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Going to start playing in a game set in Ustalav soon. I didn't see any Ustalav players splat book. Anyone know of any regional themed archetypes, feats, traits, etc? Just looking for inspiration, don't have any particular character type in mind, could be anything. Except not some weird monster race, sticking to core races. Being assumedly a character in a horror show, got to at least be somewhat a normal person.
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From what I remember, the Ustalav campaign setting book has a lot of great information about the area, but is light on character options. The Undead Slayer’s Handbook, while not specific to Ustalav, has relevant character options. The Sleepless Detective prestige class and the Lepidstadt Inspector Investigator archetype are both character options with ties to the area that could be combined. Sleepless Detective is a good dip for non-Empricist Investigators, if you don’t mind having to take Alertness.
I found a couple archetypes associated with high society and intrigue:
-Speaker of the Palatine Eye (Bard). This seems like you are a part of a fake cult- you use psychic spells, and you get the ability to FAKE that a corpse is talking. Highly connected with the quest for immortality. A harmless archetype- nothing too much added, but not much lost.
-Royal Accuser inquisitor. Associated with the royal court, obviously. Trades out detect alignment for detect undead/doors/aberrations, trades teamwork feats for a number of favor enemies (selection is fairly useful in a 'horror show'), an augury ability that helps the plot, and bonuses to perception. A rather good archetype, depending on the campaign.
I know there's an Ustalavic Duelist fighter archetype, and anything "palatine eye" qualifies at least somewhat. Royal Accusers are also specifically ustalavic. Questioner Investigator are also called out as particularly ustalav centric (members of the sleepless detectives, even), alongside Cryptid Scholars.
And of course anything related to the Mythos, vampires and the whispering way, weres and all the classic Hammer-style horror is right at home.
It's also a country home to a number of Varisians, maybe the biggest after Varisia itself (?) so add that in.
Which reminds me : You could even go for one of the rare mutant type options, as while they may be more common in the Wastes a Quasimodo-esque character would fit in just fine.
And more! ...
A quick search for Ustalav, Lepidtadt etc. on the Archives turns up a number of things, from Arcanist Exploits to traits and archetypes.
Have a look there.
Book wise, the Haunted Heroes Handbook and Horror Realms are probably also worth a look, off the top of my head.
I found a couple archetypes associated with high society and intrigue:
-Speaker of the Palatine Eye (Bard). This seems like you are a part of a fake cult- you use psychic spells, and you get the ability to FAKE that a corpse is talking. Highly connected with the quest for immortality. A harmless archetype- nothing too much added, but not much lost.
The ESOTERIC INITIATE Occultists are followers of the Palantine Eye (and have some nice abilities).
I'm playing a HAUNT COLLECTOR Occultist in Carrion Crown (set in Ustalav), and this archetype has served me well. It's not specific to Ustalav, but it definitely fits.
Unfortunately these two archetypes are not compatible with one another.
Is there a specific Ustalav dueling sword like the aldori one? I'm seeing various things about the famous Ustalav dueling style, but can't figure out what weapon they actually use.
I would assume, until they expand on it, that it's a standard rapier. It has to come to a very fine point to create a Lepidstadt scar on the face. Maybe a Ustalavi rapier has a different colored tip to reflect this tradition.
Also, since so many Ustalavi duelers are trained at the University of Lepidstadt, and are classified as investigators, the sword cane could be a great choice as an "official" dueling sword. It functions almost exactly like a rapier except weights twice as much unsheathed. That could be part of the dueling ritual, drawing the sword from the cane. Maybe Ustalavi duelers hold the cane sheath in their offhand. Maybe your DM can make a ruling that a Ustalavi duelist can use the cane like a buckler.
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Sadly, the sword cane may have stats close to a rapier, but it doesn’t count as one, which means you can’t use Fencing Grace with it. That makes it less desirable. But if you’re building a strength-based duelist, or don’t mind having both a high dex and decent strength, it could work.
Of course you can always ask your GM if you can use Fencing Grace with the sword cane in their game, since this doesn’t sound like it’s for PFS.
Going to start playing in a game set in Ustalav soon. I didn't see any Ustalav players splat book.
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Rule of Fear. If you're characters are going to be Ustalav natives, this would be a good source of immersion.
Is there a chance y'all are playing Carrion Crown? The Player's Guide for that Adventure Path (aren't the PGs all free?) may be another source of enlightenment. I'd even go so far as to say that Carrion Crown may be one of the best balanced APs I've played through in my journey through Pathfinder. Forget the plot, the setting sucks you in. DMed right, the party will always be vulnerable, always feel mortal even into the end.
I'd stray from regional archetypes and instead focus on the wonderful horror that is Ustalav, where every day is Halloween. The regional archetypes have much to be desired, and don't actually set you up for success against the bestiary you'll encounter.
The primary threats will be the variety of undead, ranging from wights, the precursors to the haunt mechanic, up to vampires, and liches. Of secondary concern are the lycanthropes and magical beasts, to some minority extent, constructs. And of course, the most ubiquitous threat to any aspiring group of Adventurers/MurderHobos: the xenophobic townsfolk.
This is probably the one setting where a team of pure Divine caster characters would rick-roll any campaign. Any combination of Cleric, Paladin, Inquistor, Warpriest, Oracle would devastate the countryside in accidental crusade. Heck, you may even find overly-zealous crusaders fighting you if in the province they quarantined around the Whispering Tyrant, the biggest open secret in Ustalav next to the vampire underground. Any full-tier arcane caster... its not a matter of if they adopt Necromancy, but when and which flavor they chose.
Will saves, and to a lesser extent, fortitude saves are gonna bail your party out. If y'all take advantage of Ustalav's wonderful selection of citizens to encounter, be prepared to endure, not dodge, but endure.
This is where I learned to love Pathfinder. Varisia may be the land of Adventurers. Ustalav is the nation that forges survivors.
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Thanks for all the suggestions. So far the other players have said they are going to play a life oracle, a sorcerer/dragon disciple, an inquisitor, and possibly 1-2 more people, not sure yet.
At this point I'm leaning towards a menhir savant dwarven druid. I am expecting there will be lots of haunts, so the spirit sense ability should come in handy for detecting them before blundering into them and it doesn't trade out anything I would miss. Maybe focus on summoning.