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I have a lvl 12 Psi-Warrior/Wilder Shifter OC. She was a hunter-like character, that utilized almost exclusively natural weapons (claws as a shifter, improved nat attack, and then claws of the beas/bite of the wolf powers) created around 2007, and played in a very long campaign from 2007 to 2016, when the group fell into hybernation due to being scattered (we were too stuck on tabletop, and never tried online).
To make a very long story short, we did a few 1-shots via TTS, and decided that the tools are mature to continue our campaign.
Most of the others had moved from 3e/PF, and so we decided to try 5e. Found several homebrew (psionics via Korranberg in DM's guild), but 5e is too...simple? We didn't enjoy the session, so we tried a 1-shot in PF2e, to get a feel.
Feels great. Just right amount of cruch, action economy much better and allows for tactical thinking, and rules need reading, but not extremely so.
So, DM said convert your OCs to as close as possible to 7th level PF2e characters, and we restard after 6 years. Plus, Dual class by default, so win-win, right?
Issue, I can't find any way to properly convert my OC to a PF2e character. I can't find a way to make the natural weapons work, and not suck badly. I can't even find a race like shifter/skinwalker, although DM's willing to create custom lineages (but not classes).
Is there a way I can approximate my old OC? No need the natural weapons to come from magic/powers (but if possible, more than ok). I don't mind her not being powerful, but I'd rather her be at least viable.
Thank you.
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For a skinwalker-like ancestry, look at the versatile heritage, Beastkin. Anadi and Kitsune are also shapeshifting ancestries.
For natural weapons/unarmed attacks classes, check out Animal Instinct Barbarian, Wild Order Druid, and Monk. For psionics-like abilities, they've recently released the Psychic class. Then there's the Magus for blending spells with physical attackes.
You will also want to invest in Handwraps of Mighty Blows to empower all of your natural/unarmed attacks.
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Disclaimer: I'm not familiar with the Psi-Warrior, or even positive with whether it is a 3.5 or Pathfinder thing. The rest is easy though. First off, the premier "natural weapon" build is the animal instinct barbarian. They deal a smidge less damage than your basic barbarian but get the best defensive and mobility options. One issue, though: rage doesn't play nice with spell casting, so if you want a caster for your dual class you'll need to use spells out of combat or before you rage. An alternative might be an alchemist. You can't use bombs while raging but it gives you a scaling ranged option for not raging and mutagens feel very appropriate. (You also have a free hand to hold and drink them, so walking into a fight holding at least one is a good idea.)
You can't find a shifter race because races aren't a thing anymore. They've been largely rebranded as ancestries, but Shifter became the beastkin HERITAGE, making it available to any ancestry. If gets you shapeshifting and a bite at level 1... Although a pretty weak one for a strength build. A lot of ancestries can get stronger default options through feats.
Another option to consider: monk. While they default to using unarmed "stances" with martial arts flavor, flurry of blows works with any unarmed attack. What you knew as natural weapons (claws, fangs, horns, etc) are now just unarmed attacks. They also have several claw esque stances. Tiger Stance and Wolf Stance particularly spring to mind. Monks play much nicer with spell casting dual classes.
Speaking of casters, boy howdy do you have options here. A bunch of casters can transform their bodies into bestial weapons.
Witches (Eldritch nails, hair)
Druids (wild order)
Sorcerers (dragon claws, glutton jaws, probably some others.)
Summoner (meld into eidolon)
Psychic (less natural weapon vibes than psi blades, but you meantoned psi warrior.)
Finally, we have archetypes to consider. Dragon Disciple is the most fitting, but there are other options as well like golem grafter.
For a single class game, I'd definitely go animal Barbarian. But since you are discouraged from double dipping martials in dual class you need to consider a caster, so I'd go monk with either sorcerer or druid. Or maybe monk/alchemist! Drakeheart Mutagen gives the monk disgusting AC, especially early on
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Thank you all very much for the replies, there are a lot to consider it seems.
I found beastkin just before I fell asleep, so there is no need to tweak custom stuff for that. Weakness is not a big deal either, I am after flavor mostly.
Psychic Warrior (Not Psi, I mistyped from the 5e subclass) was a decent class from 3.5e and probably my favorite class from PF (3ed party from Dreamscarred ---RIP---). Especially PF's version.
I will probably go with barbarian or monk, dualed to psychic initially.
Barbarian would have been out of the question due to the rage, but thankfully reflavoring is something we did since the days of 2e. I can reflavor it as animal instincts kicking in and taking control. Casting while raging won't be an issue, since she was always portrayed as not casting while shifted ( for RP/flavor and not by RAW).
Alchemist, will be out of flavor. They barely got her to learn to read after 3 years of campaign, so I do not see how it would be possible to get thay far in an advanced art.
Monk is a good choice too and the easiest flavor to justify, especially since my character was modeled more after a hunter. Stalk, wait, strike, change positions etc...
But I really like the dichotomy between Beastial barbarian and enlightened psychic. Not a perfect recreation (Wilder were more of emotional psionic casters), but at lvl 7 and after maturing for 8 years in game, I can assume she is improving her self-control.
I will check either combo, and go ahead.
Thank you all for your suggestions!
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But I really like the dichotomy between Beastial barbarian and enlightened psychic. Not a perfect recreation (Wilder were more of emotional psionic casters), but at lvl 7 and after maturing for 8 years in game, I can assume she is improving her self-control.
There are absolutely charisma-based emotion-powered psychics out there.
Your problem is going to be your casting stats. If you go barbarian, forget about using any sort of meaningful attack spells. You won't have the casting proficiency, and you don't have all that much use for either int or charisma. If you go Monk, it's closer. Invest an early feat into one of the two lvl 1 qi spells and pick occult proficiency, and you're fine there. Now, charisma is still a niche build for monks, and the niches that it supports involve non-animal stances, but it's at least closer to being able to throw around attack cantrips as a ranged option without being utterly ignored.
Of course, if all you want is the ability to throw around a few utility spells with he Power Of Your Mind, then that's fine. It's just the attacks (and occasional things like dispels) that are going to care.
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But I really like the dichotomy between Beastial barbarian and enlightened psychic. Not a perfect recreation (Wilder were more of emotional psionic casters), but at lvl 7 and after maturing for 8 years in game, I can assume she is improving her self-control.There are absolutely charisma-based emotion-powered psychics out there.
Your problem is going to be your casting stats. If you go barbarian, forget about using any sort of meaningful attack spells. You won't have the casting proficiency, and you don't have all that much use for either int or charisma. If you go Monk, it's closer. Invest an early feat into one of the two lvl 1 qi spells and pick occult proficiency, and you're fine there. Now, charisma is still a niche build for monks, and the niches that it supports involve non-animal stances, but it's at least closer to being able to throw around attack cantrips as a ranged option without being utterly ignored.
Of course, if all you want is the ability to throw around a few utility spells with he Power Of Your Mind, then that's fine. It's just the attacks (and occasional things like dispels) that are going to care.
It is a dual class game, so their proficiency won't be a problem. And barbarians can get great mileage from charisma if they go for raging intimidation and terrifying howl. I'd also recommend Moment of Clarity. It isn't action efficient, but if you NEED to cast a spell it is the only way to break rage.
You could also do some fun things with switch hitting with this build. Blast enemies from afar, unleashing your psyche early, and then switch to rage once the stupified condition kicks in. It is very thematic and decently effective. It gets you around the big drawback of the animal Barbarian, lack of ranged options.
Monk/caster would still have an easier time utilizing both sides of the build at once, but if the goal is either/or instead of both at once barbarian works fine.
Edit: Wow, there's a a surprising number of psychic action which don't have the concentrate trait. None of of the subconscious mind actions do, nor does Unleash, Violent Unleash, or Psi Strikes, of Dark Persona's Presence... This kind of rocks.
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Thank you for the additional advice, it seems to be working. We're running a few quick solos in the past to both learn the game and to align the lore with Golarion from a previous homebrew setting.
There was some mentality shift due to rage (there was no rage previously, just a natural transformation), but it didn't break the feeling, and now we have the young lady have to balance between insticts and mental training.
We are not power-gamers, so having a less than efficient build is not as important as having fun playing! And I really love your idea, Sanityfaerie, and I will explore it further, we do have a few weeks before we officially kick back into action for good.
If your group is open to using any homebrew, Stormlord84, mebbe Omni713's PF2e Psionic's homebrew stuff will have what you need. ;)