So I'm looking to make an npc for my campaign that will seem like / be a bumbling idiot or a drunken fool but will be quite lethal.
So I am looking for traits, feats and class abilities that could enable this. We're using lots of house rules for progression so I can mix and match class abilities if wanted.
Some key things;
* He should not use a conventional weapon. Weapons that could be flavoured as other things work (quarterstaff, club, battle scarf and similar would all be great).
* He can't rely on spells. (this is a low magic setting, monk abilities or rage powers might work, but pure martial would be preferable).
* Custom feats can be done. (con / dex to damage, con to ac / dr ect could all be doable, or repurposes of other feats or class abilities like).
* He should have a high crit range if possible.
* He can't be wearing more than some rather basic armor. (Armored kilt, leather armor and such are fine).
Would love to see suggestions for things that would work well with this concept, feel free to propose custom feats and such as well just keep in mind that it should be comparable to other feats.
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Gunslinger (buccaneer), grit replaced by drinking alcohol. If you don't want guns, since it's an NPC, combine it with bolt ace. Or make it a swashbuckler and just give him the drinking power from buccaneer.
There is a feat that boosts your saves by drinking, but I can't remember it's name. It's a general feat and has a Con prerequisite, I believe.
Monk (drunken master), of course.
Hmmm, the buccaneer does look like it could make a fun sailor and drunk... but I'm looking for a more bumbling staggering concept and not really one that uses 'weapons'.
I looked at the drunken master monk, it is more what I'm looking for but also looking for other fun things that could work too.
There is a feat called Drunken Brawler that gives temp hit points and fort / will save bonuses, that might be the one you were referring to, and that one could work nicely.
Comedian is sort of a meta archetype.
A fighter, of any type can use jokes to call a foe out. A good joke can give someone a new save vs fear. "I've used bigger worms for fishing.", referring to a dragon.
Bards can use comedy as a performance.
Spellcasters can add hideous laughter and irresistable dance to their spell lists(I know that doesn't mean much to you now, but other people will read this).
Rogues can leave behind comical notes or graffiti when he foils a trap or takes a treasure. Stuff like "Nice Try" or "Thank you for keeping this safe for me".
Clerics will make fun of opposed gods and creatures. They might say,"Rovagug was the worst shoe shine boy my god ever employed".
If your characters worships Cayden Cailean and takes the Divine Fighting Technique feat they can use a tankard as a light mace and TWF with it.
Okay, I think I've come up with what I'm going to do... meet Jud the Tavern Brawler, using 25 point buy (actually did 4d6d1 since that's what the players did and got close to these stats).
Male Human
CN Medium Humanoid
Init +6; Perception -2
AC 17, touch 14, flat-fooded 13 (hide armor +3, dex +4)
HP 42 (5d10+10)
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will -1
Speed 30ft.
Melee Steel Tankard +13 (1d6+4/x2); or Unarmed Strike +10 (1d8+4); or Trip +12.
Full Attacks Steel Tankard +11 (1d6+4), Unarmed Strike +8 (1d8+4); or Steel Tankard +11 (1d6+4), Trip +10.
Special Attacks Trip Combat Maneuver, Knock Out 1/day, Chairbreaker +1d4 to damage, tankard becomes broken.
Str 18, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 7, Cha 13
Base Atk +5; CMB +9 (+11 trip); CMD 23 (25 vs Trip)
Feats Catch Off-Guard, Combat Expertise, Chairbreaker, Improved Weapon Proficiency, Improved Trip
Traits Surprise Weapon, Reactionary
Skills Acrobatics +12, Appraise -1, Bluff +4, Climb +8, Escape Artist 12, Intimidate +9, Perception -2, Profession (Tavern Keeper) +2, Sense Motive -2, Stealth +4
As you can see he's not very smart or wise, and not a great appraiser or judge of character and that's why he lost his tavern. Now he travels the world, seeking fortunes, usually drinking them up and getting himself into brawls that he usually wins by smashing his tankard against the opponents head before tripping them.
He does however act the roll of a drunkard, stumbling back and forth before in hopes that his opponent thinks he's too drunk and ignore him.
He does become extra creative when he's had something to drink (part of the class) and usually picks up some Dirty Tricks or something like that.