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He's for my big main city. There are four big power centers that have been worked out: the king, N, is just concerned about keeping the city afloat. He's no fool, nor is he any kind of real hero. The primary temple, LN, of a god of law and knowledge, they like things quiet and orderly. The second most powerful temple, CG, a counterpoint to the other temple and the sheriff, they're pretty popular with adventurers and common folk alike, who all balk at the rather vicious justice the law deals out. That leaves our sheriff as the fourth major power center. He has a streetwise crew of constables that are likely all corrupt, but it flows to the top. He also knows all the local crime bosses, several of whom owe him, and he prefers it that way.
At 13th level, he's more than a bit scary, in my world, where 99% of the populace is under 4th, and anybody higher than 10th is a celebrity unless they hide it. This is a truly big city, with a population over 100k, and maybe a dozen people it it of his caliber.
I'm making him a Slayer (cutthroat), unless anybody has a better idea. I want him efficient and deadly. His right-hand-man will be an Investigator in the 7th to 9th level range. I've built plenty of characters, but I miss a lot of interesting tricks, so I'd love to see if anybody can come up with ways to make him really stand out as the guy you hate, but have to grudgingly respect.
He'll be human, and likely with the elite array modified by level and whatever gear (no more than maybe half again or double standard NPC for his level.) He should be dangerous to a level 10 party, all by himself, not that you'd catch him alone.
The other thing is - why should people respect him, grudgingly or otherwise? Is it that his justice is effective for all it's evil, or is it his knowledge of and power in the city they respect, his force of personality, or are you saying they should respect him because he's a deadly and efficient killer? Not that these are necessarily exclusive but they push in slightly different directions.
He's going to need a wayfinder with a clear spindle ioun stone (or similar resonance power) for a start too.
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What about Cavalier, Huntsmaster
2 maybe 3 big dogs trained to run criminals to ground. Puts each dog at around 4th level, which is where you are capping more of your world NPCs, so each dog is better then most people they have to deal with. Take Boon Companion so that the Pack leader is a heavier build.
Long Black armored coat
wide brimmed hat
smoking a cigarette
"I like dogs...Dogs know their place. Not like men, men keep thinking they can make something more of themselves. Keep wanting to step out of their proper place. Takes some effort to show'em they're wrong"
Likes to let the Dogs chase people down while he calmly walks behind them at a nice casual pace, enjoying a good smoke. Gives the Dogs some time to play rough with their prey once they bring it down.
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As a slayer of his level, he'll be able to eat one or two PCs alive before they take him down. However, without special magic gear or just magic, he won't be able to solo the party. Stealth is not insurmountable, and since he's solo, his action economy will be significantly worse than the players'. He'll need extra HP if he expects to go more than a few rounds with the party. He's at a level where both strong saves and good stats matter, and PCs will be pulling ahead. He'll be especially vulnerable to single-targeters like grapplers and casters who have effective 1:1 action trades or full attack stoppers (Hold Person, Terrible Remorse, Deja Vu, etc.)
If by any chance you could get some casting or pseudo-casting (a lot of wands, scrolls, etc.), that would help a lot. The Major Magic Unchained Rogue Talent with Vanish would help a lot.
You might be better-off applying the Advanced and Rogue Creature simple templates to another class of your choice.
Yes, that's about the power level I'm looking for. Like I mentioned, finding him solo won't be an easy thing, should a powerful party choose to target him. The pseudo-casting is something I've already been thinking about - it really helps, when so many casters are around, and Vanish is a fantastic idea! Thanks. :)
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The other thing is - why should people respect him, grudgingly or otherwise? Is it that his justice is effective for all it's evil, or is it his knowledge of and power in the city they respect, his force of personality, or are you saying they should respect him because he's a deadly and efficient killer? Not that these are necessarily exclusive but they push in slightly different directions.
He's going to need a wayfinder with a clear spindle ioun stone (or similar resonance power) for a start too.
Actually, they should respect him for any and/or all of the above. He's an integral part of the city - virtually nobody understands it like he does. He actually is effective, by and large, in his own nasty way, and he should be terrifying by reputation, and able to back it up. He's the guy that even the crimelords' enforcers know not to cross. It's been a while since I looked at the wayfinder, I'll look it up. Clear spindle ioun stone, too. Thanks! :)
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What about Cavalier, Huntsmaster
2 maybe 3 big dogs trained to run criminals to ground. Puts each dog at around 4th level, which is where you are capping more of your world NPCs, so each dog is better then most people they have to deal with. Take Boon Companion so that the Pack leader is a heavier build.
Long Black armored coat
wide brimmed hat
smoking a cigarette"I like dogs...Dogs know their place. Not like men, men keep thinking they can make something more of themselves. Keep wanting to step out of their proper place. Takes some effort to show'em they're wrong"
Likes to let the Dogs chase people down while he calmly walks behind them at a nice casual pace, enjoying a good smoke. Gives the Dogs some time to play rough with their prey once they bring it down.
Great concept! Even if I don't use it for him, I might use it for one of his lieutenants. It brings a truly wicked picture to mind. Thanks! :)
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Just be careful. If he gets the jump and doesn't get Terrible Remorse-ed or Deja Ve-ed, he'll make sure one or two of them is really, really dead. That's pretty true for any damage-based martial of his level, really. If the players get the jump and hit him with a show-stopper that staggers him or worse, then he's toast.
Huntsmaster is a good idea. It improves his action economy, gives a more reliable source of damage, requires fewer actions, and is wonderfully flavorful. However, make sure you have at least one dog at your level. Other Cavalier archetypes would work well. Urban Ranger might be more powerful if your PCs are of common races, and it gets some casting of its own.
Excellent points. Ideally, they won't ever actually try to just jump him - he is the sheriff, after all - and not a real enemy, even. I can definitely see them at odds, and campaigning to get him replaced - at which time, he might become an enemy, though he'd be very careful not to simply attack them, but instead, make their lives more difficult.
My hope for the character is that they learn to work with him, against a far greater evil, something that would destroy the city at bare minimum, and his bread-and-butter.
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And look up the resonance powers. That's probably the most important part of the combo.Actually, they should respect him for any and/or all of the above. He's an integral part of the city - virtually nobody understands it like he does. He actually is effective, by and large, in his own nasty way, and he should be terrifying by reputation, and able to back it up. He's the guy that even the crimelords' enforcers know not to cross. It's been a while since I looked at the wayfinder, I'll look it up. Clear spindle ioun stone, too. Thanks! :)The other thing is - why should people respect him, grudgingly or otherwise? Is it that his justice is effective for all it's evil, or is it his knowledge of and power in the city they respect, his force of personality, or are you saying they should respect him because he's a deadly and efficient killer? Not that these are necessarily exclusive but they push in slightly different directions.
He's going to need a wayfinder with a clear spindle ioun stone (or similar resonance power) for a start too.
I have, now, and it's excellent. I must say, I never really looked at wayfinders, before - now I need to explore this a bit!
Hmmm...what's the cost on a two stone wayfinder? Three?
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May I assume that this is an NPC?
I personally feel that a sheriff needs to be able to handle a lot of circumstances. Healing the rescued or innocent, ability to hunt down the criminal, other skills, and then fight like hell. To my mind an inquisitor would fit this well. He never has to have help but if he does have help all the better. Greater bane and judgements will make him very deadly and the saves us stalwart makes him hard to kill. Finally, his motivation or deity is very easy to customize to be whatever you feel is best.
Yep, an NPC. Actually, I did consider an inquisitor. They really are impressive, just as you've said. That's kind of why I want to give him an investigator to work alongside him.
Sounds like a great character idea. It would be interesting if different people new him in different ways. Maybe to law abiding citizens he is a by the book sheriff who gets results. Tough but fair. Maybe his deputies see him as the anti hero who knows when to bend the rules for the greater good, he does that dirty but necessary job that nobody else wants to or can do. But it is the criminal underworld who know him best and see him for the evil psychopath he really is. They seem the twinkle in his eye when it is time to "question" the prisoners.
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Sounds like a great character idea. It would be interesting if different people new him in different ways. Maybe to law abiding citizens he is a by the book sheriff who gets results. Tough but fair. Maybe his deputies see him as the anti hero who knows when to bend the rules for the greater good, he does that dirty but necessary job that nobody else wants to or can do. But it is the criminal underworld who know him best and see him for the evil psychopath he really is. They seem the twinkle in his eye when it is time to "question" the prisoners.
That's pretty much on target. Actually, there's one thing I'd change in your wording there - I really don't see him as a psychopath per se. but more pragmatic. He's capable of empathy (to some degree), he just doesn't see much use for it, doing the work he does, so in most cases, it simply never comes up. He'd think of it as a weakness, something he feels he can ill afford, if you get my drift. Ok, mildly psychopathic. ;)
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But why will he need an investigator? The inquisitor sheriff has all the skills he needs and can use traits and feats to do a great job. The inquisitor even has discern lies and intimidate bonuses so all he has to do is scare the heck out of people rather than deduce the truth, which he's still good at.Yep, an NPC. Actually, I did consider an inquisitor. They really are impressive, just as you've said. That's kind of why I want to give him an investigator to work alongside him.May I assume that this is an NPC?
I personally feel that a sheriff needs to be able to handle a lot of circumstances. Healing the rescued or innocent, ability to hunt down the criminal, other skills, and then fight like hell. To my mind an inquisitor would fit this well. He never has to have help but if he does have help all the better. Greater bane and judgements will make him very deadly and the saves us stalwart makes him hard to kill. Finally, his motivation or deity is very easy to customize to be whatever you feel is best.
It's definitely a good direction to go. Honestly, the first reason I got away from using inquisitor is that I really just wanted him to have the raw physical capability that a 1:1 BAB grants. That remains the big reason, though I love the cutthroat and the bonus he can get with Knowledge: local.
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Here's another possible personality quirk to add to the character to fully develop his back story.
What if he were blindly loyal to the king, and the king allows the Sheriff his excesses because of the Sheriff's effectiveness and loyalty? He actually believes that an orderly and well maintained town is the best for everyone, but sometimes some eggs need to be cracked to make the cake. While others are unwilling to get their hands dirty, the Sheriff is completely willing to do whatever is necessary. He's become a bit jaded by all the small minded, self-serving jerks he deals with on a daily basis, so he's not above enriching himself from his actions; it's the least the people can do for him considering how he keeps the worst depredations of the criminal element from overwhelming the general populace. He has the "crime lords" (as they like to call themselves) completely cowed into keeping the activities of their minions under control. Violence on the streets is virtually unheard of because of the vicious nature of the Sheriff's retribution. The average person leads a relatively safe and peaceful existence, free from the worries that usually plague the citizens of other large cities; the Sheriff prides himself upon this. Consequently, he thinks it is merely his due if he receives "gifts" from various levels of society, and this attitude trickles all the way down to the constabulary walking the streets, who feel free to take fruit or bread from shops without recompense. Conversely, while ruthless to perceived law-breakers, from top to bottom the constabulary is generally courteous (if cold) and friendly to the city populace...sometimes even charming. This dichotomy of behavior can come off as particularly terrifying to the average person....
TL/DR: The Sheriff doesn't see himself as "evil" at all. He sees himself as effective, an integral part of the city's government, and as a man doing a thankless job. He doesn't believe that he is corrupt, but merely receiving his just due.
That's him, with one small exception - though he's loyal to the king, it's the city itself that he's most loyal to. Some of the king's policies actually irritate him a little - he likes the king, but sees him as a bit too weak. The king is a great peacemaker, in many ways, believing in maintaining neutrality in almost any case. Under his rule, the city has become fairly famous for that - sometimes making the sheriff's job harder.
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I really love the feedback I have going on, here! I'd like to elaborate a bit on the complex relationship between the sheriff and the criminal elite, as I see it. Throughout a significant swath of the city, the bosses have their 'turf', and they keep a fairly tight reign on that area. To a degree, this is with the blessings of the sheriff - it's a huge city, and in some ways, they make his life easier - but if anyone steps out of line, he comes down hard.
There is one area in the city that the sheriff has a pretty much hands-off policy - Riverton. This is the wild neighborhood, where people go to blow off steam, the worst of the worst gather, and the black market is huge. The sheriff is smart, and the unspoken rules are clear - as long as it happens in Riverton, and never gets dragged into the rest of the city, he doesn't crack down on it. If Riverton didn't exist, there would be a lot worse happening in the rest of the city. There are crimelords that operate exclusively in Riverton, but even they make sure their gifts to the sheriff are on time, and never come up short. They are the small-time crimelords, and tend toward NE and even CE alignments, so their organizations are just not so well...organized.
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That's him, with one small exception - though he's loyal to the king, it's the city itself that he's most loyal to. Some of the king's policies actually irritate him a little - he likes the king, but sees him as a bit too weak. The king is a great peacemaker, in many ways, believing in maintaining neutrality in almost any case. Under his rule, the city has become fairly famous for that - sometimes making the sheriff's job harder.I like it.
If you haven't thought of this, envision him a little like Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men." When/if the players ever confront him, he can deliver the same kind of speeches to the players that Nicholson did on the stand, with versions of, "You want me on that wall! You NEED me on what wall!"
EXCELLENT! Brilliant! Yes, so very much like that. :D
He's for my big main city. There are four big power centers that have been worked out: the king, N, is just concerned about keeping the city afloat. He's no fool, nor is he any kind of real hero. The primary temple, LN, of a god of law and knowledge, they like things quiet and orderly. The second most powerful temple, CG, a counterpoint to the other temple and the sheriff, they're pretty popular with adventurers and common folk alike, who all balk at the rather vicious justice the law deals out. That leaves our sheriff as the fourth major power center. He has a streetwise crew of constables that are likely all corrupt, but it flows to the top. He also knows all the local crime bosses, several of whom owe him, and he prefers it that way.
At 13th level, he's more than a bit scary, in my world, where 99% of the populace is under 4th, and anybody higher than 10th is a celebrity unless they hide it. This is a truly big city, with a population over 100k, and maybe a dozen people it it of his caliber.
I'm making him a Slayer (cutthroat), unless anybody has a better idea. I want him efficient and deadly. His right-hand-man will be an Investigator in the 7th to 9th level range. I've built plenty of characters, but I miss a lot of interesting tricks, so I'd love to see if anybody can come up with ways to make him really stand out as the guy you hate, but have to grudgingly respect.
He'll be human, and likely with the elite array modified by level and whatever gear (no more than maybe half again or double standard NPC for his level.) He should be dangerous to a level 10 party, all by himself, not that you'd catch him alone.
Sheriff?
Go Gunslinger 05/Shieldmarshal 08
Give him a magical pistol or rifle and you have a truly deadly combination in your hands, but one that's flavourful too.
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He's for my big main city. There are four big power centers that have been worked out: the king, N, is just concerned about keeping the city afloat. He's no fool, nor is he any kind of real hero. The primary temple, LN, of a god of law and knowledge, they like things quiet and orderly. The second most powerful temple, CG, a counterpoint to the other temple and the sheriff, they're pretty popular with adventurers and common folk alike, who all balk at the rather vicious justice the law deals out. That leaves our sheriff as the fourth major power center. He has a streetwise crew of constables that are likely all corrupt, but it flows to the top. He also knows all the local crime bosses, several of whom owe him, and he prefers it that way.
At 13th level, he's more than a bit scary, in my world, where 99% of the populace is under 4th, and anybody higher than 10th is a celebrity unless they hide it. This is a truly big city, with a population over 100k, and maybe a dozen people it it of his caliber.
I'm making him a Slayer (cutthroat), unless anybody has a better idea. I want him efficient and deadly. His right-hand-man will be an Investigator in the 7th to 9th level range. I've built plenty of characters, but I miss a lot of interesting tricks, so I'd love to see if anybody can come up with ways to make him really stand out as the guy you hate, but have to grudgingly respect.
He'll be human, and likely with the elite array modified by level and whatever gear (no more than maybe half again or double standard NPC for his level.) He should be dangerous to a level 10 party, all by himself, not that you'd catch him alone.
Sheriff?
Go Gunslinger 05/Shieldmarshal 08
Give him a magical pistol or rifle and you have a truly deadly combination in your hands, but one that's flavourful too.
You're right - but - I really just don't do guns. It's just the flavor doesn't suit for me. Summoners are the other thing I don't do - just too easy to break, in either way.
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For stats, I'm thinking:
Str 16, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 8
BAB 13, CMB 16, CMD 29
It may not be the most efficient layout, but I'm really trying to capture the feel of the character. I use avg high hp, so 95 hp, 108 with favored class bonus. Respectable. I haven't figured out what his feats might be yet, but Improved Initiative will likely be one, and there are a few I'm considering.
Some skills: Knowledge: local +23, Stealth +19, Perception +17, Sense Motive + 17, Intimidate +15
He'll definitely have Slowing Strike, probably Hard to Fool and Knock-out Blow. I'm still mulling over quite a bit. I'm thinking he needs UMD, but with that Cha, it's a challenge. I also want to give him some skill with poisons.
With higher BAB than the party level power attack is obvious. With a solid intimidate skill you may want one of the feats which gives a free intimidate, probably cornugon smash (& maybe hurtful on top of that).
If he can reequip easily then potions require no UMD to use. Poisons are a bit of a joke by level 10 unless you've built the entire character around them.
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With higher BAB than the party level power attack is obvious. With a solid intimidate skill you may want one of the feats which gives a free intimidate, probably cornugon smash (& maybe hurtful on top of that).
If he can reequip easily then potions require no UMD to use. Poisons are a bit of a joke by level 10 unless you've built the entire character around them.
Great stuff! Hurtful actually rocks hard! Yes, he can re-equip, easily. He'll definitely have a ready supply of potions. Keep in mind, ideally, he won't have to fight the party - directly - even being an ally, at times. He has lots of...ahem...dirty work to do. He'll definitely have an arsenal of tricks handy: caltrops, the barbed kind; hidden throwing knives; a heavy crossbow under his desk; just about anything that'll give him an advantage.
You're right - but - I really just don't do guns. It's just the flavor doesn't suit for me. Summoners are the other thing I don't do - just too easy to break, in either way.Sheriff?
Go Gunslinger 05/Shieldmarshal 08
Give him a magical pistol or rifle and you have a truly deadly combination in your hands, but one that's flavourful too.
Youu could go with the Bolt Ace archetype of Gunslinger, although you would have to modify Shieldmarshal to accept Crossbow Maven as a substitute for Gunsmithing.
If you go with Huntmaster Cavalier with multiple dogs, note that you can take Boon Companion once for each companion, meaning that instead of 2 level 4 dogs and a level 5 dog, the sheriff could have 2 level 8 dogs and a level 9 dog (assuming that you want to make them close to equally tough). For extra creepiness replace one of the dogs (maybe even the alpha one) with an extremely vicious bird that likes to go for eyes.
For other minions, I would recommend putting a mid-high-level Investigator directly in the sheriff's service, and then have the sheriff on very good terms with the Grand Inquisitor at the Lawful Neutral temple (who in turn really has it in for the Chaotic Good temple). More minions for the sheriff would be a bombing Alchemist (probably Grenadier) built for battlefield control, and a Vivisectionist Alchemist who REALLY plays up the Hyde aspect and has more gruesome than average choices of favored weapons, and who is (in)famous for being put in charge of interrogations.
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You're right - but - I really just don't do guns. It's just the flavor doesn't suit for me. Summoners are the other thing I don't do - just too easy to break, in either way.Sheriff?
Go Gunslinger 05/Shieldmarshal 08
Give him a magical pistol or rifle and you have a truly deadly combination in your hands, but one that's flavourful too.
Youu could go with the Bolt Ace archetype of Gunslinger, although you would have to modify Shieldmarshal to accept Crossbow Maven as a substitute for Gunsmithing.
If you go with Huntmaster Cavalier with multiple dogs, note that you can take Boon Companion once for each companion, meaning that instead of 2 level 4 dogs and a level 5 dog, the sheriff could have 2 level 8 dogs and a level 9 dog (assuming that you want to make them close to equally tough). For extra creepiness replace one of the dogs (maybe even the alpha one) with an extremely vicious bird that likes to go for eyes.
For other minions, I would recommend putting a mid-high-level Investigator directly in the sheriff's service, and then have the sheriff on very good terms with the Grand Inquisitor at the Lawful Neutral temple (who in turn really has it in for the Chaotic Good temple). More minions for the sheriff would be a bombing Alchemist (probably Grenadier) built for battlefield control, and a Vivisectionist Alchemist who REALLY plays up the Hyde aspect and has more gruesome than average choices of favored weapons, and who is (in)famous for being put in charge of interrogations.
More excellent suggestions. I'm already there with the investigator - was *just* looking at having another deputy being the huntmaster, 8th lvl, with two boon companion dogs (as 8th each!). The ideas with the inquisitor and alchemist sound *very* promising...
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It is my solemn opinion that no evil law-bringer with a texan accent should not have a wicked animal to survey his city/feed his victims to. A boar that has been taught to torture and consume prisoners. A hawk that surveys the city from above, alerting the sheriff if anything goes wrong, and settles on his shoulder while he talks. A hound too large to be considered a dog, fed on drugs and abuse to make him as ruthless as his master.
If I can't recommend the Urban Ranger highly enough to sway you from the slayer, just keep in mind that between slayer talents letting him get weapon focus and combat feats, as well as ranger fighting styles, you have the spare feats to pursue the Nature Soul, Animal Ally line, which gets you an animal companion. Add boon companion, and its a creature of your level. Add Animal Soul, and you have a man who can't be swayed by any of your standard charms or compulsions.
Or, consider the Damnation line. A true evil sheriff knows what happens when the law loses its firm grips, and will subject his populace to horrible atrocities to them in line. A tyrant who leads by fear also leads by respect, after all. The damnation line allows your character to quite literally stare down an enemy to the law with their soulless black eyes. When a casual glance as a swift action is enough to send a shiver down even the hardest man's spine, they'll know he's not to be taken lightly.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/damnation-feats/soulless-gaze-damnation
Edit: In addition, the damnation line, though four feats deep, will let him change the alignment he radiates at will. All the paladins and clerics will see him however they want to see him. And thats in addition to being immune to several types of energy damage, like a proper devil.
Urban rangers do rock, no doubt. Nature Soul I'll need to look up, along with Animal Ally. The Damnation line looks wicked, btw...I'm thinking about giving him up to three...that gets interesting, and spikes his backstory...hmmm...
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Incidentally, I'm still not that sure what he's going to use as his primary weapon. I'm open to suggestions - he'll likely take the ranger fighting style - but which one depends on the weapon, and I don't have that image cemented in my head just yet. Maybe just classic longsword - maybe something more interesting. Bonus to disarm or trip, maybe. Hmmm...
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Incidentally, I'm still not that sure what he's going to use as his primary weapon. I'm open to suggestions - he'll likely take the ranger fighting style - but which one depends on the weapon, and I don't have that image cemented in my head just yet. Maybe just classic longsword - maybe something more interesting. Bonus to disarm or trip, maybe. Hmmm...The benefit of ranger fighting styles is that they ignore stat requirements. The slayer inherits the ability to dual wield with tons of strength and little dexterity. Of course, a ranged weapon is more flavorful. If you go melee, I'd consider two-handed. Simply the most benefit for the least investment, and you'd have the benefit of starting him at a high level, and not having to explain that you waited until level 4 to pick up power attack.
I do like two-handed. I do a lot of those builds. Interestingly enough, I had a two-handed urban ranger I played in a PBP here, until the game died - the character was actually loosely based on Quasimodo!
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I would really recommend the Sanctified Slayer archetype Inquisitor. Gives you what you want with the Slayer, plus a good will save, spells and the Intimidation bonus.
That's an interesting proposal. The one thing I really wanted that I'd lose would be the BAB...hmmm...I need to mull that one over. I could still use pretty much everything else, plus, as you said, spells.