Hi everybody!
I'm new to Pathfinder and was wondering if y'all could help me with my first character.
I'm trying to make a character (predominantly a shield champion) who is fiercely protective of the other PCs and of any friendly NPCs that he's trying to help. His back story involves an incident where, whilst he was a conscript for the local army, his brother fell in battle and my character just snapped. He started pounding on the culprit. The next thing he remembers is cradling his brothers body in his arms, and a whole lotta' smooshed bodies surrounding them.
I thought it might add a little flavour if my character did a similar sort of thing when a friend falls in combat. If he makes a beeline for the person or monster that struck his companion down, and attacked with all his might. I first considered a class of barbarian for the rage ability that I would only activate if someone falls. But I don't really need anything that powerful, and if my party has a particularly bad day I might run out of rage rounds to use. I could play it like he just gives in to despair if he doesn't have any rage left. But that might be a bit too dangerous for both me and my party. Are there any other skills or abilities that might fit the bill a bit better?
Thank you for taking the time to read this far. I'm really loving the class options Pathfinder provides!
First, welcome to the hobby! I'm excited to see all the new players pouring in.
Second, barbarian actually sounds like what you want. The rage is very flavorful for what you want, and nothing says you have to use it until a friend goes down.
If you're worried specifically about running out of rounds of rage, remember you get 4 + your Constitution modifier at first level. Non-temporary increases to your Con score (belt of Con, leveling up, etc.) do increase your number of rage rounds per day.
If this still isn't enough for your tastes, there's always the Extra Rage feat.
It stacks, so take it as many times and as often as you feel is necessary.
Again, welcome to the community, and I hope I helped!
the Ulfen Defender seems to suit your concept well,
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Class is not the same as profession, nor is it cultural. Your character doesn't have to be an actual Barbarian to take levels in the Barbarian.
You could just take a one level dip in Barbarian so you've got a few rounds per day for that one encounter when you do need it. Maybe you want 2 levels so you can also get a Rage Power. As you are new to the game, you might want to check out the Unchained version of the Barbarian in Pathfinder Unchained. It's a little bit easier to play.
Instead of taking a dip, if you want to use feats to get rage have a look at variant multiclassing into barbarian. Variant multiclassing is detailed in pathfinder unchained.
Basically it allows you to gain class abilities from other classes for the cost of feats instead of levels in that class
Does your GM allow drawbacks? They're basically negative traits that allow you to choose an extra positive trait. Sounds like Overprotective fits your character. I can post the link later.
Wow, thanks guys for such a quick response.
bigrig107: I didn't see that feat before, could be just the trick. A level of barbarian certainly seems the simplest answer.
Diminuendo: Whilst that certainly seems to fit the bill, I think that I would miss the levels in shield champion too much. Thanks for the suggestion though.
the David: The unchained barbarian does look simpler to play and is definitely something to look in to.
J4RH34D: Now that is very tempting. I'm going to have to decide how much I would miss those feats, but considering the martial flexibility I have from the brawler class, I might not miss them much at all.
mbauers: That trait seems spot on for the character. I might even take it as well as anything else I decide on rage-wise.
Thanks again guys, y'all are awesome.
You're welcome! If you have limited rounds of rage, buy some Shoanti Chew. It stains your mouth/teeth red, but it lasts for an hour and makes it so any time you rage, the rage lasts for an additional round. So if you conserve your Rage until the end of a fight, or if you have a way to mitigate fatigue, it can really help.
Maybe take a quick look at why you want to play a Shield Champion (the Brawler archetype, I'm assuming)?
Are you planning to be a ranged character or melee? If the latter, you could get the same effect as Flurry by simply taking the Two-Weapon Fighting feats.
Nothing stops a Barbarian from using two weapons (especially the Unchained one), and Ulfen Defender is utterly PERFECT (as far as Paizo classes) for what you're trying to do. If you're worried about Feats, the class can get Bonus Feats as one of its Rage Power equivalents.
As well, what you're doing is largely flavor. You could very easily use Rage all the time, and simply get mad when your allies are downed. Rage doe snot have to be fluffed as frothing, all-consuming anger.
Alternatively, grab a few Rage Powers available only once per Rage like Crippling Blow.