A couple weeks ago I got enamored with the concept of a Dandy Goblin. I'm talking full on charismatic, smooth, suave (and maybe a bit sexy *wink*) goblin. Thing is I usually start building PCs with stronger mechanical concepts, planning them out many levels in advance, so I'm kinda unsure what to do next. I'm also not sure about goblin lore and names in general.
I'm thinking about going Scoundrel Rogue for the skill feats and charisma boost, but I'm open to other ideas.
So any fun builds that will fit this description? Funny names/backstories?
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You've reminded me that I should resurrect a 5e character I played in a short game, Lord Westmire.
He was a goblin whose adoptive father was an adventuring explorer in the Sir Hammerlock-esque british expeditionary force trope style. His adventuring party had come into contact with, ran afoul of, and dispatched a group of Goblins in his early days. But when faced with the prospect of killing or abandoning the child with them, the senior Lord Westmire adopted him instead. There's more to the story, e.g. who was in the wrong in that conflict and such, but I never had to flesh it out.
This allowed the Goblin Lord Westmire to grow up a privileged and well educated nobleman. He dresses foppish, had the Swashbuckler archetype, and I play up his Victorian British sensibility for humor. He would be a perfect fit for a Dandy Swashbuckler in 2nd Edition. He was very camp, and heavily inspired by Oscar Wilde's social comedies, which I was reading in college at the time I created him (The Importance of being Earnest, Lady Windermere's Fan, etc.)
In 5th edition, Lord Westmire returned to the continent of his birth on adventures of his own, and ended up negotiating a peace between local goblins and halflings, and founding a school there to share his good fortune with his own people.
Fortunately, there's an archetype that should provide a lot of the building blocks for your character!
I wasn't clear enough, I am of course taking the archetype. But one archetype does not a build make, especially with skill feats at every level.
Lord Westmire
That seems like a fun character to play! And getting inspiration from Oscar Wilde is an excellent suggestion, definitely the style I'm going for.
First, I wholeheartedly approve of deciding what your character wants to be, and then deciding on a class.
Second, I often find my inspiration by reading stuff. I don't know if PFS1 has a "Goblins of Golarion" book, but that seems like a good place to start. Some questions I have: what does "dandy" mean in goblin culture? What would they consider fancy that other societies wouldn't, or what fancy things from other cultures would they consider mundane?
Third, I usually strive to make characters defy prejudices, rather than reinforce them. People often make goblins talk with improper grammar, even the Int 18 goblins who can speak 4 bonus languages; it seems odd.
Finally, as far as names are concerned, my gut reaction is Yankee Doodle. He's speaks with a British or French accent, acquired later in life (in an attempt to appear more fancy). He wears an actual giant macaroni noodle on his head. Bard with a Dandy Dedication, and pre-write a bunch of gobliny songs to sing for Inspire Courage.
Fortunately, there's an archetype that should provide a lot of the building blocks for your character!I wasn't clear enough, I am of course taking the archetype. But one archetype does not a build make, especially with skill feats at every level.
Lord WestmireThat seems like a fun character to play! And getting inspiration from Oscar Wilde is an excellent suggestion, definitely the style I'm going for.
In that case, I do think your first idea of a Scoundrel Rogue is a good one. If you want something a little more fightey, you might consider a Swashbuckler with the braggart or wit style.
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Maybe sorcerer?
Surely this well mannered gentlemanoid doesn’t carry a weapon or get his manicured hands dirty!
Maybe some illusions to help cover his life of crime, a few enchantments to help grease palms and wipe memories. Perhaps ask your GM about getting access to Conceal and Silent spell.
After all, you aren’t an adventurer, just a man of enterprise!
Maybe sorcerer?
Surely this well mannered gentlemanoid doesn’t carry a weapon or get his manicured hands dirty!
Maybe some illusions to help cover his life of crime, a few enchantments to help grease palms and wipe memories. Perhaps ask your GM about getting access to Conceal and Silent spell.
After all, you aren’t an adventurer, just a man of enterprise!
I like this, but I think I'm going to play the gentleman angle straight. Like Watery Soup said it's about defying prejudice, both for humor and impact.
I like this, but I think I'm going to play the gentleman angle straight. Like Watery Soup said it's about defying prejudice, both for humor and impact.Maybe sorcerer?
Surely this well mannered gentlemanoid doesn’t carry a weapon or get his manicured hands dirty!
Maybe some illusions to help cover his life of crime, a few enchantments to help grease palms and wipe memories. Perhaps ask your GM about getting access to Conceal and Silent spell.
After all, you aren’t an adventurer, just a man of enterprise!
In that case, how about a Goblin with the Imperial Bloodline who is the scion of a long line of goblin gentlemen who have been tirelessly working over the generations to make goblins accepted in polite society everywhere?