Playing a Satyr at Level 1

[Ivor]

Hey guys,

I'm a flavor-player - I like my characters to be cool persons, never was much of a rules-junkie. Alas, the bunch I'm playing with are seasoned D&D buffs who put a lot of emphasis on the numbers balance and rules conformity. I'm getting there, too, but am still trying to save that last bit of thespian before going all terminator. ;)

So right now I have this really cool concept of a Satyr Bard, a sort of wildlife consultant. A fixer for those caravans heading thorugh the really deep forests. But they're busting my ass about the core rule book not reccomending the use of monsters as PCs. Or that the Satyr is wayyyyy overpowered. I guess the gazillionth gnome bard would be quite acceptable, but I can't let them get away that easy.

The way I understand it is that at character level 10, I'd be a Satyr Bard 8, with 2 of the 4 racial levels being compensated during leveling. So if we started play at level 10, I'd be all set.

But we're kicking off a new campaign, starting off at Level 1.

So now I had this idea:

What if I built a 10 level progression combining the abilities of the satyr with the abilities of the bard? Like a class progression overview, but not for 20 full levels, but only the first 10, combining and properly dosing the features the satyr bard would arrive at on level 10? After that, I'd just proceed as normal with bard level 9 and so on, no multiclassing...

So
Satyr 1 2 3 4
and
Bard 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
would become
Satyr Bard 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Which features would kick in at what level? how would 8 levels of bard spellcasting be distributed among 10 levels? And how can I package it all so it isn't overpowered?

Or do you agree that this is a stupid idea that doesn't play well with Pathfinder rules, or Golarion?

Very interested in your replies. :)

[KnightErrantJR]

If you can talk your GM into allowing it, you might want to take a look at this product:

The Genius Guide to Races of Hoof and Horn

Especially if you are more interested in the "flavor" of playing a satyr and not having the exact stats of the creature.

[anthony Valente]

Ivor wrote:

Or do you agree that this is a stupid idea that doesn't play well with Pathfinder rules, or Golarion?

Very interested in your replies. :)

How long have you been playing?

How long have you been playing with this particular group?

As a GM, these are things I'd take into account. If you were new to my group, I wouldn't allow anything outside of core as far as races go. If you were seasoned, but still new to my group, I'd still want you to play a core race so I could experience your play style and perspective of the game. If you were seasoned and had played with our group for a while though, I'd give your request some serious thought after seeing how you play.

Answers to these questions IMO are primary rather than the actual PC build and numbers.

[Lyrax]

I think this is doable, though a few satyr abilities might need to be left out (like DR/cold iron) for game balance reasons.

[james maissen]

Ivor wrote:

So right now I have this really cool concept of a Satyr Bard, a sort of wildlife consultant. A fixer for those caravans heading thorugh the really deep forests. But they're busting my ass about the core rule book not reccomending the use of monsters as PCs. Or that the Satyr is wayyyyy overpowered. I guess the gazillionth gnome bard would be quite acceptable, but I can't let them get away that easy.

If all you are wanting from being a 'satyr' is being a satyr, why not propose it that way?

Take NO mechanical advantages from it at all. No DR, no racial HD, etc. Essentially be a human bard that looks like a satyr. See if that would fly with your group.

-James

[Liquidsabre]

Don't worry about mixing a single class of bard and satyr. Just turn the Satyr racial abilities into a Satyr Racial Class and multiclass between that and Bard levels. Start off as a Satyr base PC race-version (equivalent to a aasimar or teifling that then later take racial class levels in Half-Fiend or Half-Celestial) with 1 level of Bard.

Check out WotC's old Savage Progression series of articles, I highly recommend them for advice on doing these. With racial and template classes I never had a problem implementing some of the more unique options available to players in my 3e games in a balanced fashion.

[Ivor]

Those are good thoughts, guys, I appreciate it!

We're a bunch of mature players (age > 30) in a group that's been playing more or less weekly for 5 years. And you're right about the "just be a satyr" part - i can just take the human stat block and be a satyr. Still it would have felt nice to have some extraordinary ability. Only one fun gimmick, like a hoof attack or something like that. Just for the fun of it. :)

But sadly, we've had a DM ruling today: standard races only. Otherwise I'd have tried the Hoof & Horn variant.

I'll nevertheless try all of the options you presented - this is a character concept I like way too much to just throw overboard.

[james maissen]

Ivor wrote:

But sadly, we've had a DM ruling today: standard races only. Otherwise I'd have tried the Hoof & Horn variant.

Do the next best thing.. *think* you're a satyr.. a satyr disguised or cruelly polymorphed into a human...

My suggestion take improved unarmed strike as a feat and have that be your 'horn' attack (headbutt!).

-James

[Mikael Sebag]

There's also the Half-Satyr template from Dragon Magazine #313. With a CR +0 you could play a half-satyr human at 1st level, if I'm not mistaken! But alas, if it's base races only, there's little arguing with that.