Fun diversion: I did not expect you to be THAT class. . .


Pathfinder Second Edition General Discussion

Scarab Sages

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Just thought of a fun thing we could post on the boards here. One of my favorite things is seeing how far a class can stray from its indented design while still working. To that end. I thought I’d post something here where anyone can chip in.

So the basics of the idea are that we all know what, say, a stereotypical rogue looks like. Lithe Dude in leather armor skulking around with a short sword and a bandolier of daggers. Or a wizard is a wizened old dude with a pointy hat and beard, a fighter is a heavily armored dude with a sword and shield.

So I was thinking it would be fun to brainstorm some builds that would work (THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE OPTIMAL, just that they would be viable), but have them stray away from what you typically think of as That class. Here are a few examples, but feel free to make your own.

1) The idea: Military Spearman
The look: dude with a metal helmet, chainmail, Longspear.
Concept: A career soldier who was never of high enough social status to be a knight or even well trained with a sword. He’ just a front line guy that is supposed to stop enemy cavalry charges. Very knowledgable around camp with how the military works.
The class: Ruffian Rogue. Using strength to hit and damage, he can sneak attack with his reach weapon, and only needs 12 dex because of his armor. With the level class feature he can even sneak attack with his other Longspear buddies without flanking!

2) The Idea: Master Roshi from DragonballZ
The Look: Elderly man with a walking stick and tattered, maybe hide armor.
Concept: elderly teacher of magic, decently knowledgable but not the best when it comes to arcane magic.
The Class: Staff Magus. Normally this hunched over man appears weak, but when a fight breaks out he stands up straight and you realize he is still very jacked!

3) The idea: The skulking Street tough
The Look: Dude in studded leather armor, strong looking, who dual wields clubs.
Concept: rough-and tumble street thug who isn’t the brains of the operation, but can knock heads together.
The Class: Fighter with Dual Akyls. High strength and dex with throwing weapons makes him a fantastic switch hitter even if he doesn’t have enough skills to really be a rogue.

I look forward to seeing what all of you come up with!


The idea: cat burglar with gadgets
The look: tight, black leather armor with bandoliers with tons of pockets. Carries a gun and a knife at her hips. You rarely see her true form, as she's constantly slipping into new diaguises
The class: toxicologist alchemist


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Less an idea and more an anecdote but in a Malevolence game I played recently we had a character who fought with daggers, wore leather armor, snuck around to scout for the group and always tried to position themselves for flanking so they could get off a bunch of attacks.

It was three sessions in that they cast blistering invective and we realized they were a bard, not a rogue.

Scarab Sages

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Idea: The Field Commander
The Look: Orc woman in full plate, wielding a long spear with a large bird perched on her shoulder.
Concept: A veteran soldier among warriors who prepares to win the battle before weapons are even drawn.
The Class: Fervor Witch with the Sentinel Archetype. They use magic to control the battlefield and support allies while striking at foes as needed.

Idea: The Professor
The Look: An Elf, dressed in well-made but worn out clothing. They are well-kept and don't seem all that unusual, save for calloused hands.
Concept: A anthropology professor with a past in applied science.
Class: Ranger with a Hand Crossbow who applies their wide array of knowledge to deal with threats to students.


An anecdote from a game I ran.

Idea: Acolyte from the Local Temple
The Look: A changeling girl dressed in modest robes, carrying a temple bell
Concept: Shrine attendant with an obsession with cleaning things; also the party's dedicated medic
Class: Acolyte Background... but Bard Class. Numerous times the party forgot that she wasn't the Cleric, and that her Soothe spells were Occult, despite using Inspire Courage in almost every combat.


The Scientist
Had concept before the Inventor class came along, but would look like one with all his contraptions. An Elf w/ crazy white hair (like Einstein) who carries wacky equipment for combat.
It's a snare Precision Ranger w/ Alchemist MCD (bow as fallback)
(Might double up on snares instead w/ Archetype, depending on party)

The Surgeon
A medical doctor turned adventurer, using a scalpel in battle.
And yes, a Rogue, but they'd never say so. (Maybe Investigator instead.)

Earthmaster
Seems like a Dwarf Kineticist, or Earthbender, tossing boulders around and causing earthquakes (later), or maybe a beefy Elementalist.
Actually a Mountain Stance Monk w/ MCD Cleric for Earth Domain powers.

Energy blaster
A Gnome that focuses on blasting w/ cold, fire, and more.
Precision (for viable damage) Ranger as chassis w/ Ancestry feats for Cantrips & MCD Primal Sorcerer for more. Warden Spells to increase Proficiency.
(Most iffy build; would likely end up falling back on archery unfortunately due to notable difference in attack numbers, except vs. enemies w/ a Weakness; stats strained too, but lots of versatility)


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One of my friends showed up with an old man, with friar looking clothes, shaved head, the complete pack. He told us he was a Monk on a pilgrimage. We all assumed he was playing a Cleric. Next thing we knew he was fist fighting a lumberjack.


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13.) Idea: The Cunning Socialite
The Look: A high society lady always decked out in the latest fashions, including a variety of fancy canes that definitely don't have weapons in them.
Concept: A character who absolutely excels in manipulating social conversations with honeyed words and veiled threats. Perhaps not the best straight combatant, she excels that finding and creating vulnerabilities in her enemies for her allies to exploit.
The Class: Ranger with the Outwit Edge and the Dandy Archetype. Feinting, demoralizing, and creating diversions are going to be actions she uses quite a lot. Will probably also use the Monster Hunter line of feats quite a bit too.


Ancestors Oracle lends to this quite well, I rolled the skillful one multiple days in a row so I was mostly being a face, using a handcrossbow when it was the martial ancestor and demoralize/bon mot in combat.

At around session 3 I used Heal for the first time and everyone was surprised.

Scarab Sages

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15.) Idea: The spirit-warrior
The look: A half-elf wearing chainmail with a single longsword.
Concept: A young, quiet man who is very religious and into ancestor worship. He will occasionally enter a sort of battle trance where his ancestors seem to aid him in battle
The Class: Spirit Barbarian with a dip into duelist.

16) Idea: Making the perfect sword
The Look: A tengu katana-wielding swordsman in Minkai armor the equivalent of breastplate.
Concept: A character devoted to crafting the perfect Katana and wielding it in the most perfect way.
The Class: Inventor. His overdrive is flavored as him finding the exact perfect stance to be in with his Katana, and the explosion ability is explained by him striking his katana against flint plates in his armor. Other abilities like making the katana dealing piercing/slashing/bludgeoning is him finding different ways to use his katana, like a stab or pummel strike.


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Investigator with summoner archetype. Devotion phantom eidolon.
Grizzled cop who died pursuing a vicious criminal bonds to your soul after you took down his suspect, and now travels with you to fight crime until his soul is satisfied. Total buddy cop trope. Good cop, bad cop and all that.


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The charisma investigator can be done in a lot of fun ways. It's not always apparent what your skills are to who you're dealing with. I like the "college dropout" investigator, pick up martial artist and stumbling stance, and be a dumb jock that just so happens to remember that small detail from his schooling days. You're in fact extremely precise, but it doesn't look like it to everyone around you. Bonus points if you mispronounce complicated terminology.


idea: object retrieval specialist.
look: undefined - it changes regularly.
concept: master of heists. Takes contracts to acquire objects of real or sentimental value no matter how well guarded they are. Often without the current owners of the item even knowing that it is gone for a while. When pursuers try tracking the object using magic, they find that their magic leads them to a beer bottle floating down the river with nothing in it but a derogatory and insulting message.
class: Night Witch making good use of Shroud of Night, Deciever's Cloak, Illusory Object, and Misdirection. Probably getting Shadowcaster archetype at higher levels too.

Scarab Sages

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aobst128 wrote:
Bonus points if you mispronounce complicated terminology.

Now I can’t help but think of Goku from Dragonball Z Abridged.

“ I am the Alpha and the Amiga!”


16? 17? The Drunken Master
The Look: A thoroughly scruffy and disreputable-looking halfling in a leather jacket, or eventually a simple robe, perpetual five o'clock shadow, and a flagon in one hand.
The Class: At first this halfling looks like a fool, until his surprising martial prowess shows itself and people begin to suspect he is a sneaky drunken master Monk.
He isn't. The Thief Racket Rogue halfling is honestly just as surprised at how his tiny fists keep landing in people's kidneys, which hit extra hard thanks to the combination of the Monk or Martial Artist archetypes and Stumbling Stance granting his flailing jabs more sneak-attackable oomph.


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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

20

Idea: Grammar Pirate
The Look: A catfolk wearing spectacles and a buccaneer's outfit
Concept: The grammar pirate is a cunning linguist known for helping his fellow pirates decode everything from hidden messages to maps to the threats of the cannibals chasing them off their island. Known for uncharacteristic rages any time someone lazily ignores proper grammatical etiquette.
The Class: High intelligence fury barbarian with the Linguist archetype and numerous skill feats in Society-based skills.

Example. (Sort of.)


Alchemic_Genius wrote:

The idea: cat burglar with gadgets

The look: tight, black leather armor with bandoliers with tons of pockets. Carries a gun and a knife at her hips. You rarely see her true form, as she's constantly slipping into new diaguises
The class: toxicologist alchemist

Two words: Vaultbreaker's Harness.


Idea: Talespinner
The Look: Plainclothes traveler
Concept: Pathological liar and teller of tall tales, spending all combat ragging on enemies, boasting on how this one fight will surely be the end of their story, and jabbing enemies when they are most riled up.
The Class: Stumbling Stance Monk with Folklorist archetype.


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Idea: Bookworm
Look: Simple, unassuming acolyte.
Concept: Typically avoids battle. If something violent does look imminent, the character will grab something nearby to use as a shield. When the fight breaks out they will usually spend most of their time shrieking in terror and running around bumping into their allies.
Class: Liberator Champion with Scrounger archetype.


Idea: wilderness hunter
Looks: a light-armoured elven archer with leaflike motives on clothing
Concept: observant, wise, and clever, it's a cunning skirmisher who keeps away from the fight while taking full advantage of the environment and potential camouflage.
Class: Investigator with Druid and Eldritch Archer dedications.

I play this on Wednesdays. Party did a double take.


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Idea: Robin Hood
Look: Come on, you know this.
Concept: Confident, adept human in the wilderness, with quarterstaff and bow. Wears green. Hangs out with the Merry Men (equal opportunity bandits).
Class: Monk with Monastic Weapons and Monastic Archery.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Build I was using before Thaumaturge playtest released:

Idea: Magical Monster Hunter
Look: This
Concept: Caster-y martial that knows a ton about monsters. Uses spells and alchemy to replicate monster abilities.
Class: Investigator (Alchemical Sciences or Forensic Medicine) w/ Wizard and Alchemist Dedications.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Idea: Storm-Touched Oracle
Look: A weathered and world-weary half-elf with electricity that arcs around them almost constantly and horribly burnt nearly bird-like hands.
Concept: Caster who invokes the power of lightning to damage foes and heal allies
Class: Witch (Fervor) with Blessed One Dedication


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Idea: Demolitioner Goblin
Look: A goblin carrying explosive barrels. Seems to have quite some issues carrying them around.
Concept: Throws barrels around with approximate accuracy.
Class: Giant Barbarian with Alchemist Dedication and Raging Thrower.

Similar idea: Angry Alchemist
Look: A wannabee wizard who failed at entering a wizard school and ended up working with alchemy.
Concept: Angry alchemist who hates everything magicky. Hates wizard more than anything else for disregarding him when he tried to become one. Throws bombs on anything that cast spells.
Class: Superstition Barbarian with Alchemist Dedication and Raging Thrower.


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Idea: cat person
Look: A bit unkempt, a bit bookish, wears robes that are constantly covered in a light coating of cat hair. Carries (and dotes on) their pet cat everywhere they go, though in times of trouble they also carry a staff. Juggling the two is awkward, but doable. Admits openly that their darling familiar is the source of all their powers, and that they had nothing before the adorable little fluffball came into their life and offered them a pact that would give them real magic.
Concept: Pretty standard support caster... except in combat, where it turns out that the "pampered pet" is more of a murderblender than you might have guessed (to the enthusiastic approval of their person).

Class: Summoner with Miniaturize feat


SuperBidi wrote:

Idea: Demolitioner Goblin

Look: A goblin carrying explosive barrels. Seems to have quite some issues carrying them around.
Concept: Throws barrels around with approximate accuracy.
Class: Giant Barbarian with Alchemist Dedication and Raging Thrower.

Similar idea: Angry Alchemist
Look: A wannabee wizard who failed at entering a wizard school and ended up working with alchemy.
Concept: Angry alchemist who hates everything magicky. Hates wizard more than anything else for disregarding him when he tried to become one. Throws bombs on anything that cast spells.
Class: Superstition Barbarian with Alchemist Dedication and Raging Thrower.

Hadn't occurred to me to use titan mauler to get access to giant bombs. The question is would your reagents work to make them assuming you have the formula? I think they'd be a whole bulk a piece if you size them up too. Would be hilarious though.


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aobst128 wrote:
SuperBidi wrote:

Idea: Demolitioner Goblin

Look: A goblin carrying explosive barrels. Seems to have quite some issues carrying them around.
Concept: Throws barrels around with approximate accuracy.
Class: Giant Barbarian with Alchemist Dedication and Raging Thrower.

Similar idea: Angry Alchemist
Look: A wannabee wizard who failed at entering a wizard school and ended up working with alchemy.
Concept: Angry alchemist who hates everything magicky. Hates wizard more than anything else for disregarding him when he tried to become one. Throws bombs on anything that cast spells.
Class: Superstition Barbarian with Alchemist Dedication and Raging Thrower.

Hadn't occurred to me to use titan mauler to get access to giant bombs. The question is would your reagents work to make them assuming you have the formula? I think they'd be a whole bulk a piece if you size them up too. Would be hilarious though.

The rules don't speak of the actual "size" of the items you produce but I don't see why a GM would object.

And yeah, each bomb is one bulk so you need a Bag of Holding to carry them all!


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Sanityfaerie wrote:

Idea: cat person

Look: A bit unkempt, a bit bookish, wears robes that are constantly covered in a light coating of cat hair. Carries (and dotes on) their pet cat everywhere they go, though in times of trouble they also carry a staff. Juggling the two is awkward, but doable. Admits openly that their darling familiar is the source of all their powers, and that they had nothing before the adorable little fluffball came into their life and offered them a pact that would give them real magic.
Concept: Pretty standard support caster... except in combat, where it turns out that the "pampered pet" is more of a murderblender than you might have guessed (to the enthusiastic approval of their person).

Class: Summoner with Miniaturize feat

LOL, I had been thinking the same thing, having made two "crazy cat ladies" already. The first was a Hunter in PF1, and the 2nd a Rogue/MCD Druid in PF2 (before Beastmaster came out, though I really did need that healing anyway!). The first PC was a librarian (tons of Knowledge skills) and the 2nd was a secretary for PFS who liked to insert herself into adventurer rosters to go on vacations. She pretended it was an accident.

And yeah, Summoner would likely would've been next though it's a shame the "kitty" doesn't become Tiny until 8th. Then again, Small can be pretty small, like a bobcat. Of course, Summoner might make her more charming than I'd desire!

Scarab Sages

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Castilliano wrote:
Sanityfaerie wrote:

Idea: cat person

Look: A bit unkempt, a bit bookish, wears robes that are constantly covered in a light coating of cat hair. Carries (and dotes on) their pet cat everywhere they go, though in times of trouble they also carry a staff. Juggling the two is awkward, but doable. Admits openly that their darling familiar is the source of all their powers, and that they had nothing before the adorable little fluffball came into their life and offered them a pact that would give them real magic.
Concept: Pretty standard support caster... except in combat, where it turns out that the "pampered pet" is more of a murderblender than you might have guessed (to the enthusiastic approval of their person).

Class: Summoner with Miniaturize feat

LOL, I had been thinking the same thing, having made two "crazy cat ladies" already. The first was a Hunter in PF1, and the 2nd a Rogue/MCD Druid in PF2 (before Beastmaster came out, though I really did need that healing anyway!). The first PC was a librarian (tons of Knowledge skills) and the 2nd was a secretary for PFS who liked to insert herself into adventurer rosters to go on vacations. She pretended it was an accident.

And yeah, Summoner would likely would've been next though it's a shame the "kitty" doesn't become Tiny until 8th. Then again, Small can be pretty small, like a bobcat. Of course, Summoner might make her more charming than I'd desire!

Your cat could just be a Mane Coon. They can get to medium size I hear.


And you can play a successful summoner with minimal charisma investment, depending on your spell selection. Play a dwarf or something and you could even get away with purely average Cha.


Perpdepog wrote:
And you can play a successful summoner with minimal charisma investment, depending on your spell selection. Play a dwarf or something and you could even get away with purely average Cha.

No doubt; just be on call for Heal & other non-offensive/non-counteracting spells. Dwarves are my favorite Summoners when not planning on taking Eidelon's Wrath. I'd likely have to bite the bullet and be charismatic if only for the cat being able to yowl some serious sonic damage. That'd be too on theme to resist.

Not that I play enough to burn through all my Summoner ideas, the class being so open to different themes.


Castilliano wrote:
Sanityfaerie wrote:

Idea: cat person

Look: A bit unkempt, a bit bookish, wears robes that are constantly covered in a light coating of cat hair. Carries (and dotes on) their pet cat everywhere they go, though in times of trouble they also carry a staff. Juggling the two is awkward, but doable. Admits openly that their darling familiar is the source of all their powers, and that they had nothing before the adorable little fluffball came into their life and offered them a pact that would give them real magic.
Concept: Pretty standard support caster... except in combat, where it turns out that the "pampered pet" is more of a murderblender than you might have guessed (to the enthusiastic approval of their person).

Class: Summoner with Miniaturize feat

LOL, I had been thinking the same thing, having made two "crazy cat ladies" already. The first was a Hunter in PF1, and the 2nd a Rogue/MCD Druid in PF2 (before Beastmaster came out, though I really did need that healing anyway!). The first PC was a librarian (tons of Knowledge skills) and the 2nd was a secretary for PFS who liked to insert herself into adventurer rosters to go on vacations. She pretended it was an accident.

And yeah, Summoner would likely would've been next though it's a shame the "kitty" doesn't become Tiny until 8th. Then again, Small can be pretty small, like a bobcat. Of course, Summoner might make her more charming than I'd desire!

Just be a life like Toy Poppet and you can have the Tiny size from the start.

I of course want to play the poppet summoner, being a toy who some how got bound up to the real monster version of them selves - so a toy dragon connected to an actual dragon etc etc. At least then Ostentatious Arrival arrival works for you as you can share a space and be safe from the effect.


A bandit camp hidden in the steepest parts of the mountains thinks they're invincible with their well fortified defensive position, until Ballista bolts start skewering their watchtower. They think, "how the hell have people gotten siege equipment up here!?" Until they realize it's one guy, chucking ballista bolts with his bare hands at incredible distances.

Concept: giant instinct barbarian with raging thrower and Tridents reflavored as siege ammunition. Ranger dedication for extra range, and hunters aim.

Edit: gotta be an automaton with an integrated trident. Calling it "The Cannon"


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For the Summoner I like this idea:

Idea: Doctor and Nurse
Concept: A doctor with a nurse, both acting as a team. They both use Battle Medicine and such during combat. Hard to determine which one is the Summoner and which one is the Eidolon.
Class: (Fey) Summoner with Medic Dedication and Skilled Partner so the Eidolon also has Battle Medicine.


Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
SuperBidi wrote:

For the Summoner I like this idea:

Idea: Doctor and Nurse
Concept: A doctor with a nurse, both acting as a team. They both use Battle Medicine and such during combat. Hard to determine which one is the Summoner and which one is the Eidolon.
Class: (Fey) Summoner with Medic Dedication and Skilled Partner so the Eidolon also has Battle Medicine.

Could they then get Continual Recovery so they go from bedside to bedside in a hospital setting?


Yes, they can (but it's not super useful in an adventure).

Scarab Sages

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SuperBidi wrote:
Yes, they can (but it's not super useful in an adventure).

I have found continual recovery super useful in adventures.

Me with normal medicine: Well, We could sit here for six hours as I try medicine checks once an hour to heal the fighter.

Friend with continual recovery: Or I could do it in one hour.


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VampByDay wrote:
SuperBidi wrote:
Yes, they can (but it's not super useful in an adventure).

I have found continual recovery super useful in adventures.

Me with normal medicine: Well, We could sit here for six hours as I try medicine checks once an hour to heal the fighter.

Friend with continual recovery: Or I could do it in one hour.

We were talking of both the Summoner and the Eidolon to have Continual Recovery. It's not very useful to have the feat twice.


SuperBidi wrote:
VampByDay wrote:
SuperBidi wrote:
Yes, they can (but it's not super useful in an adventure).

I have found continual recovery super useful in adventures.

Me with normal medicine: Well, We could sit here for six hours as I try medicine checks once an hour to heal the fighter.

Friend with continual recovery: Or I could do it in one hour.

We were talking of both the Summoner and the Eidolon to have Continual Recovery. It's not very useful to have the feat twice.

Allows you to avoid taking ward medic ?

I love this thread btw! A lot of these are amazing.

Scarab Sages

SuperBidi wrote:
VampByDay wrote:
SuperBidi wrote:
Yes, they can (but it's not super useful in an adventure).

I have found continual recovery super useful in adventures.

Me with normal medicine: Well, We could sit here for six hours as I try medicine checks once an hour to heal the fighter.

Friend with continual recovery: Or I could do it in one hour.

We were talking of both the Summoner and the Eidolon to have Continual Recovery. It's not very useful to have the feat twice.

Wracks his brain trying to figure out how it could be useful.. I suppose if you got stupefied, your Eidolon could take over?

I mean, I suppose if your Is nice you could medicine two people at once too.

Scarab Sages

Playing this one in Abomination vaults:

Idea: Gnome Martial Artist prodigy
Look: Gnome in a standard Gi with minimal or no weapons to speak of.
Concept: Gnome who believes he is a ‘natural’ martial artist and needs no training to master all the fantastic feats that it normally takes Monks years to master

Class: Dragon Bloodline sorcerer. Make sure to take up the gouging claw cantrip so you can attack in melee for a decent chunk of damage. When push comes to shove, activate dragon claws for a d4+d6 unarmed attack. Eventually you can take up sixth pillar dedication and mastery to get master in unarmed attacks.

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