Grace and thunder a socialites build towards being awesome [3.5]

[KatfishKaos]

Welp, I'm back again

A friend invited me into a social sandbox and I'll be honest. I play wizards. I love the spells, the maniacal laughter as you lift castles out of barren landscapes. Anyway, this isn't what I want. I'm looking for an exotic humanoid (something on the lines of an Aasimar) of some sort who is weird enough to get glances, but not so strange he's likely to get lynched. Very charismatic (passively and when socializing).

The other thought that I had about him is that he picks up a weapon and it's just plain scary. I was thinking of doing some power attacking goodness, but then I realized that just isn't the way he'd do it. So, without further adieu here are some of my ideas...

20 Rogue; Un-inventive I know (the problem is I know nothing about Rogues), but if I can find a way to get my enemy flat footed every round I've got my charisma box checked and so is the scary with weapons.

2 Paladin/4 Bard/Cloaked Dancer 5 (or something on the lines of); It has the subtlety that I'd love to roleplay but the problem is combat. It'd be laughable at best and I want people to think twice before attacking.

Once again thanks for any and all replies, If you have any questions I'll try to reply quickly.

[Escheton]

getting some frightfull presence feat that activates on an attack or charge does the trick.

[KatfishKaos]

Where would these be if you don't mind me asking?

[Escheton]

theres a few of them, think this one is from races of the dragon though

[Greenish]

Fear handbook (http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3809.0). Oh, and it sounds to me that you want to play a factotum.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

The feat Dreadful Wrath (http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Dreadful_Wrath) (PGtF) is probably the easiest frightful presence to get, and one of the most effective.

Maenad (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/psionicRaces.htm#maenads) (XPH) would be a perfect fit. If you want to go Paladin/Bard, be sure to get the Harmonious Knight (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a) substitution level(s), or maybe go Bard/Crusader or Warblade with Song of the White Raven and take Snowflake Wardance from Frostburn. Always have a high damage strike as one of your available maneuvers, you can turn on Inspire Courage (swift), activate Snowflake Wardance (free), toggle on your racial Outburst (no action), possibly move and/or draw your weapon, and deliver a deadly attack all in one round.

[HunterOfJello]

Changeling Rogue 1 then Bard or Factotum or Anything would make a fun socialite character.

[Eldariel]

What I suggest is simply a supermodified Fighter: Take 9 levels in Zhentarim Fighter (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a) (it's free content in the web enhancement; gains Intimidation-related abilities), possibly as Thug (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#fighterVariantThug) Sneak Attack (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#fighter) Fighter trading for some extra skills as per Skilled City-Dweller (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a), maybe Ride for Tumble or some such. Also take the "Hit and Run" Fighter variant from Drow of the Underdark (Dex to Hit and Damage against flat-footed opponents, Initiative bonus).

Then you need Drow of the Underdark. Pick feat named "Imperious Command". It makes enemies you Intimidate in combat cower for 1 round (and be shakened afterwards). Combined with Zhentarim Fighter, this means you can make people Cower as a swift action, which makes you very scary (literally and figuratively) in combat. Your skill list contains Bluff, Gather Information, Knowledge (Local) and Intimidate, so you can be very decent with that regard. You'll get Diplomacy from the Zhentarim Fighter Levels. Take Boots of Battle Dancer [DMGII] along with Travel Devotion [Complete Champion] and you can get your Charisma to hit and damage later on.


And you could dip two-three levels of Martial Rogue (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#rogue); get Able Learner [Races of Destiny] to get all Rogue-skills in class, get a couple of feats and Evasion + Trapfinding, along with Penetrating Strike on level 3 (trade Trap Sense for ability to deal ½ Sneak Attack damage to creatures normally immune, when flanking them). You could use normal Rogue if you don't care that much for the feats, of course.

All this will give you a very graceful (I suggest default Dexterity-based combat with Sneak Attack, TWF & Weapon Finesse+Shadow Blade; Craven of course too - you can use Martial Rogue for bonus feats as necessary), skilled but yet frightening character who can sweet-talk anyone into anything, or kill men with fear alone. You could dip some things to derive stuff off Charisma (two levels of Paladin, two levels of Arcane Duelist, etc. as per X stat to Y bonus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125732)) but you need 9 levels of Zhentarim Fighter to get the Intimidation-as-swift-action so go for that first. Oh, and consider 1-level dip in Marshal (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20030906b) for one of the auras, probably "Inspire Charisma" (for yourself to basically double Cha to skills and such).


This all hinges on you gaining access to Drow of the Underdark, or at least Imperious Command, but if you do, it'd be awesome. I would know, I've played one.

[Escheton]

nice, however, thats a dex/chabased warlord thug, not a socialite.
Though high society in thay is somewhat warped...

[Eldariel]

nice, however, thats a dex/chabased warlord thug, not a socialite. Though high society in thay is somewhat warped...

S/he excels at bringing his/her charisma and nimbleness to bear in combat, but make no mistake, s/he's the biggest socialite you can imagine. It was just asked to generate combat capability for such a character, which I did. He'll have Charisma x2 to all social skills along with appropriate Knowledges, Skill Focus: Diplo (from Marshal) and so on. So...yeah, he'll manage.

[Serpentine]

20 Rogue; Un-inventive I know (the problem is I know nothing about Rogues), but if I can find a way to get my enemy flat footed every round I've got my charisma box checked and so is the scary with weapons.Disclaimer: I'm not good at this sort of thing.
My thoughts: this makes me think of Quick Draw and Flick of the Wrist. There's probably a better way, though.
Oh, and it sounds to me that you want to play a factotum.I think every build advice thread I've seen in the last few weeks has had someone suggest Factotum :smallconfused: Tell me: is there any build you would not want Factotum for?

[Greenish]

I think every build advice thread I've seen in the last few weeks has had someone suggest Factotum :smallconfused: Tell me: is there any build you would not want Factotum for?Wizard. Maybe.

[KatfishKaos]

Barbarian 1 / Zhentarim Thug Fighter 2
- http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#fighterVariantThug
- http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060327a

Feats;
Human; Dreadful Wrath = Frightful Presence
- http://realmshelps.dandello.net/cgi-bin/feats.pl?Dreadful_Wrath
Level 1; Intimidating Rage = Intimidate when you go crazy
- http://www.traykon.com/feats/rage.php
Level 2 (Fighter); Combat Expertise
Level 3; Nymph’s Kiss = +2 to Charisma based skills, + 1 skill point per level, +1 to saving throws
Level 3 (Fighter); Improved Disarm

Traits;
Unnatural Aura (Dragon Magazine, Issue 356, Page 89). Taken at 1st level, this trait costs you a -2 penalty for all interactions with animals and vermin. The (untyped) bonus is a +2 on all Intimidate checks and to the DC of all spells with the [Fear] Descriptor. This is an excellent investment.


Skills and Tricks;
Never outnumbered = Making Intimidate AoE

Intimidate; 6 + 2 (Synergy) + 2 (Nymph’s Kiss) + 2 (Aura); 12
Bluff; 5


Ok! Eldariel, thanks. I'm going to use that very concept. Except I'll add a little bit of my own (well, I read the Fear Handbook). A charming young fellow quick words, quicker blade. Fight him though? By the time the enemy is done blinking they're on the ground crying in fear. And, if by any chance they're not on the ground crying, their weapon is in the ground a few metres away. Thoughts? Ways I can improve this? The only problem I can forsee is that i've taken too many things from too many resources. Which might be frowned upon.

EDIT: We haven't been given any stats yet. So I'm doing what I can now.

[Greenish]

Nymph's Kiss doesn't grant skill points retroactively, so you might want to take it at first level to get the most mileage.

[balistafreak]

I think every build advice thread I've seen in the last few weeks has had someone suggest Factotum :smallconfused: Tell me: is there any build you would not want Factotum for?

Factotum is stupidly flexible - heck, it's even described by the designers as the "whatever" class. When a player has a character idea of whatever that isn't blatant spellcasting, Factotum generally has the easiest time of fulfilling it.

Not to mention, Factotums are awesome. :smallcool: