[3.5]Putting a character concept into class form.

[aphoticConniver]

My character concept that I want to put into being is almost a knight/cowboy, dispensing justice to all lawbreakers. However, the knight class... sucks, to be frank. What sort of classes would fit the picture, thematically?

[Gavinfoxx]

Psychic Warrior.

[JeminiZero]

Cowboy as in using firearms?

AFAIK, not many classes provide firearms support: Rogue, Scout can of course apply precision damage to it just like bow.

If you repeat-fire tech (as opposed to fire once, spend move action to reload muskets), than you can apply the rapid-shot/many-shot feat chain. In which case archery Ranger might work possibly, possibly using Urband Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#rangerVariantUrbanRang er) instead, to target known criminal networks within cities.

Artificer can be firearms-like, using wands (and scrolls) to blast their enemies.

If you allow homebrew, there is the Black Rain (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5471505) discipline for Martial Adepts

[lsfreak]

Psychic warrior, warblade, swordsage. Those three can cover probably 80% of melee concepts. Crusader if your protecting the innocent extends to shieldblocking for your allies.

[aphoticConniver]

To clarify, by "cowboy", I mean the stereotype of almost a wandering lawkeeper. I kind of want to combine that with a medium-armored, blade wielding knight-like figure.

[Gavinfoxx]

So... Psychic Warrior or Ardent then... no problem. :)

[Randomguy]

Do you want to specialise in Mounted Combat?
No magic or is some magic O.k.?
Any particular preference to type of weapons?

You could try Paladin, or prestige paladin. Those fit the "Knight" part.
Ranger with a horse animal companion, or a Lawful Neutral Druid with the Swift Hunter ACF and a horse animal companion, could fit the "Cowboy" part, but that last one is a bit iffy.

For prestige classes, there's Cavalier, if you want to be a charger. There's also Knight Phantom, if you want to be a Sorcadin, or Wild Plains Outrider, if your mount is an animal companion or special mount.

Warblade or Crusader would probably be your best bet, though.

[Tim Proctor]

Here is what I would do, for the Long Arm of the Law type.

{table]Level|Class|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special |Feat|Skills|Spells
1|Urban Ranger 1|1|2|2|0|Arcane Hunter, Urban Tracking (counts as Track for Prerequsites), Wild Empathy @ 1/2|Alertness, Skill Focus (Gather Information)|7+Int x 4 Skills|
2|Urban Ranger 2|2|3|3|0|Combat style (2 Weapon Fighting)| |7+Int Mod|
3|Holy Warrior, Paladin of Freedom 1|3|5|3|0|Aura of Good, Detect Evil, Smite Evil 1/day|Weapon Finesse, Power Attack|3+Int|
4|Holy Warrior, Paladin of Freedom 2|4|6|3|0|Divine grace, Avenging (get Arcane Hunter again if your DM will let the effects stack), +1 Ability| |3+Int|
5|Holy Warrior, Paladin of Freedom 3|5|6|4|1|Aura of resolve, divine health| |3+Int (NEED: Gather Information 8 ranks, Intimidate 4 ranks, Knowledge (local) 8 ranks, Search 4 ranks, Sense Motive 8 ranks.)|
6|Vigilante 1|5|6|6|3|Detect Evil, Streetwise +2|Force of Personality|7+Int (NEED Search 5, Survival 5)|detect magic, disguise self
7|Justicar 1|6|6|6|5|Bring'em back alive, nonlethal strike 1d6, | |5+Int|
8|Justicar 2|7|6|6|6|Improved Grapple, Cripling Strike, +1 Ability| |5+ Int|
9|Justicar 3|8|7|7|6|Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Manacles) Street Savvy +2|Improved Two-Weapon Fighting|5+ Int|
10|Justicar 4|9|7|7|7|Nonlethal Strike +2d6| |5+ Int|
11|Justicar 5|10|7|7|7|Hog-Tie| |5+Int|
12|Justicar 6|11|8|8|8|Street Savvy +4, +1 Ability (NEED 18 Dex)| |5+Int|
13|Justicar 7|12|8|8|8|Nonlethal Strike 3d6| |5+Int|
14|Justicar 8|13|8|8|9|Improved Hog-Tie| |5+Int|
15|Justicar 9|14|9|9|9|Street Savvy |Greater Two-Weapon Fighting|5+Int|
16|Justicar 10|15|9|9|10|Intuition, Nonlethal Strike 4d6, +1 Ability| |5+Int (NEED Craft: (Weaponsmithing) 3)|
17|Exotic Weapon Master 1|16|11|9|10|Twin Exotic Weapon Fighting||3+ Int|
18|Vigilante 2|17|11|10|11|Smite the Guilty 1/day|Shadowstriker|7+ Int|alarm
19|Vigilante 3|18|12|10|11|Quick Search|Feat|7+ Int|alter self, detect thoughts
20|Vigilante 4|19|12|11|12|Speak with Dead, +1 Ability| |7+ Int|prestidigitation, invisibility,
[/table]

[aphoticConniver]

I've decided to go with a warblade. I'm actually looking into homebrew disciplines for encouraging one on one fights. Thoughts?

[Slipperychicken]

I've decided to go with a warblade. I'm actually looking into homebrew disciplines for encouraging one on one fights. Thoughts?

For the concept, pretty much any melee class can fit the bill. If you go Warblade, be sure to take White Raven Tactics and Iron Heart Surge. Wall of Blades is freaking awesome, because you can block attacks (even rays and bullets) by hitting them. Do remember that you'll get more damage out of full-attacking than strikes. If you ever need to choose, full-attack wherever possible, use strikes when you can't do a full attack, always use Boosts and counters, referesh maneuvers with every round you don't Boost.