I have a noblewoman who plays an important role in the upcoming session. She needs a noteworthy guard and servant. I'm turning to you for ideas.
This guard should be non-human (in a human-dominated society), I'm thinking maybe halfling or gnome but I'm not sure.
The guard should probably be a martial character, at least not a full spell-caster. Preferably using melee weapons or unarmed attacks, since its hard to use ranged weapons within the confines of a cramped building.
But both halfling and gnomes have a malus to strength and I'm not used to building low-strength martial. Rogue maybe?
The guard is low-level, say below level 5, so I don't want a build that is supposed to work at level 16+ ;)
What race, class, archetypes and options do you recommend?
With unchained rogue you get weapon finesse as a bonus feat, and then get dex bonus to damage as well (for one weapon) at 3rd level, making it easy to just dump str entirely. There are a few other feat chains and such that allow you to do something along those lines, but they usually also require you to have one hand unused, and I'm not sure you would have the feats to get them below level 5 unless you were a fighter.
Unchained rogue
Fencing grace feat
Slashing grace feat
Dervish Dance feat
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Swashbuckler or Cavalier (Daring Champion) are also options, as both can easily manage Dex-based melee with a fair degree of effectiveness.
You can easily have the following Feats at 4th as either:
1: Weapon Focus (Rapier)
3: Fencing Grace
The Swashbuckler could also grab Combat Reflexes and use Parry more often. At 5th (or if he goes Inspired Blade), he could get the actual Bodyguard Feat, too, which is shiny.
Another option is Unchained Monk. You'd need to give them the (4k GP) Agile Amulet of Mighty Fists, but with that and a Potion of Mage Armor, plus Barkskin as a Ki Power they're pretty good to go.
Feats would likely be as follows:
1: Weapon Finesse, Dodge,
2: Combat Reflexes
3: Piranha Strike
5: Bodyguard
Another option would be a Slayer. At 4th, he could have the following Feats:
1: Weapon Finesse
2: Ranger Style (Power Attack)
3: Weapon Focus
4: Combat Trick (Fencing Grace)
This version has Sneak Attack, and about equivalent damage, but worse defense (though a better Fort Save) than the Swashbuckler version.
I'd probably go with a Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade), go level 4, grab Bodyguard and the Trait Helpful (giving an NPC a couple of Traits and PC level stats and wealth can be fun, and only leaves them as CR 4...or you can go level 5 and grab the Extra Traits Feat). That lets them spend one AoO to add +4 AC to their boss. Which is super cool. I could do a whole build if you'd like.
Like Etonwan said presence is important in a bodyguard. Equally important is the ability to spot and handle a dangerous situation. To spot a dangerous situation you are going to want decent bonus in both perception and sense motive. While you can get DEX to damage various ways good old fashion STR is going to be hard to beat.
For the race I would suggest something with a bonus to both STR and DEX. Two races come to mind the first being the Nagaji which get a +2 bonus to perception and +2 saves vs mind affecting and poison. Both of these are going to be very useful in a bodyguard. The other race would be a Suli. They get a +2 bonus in both diplomacy and sense motive, they also 5 points of resistance vs all four of the traditional elements and the ability to add elemental damage to any attack.
For class a Bloodrager would be pretty good. The Abbysal bloodline allows you to grow to the next size category when raging which not only increases his combat ability it also is very impressive. Take intimidating powers and you will have an intimidate score through the roof.
The Suli Bloodrager will be better at social situations as it will have decent scores in diplomacy, intimidate and sense motive. If you take traits to get sense motive and diplomacy as class skills then it hands down better in social situations.
PRESENCE is the biggest deterrent. Unless your in a halfling or gnome society, then choose someone whose presence generates respect.
I agree with you. Someone who looks like a threat is sometimes more valuable than one who actually is (although, you're golden if you've got both). But I don't want that this time. The noblewoman likes to be underestimated. A less-than-stout guard helps with that impression.
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Thanks for the answers, Deadmanwalking!
I say the Vanguard archetype for the slayer, is that any good? I'm not that familiar with teamwork feats ...
If you could do an entire build for me, that would save me some valuable prep time. Say Hafling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade). Level 3, that's about reasonable. Can add a forth level later if needed. I have a deal with my players: they get 3 traits and all NPCs can choose 1 for free. So the Helpful trait is an acceptable addition.
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I say the Vanguard archetype for the slayer, is that any good? I'm not that familiar with teamwork feats ...
It's not bad, but I wouldn't use it for this.
If you could do an entire build for me, that would save me some valuable prep time. Say Hafling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade). Level 3, that's about reasonable. Can add a forth level later if needed. I have a deal with my players: they get 3 traits and all NPCs can choose 1 for free. So the Helpful trait is an acceptable addition.
I'll give it a shot, but the build really needs to be 4th level to work right, since that's when it gets Bodyguard.
So, that said, level 4 version:
CR 3
Halfling Swashbuckler (Inspired Blade) 4
CN Small Humanoid
Init +6; Senses Perception +7
DEFENSE
AC 21, touch 16, flat-footed 16 (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +4 Dex, +1 Dodge, +1 Size)
HP 30 (4d10+8)
Fort +4, Ref +10, Will +3 (+2 vs. fear)
OFFENSE
Spd 30 ft.
Melee masterwork rapier +11 (1d4+8/18-20)
Ranged Dagger +9 (1d4+2/19-20)
STATISTICS
Str 6, Dex 18, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 14
BAB +4; CMB +1/+9; CMD 16
Feats Bodyguard, Combat Reflexes, Fencing Grace, Weapon Focus (Rapier),
Skills: Acrobatics +11, Climb +2, Bluff +9, Diplomacy +6, Knowledge (Local) +6, Knowledge (Nobility) +6, Perception +9, Profession (Bodyguard) +5, Sense Motive +7, Stealth +12, Swim +2,
Languages Common, Halfling, two more,
Special Charmed Life (+2, 3/day), Panache (4 points), Deeds (Derring-Do, Dodging Panache, Opportune Parry and Riposte, Kip-Up, Menacing Swordplay, Precise Strike), Inspired Finesse,
Trait Helpful
Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds (1),
Gear Mithral Chain Shirt, Masterwork Rapier, Masterwork Buckler, Cloak of Resistance +1, 2 Daggers, 23 gp,
I can downgrade to level 3, but it simply won't function right, since having decent offense + Bodyguard + Helpful is pretty much the whole point, and that simply needs the Feat they get at 4th.
He's technically over the wealth for an NPC of his level...by 150 GP. Only way he could afford the buckler being masterwork (which is necessary for him to have it at all). Seems appropriate if he's well-paid, and you can ditch the Buckler if you prefer to keep him under-wealth.
Cool, thanks!