So, I want to plan out a character for the recently announced War for the Crown adventure path. The concept/background behind the character is that he is a courtesan who becomes a spymaster. He was taken by the fey of the Verduran Forest and kept there for several years. It is also rumored that he is descended from one of them. When he returned, he had gained magic powers and moved into a brothel. The owner advertises him as a fey touched being and is used for women who wish to be seduced by a fey of the forest. He wishes to be more and uses his talents to seduce women and learn information to use.
So here are my ideas for this character.
Race: Human (with the Fey Thoughts, Fey Magic, and Low-Light Vision alternate racial traits replacing skilled)
Class: I have been thinking about being a witch with the seducer archetype. However, since I want to be spy like, I am wondering if I should also take the nexian spellspy archetype. However, I did also thinking about a sorcerer with the fey bloodline. Should I drop the witch idea and go a different route?
Patron: I am torn between the enchantment patron or the trickery patron.
Familiar: I was thinking about a cat (because it'll give me a bonus to stealth and would be fun flavorwise). However, I also thought about either a thrush (+3 to Diplomacy) or a viper (+3 to Bluff).
Prestige Class: I did think about taking the Enchanting Courtesan class. But, would the Master Spy prestige class be better? Or should I just drop taking a prestige class all together?
Any advice on my ideas so far?
Basically, when I compare the two roads I see before you; ask yourself if you want to extract info or obfuscate it? The background paragraph appears to lean towards the former. Witch is a versatile class and should be fun and thematic for War for the Crown. I think Enchanting Courtesan is a better fit with the Witch class mechanically and thematically. I'd choose another class to pair with master spy.
Enchantment patron is a better fit with enchanting courtesan. I think a Cat or Fox would be well suited for an enchanting courtesan. The other options (thrush/viper) would be better suited for the master spy thematically and mechanically.
I think the spellspy archetype would be neat with a cat familiar. Nobody will suspect your familiar allowing you to mingle with guests at a party while locating the hosts dirty goods on the sly. I cant seem to find the seducer archetype so cant comment on it. Have you considered the feytouched archetype by Flaming Crab Games though?
Neat concept over all. I'd probably go with the seducer background with magic route for a stronger mechanical package. A master Spy relies more on natural skill and guile and is weak unless alignment is going to have significant mechanical presence in the AP (which is unknown at this time).
Thanks for the advice, Planpanther. The seducer archetype can be read here. It is similar to the feytouched archetype in some ways.
Hmm, the seducer archetype has some nice features particularly Seducer's kiss. It's a little risqué for the average group, but if your table is a mature one why not. Though I one time took a trait that gave me a bonus in diplo with targets that found my character attractive and its a little bit of a chore to keep track of. Also, heavily GM dependent, so consider that. Seducer archetype definitely fits the theme. Feytouched archetype is similar, but less GM arbitrary and grants wings as a hex. Weigh that out with your table but both seem to fit well with the concept.
Well, the seducer is a bit risqué. So, I'm not sure how the other players would react to it (I'm planning on playing in a pbp game). Maybe I could ask if the GM would allow me to reflavor some of the abilities to be less risqué.
Any other advice?
Bump.
Bump?
Any other thoughts?
Bumping 1/day is the usual max.
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Unless most of the party is in the spy business, being a spy is not party friendly play. Being PBP, however, may mitigate that. The dedicated GM time needed to handle the spying takes time away from others. If the PBP GM is willing to spend the time for your character, it can be OK.
The spells Enter Image and Irrisen Mirror Sight both are great spy spells, but Enter Image is not a witch spell.
For the roll you mention, a Hat of Disguise would be great. Not only to help you look like the person you are playing wile seducing, but also to disguise who you are while doing it. The spell Vocal Alteration stacks with the hat, for even better disguises. Heck, you could even fool your target into thinking you are their favorite sex instead of what you are so you can get that extra +1 DC.
/cevah
Sorry. I didn't know there was a limit to bumping.
Thank you for the advice. It's something to consider. I don't think witches get a whole lot of spells for spying. I might be wrong on that, though.
No limit, but rather custom. Someone bumping too often tends to annoy others. Too often seems to be more than once a day. There is no forum limit that I know of.
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There is a spell to use the familiars senses, letting your familiar be your spy.
I think Speak w/ Animals is an available spell. Make your target's pets your friends and learn about them.
Seek Thoughts is a great spell for info gathering.
There is a magic item that lets you gain advantage over the one you drink with. [Some kind of cup or mug, I think.]
Modify Memory is another interesting spy like spell.
/cevah