I generally try to keep a backup PC ready in case my current PC takes a permanent dirt nap. Little more emphasis this time because my current PC is a bit more squishy than I realized and has come extremely close to dying a couple of times. Not complaining, I'm having fun just squeaking by all the time. But it is a possibility.
In out current campaign, it is more likely that one of our newly allied monkey goblins could decide to travel with us rather than a new standard PC show up from no where. Plus I like making weird characters. {shrug}
The kicker is that the other PC's all martial characters with no spells and almost nothing in the way of knowledge or social skills. Neither do they have the high intelligence to get lots of skill points and easily be good at knowledge skills.
My current character is a waves shaman with the possessed archetype. He is a good diplomat and has some knowledge skills. The casting class that would best fit monkey goblins is shaman, but I really hate to have my replacement PC's be anything like the previous ones. So unless I could come up with a build that plays completely different, I would rather not have a shaman.
So, given all that...
What are some suggestions for a build that can provide at least some knowledge skills, some social skills, maybe some spell casting, and still fits with the theme of the primitive monkey goblins.
My first thought is skald, but I thought I'd see if you folks can think of anything else that fits.
You aren't going to be as good a face with that Charisma penalty, but the difference isn't all that much. The real issue is that monkey goblins are penalized in both Charisma and Wisdom, shutting out two of the three primary casting stats--unless you're game to try hard mode and eat the penalty.
Witch seems like a fine choice, either vanilla or many of its fine archetypes. Having a prehensile tail means you can hold a metamagic rod, wand, or other useful non-weapon item and still have both hands free for other things. Skill points will mostly come from Intelligence, so if that's not enough then you may have to rely on hexes and spells to boost your face skill chances (or bypass them entirely--e.g., charm hex).
Spirit whisperer is a decent wizard archetype for unlettered races like monkey goblin. Familiar adept is another option--could even be a monkey! You're still stuck with low skills, but sufficient Intelligence should make up for that.
A related option would be rogue 1/one of the above wizard archetypes 3/arcane trickster X using Accomplished Sneak Attacker to meet the prerequisite. Skill points aren't bad all around, and your list of class skills is pretty impressive. A whopping +4 to Dexterity means you're going to be really good at those ranged touch attacks, and if you can add sneak attack as well, so much the better. Plus, surprise spells at 13th level.... Heck, I kinda want to play this now.
Sorcerer (sage) works mechanically, but it'd be a bit odd thematically.
Summoner is also not bad. While they use Charisma, a lot of their spells don't involve saving throws, so you can probably get away with the penalty.
Yeah, but it would be pretty hilarious, people saying, "Let the Monkey Goblin talk: he's the brains of the outfit!"
Okay, now I definitely want to play this.
Perhaps a Psychic Monkey Goblin who bamboozles people with Clever Wordplay?
Hmm... I've never been able to play an arcane trickster that I was happy with. This could be the chance.
Oh yeah duh. I completely forgot about witch. That could easily fit the primitive caster.
Not sure about the psychic. Been wanting to play one, but I'm not sure they have that primitive tribal feel to me. I will consider.
I think you can give Psychics pretty distinct feel based on their Dicipline. That said they don’t have a very monkey goblin spell list if you ask me.
I’d personally go Alchemist or Arcane Trickster.
Witches really want high DC spells, which the monkey goblin is gonna struggle with.
Some investigator archetypes could support a primitive look. Antiquarian or star watcher especially. Investigators cover skills better than most.
I think you can give Psychics pretty distinct feel based on their Dicipline. That said they don’t have a very monkey goblin spell list if you ask me.
I’d personally go Alchemist or Arcane Trickster.
Witches really want high DC spells, which the monkey goblin is gonna struggle with.
An 18 int still gives pretty decent spell DC and if I'm careful on the spell list, that will make even less difference. The archtypes lose some of the hexes. I'm thinking the Sea Witch and Synergist archetypes with the Water patron. The campaign is on an island and a decent amount takes place in or near water.
I will start working on an alchemist build tomorrow.
I've been working on something for a while that might work well for your Monkey Goblin.
1Fighter 1: Precise Shot
2F1N1: Poison, Sneak Attack +1d6
3F1N2: Ki Pool, Ninja Vanishing Trick, False Attacker
4F1N2Magus1: Greensting Slayer (Sneak Attack +1d6 if you spend an Arcane Point.)You Vanish as a Swift Action then run and hide.
On Round 2, you use a Cantrip or a Wand of Scorching Ray to make a Ranged Touch Attack vs. Flatfooted AC that locks in your Sneak Attack Damage, so that's 6d6 if you spend your Arcane Point: not bad for a level 4 character. You can keep taking levels in Magus and Ninja until you can become an Arcane Trickster, but I was just thinking, why not just rack up your Sneak Attack Damage points?
5F1N3M1: Sneak Attack +1d6, Accomplished Sneak Attacker +1d6
6F1N3M1Brawler1: Snakebite Striker Brawler Sneak Attack +1d6
7F1N3M1B1Alchemist1: Vivisectionist, Sneak Attack +1d6, FeatSo, now we're up to Sneak Attack Damage of 5d6, 6d6 if you spend a point from your Arcane Pool, and the Wand of Scorching Ray does 4d6, so that's 10d6 Damage as a Ranged Touch Attack vs. Flatfooted AC. That's respectable for a level 7 character.
Since character has both a Ki and an Arcane Pool, it might be worthwhile to take 6 levels in Magus and get Ki Arcana, but there are all kinds of directions you can take a character like this.
I rather like the build. However, the more I think about it, the 3 martial PC's already provide quite a bit of hit point damage very reliably. I think it would be more advantageous if I can provide other things. Like utility spells, area of effects, buffs, debuffs, condition recovery, etc... But I may consider if some of the other PC's change what they are doing.
Look at the exemplar traits. With them you can easily be a face character who runs off intelligence.
For a monkey goblin single caster I think witch works really well. Witches have a solid spell list that covers most bases plus hexes mean you can stretch you spell per day further which is nice when you're paired up with a bunch of martials.
There used to be rule that Spell-like Abilities counted as spells for the purposes of being able to cast spells as prerequisites for Prestige Classes. If your GM allows that, the fastest route for Arcane Trickster would be to play a Tiefling that has Mirror Image as a SLA.
1Snakebite Striker Brawler: Sneak Attack +1d6
2B1Wizard1
3B1W1Arcane Trickster1: Acoomplished Sneak AttackerFailing that, and you do want to be a Monkey Goblin, I guess the way to go would be
1Snakebite Striker or Ninja 1
2N1Wizard1
3N1W2: Accomplished Sneak Attacker
4N1W3
5N1W3Arcane Trickster1I do really like Arcanists' Dimensional Slide and Ninja Vanishing Trick, though.
For the first build I proposed, from the first 3 levels, you could go in lots of dirrctions. What I showed earlier was just a study on how to get lots of Sneak Attack Damage, but if you want to go more Wizard or something, that would work, too. make your level 4 be a level in Wizard, and go with that, maybe becoming an Arcane Trickster with Rogue Skills HEAVILY augmented by magic: you know all those spells you never had a use for like Disguise Self and Grease? Now have a use for them!. Also, you will double for the party's Blaster Wizard.
Do Arcanist for those slick exploits. Go Magus and gain Arcane Pool Points that you combine with Ki Points.
You could just be a Bard: skill monkey, buffer, and utility caster all in 1. Sure, you have a Charisma penalty, but it will be fun.
Re: the first build, unfortunately you're still limited to entry at 5 because of the skill rank requirements. That's still better than most prestige classes, though, and frankly I'd allow it. AT never really felt "prestigy" to me, more of a hybrid class.
Perhaps a Psychic Monkey Goblin who bamboozles people with Clever Wordplay?
I'm looking at an Amnesiac Psychic with the Psychedelia discipline. The Amnesiac would let me try out different psychic spells every day for whatever we need. The additional traits feat and high int for skills will let me have a go at the skill unlocks. And the Psychedelia because, well hell, he's a goblin living on jungle island. SHROOMS!?!
Forgetting everything from the day before. Stoned all the time. Yet still the groups go-to for skills and information. This could be epic hilarity. I would have to be careful to not become as annoying as an old time Kender.
Amazing!
It doesn't fit the Savage gobin feel quite as well, but the blood archanlist with the psychic bloodline is super fun and flexible. Just another option to look at.