Outside The Box Characters

[John and KARSG!!!]

I'm making a new character and I want to go outside the box a bit so want your opinion - should I make a Martial character that can secretly cast spells or a Spellcaster that is secretly a great Martial?

I.E. A Magus that is almost entirely martial focused and only uses magic in emergencies (for RP reasons)

or

A seemingly purely casting focused cleric who secretly has some monk levels?

These are just examples, so I'd love to hear your suggestions!

[Lelomenia]

I would say Trappings of the Warrior Occultist or Eldritch Knight would be solid options for “Acts like a pure martial 99% of the time and the out of nowhere steps back and turns out to be a legit caster” build.

For the other direction, seems a bit trickier but i think an Oracle could go all in on Charisma for a casting focused build and then be able to fight with Desna’s Shooting Star and Cha to AC options.

[PCScipio]

It depends what your trying to achieve. If it's just for a one-shot, or an NPC, your build doesn't really matter. If it's for a longer-term PC, you have to decide if you want to play an ineffective build, or something actually competent.

If you want to have a secret identity, be a Vigilante. There's quite a few different archetypes.

If you want to have a character that people underestimate, you could play a halfling Dawnflower Dervish Bard wearing a chain shirt (later mithril) under their outer clothes. Or an unarmored ratfolk Kensai Magus.

You could be a Staff Magus.

And you can be a Monk who tells people he's a wizard.

The vast majority of people who multiclass much end up with weak characters. Try to stick with one class, or at most a one-level dip (assuming that you really get something good out of it).

[MrCharisma]

I had an idea for this.

Play a small race (Halfling/Gnome probably) who is a GOLIATH DRUID.

At 6th level they can trasform into a Large Giant (2 size increases), at 14th level they can transform into a Huge Giant (3 size increases).

Then you cast SHILLELAGH on your staff and you're dealing the damage of a Colossal Quarterstaff (8d6 I think?) ... maybe take Vital strike (/Improved) so you can move up and still whack someone.

Obviously you don't want to totally tank your Strength, but you should be able to get your casting wtat pretty high and still be reasonable with your main weapon.

[VoodistMonk]

Weaponplay Ganzi
Wizard 5/
Eldritch Knight 10

At 15:
BAB +12
Base Saves +6/+4/+7
CL 14, 7th level spells

Three attacks with Dimensional Savant... zip-zip-zip... Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus covers your martial capabilities. You have no armor proficiency built into this combination, so Arcane Bond with an amulet to upgrade it into an Amulet of Natural Armor, or a ring to upgrade into a Ring of Protection. Craft Bracers of Armor. You'll be fine... you're a Wizard.

Conjuration/Teleportation gives you Shift, as well as fun Summoning stuff.

Transmutation to cheat up your stats a wee bit.

Universalist gives you Hand of the Apprentice, which could be fun.