Dante in Pathfinder?

[ThiagoMartell]

I have a friend that wants to join (one of) my Pathfinder game(s). He is new to tabletop gaming in general, but he wants a character similar to Dante (Devil May Cry)- fiend heritage, dual wielding, able to do both ranged and melee combat, agile, acrobatic, regenerative abilities.
This is for a 7th level game. I really don't think it's possible to ram it all into a single build, but how much can it be done?
My thoughts for now are simply Tiefling Ranger 7.

[grarrrg]

fiend heritage, dual wielding, able to do both ranged and melee combat, agile, acrobatic, regenerative abilities.
This is for a 7th level game. I really don't think it's possible to ram it all into a single build, but how much can it be done?

Asura-Spawn (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-tiefling) Tiefling Gunslinger (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/gunslinger) 5 (no archetype)/Shieldmarshal (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/s-z/shieldmarshal) 2 Dual-wielding Dagger Pistols (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons/weapon-descriptions/pistol-dagger) w/Weapon Cords for reloading (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=12589453#post12589453)
Take the Weapon Finesse feat.
Continue advancing as Shieldmarshal.


fiend heritage, dual wielding, able to do both ranged and melee combat, agile, acrobatic, regenerative abilities.
Check, check, check, check, check, check, and check.
NEXT!

[ThiagoMartell]

Wow, grarrg, that looks seriously badass! Thanks, I'm sure my player will enjoy it.

EDIT: Also, from what I see, the dagger part still gets bonuses from the gunslinger version of weapon training, is that right?

[grarrrg]

Also, from what I see, the dagger part still gets bonuses from the gunslinger version of weapon training, is that right?

Nope.
"gains a bonus equal to her Dexterity modifier on damage rolls when firing that type of firearm"

Couple alternate ideas, just in case (seeing as the previous post was done around 2:30 AM local....).

Forget the 'dagger' part of the pistols, and take the Tiefling alt-racial trait to get a Bite attack. You lose the Spell-like abilities, but it still works with Weapon Finesse.
Quick Note: A Dagger-Pistol is a 'double weapon', so you'd have to enchant the shooty and stabby bits separately anyway, so a Necklace of Natural attacks and 2 normal Pistols, or whatever, winds up _roughly_ the same cost-wise.

Swap the Gunslinger/Shieldmarshall for straight Inquisitor with the Black Powder Inquisition (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/inquisitor/archetypes/paizo---inquisitor-archetypes/inquisitions/black-powder-inquisition).
Choice of archetype is up to you, but keep Stern Gaze, as Tieflings get a Favored Bonus of +1/2 to Intimidate. This winds up being +1 Intimidate per level! Throw on the Monstrous Mask (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/monstrous-mask) feat for extra fun!
You can also go Inquisitor/Gray Gardener (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/prestige-classes/other-paizo/e-h/gray-gardener). You mainly lose some casting, but gain Sneak Attack.

[ThiagoMartell]

That's a cool build, but it doesn't feel like Dante. Dual wielding both melee weapons and guns is his thing.

[TroubleBrewing]

Well, Dante has to switch between combat modes, right? I mean, there's a button press involved in taking out your guns or switching to melee. With that in mind, Incarnum fits nicely here, albeit with a bit of refluffing. Just change the origin of the power from 'the soul' to 'demonic heritage' and the color and design of the effect from 'blue glowy animal parts' to 'sweet red demonic weapons'.

I recommend Totemist, with the following soulmelds:

Manticore Belt (Totem Chakra) - This is refluffed as two 'guns'. You can fire off a number of spines, or in this case, bullets every round equal to Essentia invested. Best part is that it's a standard action, and not a full-round.

Dragon Claws (Hands Chakra) - This becomes your 'swords'. They deal 1d8 + Str damage, so it's equivalent to dual wielding longswords, without all of the ridiculous penalties.

Blink Shirt (Heart slot) - Short range teleportation replicates Dante's incredible speed. With enough Essentia invested, you can get some real distance out of this bad boy.

As for the regenerative quality, I would point you towards the Half Vampire template out of Libris Mortis. It can replicate a good number of supernatural powers it wouldn't be unreasonable for a character like Dante to possess, and it's only LA +2. It grants Fast Healing and the Improved Initiative feat, so he's super quick and heals.

All in all, Human Half-Vampire Totemist 5 is not a terrible choice, as long as you're comfortable changing nearly all of the fluff.

[ThiagoMartell]

Well, Dante has to switch between combat modes, right? I mean, there's a button press involved in taking out your guns or switching to melee. With that in mind, Incarnum fits nicely here, albeit with a bit of refluffing. Just change the origin of the power from 'the soul' to 'demonic heritage' and the color and design of the effect from 'blue glowy animal parts' to 'sweet red demonic weapons'.

I recommend Totemist, with the following soulmelds:

Manticore Belt (Totem Chakra) - This is refluffed as two 'guns'. You can fire off a number of spines, or in this case, bullets every round equal to Essentia invested. Best part is that it's a standard action, and not a full-round.

Dragon Claws (Hands Chakra) - This becomes your 'swords'. They deal 1d8 + Str damage, so it's equivalent to dual wielding longswords, without all of the ridiculous penalties.

Blink Shirt (Heart slot) - Short range teleportation replicates Dante's incredible speed. With enough Essentia invested, you can get some real distance out of this bad boy.

As for the regenerative quality, I would point you towards the Half Vampire template out of Libris Mortis. It can replicate a good number of supernatural powers it wouldn't be unreasonable for a character like Dante to possess, and it's only LA +2. It grants Fast Healing and the Improved Initiative feat, so he's super quick and heals.

All in all, Human Half-Vampire Totemist 5 is not a terrible choice, as long as you're comfortable changing nearly all of the fluff.
I wouldn't mind doing that, but since there are already options in Pathfinder, I'd like to avoid 3.5 stuff, specially heavily refluffed 3.5 stuff. he's new to the game, as well, so incarnum might be a bit too much. I'll mention it to him anyway, thanks.

[ThiagoMartell]

grarrrg, I was just reading through Pistolero and I think this would work better than vanilla Gunslinger for this build. Pistol Training is not tied to shots and Up Close and Deadly even looks like it would work with the dagger part as well.

[grarrrg]

grarrrg, I was just reading through Pistolero and I think this would work better than vanilla Gunslinger for this build. Pistol Training is not tied to shots and Up Close and Deadly even looks like it would work with the dagger part as well.

Pistolero should be fine, I put 'no archetype' meaning more 'no archetype needed'.

As far as Up Close and Deadly...
"hits a target with a one-handed firearm that is not making a scatter shot"

I guess that would technically work (RAW).
But it's either intended to be Fired, OR they worded it that way so it would work with Pistol Whips.
Either way, you have to spend a Grit point, so it should be fine.

[ThiagoMartell]

I specially like how the Shieldmarshall ability to marshall specifically mentions pistols and daggers.