OR "How I learned to stop competing and form Voltron."
So a few threads (notably including the AM BARBARIAN and numerous Kitsune Fox Shape discussions) have gotten me thinking:
Could you build a party that fits into one or two creatures' spaces, functions as a single unit, or just takes up as little space as possible? Just make the rest of the party easily portable for one other member? Can you gestalt without gestalting?
Just a thought experiment, so post your ideas and concepts freely!
Here's some of the jumbled mess I like to call ideas to get this started:
A mounted character is a pretty obvious start, and a cohort or even a PC can function as a mount. Wild Shape-focused Druid, Synthesist Summoner, Mooncursed Barbarian, and Agathiel Vigilante would all likely work for a mount.
A Kitsune that casts psychic magic can cast its spells in Fox Shape without any additional feats because of the Thought and Emotion components, and a fox is Tiny size, so it could easily ride along on another party member (YMMV according to rulings on sharing spaces).
Some races have feats or alternate racial traits that allow them to benefit from sharing spaces with an ally who also has them (e.g. Kobolds with Shoulder to Shoulder).
Ratfolk can stack up to four small creatures in one space thanks to Blood of Beasts.
Ratfolk can stack up to four small creatures in one space thanks to Blood of Beasts.
That's pretty crazy! Where are you finding this?
Blood of the beast is the latest player companion.
The real question though is do they still benefit from swarming?
Hunter riding their animal companion is pretty sweet though.
Have been working a alchemist/ hunter team. Both small sized and mounted on the hunter's giant vulture.
How many people do you want in the party? Andreww has shown how (with a cooperative GM) a single sorcerer can solo many challenges and APs.
Then there's the paladin with a ring gate on his shield and the rest of the party providing support through it from a different and safer location.
If the intent is 4 characters, all present and filling standard roles then -
Fox shape kitsune psychic (or sorcerer/blood arcanist with the psychic bloodline) to do the wizard role.
Some variant of the Songbird of Doom to tank.
A wild shaping druid with natural spell to heal.
And a strix trap breaker alchemist with a few familiar satchels to carry them all; he can change his own shape eventually too.
You need to watch out for area-of-effect attacks.
I do favor the songbird of doom, not just for tanks, but also for a psychic caster.
/cevah