitsune is pretty thematic and its also known by the name of "Master Grand Overlord" :P
Haha! Yeah, I thought about the mind controller. That's more the BBEG theme, though, and I'm kind of taking the Bard-Alchemist that way, what with her 18 base int and cha and those lovely cognatogens.
Afterthought: I also wanted her more sadistic over being domineering, which is why I didn't care to trade Suggestion for Weird Words.
Gestalt Sensate(Fighter)-Investigator Ultimate Melee Skill monkey.
"All your traps are belong to us"
Gestalt Sensate(Fighter)-Investigator Ultimate Melee Skill monkey.
"All your traps are belong to us"
I like this as a secondary party member, akin to the Torchbearer Alchemist and other PC-groupies that are far more important in story format than in a traditional campaign (most of the time anyway).
I also like it as my main character, and may very well use it in another incarnation; I'm pretty dead-set on Ftr-Mag for this guy though, and currently am running enough frontliners for the main combat scenes. No reason he couldn't be the add-wrangler though! Thanks for the idea!
My favorite is Inquisitor/ Ranger. Full BAB, all martial weapon proficiencies, feat crazy between combat style feats and teamwork. By 11th level the character has Evasion and Stalwart coupled with perfect saves so she has a chance to dodge most spells completely. 3 Favored Enemies plus 4 Judgments per day giving her a major combat boost. Some buff spells to amp up the party (Shared Wrath, Communal Spells, Tactical Acumen, etc). Basically a damage-dealing tank that can heal herself plus other and add to the party in numerous ways.
Perhaps since its not nailed down yet i might offer a possibility...
either in roleplay or mechanically make the inquisitor an infiltrator. in effect he doesnt let anyone know he is an inquisitor and hes just "a dude". Then when the story needs a plot twist bang he reveals hes an inquisitor. He could even go from good to bad or vice versa as you see fit. Maybe a season finale shocker?
Or as a partner to the Eldritch Archer Spellslinger. I've come to the decision that he is mad, obsessed with practicing magic only to enhance his gun and shoot other casters (and a few utility spells, of course). Having another Dwarf with him as an "apprentice," while really being sent to watch him, would be fantastic. Someone has to keep Mad McBeardy under thumb.
On that same note, maybe...
Inquisitor-Ranger
...is sent out to check up on the "apprentice" after too long a period of absence, or some notorious event. That seems like the perfect single-man-party bounty hunter/retrieval service.
I've always wanted to do a Summoner/Archanist build. "I summon my armies and smash you with them! Oh; you survived those!?! Congratulations! Have a fireball!!!"
With this build the Eidolon would be given skills to assist with scouting ahead of the party.
A steelblooded fated bloodrager/warpriest with the fates favored trait would be a armored beast powered by luck. Super fun.
Bloodrager/Synth summoner. Max charisma. Deliberately age to ancient for mental score bonuses.
Bloodrager/Synth summoner. Max charisma. Deliberately age to ancient for mental score bonuses.
Wow, that one's scary!
Bloodrager/Synth summoner. Max charisma. Deliberately age to ancient for mental score bonuses.
That's insanely brilliant, I like it.
I'm a bit confused. Are you writing a novel, or planning a campaign?
I'm a bit confused. Are you writing a novel, or planning a campaign?
Aside from playing every character, not just NPCs...what's the difference?
But Rednal called it, these are for stories.
If you follow
Fighter
Tier 9 Arcane
Tier 9 Divine
Rogue
You have covered all the basics you need that will prosper in most campaigns/APs. The only real gap I see in your composition now though is a dedicated Divine character.
Fighter/Magus could've been done by a Myrmidarch Magus with VMC Fighter, for example. Arcanist (Blade Adept)/Fighter (Ustalavic Duelist, Dervish of Dawn) would be the unarmored but Tier-9 casting version that could still cast those spells using Spellstrike.
Paladin/Rogue is a very dangerous build to unleash onto a table because its one of those that combine speciality+specialty, BAB max, Saves Max, Skill Max, HP High, & most important of all: Action Economy because the Rogue is Active, while the Paladin is Passive/Swift.
Likewise Arcanist/Wizard with maybe VMC Sorcerer/Witch would just boost their one or two specialized schools to ungodly proportions. Or meld your Wizard (Spell Slinger) with a Gunslinger (Musket Master) to maximize that one-shot-a-round impact the character would make.
Druid/Ninja would be a guaranteed Flanking machine with the Druid being passive (Buffs, Animal Companion, Wild Shape) with Ninja going active.
To contribute: Why not look up their potential Mythic Progression? Designate who will become Archmage, Champion, Guardian, Hierophant, Marshal, & Trickster to help guide your build choices. With Dual Path you can knock down your party composition to three Gestalt PCs.