Hi there!
I need some ideas for my character for an upcoming Strange Eons path that i will play.
I literally fell in love with the Vigilante class, specifically with the archetype Masked Maiden (yeah i red somewhere that mechanically isnt the best). Although the archetype points that a character shoud be a (fallen) Gray Maiden my GM gently has granted me the option to think at another faction that i would like. And now im pondering on an ex Red mantis character... may be traumatized for the rough work that she had to do for the sake of her company and unable to realize of her two identities.
So what i want is a good contrast, also mechanically, of the combat styles . From a RP prospective is more simply cause i outlined, atleast in some way, her psyche.
So i thought at an alchemist. Bombs for when she is in her social identinty and melee combat for when she is in her vigilante identity.
Initially i thought to take vigilante as main class and dip some levels in alchemist but im not quite satisfied. Now im thinking to revert that: 1 level in vigilante class (that grants me armor and martial proficiency) and the rest in alchemist. The problem at this point is one: to remain rilevant in melee may be i need the vivisectionist archetype but for that i shoud trade the bombs away. So i would be good for the vigilante identity but may be not so much for her social identity.
To cosplay a red mantis assassin (just cosplay cause in game she would not be really a red mantis) i opted for the half elf race just for the goodies and the exotic weapon proficiency)
I would like to listen your advices and sorry for my english!
I know may be im just asking too much and i will stick with the vivisectionist archetype but i'll try to ask anyway.
Ale
Ah, don't cosplay a member of a group of murderous assassins. It's an interesting question of who would get to kill you, the assassins or their enemies, but you wouldn't enjoy finding out the answer.
Vigilante 1 / Alchemist X works. Vivisectionist is not the only good alchemist archetype for melee. Beastmorph or ]grenadier both work and both keep bombs.
I literally fell in love with the Vigilante class, specifically with the archetype Masked Maiden (...)
So what i want is a good contrast, also mechanically, of the combat styles . (...) So i thought at an alchemist. Bombs for when she is in her social identinty and melee combat for when she is in her vigilante identity.
Masked Maiden has the issue that combat has you make a will save or forcibly change into vigilante identity. If that happens, you're forced to get out of sight and spend a minute to change identities. The DC is only 10, but that can still make you miss entire combats until mid level.
The problem at this point is one: to remain rilevant in melee may be i need the vivisectionist archetype but for that i shoud trade the bombs away.
Honestly, Vivisectionist is highly overrated. If you want a melee Alchemist, Beastmorph is the real important archetype.
I would recommend abandoning the Vigilante level, and simply roleplay that stuff. It's not like Dual Identity does much mechanically, anyway.
My suggestion: Dex-based Beastmorph Crimson Chymist Alchemist. Your character usually uses Bombs, but when something triggers the surpressed memories (whatever you want that trigger to be), the character drinks their mutagen and their former training breaks through. With Feral Mutagen and Arms of Achaekek, plus pounce at 10th level from Beastmorph, combat efficiency is a given, even for dex based (although an Agile AoMF doesn't hurt). When the effects of the mutagen end, the red mantis 'influence' fades as well.
Adding Vivisectionist and using weapon in your 'social identity' would work, tool, but you can totally do without.