Might be joining a semi-newbie group. They are not optimizing masters, so this is not a power build since I don't want to eclipse anyone. But I still want it to be at least fairly effective and fun to play. I'm told the group is moderately balanced and there is no super critical shortage of any particular capabilities.
For story reason, the GM said it would be an excellent time to introduce a Tengu PC. The party has encountered and made close alliance with a group of Tengu. I would make perfect sense for them to send someone to accompany the group. So... Tengu champion / icon / whatever.
So I started thinking it might be fun to make a character that makes as much of the Tengu possibilities as I can.
There are the Tengu feats to eventually shape change into a raven. I like that.
There is the Swordmaster rogue archetype. Seems pretty decent. Proficiency and finesse with an elven curved blade.
But it doesn't really work with the Tengu racial trait to get claw attacks. Natural attack builds can be fun and fairly effective.
There are 3 Tengu only spells. They aren't anything too special, but they are unique to Tengu. So I guess it would be good to get those into the mix if I can.
Should I get a raven familiar?
Should I build in a animal companion that is a Roc? (Pretty sure the GM would let me say it looks like a giant raven.)
Usually, I have a better idea of where I'm heading than this. But this time the only real direction in my head is to be as Tengu as possible.
Suggestions? Thoughts? Ideas? Questions? Concerns?
Well, the racial trait that gives you a claw attack does so in exchange for the sword training talent so it's one or the other. The first thing that comes to mind is to play a tengu magus. Though I don't know if magus gets access to the tengu only spells or if they even make sense if you can.
The nice thing is that the tengu claw trait counts as improved unarmed combat for purposes of taking feats meaning its easier for them to pick up feral combat training.
Magus doesn't get any of those 3 spells. Looking closer, to get all 3 you would have to be either sorc or wiz. Though several classes (including druid) can get 2 of them.
Druid won't make much use of sword trained. But would be a good match for the claws and feral combat.
Might check out a Phantom Blade spiritualist. Nice stat synergy and goes well with their whole sword thing. Also generally a very versatile and well rounded class.
If you're making a Tengu's Tengu, then he almost has to be good with a sword or sword-like weapon. They also tend to live on the fringes of large settlements and are often associated with criminal behavior. And finally, their racial bonuses are to wisdom and dexterity, so they favor classes that utilize those stats.
I think I'd also suggest the phantom blade. Except for lacking stealth, it fits the tengu very well and is more unusual/interesting.
There are also a few ranger archetypes that fit the flavor very well.
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Tengu are originally from Tien Xia, so they have been represented as samurai or rogues in a few scenarios I have played. They are also named in the Absalom guide as residents of the Puddles which fits the outcast type. Last, the Shackles is a place known for Tengus, as the local superstition holds that a ship with a Tengu will face less bad luck.
The penalty to con is the first thing I would watch. Front-lining a Tengu would almost always be sub-optimal, but other martial and wisdom caster options would not be stopped by the lower con.
My favorite 5th player is always the Bard and the Sensei Monk would fit a Tengu thematically and by the stats.
The penalty to con is the first thing I would watch. Front-lining a Tengu would almost always be sub-optimal, but other martial and wisdom caster options would not be stopped by the lower con.
The Tengu melee can't "dump" constitution, but the penalty really shouldn't do much to keep them from front-lining. The difference is fairly minor. Assuming a d8 hit die and starting constitution of 14, with favored class to hit points, it's 11 hit points vs 10 hit points at level 1. That difference "can" come up in that level, but the odds are good that you won't notice it very often, if ever.
The Warrior Poet Samurai springs to mind for a tengu. Good mobility, can finesse a katana, resolve compensates for the bad Con, and can use slashing grace for dex to damage (Might not stack with Graceful Strike). The Order of the Songbird was made for the archetype, but the Flourish Kitsune Mystique combines well with that order that grants sneak attack (Can't remember it's name.)
Now about the swordmaster rogue. The Swordmaster is kind of a trap option, and is only semi viable when combined with Scout. Doing so let's you use Tiger Trance to perform a full attack at the end of a charge and deal sneak attack damage. Decent if you use natural weapons and fairly pointless if you use TWF (You'll just miss most attacks, then eat a full attack from the monster you just charged)
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The spiritualist (phantom blade) suggestion sounds fun, cause it plays into the creepy 'plays with dead things' reputation of ravens to some extent, while also dealing with the racial fascination with swordplay (and you can roll the racial gift for languages in to some combination with a fascination with the ancient writings of the dead, or even something to do with 'remembering' the languages that you spoke in previous lives or something strange like that).
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If you want to play a monk that's not a monk, Tengu oracle with the Ascetic mystery and Shigenjo is fun, though you don't exactly have any racial bonuses helping you out. Maybe dip a level of Scaled Fist Monk.
I know Sunder is typically not recommended because often you're destroying your loot, but if you have an amicable GM you can combo that with the Wrecker curse. By level 10 you can cause weapons that strike you to turn to dust as if your curse was level 15 by spending a ki point, or you can perform a sunder combat maneuver by level 7 once you get your ki pool to deal full damage to sunder targets.
Could go dex based and get an agile AoMF.
Alternatively, you can pick up a Tengu Drinking Jug and Cayden Cailean's Divine Fighting Technique and TWF with a magic jug of alcohol.
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If you are allowed 3PP then I'd have a look at the Hishoken racial paragon class for Tengus from Rite Publishing.
As you level up you become the most Tengu who every Tengued.