Post/Author/DateTime	Post
brio1 09-11-07, 07:14 AM	I have a Half Elf Factotum 8/Swashbuckler 5. I feel that as a result of his new dungeon adventures he has to develop a different perhaps more grittier side of his personality. At the moment hes kind of a renaissance man (Half/elf then...), a kind of wandering sage/scholar who's a bit handy with his rapier, a gentleman adventurer. Problem his that he's a bit too happy go lucky at times, and I want to develop a facet of his personality when he digs deep, clenches his teeth and grinds it out, but not in a way that alters too much his carefree scholar swordslinger look. A good example of this would be Drizzt Do Urden, who in the forgotten realms campaign setting its stated as a warrior 10 ranger 5 barbarian 1. The Barbarian 1 is maent to represent the facet of his personality that becomes that focused rage thing he can call on. While I'm not sure that I can see my happy go lucky sage/swashbuckler becoming barbarian like, i Do want a core class or even work towards a prrstige clas that reflect these two attributes 1) Cold, almost demonic determinatiuon 2) Eeery powers of perception To be fair for powers of perception I can crank up the Sense motive skills. But which classes reflect cold determination most of all? Ideas please
Fithero 09-11-07, 08:32 AM	I say this alot... cos it works alot. Hexblade... it gives you a bonus to will saves (good for the determination) and d10 hit points and a high BaB. But it also gives you the ability to curse, which you could create a number of sources for. Most often i tie the curse ability to a specific emotion that he can cause to manifest in others, grief, sorrow, regret, depression... all the good ol'negative ones :P At lvls 2 and 3 you get arcane resistance and mettle respectively.. which is good for the determination to knuckle up and charge through some spells! Hope this helps.
brio1 09-11-07, 09:13 AM	Actually thats quite a good Idea. The concept of a determined warrior who causes ill to befall all those who stand in his way through sheer determination. I like the idea of it being a more emotional hex than any arcane sculduggery. The only problem I forsee is that the charracter I have is Chaotic Good in nature, whilst hexblade is neurtral or Evil. This may cause problems with the character archetype, but I suppose I could get the DM to waive the alignmnet rule, expecially is he's changing his personality. What about prestige classes?
brio1 09-11-07, 10:32 AM	Added classes that reflect the extra power the character can draw upon in times of stress or extreem duress: Warrior: Draws on martial traning he has recieved in a previous career. Bard: Starts counteracting the problems of the world with song and merrymaking as his sanity shatters. Monk: Had some martial arts training from some old man in his childhood. All Floods back in an instant. Ranger: Becomes so focused on catching his prey he becomes more attuned to his surroundings. Rogue: Enough of playing by the rules! If you cant beat them square...then cheat! barbarian: 'It', whatever it is is an animal and atavastic. Sometimes when things are really bad it comes out and it lashes out with a fury. You fight harder and with more tenacity but begin to forget who you are. Sorceror: For some reason when you are tested to your limit you hand begin to tingle. Powers which normally lie dormat suddenly awaken and you instinctivly know how to use them. (badly) Paladin: Your outrage at the wrong doer is great! Justice must prevail! Feel my blade foul blackguard! All darkness shall fall before the light! Cleric: Your sunday school training comes back along with the wise words of your priest...Suddenly your long lost faith comes back as your deity turns to aid you at the hour of greatest need... Any more ideas out there?...
Terjon of the Blue Rose 09-13-07, 12:26 AM	You've already had some good suggestions so I'm just going to point out a flaw in your initial post. Drizzt earned that level in barbarian during the time he spent alone wandering the underdark during which he reached quite a primitive level of lifestyle.
Daxen 09-19-07, 06:29 PM	There is always Warlock depending on your Charisma and bent. While adventuring he became aware of a darkness deep within him that can be released in burst of pure Hatred (Eldritch Blast) but there is a (seductivness/alertness/calmness) in the dark the dwells within ( Insert appropriate Least Invocation). Just my two cp, but I don't care for hexblades.
pigknight 09-28-07, 03:36 PM	If you want him "darker" the good ol' fashioned wear all black, and character class is a cleric of death (and cold if you have complete divine).
Tjuk 10-04-07, 07:23 AM	make him wear dark eye-liner, let him dye his hair black......... whatever... hexblade was a good idea though... :)
The_Shaman 10-04-07, 09:06 AM	I'm not sure you need class levels to emphasize a mental trait. Both factota and swashies can be dark and mean as much as they like, although if you really want to make an antihero a non-good alignment might be more appropriate Anyway, here are a few ideas: to start with, given your class levels a PrC might be more appropriate as right now another base class would give you XP penalties. - Duelist: it might seem strange, but many duelists of game and legend are similar in outlook to what you described. Duelists are often talented, driven, and uncannily agile and aware - this is where precise strike comes from. To some degree, this also applies to similar classes such as the streetfighter and the invisible blade. Heck, especially to the invisible blade. Do tell me you're using the PHB II Swashie variant, please? - note: I don't have dungeonscape; if the factotum can cast arcane spells, the bladesinger is an option. It is more than a little underpowered, though. - Vigilante: ok, this might not be a powerhouse, but let's see. Cold determination, check. Uncanny powers of perception, check. - Shadowsmith (Tome of Magic): okay, both it and the shadowblade are with a noted sinister feel (shadow magic, what do you expect), but I like the shadowsmith more. Putting your hand in the shade and drawing it out with a rapier is, to put it mildly, unnerving. Unfortunately, their class skills are a bit meh, but with 6+int skill points, you can even afford some cross-class skills. Speaking of ToM, a darkened facet of one's personality imo goes ideally with binders. Few things "you've no idea what I can do" like a form of possession from spirits beyond heavens and hells. If you decide to take another base class, do consider them :)
brio1 10-08-07, 09:08 AM	Thanks guys, theres some really good ideas there. I particualry taken with the vigilante and Invisible blade ideas. I can't think why I hadn't thought of vigilante before... Ok so the fluff doesn't go with the character I created unless he turns into a grim Zorro...but I like the mechanics even if its a little underpowered. The warlock come across like a good idea too, but I don't know how much of a spellcaster I want him to become... Do I want him to shoot off as a arcane cannon when gets annoyed...I don't Know but I'll give it some thought. I'm not using the swahbuckler variant from PHB 2 as feel that the shield of blades is more in keeping with a arabian nights scimitar wielding swashbuckler rather than the educated noble renaissance man (straight lines, not curves more me bud, I'm a fencer myself and I'm more comfortable in relating to that style of swordplay- I do like that combat cloak technique mentioned in the supplement... very cool) Hexblade is good, but I'm cooling off the idea. I really like the Mettle feat, but I'm concearned about the alignment restrictions. Shadowsmith? I'm going to have to check The tome on that one...see what the fluff is about, Just as a final note. Are there any feats out there that can replicate dterminead and perceptive? Ideas?
The_Shaman 10-12-07, 10:47 AM	Hmm, I thought that using an off-hand weapon for defense wasn't just restricted to oriental traditions. Wasn't the typical configuration for fencing in Elizabethan times a sword/epee and a dagger (dirk), with the latter being used mostly for parrying?
Gejiin 10-12-07, 02:37 PM	it is well known that all kind of emotions can awaken psionic powers. Let's talk Telepath or Seer. The Half-elf always focused his mind on sword-fighting, studying or gentleman being. He never stopped thinking about anything else than moving on, and improving his skills. But now, he may realize that all of his studying and improvement became suddenly useless in face of a particular situation. Frustration, desperation. All of his life for nothing! Then... he stops... he stops thinking of studies and practices. Now, his whole attention is on himself and the world around. Now, he may realize that he sees. But he sees suddenly things differently by stopping his eyes on them. His listening is also different, as well as all of his other senses. And most of all, there is now something else. He hears voices... the thoughts of those surrounding him. What's the matter? Where does that come from? Some people think all their lives they are gifted. Most of them aren't, but YOU are. You've got something special you never noticed before, a stronger perception and intuition. Some people call you a psychic, but you prefer to say you're gifted. So here's my plan: you might or may not take levels in a psionic character class (here, I propose Telepath or Seer). But as for feats, you sure could take the Wild Talent feat and take the Inquisitor psionic feat (which gives you +10 on sense motive when you expend your psionic focus) which would relfect a kind of 6th sense coming in (a kind of primitive mind reading). I recommend you to look at psionic feats, for many of them might be interesting to your character (either in the Expanded psionics or in the Complete Psionics).
Bryan_0697 10-18-07, 04:23 AM	Two words - Scar Enforcer (RoD) Your character has a deep rooted hate of himself and his parents; despising them for forcing upon him the curse of the 'Half-breed'. The character’s base gleeful, easygoing nature normally hides his burning passion for vengeance against all those that wronged him in his youth. If most the characters in your party are elven and human this may not work very well, or… it could play right in, having him disguise his barely controlled rage and loathing. This will give your character a Dark and Menacing aura – displayed in all its glory when you happen to come into conflict with an enemy of either race (Smite! Favored enemy!). I don’t know if the Scar Enforcer casting does anything for your factotum casting so this choice may not be opt. sound.