Goose themed PC?

[Fromper]

So this is going to sound ridiculous, but my nephew has got it in his head that he wants to make a character with a goose theme. His first thought was a druid who can wild shape into a goose, but it was unclear how to do that in the rules. A goose as an animal companion or familiar might work for him, though. I haven't looked at the summoner class in 2e - can an eidolon look like a goose?

Any recommendations for a geese themed PC? This is for PFS, so RAW only.

[nickl_2000]

There is a beast Eidolon choice. No reason why you couldn't have it look like a goose. The only issue is that it doesn't have a flight speed.

[Hilary Moon Murphy]

I really love the idea of a Goose-themed PC.

So for Eidolons, I noticed the following possibilities:

Beast Eidolons (Primal Spell List)

Construct Eidolons (Arcane Spell List) - the goose is a robot, stuffed animal or other creation come to life

Psychopomp Eidolon (Divine Spell List) - a Nosoi goose wearing a plague mask.

If your nephew is playing something with a familiar, the familiar can absolutely be a goose.

[breithauptclan]

Fromper wrote:

His first thought was a druid who can wild shape into a goose, but it was unclear how to do that in the rules.

Depends on the level. Aerial Form has a Bird option that would fit.

That isn't available until level 8 with Soaring Shape.

Fromper wrote:

A goose as an animal companion or familiar might work for him, though.

There is Bird and maybe Vulture.

Fromper wrote:

I haven't looked at the summoner class in 2e - can an eidolon look like a goose?

Yes. You can make an Eidolon look however you want it to. The most obvious is Beast Eidolon. I have one that is medium size and looks like a 6 foot tall chicken.

It will be a rather large goose in all of these cases.

Another option is a familiar - those can also look like a goose and will be size tiny. Though it will be pretty useless in combat.

[Hilary Moon Murphy]

It's unfortunate that the Bird companion is described as a bird of prey, but one can argue that since goose eat fish, they are omnivores. I'm an OrgPlay GM, and would totally allow a Bird animal companion that was a goose.

"Honk!"

Also, I really want to play now with a character that has a Nosoi Goose Eidolon. That would be truly awesome.

[breithauptclan]

Hilary Moon Murphy wrote:

It's unfortunate that the Bird companion is described as a bird of prey, but one can argue that since goose eat fish, they are omnivores.

Or just that they are mean as all get out.

I mean - Hippopotamus are herbivores. That doesn't stop them from killing anything that comes within 20 feet of them.

[graystone]

You could rework the moth easily enough:
change the proboscis (finesse), Damage 1d6 piercing to a Beak (finesse), Damage 1d6 B
Change Support Benefit "Your moth releases a shower of dust to reveal your foes" to 'Support Benefit Your duck releases a shower of feathers to reveal your foes'
change Advanced Maneuver Ultrasonic Scream to Advanced Maneuver Mighty Quack.

EDIT: I missed it's for PFS... yeah, Bird companion it is as the other option, vulture, fits less.

[graystone]

breithauptclan wrote:

Hilary Moon Murphy wrote:

It's unfortunate that the Bird companion is described as a bird of prey, but one can argue that since goose eat fish, they are omnivores.

Or just that they are mean as all get out.

I mean - Hippopotamus are herbivores. That doesn't stop them from killing anything that comes within 20 feet of them.

A swan will kick your butt too.

EDIT: and in 2005, a scurry of squirrels descended upon a large dog at a Russian park and literally tore it to shreds.

[Hilary Moon Murphy]

So it looks like you nephew's goose character is a go for PFS, either with a Bird Companion or as Summoner's Eidolon. Any character can get an animal companion via the Beastmaster archetype, but I recommend archer-type characters with birds.

A flurry ranger archer with a bird can be very effective! On the other hand, the bird will be happy to strike at your melee foes too.

How old is your nephew? What sort of characters do they like to play?

[Aristophanes]

He might have a bit of a problem with PFS since evil aligned characters are forbidden, and since Geese, at least in my experience, are Evil...well you see the dilemma.

[YuriP]

One option is make a Tengu. Nothing in the tengus description enforces that the char have to be a crow like shape. Only says: "Tengus have many avian characteristics. Their faces are tipped with sharp beaks and their scaled forearms and lower legs end in talons."
The main problem is the talons in legs once the Goose don't have one, but this can easily reskinned once there's no mechanics linked to it. This would allow many funny things like Squawk! and beak Strikes in this funny character.

[graystone]

Beastkin goose!

[Hilary Moon Murphy]

graystone wrote:

Beastkin goose!

I would have suggested that (or a poppet) first thing, but this is 1) for PFS and 2) for a kid just starting out in PFS.

Every player starts out with 80 achievement points for PFS, so Fromper's nephew could start out with a tengu, and since I have already seen a duck-themed tengu in PFS, a goose-themed tengu should -er- fly with PFS rules. BTW, I really like the tengu idea as it opens up every character class as an option for your nephew.

Alas a Beastkin is rare and so costs 160 ACP. Not achievable for a first PFS character.

[graystone]

Hilary Moon Murphy wrote:

Alas a Beastkin is rare and so costs 160 ACP. Not achievable for a first PFS character.

Ah, forgot it was for PFS. I knew there was some reason I did suggest it before.