It's looking like the campaign we're going to play next is Hell's Vengeance - so good job I've been looking at Asmodean anti-paladins, then.
But the others are still debating. One of the others is really interested in playing something along the lines of Skyrim's vampire lords - a normal person one minute, a feral winged monster the next.
So we're wondering how to build it. Dhamphir seems a no brainer, though I suppose there's an argument for skinwalker (with an undead bloodline, perhaps). I suggested an Alchemist, but she's more tempted by Mutation Warrior, maybe with a barbarian dip. She's mostly concerned about ripping out throats with fang and claw, but neither of us really knows what we're doing with natural attacks.
I am nervous to suggest it, but synthesist summoner might fit what you are looking for.
You know, that did enter my head. And my lot aren't optimisation monkeys, so I don't think it'd break the game either.
I'll suggest it, but I think the main problem is that a synth allows you to be virtually anything - so it's almost quite dull to be a medium-sized, bipedal thing with wings.
I've never even heard of Wyvaran's. Those look a bit mental.
Okay, so I've been having more of a look at this. I think the class ought to be barbarian - specifically, looking at the beast totem powers. But there are a couple of things I'd need help with.
For clarity, the idea here is categorically a transforming fighter - someone who appears perfectly normal one minute, before sprouting claws, teeth and wings and tearing people apart.
1.) Wings. They're fairly vital as far as the whole image thing goes, and damned handy besides. Seems to me the optimal way to get them as part of the transformation is through a 2-level dip in Alchemist; aside from the fun infusions and the mutagen, that gets the discovery class feature, which then opens up the extra discovery feat.
But RAW, I'm still not sure it qualifies anyway - you need Alchemist 6. Is there an easier way of going about this? The GM is fairly laid back and will probably allow it, I reckon. But if there are other options, I'm open.
2.) Natural weapon building. Like I said, this is definitately a character that bites and claws people to death. But honestly, I barely understand the natural weapon rules as it is! I know people think it's fairly sub-optimal - which is fine, so long as it's still functional! I'm just not sure how to go about that build wise.
3.) Should I scratch the barbarian idea and do this with a primalist bloodrager? The main temptation is to avoid confusing things any further, but a little sorcery fits the vampire image well enough as a theme.
Skinwalker with Were-Bat heritage. Maybe go Bloodrager Primalist with Undead bloodline or straight Barbarian.
Another option would be Skinwalker or Dhampir, Bat Shaman-Druid
Both would have a normal appearance and be able to transform into a batlike creature for combat.
Bloodmarked skinwalkers do seem a good option - flight as a feat (even if it is poor manoeuvrability), a bite attack and rage powers would take care of the rest. They lack the undead theme though, which is a shame.
'Course, it might be possible to talk the GM into allowing feat-based flight from other races - I know skinwalkers and some of the planetouched have that option.
Dhampir beastmorph alchemist. Some of the variant dhampirs from Blood of the Night have Int bonuses, and the racial favored class effectively doubles the duration for a beastmorph's mutagen.
That's definitely one I'm looking at, I think. Top choices by far seem to be a beastmorph alchemist and a primalist bloodrager/dragon disciple (with the dragon-flavour stripped out).
Any ideas on how to build for natural attacks? Swords are for mortals, and all that.
All natural attack builds really need is 3+ primary attacks (bites and claws are easy), high str, an amulet of mighty fists eventually, and make sure to pick up pounce asap (greater beast totem/beastmorph mutagen both come online at lv 10).
Wait, that's it? I'd always gotten the impression that natural attack builds were a nightmare to pull off! Shows what I know...
Any feat suggestions for this sort of thing?
Power attack, maybe dragon style for pouncing through terrain. You'll probably end up spending a lot of them on extra discovery/rage power.
Natural attack builds only start getting ridiculous when you start looking for even more natural attacks, like finding ways to get horns, wing buffets, tails slaps, or hooves in addition to the basic claw/claw/bite.
Mutagenic warrior was where I started, funnily enough! I think now it'll be between some sort of vivisectionist alchemist and a barbarian now, depending on what the rest of the party does...
I reckon getting some wing buffets wouldn't hurt, but anything other than that starts to feel a bit less like a huge man-bat monster.
I almost did this with a Dhampir I was making but went Cleric/Envoy of Balance...
Bat Shaman- Night Sub-domain
Feats:
*Unusual Origin (Dhampir)
*Aspect of the Beast- Claws
*Blood Drinker- Human (or whatever you think is better, gives temp hp and deals 2 CON damage)
Totem Transformation for blindsense 20ft or to grow wings at lvl 5 (1 minute per Druid level/day)
Totemic Summons allows templates (Young, Advanced and/or Giant) to summoned Bats
This would give you that undead feel with the Dhampir traits, permanent Bite and Claws, blood drinking, bat summoning, and powerful magic. Wild shaping into a Dire Bat could also add to this and increase your flying per day for Druid level +2 hours of shape per use.
Maybe consider those feats with any class you decide on though :)
That's actually pretty cool, thanks man :)