Hello!
I am gearing up to start Age of Ashes in a couple of weeks (after wrapping up Return of the Runelords), and need to make my first 2E character ever.
Our party so far consists of a Dwarf Druid with a Bear friend, a Halfling Bard, a Rogue (planning on MCD Wizard I think?), and a Fighter. We have a house rule limiting the party to 1 pet/animal companion class (familiars don't count), so if I play Ranger or Druid, I'm not allowed to take that option.
I also have a character concept that involves a handful of things being fixed already. I'm playing an Ancient Thassilonian, one of the people who got shunted into current time after the events of Return of the Runelords, who is something of a lost refugee/doomsday prepper/trauma survivor.
He fled Crystilan to live on his own in the woods after being dropped into the future, as he's more than a little confused and scared of all of the changes that have happened in the 10,000 years since Earthfall.
I'm looking to make him a Human with the Hermit background, unless another idea comes along. The trouble is, I have no idea what class to play. I'd like to make something that complements the concept/personality of the lone codger in the woods, but also fits the party's composition/needs.
I also place a pretty high priority on trying out some of the things in this game that "feel" different, like shields, different melee weapon traits, focus spells, spell heightening, and skill feats. All of which is to say, archery looks to be essentially "stand still and shoot a lot," which isn't really anything new or exciting.
I'd love to see/hear what ideas people have to make this character concept work. Thank you in advance for your time/assistance!
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One thing you might want to keep in mind is that Age of Ashes has Campaign Specific Backgrounds: My understanding is that aren't mandatory by any means, but they do connect with the storyline somehow...
One thing you might want to keep in mind is that Age of Ashes has Campaign Specific Backgrounds: My understanding is that aren't mandatory by any means, but they do connect with the storyline somehow...
Oh, that’s a good point. For reasons, Truth Seeker seems like the most relevant.
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Champion or Monk looks what you are looking for.
Champion will let you try the Focus spells, shield mechanics, can use all martial weapons and have shifting rune as class feature, letting you test lots of weapons without monetary cost. Because that Champion have natural progression in Divine Spells DC you can easily get good spellcasting with Cleric or Divine Sorcerer.
Monk can give focus spells as well and is more likely to match with your background, you will play with stances here and can get shield block with a single feat. Just like the Champion, Monk have natural progression in Divine Spells or Occult so multiclassing in Spellcasters of that tradition is good too.
From a party perspective, I suggest Champion. Who can protect the squishy casters, and flank with the rogue. Maybe Monk.
From a story, possibly a Barbarian (which can also help defend squishes), or Sorcerer.
I'm playing an Ancient Thassilonian, one of the people who got shunted into current time after the events of Return of the Runelords, who is something of a lost refugee/doomsday prepper/trauma survivor.
He fled Crystilan to live on his own in the woods after being dropped into the future, as he's more than a little confused and scared of all of the changes that have happened in the 10,000 years since Earthfall.
I'm looking to make him a Human with the Hermit background, unless another idea comes along. The trouble is, I have no idea what class to play. I'd like to make something that complements the concept/personality of the lone codger in the woods, but also fits the party's composition/needs.
From the description of the character as 'fled the city to live in the woods' I would think either ranger or druid. I could see barbarian as well. Champion(Liberator) maybe, but that is a bit of a stretch. Maybe a bit better depending on choice of deity.
Though any class could be made to fit the theme since skills are not tied to class. You could play a rogue or monk and just take a skill or two like Nature or Survival to fit the theme of living on your own in the woods.
Class describes how you fight. Skills describe how you live.
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If you want a Champion, you don't have to say you've been one the whole time you've been in the modern world; maybe you had a vision while living in the woods and suddenly realized your true calling, leading you to emerge from the woods.
Fuzzy-Wuzzy, Kyrone, and Mellored: I've never really played a religious character in Pathfinder at all, but could see myself working with Redeemer or Liberator.
What deity would you recommend for something like that? It seems like the Champion might overlap/step on the fighter's toes. Is that not true as much in 2E?
I don't want either of us to feel irrelevant due to the the other, and I know that in 1E, a Paladin and melee Fighter might feel like they're covering the same basic core competencies, you know? It's that concern that has kept me from seriously considering the Barbarian, Champion, Monk, or Fighter of course.
Fuzzy-Wuzzy, Kyrone, and Mellored: I've never really played a religious character in Pathfinder at all, but could see myself working with Redeemer or Liberator.
What deity would you recommend for something like that? It seems like the Champion might overlap/step on the fighter's toes. Is that not true as much in 2E?
I don't want either of us to feel irrelevant due to the the other, and I know that in 1E, a Paladin and melee Fighter might feel like they're covering the same basic core competencies, you know? It's that concern that has kept me from seriously considering the Barbarian, Champion, Monk, or Fighter of course.
The Champion is much more defensive and reactive than the fighter, and also brings buffs and healing to the table through focus spells. I wouldn't worry about stepping on any toes.
What's more, enemies in PF2 take a few more rounds to go down. There's enough combat for multiple front-liners to get a piece.
How about a crossbow and snares ranger? I'm currently working on that concept to see if it works. It's mostly class specific, but definitely something new to try out.
- lingering composition
- inspire heroics
- inspiration defenseWhich will give you all +3 extra AC and ST for 3 or 4 rounds
You can't apply Lingering and Heroics to the same cantrip.
So, first, the Bard is going to be a Polymath, so I don't think he's going to have Inspired Defense.
But also, Champion just feels very...reactive, to me. Which is not really my preference. My ReotR character is a Hexcrafter Magus with Bodyguard, Gloves of Arcane Striking, and Benevolent Armor, giving people +11 AC with her 7 AoOs. I think this time I'd rather play something more proactive.
I've heard that the name of the game, so to speak, is in finding ways to waste opponents' actions, or deny them their ideal, full 3-action turn. I'd like to do that proactively, rather than using the Redeemer's reaction.
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You can't apply Lingering and Heroics to the same cantrip.- lingering composition
- inspire heroics
- inspiration defenseWhich will give you all +3 extra AC and ST for 3 or 4 rounds
Why not?
Apart the fact you can't stack compositions ( and lingering composition is not a composition ), there are no rules in terms of free actions per turn ( unless homerule i guess ).
However, even if you can't, you will use from a +2 to a +3 per 3 rounds, because of 3 focus points pool, then a +1 for the rest of the fight.
You are simply down from a 4 + 1 turns, to 3.
Because both have the text "If your next action is to cast X"
[...] If your next action is to cast a cantrip composition with [...]
[...] If your next action is to cast inspire courage or inspire defense, attempt [...]
If you do Lingering > Heroics > Inspire Defense, Lingering doesn't work because the next action is casting a Focus Spell, not a composition cantrip.
If you do Heroics > Lingering > Inspire Defense, Heroics doesn't work because the next action is casting a Focus Spell, not any of the "inspire X".But we're pretty off-topic now. Sorry.
I sadly have no idea for the OP, but following the thread because I think it's an interesting thought process and there'S great ideas being brewed here. :3
Fuzzy-Wuzzy, Kyrone, and Mellored: I've never really played a religious character in Pathfinder at all, but could see myself working with Redeemer or Liberator.
What deity would you recommend for something like that?
Cayden Cailean? A drunken liberator seems like it would be pretty fun. But I'm not sure what kind of character you want.
Mechanically deity doesn't add a lot. You get access to their weapon, but can still use any other one. And the option to get some spells, but those feats could also be spend on boosting martial attacks, extra blocking, champion spells, and what not.
So it's easy to effectively ignore the deity.
It seems like the Champion might overlap/step on the fighter's toes. Is that not true as much in 2E?
Fighter will do more damage. Champion will do more protecting. And you can do fine working together.
An enemy hitting the fighter means you can trigger your protection, reducing the damage she takes. And if the enemy comes after you, the fighter might get an OA. Or the fighter might trip someone, letting you attack easier. Etc...
There is a little overlap if you both focus on shields, but then you just protect each other in a Phalanx kind of formation.
I vote barbarian. The new instincts (imo) give them a lot of flavor to RP and definately make you wall between the rogue and bard until the rogue can get in to flanking position with you and fighter. And heaven help whom ever you and the fighter flank. I get a 'keep off my lawn' vibe from your description and instincts such as animal or dragon could easily be tied to local rumor about the 'monster in the cave' etc. And you can always throw in a little multi class down the road if your attitude toward the outside world changes or you want to change up your tactics.
So, first, the Bard is going to be a Polymath, so I don't think he's going to have Inspired Defense.
But also, Champion just feels very...reactive, to me. Which is not really my preference. My ReotR character is a Hexcrafter Magus with Bodyguard, Gloves of Arcane Striking, and Benevolent Armor, giving people +11 AC with her 7 AoOs. I think this time I'd rather play something more proactive.
Maybe monk then.
Jump over people and stunning fist the enemies in the back.
I've heard that the name of the game, so to speak, is in finding ways to waste opponents' actions, or deny them their ideal, full 3-action turn.
Killing someone denies them actions.
As does blocking their damage, and letting someone escape their grab as a reaction. Or enfeebling them.But don't play a character that does not interest you.
Fuzzy-Wuzzy, Kyrone, and Mellored: I've never really played a religious character in Pathfinder at all, but could see myself working with Redeemer or Liberator.
What deity would you recommend for something like that? It seems like the Champion might overlap/step on the fighter's toes. Is that not true as much in 2E?
I don't want either of us to feel irrelevant due to the the other, and I know that in 1E, a Paladin and melee Fighter might feel like they're covering the same basic core competencies, you know? It's that concern that has kept me from seriously considering the Barbarian, Champion, Monk, or Fighter of course.
For a deity that your Redeemer/Liberator worships, might I recommend Desna? She’s one of the only divinities worshipped in Thassilon that is still revered in modern-day Golarion, and that may provide a bit of stability and familiarity to your character who is living in a world that I’d no longer recognizable.
Also, you can never have too many front-liners.
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“One of the only” = nails on a blackboard.
That is all.
I've been working on a character Questionnaire for my GM (HERE), and thought people might like to see what I've come up with so far. It's not at all complete, and there are a handful of things that are marked in red to indicate that I've skipped them and intend to go back.
But, at any rate, it seems to be a fun little questionnaire, and has given me some idea about who this character is.