Hello!
I group I am in is going to start a new campaign soon, and I'd love to play a character build on some visuals I have in mind, but can't seem to turn into actually functional mechanics. Please see whether it's salvageable!
* Wiry, rugged and nature-centered. Preferably no heavy or metal armour.
* Strong affinity with storms.
* I want them to be able to take on a storm/whirlwind shape and fight in that shape.
A summoner with *Meld into Eidolon* has the thematics baked in, but I don't think it actually works very well, even if it has the benefit that you can ditch both dex and strength.
Druid only gets elemental wildshape at level 10, and air elemental really doesn't do enough. I am fine with them accepting intermediate natural shapes to an extend, but I have a strong dislike of forms that disrupt my immersion - such as dinosaurs. So it's probably from mundane animals and a select few monsters such as unicorns or owlbears into a barely functional elemental shape. That doesn't sound promising.
Is there much that can be done with Soul Forger at lower levels? I would need to layer that on top of a ranger, barbarian or a similar class, but that might have potential.
Flavour-wise, Oracle is awesome, and right up my alley. I loved them in PF1, and the new curse mechanic looks the be a continuation of what they used to be. I did give a glance at the Tempest, but I see nothing that that really works with the transformation element, even if they carry the storm in their soul.
Sorcerer seems to mostly be an Oracle with less theme for the purposes of this character concept. They are also more fragile, which would complicate matters for someone who at least now and then wants to mix it up.
Would you have any suggestions, please?
I think you are absolutely going to need to do some heavy re-flavoring of existing mechanics to do what you want. Which means working with your GM a significant amount.
Honestly, my recommendation is to use (start with) the Animal Form spell, and ask your GM if you can swap out the damage type, with no other mechanical differences, only cosmetic flavor. Let the actual Elemental Form that will unlock much later be a real milestone apotheosis your PC is working toward, not a free handout you start with.
Trying to get too fancy with your homebrew can lead to a lot of headaches, so IMO the rather raw Druid with slightly custom Form spells is what I recommend.
As you get access to more Form spells, you can re-flavor them to taste, but you are honestly going to have a hard time otherwise satisfying that hyper specific taste.
I think you are absolutely going to need to do some heavy re-flavoring of existing mechanics to do what you want. Which means working with your GM a significant amount.
Honestly, my recommendation is to use (start with) the Animal Form spell, and ask your GM if you can swap out the damage type, with no other mechanical differences, only cosmetic flavor. Let the actual Elemental Form that will unlock much later be a real milestone apotheosis your PC is working toward, not a free handout you start with.
Trying to get too fancy with your homebrew can lead to a lot of headaches, so IMO the rather raw Druid with slightly custom Form spells is what I recommend.
As you get access to more Form spells, you can re-flavor them to taste, but you are honestly going to have a hard time otherwise satisfying that hyper specific taste.
I am starting to think that, in a situation like that, it may be easier to just go elemental instinct barbarian, rather than trying to reflavour druid or the like. But I am still eager to learn of options.
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Druid only gets elemental wildshape at level 10, and air elemental really doesn't do enough. I am fine with them accepting intermediate natural shapes to an extend, but I have a strong dislike of forms that disrupt my immersion - such as dinosaurs. So it's probably from mundane animals and a select few monsters such as unicorns or owlbears into a barely functional elemental shape. That doesn't sound promising.
You can try a different approach. Get a Sylph heritage to explain that you affinity to the storm comes from it. Start with a Storm Order and focus on usage of air, water and electricity spells and heritage feats representing how your control over magic related to storm is growing over time. When you get access to Elemental Form spell (level 9) you are now able to even become the one with the storm but only sometimes in a day, get Order Explorer to get Wild Shape but only use it after you take Elemental Shape representing that now you are one with the storm!
You can make this concept with Elemental Sorcerer too but the Form effectiveness is limited to your spell slots so I don't recommend.
The main problem of this build is that it only works up to level 14. If you will play to higher levels it will become weaker more and more after this and you will forced to abandon the form and focus only in your spells and heritage feats.
Flavour-wise, Oracle is awesome, and right up my alley. I loved them in PF1, and the new curse mechanic looks the be a continuation of what they used to be. I did give a glance at the Tempest, but I see nothing that that really works with the transformation element, even if they carry the storm in their soul.
Sorcerer seems to mostly be an Oracle with less theme for the purposes of this character concept. They are also more fragile, which would complicate matters for someone who at least now and then wants to mix it up.
Oracle not only carry the storm in their soul they can become one with Tempest Form and its curse. IMO its perfect for your concept the only problem is that its spellslots' spells are divine and unrelated to the storm but you can workaround this a bit MC with an Elemental Sorcerer and get its focus spells too to use when you don't want to improve your curse too much and use your link with the divine as an extra.
Would you have any suggestions, please?
If you are more open to not become the tempest itself but empowered by it you also have the Air Kineticist and Elemental Barbarian (specially when MC with kineticist) as option. Probably the Sylph will be enough to show your link with the tempest.
Druid only gets elemental wildshape at level 10, and air elemental really doesn't do enough. I am fine with them accepting intermediate natural shapes to an extend, but I have a strong dislike of forms that disrupt my immersion - such as dinosaurs. So it's probably from mundane animals and a select few monsters such as unicorns or owlbears into a barely functional elemental shape. That doesn't sound promising.You can try a different approach. Get a Sylph heritage to explain that you affinity to the storm comes from it. Start with a Storm Order and focus on usage of air, water and electricity spells and heritage feats representing how your control over magic related to storm is growing over time. When you get access to Elemental Form spell (level 9) you are now able to even become the one with the storm but only sometimes in a day, get Order Explorer to get Wild Shape but only use it after you take Elemental Shape representing that now you are one with the storm!
You can make this concept with Elemental Sorcerer too but the Form effectiveness is limited to your spell slots so I don't recommend.
The main problem of this build is that it only works up to level 14. If you will play to higher levels it will become weaker more and more after this and you will forced to abandon the form and focus only in your spells and heritage feats.
...Flavour-wise, Oracle is awesome, and right up my alley. I loved them in PF1, and the new curse mechanic looks the be a continuation of what they used to be. I did give a glance at the Tempest, but I see nothing that that really works with the transformation element, even if they carry the storm in their soul.
Sorcerer seems to mostly be an Oracle with less theme
I have been mulling over an aasimar with the blood of Gwynharwyf (https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Gwynharwyf) in their veins, and lean into the whirlwind/storm approach that way. That might sync well with the divine angle, although the sylph works better with primal or arcane.
There's got to be a good which grants Elemental Form, which means oracles and clerics are on the menu.
There's got to be a good which grants Elemental Form, which means oracles and clerics are on the menu.
The main problem with Elemental Form is that it will only arrive when the campaign is likely already half over, if not worse. I do not like aiming for end game only, and instead prefer having my theme online much, much earlier, if in reduced form.
There's got to be a good which grants Elemental Form, which means oracles and clerics are on the menu.The main problem with Elemental Form is that it will only arrive when the campaign is likely already half over, if not worse. I do not like aiming for end game only, and instead prefer having my theme online much, much earlier, if in reduced form.
Yeah, but as you already pointed out Tempest Oracle still captures that to a less extent since they have an uncontrollable storm raging around them most of the day. It's not the full fantasy, but I don't think anyone will come closer than what's already been suggested because the full fantasy is simply not compatible with low levels.
That said, you won't want divine casting as well you might as well go elemental barbarian or air kinecist. Air kinecist actually has a way to turn into lightning at level 4, but only briefly.
"For an instant, you transform yourself into a being of pure lightning and fly forward, shocking anyone in your way. You propel yourself forward in a 30-foot line. You can move through creatures during this movement, and this movement doesn't trigger reactions that are triggered by movement. Each creature you move through takes 2d12 electricity damage with a basic Reflex save against your class DC. You return to your normal form in the final square of the line. If you're in the air, you fall unless you have a fly Speed."
There's got to be a good which grants Elemental Form, which means oracles and clerics are on the menu.The main problem with Elemental Form is that it will only arrive when the campaign is likely already half over, if not worse. I do not like aiming for end game only, and instead prefer having my theme online much, much earlier, if in reduced form.Yeah, but as you already pointed out Tempest Oracle still captures that to a less extent since they have an uncontrollable storm raging around them most of the day. It's not the full fantasy, but I don't think anyone will come closer than what's already been suggested because the full fantasy is simply not compatible with low levels.
That said, you won't want divine casting as well you might as well go elemental barbarian or air kinecist. Air kinecist actually has a way to turn into lightning at level 4, but only briefly.
"For an instant, you transform yourself into a being of pure lightning and fly forward, shocking anyone in your way. You propel yourself forward in a 30-foot line. You can move through creatures during this movement, and this movement doesn't trigger reactions that are triggered by movement. Each creature you move through takes 2d12 electricity damage with a basic Reflex save against your class DC. You return to your normal form in the final square of the line. If you're in the air, you fall unless you have a fly Speed."
Oh, I would be fine with divine magic, in all likelyhood. I might have a minor preference for primal, but if the list has enough options to add spells to it, one way or another, conceptually I tend to be happy with divine.
I'll give oracle another look. :)
I'll second Air Elemental Instinct Barbarian to fulfill the fantasy even at low levels.
It doesn't totally transform you but "While raging, you're cloaked in a vortex of elemental matter" sounds a lot like looking like a whirlwind.
And if you take Scouring Rage and Elemental Explosion (sadly both lvl 6) you are dealing area damage like a true whirlwind.
Add a Air Kineticist dedication and Lightning Dash at lvl 8 and you actually transform into lightning.