Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ericSHINRA 09-03-06, 10:47 PM	Ok, so here is my problem: My character began swordsmanship training under a swordsage when he was sixteen but before that was raised by a nobleman. So my question is whether or not it would be best to take three levels in Swordsage or have a level of Aristocrat before that. I realize he wont gain as many abilities from the latter but it makes more sense plot-wise to reflect his upbringing. What do you guys think? I'll post the history later but he was born into a family of horse breeders for the noble which would later adopt him and later married his daughter. A lot happens after this which I'm not including but he's 28 at the beginning of the campaign.
Sikyanakotik 09-03-06, 11:05 PM	Unless the rest of your party often takes levels in NPC classes, I would advise against taking any levels in Aristocrat, instead having your training in that area being reflected in your skill and feat choices. When creating characters, you should always try to give at least a slight nod to optimization. After all, no matter how fun your character concept is, it'll be hard to play him if he's dead.
ericSHINRA 09-03-06, 11:21 PM	Unless the rest of your party often takes levels in NPC classes, I would advise against taking any levels in Aristocrat, instead having your training in that area being reflected in your skill and feat choices. When creating characters, you should always try to give at least a slight nod to optimization. After all, no matter how fun your character concept is, it'll be hard to play him if he's dead. We rarely take levels in NPC classes so I wasn't keen on it as you say from the optimization standpoint. Makes sense about the skills and feats. Aside from 'Adaptive Style', which I think is a must for the swordsage I still have two feats I can with with as a third level character. What might you recomend aside from the Skill Focus feats? (I'm not trying to turn this into an Optimization thread)
doorknobdeity 09-05-06, 03:24 PM	Swordsages have knowledge (nobility and royalty) as a class skill. Just put four ranks into that, and you have the mechanics to let you know about your fellow nobles. If you think your character would instantly recognize the coat of arms of any nobleman he sees and his bloodline, then take Skill Focus in it as well. Otherwise, just go with combat feats.
Kearif 09-05-06, 03:46 PM	Just focus your skill selection on skills that the Swordsage and the noble have in common.
hackersword 09-26-06, 03:03 PM	another option which I think has alot of flavor and can be used to represent "npc classes" but with more ummphh.... Human Paragon, good skill selection that you can customize and not bad HD.
BladeSavant 10-10-06, 10:28 AM	I agree that your simplest option would be to place a few dots in the swordsage's knowledge (nobility and royalty) skill. This allows you to reflect his aristocratic upbringing without sacrifing the benefits of the elite training his family most assuredly paid quite handsomely for ... ;)
arjomanes 10-10-06, 07:37 PM	Knowledge nobility sounds like a good choice. Some extra languages would reflect civilized upbringing. Diplomacy. Really, an aristocratic background would be evident in rp, no matter what your first class levels are. You don't need to specialize in aristocrat to be an aristocrat; I'm certain there are many npc aristocrats who don't have a level in the aristocrat class, since warrior or expert suit them better. Think of how an aristocrat in that region would react to those who are commoners. It would determine what weapons and fighting style he used (rapiers, sword and shield, longsword, lance, etc), the armor and clothes he wore, etc. Perhaps he only fights from horseback, or assumes a leadership position in the group. Or perhaps he throws his family's name around or wears his house's coat of arms on his doublet.