Malacode
2009-02-02, 02:55 AM
Everyone knows the feeling of having an annoying character. It's the Cleric you played when 50 sourcebooks were in use, and it was time to prepare her spells. It was the Wizard who spent most of his time researching and buffing himself to protect. It was the Monk you were stuck with when there was a Scout already in the party. The ones that you really have to put a lot of effort into during gameplay. Well, I believe I have come up with a new cadidate. The Bard/Chameleon/Master of Masks. Here's the plan:
First up is five levels in bard. Go human, it's really the only way to do this and not suck, as Doppelganger takes much needed levels away from you. THe bonus feat can go towards Able Learner. This character seems to be the ultimate backup character, so why not take Bardic Knack alt class feature. 2.5 ranks in every skill that ever existed ever seems like an OK deal, and you'll be using them too. You're now the guy that makes the Survival, Knowledge Arcana, whatever skills that require training to be used, check, because everyone else forgot to take ranks. After your first five levels, you move into Chameleon. Take 7 or 8 levels, it's a decent class. You could take all 10, but then there are fewer class features to keep track of, which is bad for the purposes of this excercise. After your levels in Chameleon, you have roughly, what, 10 options for your character sheet that you'll be switching between, plus any Mimic'd abilities that add to that? Then comes Master of Masks. We'll just take the rest of our 7/8 levels here. This nets you a nice +3 bonus to your bard or chameleon casting, and a decent number of masks. At level 7, a Master of Masks has 6 masks to choose from, and they can wear two at a time (Only one benefits you though). Now you have 60 total options for your character at any one time. Have fun keeping track of all that.
Obviously, this isn't really well thought out or complete, but man it'd be great to dump on your DM. Even better: Don't tell your fellow players what class you are. They'll be guessing for ages.
"Hmm, well Dereck has Divine casting and wings, so he's got to be a Favoured Soul"
"But there's Arcane casting too, and a breath wepon he uses ocaisionally... I think he's a Dragon Adept"
"Hmm... He also changes shape though, and uses Wild Empathy, so a Druid"
etc.
So! What do you think? Is there any reason to turn this into an actual character? Is there any way this can be made more useful? Is there, in fact, any point to the exercise at all?
First up is five levels in bard. Go human, it's really the only way to do this and not suck, as Doppelganger takes much needed levels away from you. THe bonus feat can go towards Able Learner. This character seems to be the ultimate backup character, so why not take Bardic Knack alt class feature. 2.5 ranks in every skill that ever existed ever seems like an OK deal, and you'll be using them too. You're now the guy that makes the Survival, Knowledge Arcana, whatever skills that require training to be used, check, because everyone else forgot to take ranks. After your first five levels, you move into Chameleon. Take 7 or 8 levels, it's a decent class. You could take all 10, but then there are fewer class features to keep track of, which is bad for the purposes of this excercise. After your levels in Chameleon, you have roughly, what, 10 options for your character sheet that you'll be switching between, plus any Mimic'd abilities that add to that? Then comes Master of Masks. We'll just take the rest of our 7/8 levels here. This nets you a nice +3 bonus to your bard or chameleon casting, and a decent number of masks. At level 7, a Master of Masks has 6 masks to choose from, and they can wear two at a time (Only one benefits you though). Now you have 60 total options for your character at any one time. Have fun keeping track of all that.
Obviously, this isn't really well thought out or complete, but man it'd be great to dump on your DM. Even better: Don't tell your fellow players what class you are. They'll be guessing for ages.
"Hmm, well Dereck has Divine casting and wings, so he's got to be a Favoured Soul"
"But there's Arcane casting too, and a breath wepon he uses ocaisionally... I think he's a Dragon Adept"
"Hmm... He also changes shape though, and uses Wild Empathy, so a Druid"
etc.
So! What do you think? Is there any reason to turn this into an actual character? Is there any way this can be made more useful? Is there, in fact, any point to the exercise at all?