'Mission control' character

[Inevitability]

How would one go about creating a character who doesn't travel with the party, but stays at the base, yet still manages to contribute in a meaningful way?

I could see someone with ramped up knowledge skills who identifies monsters helping the party at least somewhat, but it wouldn't be very useful. Any better ideas?

[D4rkh0rus]

How would one go about creating a character who doesn't travel with the party, but stays at the base, yet still manages to contribute in a meaningful way?

I could see someone with ramped up knowledge skills who identifies monsters helping the party at least somewhat, but it wouldn't be very useful. Any better ideas?

I'm pretty sure there were a few spells that allowed you to See and speak through undead you control (if someone knows what they're called, do post them). You could have this mega paranoid necromancer/lich that essentially, acts through his undead minions, while staying at base (preferably a really large cemetary) and making more undead as needed, "beaming" them with teleport spells as needed.

[Nerd-o-rama]

D&D doesn't have a whole lot of ways to support this in a (laughably vain considering how well a spellcaster can protect himself) attempt to stop characters from participating in combat with no risk. There are a few ways, though.

Obviously the Holy Grail of this concept is the Astral Projection spell, which lets a Cleric/Sorcerer/Wizard's body chill out wherever while his mind goes almost-risk-free adventuring. As a ninth-level spell, though, it's not eminently practical. There's also a number of lower-level "proxy" spells scattered around source books, though usually with great limitations that make them more like a layer of decoy than a true distance-action (such as Project Image).

The lower level solution also rests on magic, and would require as a baseline a Telepathic Bond (for instant communication) and Scrying, Arcane Eye, or some other Divination spell (for distance perception). Anything else depends on how far away you actually want to be. Bardic Music or other morale or insight effects can, if you have a sympathetic DM, hypothetically work at any intraplanar distances over the Telepathic Bond (I call this the Persona 4 Golden strategem because I'm an enormous weeaboo). If you're willing to stay withing a few hundred feet, Spectral Hand and similar spells can distance-cast spells for you.

Other than that I'm not sure, mostly because it's been a while since I went through splatbook spells.

[jiriku]

An artificer could craft equipment for the party and enhance their gear with temporary benefits. In a very high-level campaign where travel to and from the base was very quick (I'm thinking they'd use gate as the primary method of travel), those benefits could support them in combat. Still, your biggest obstacle to effectiveness is that you aren't taking actions in combat or speaking during social encounters. Such a character could be marginally effective, but I'd imagine it more as a DMPC or patron NPC role.

Edit: I remembered eye of power, from Spell Compendium. It's like arcane eye, except it's 9th level and you can cast spells of up to 3rd level through it. Bear in mind that spells with metamagic applied still count as their original level, so for example chain reach vampiric touch can still be cast through the eye because it is a 3rd level effect even though it requires a 9th level slot. Very effective for what you're considering. The eye has a low movement rate and a short duration, but strategic use of gate should get it to the desired location.

Again, some pretty high level effects, unfortunately.

[DrMotives]

There's a bunch of characters like this in pop culture, mostly in action-adventure or crime scene type shows. They're the person who does the research and checks up on things but rarely gets spotlight time themselves. It'd be like Giles from Buffy, or the perky goth girl from CSI, or maybe even Alpha from Power Rangers. Frankly, they don't seem like the most appealing archetype of hero, most of them would be represented by classes like expert or loremaster. That being said, if you really want to go for that, you should examine the tv tropes and see if there's something from those characters you'd like to run. They're still archetypes for a reason, even if they aren't the main stars of the action. Their abilities tend to include knowledge skills, scrying, gather information skill checks, and downtime classic activities like research, healing, repairs, and crafting.

[AWiz_Abroad]

So, what about ring gates as a mid-grade solution. If you had a way to see consistently, and a ring gate on top of a quarterstaff, your caster could sit back in an armchair.

[jiriku]

The trouble with a ring gate is someone has to hold and point it. If that ring gate is on someone's shield or staff, it's going to be in constant motion during combat, and a DM would be well within reason to rule that you have a spell failure chance because your line of sight to the target is intermittently being broken. If the ring gate is on a shoulder-mounted standard, it's a little more stable, but every time the standard-bearer dives or tumbles, your perspective rolls with him. Not a desirable firing platform.

[Yukitsu]

I've played this concept a couple times since I like it, you need a real focus on things like divinations and communications. If you can get chronic 2 way communication, either through standard or custom items, and you are playing a dedicated diviner with item creation feats, you can pull this off pretty well. Having access to planar binding type effects, large schools of knowledge skills and similar lets you do a considerable amount.

[Amphetryon]

Since you're apparently not referencing a grappler who specializes in immobilizing his adversary while on his own back. . . .

I'd consider a Divination Specialist Wizard or an Archivist for this role. Both will have tons of useful Knowledge Skills, a built-in fluff reason for researching in libraries (if that sort of thing is important in your group) rather than exploring dungeons, and the means to communicate what they find over vast distances.

[D4rkh0rus]

The trouble with a ring gate is someone has to hold and point it. If that ring gate is on someone's shield or staff, it's going to be in constant motion during combat, and a DM would be well within reason to rule that you have a spell failure chance because your line of sight to the target is intermittently being broken. If the ring gate is on a shoulder-mounted standard, it's a little more stable, but every time the standard-bearer dives or tumbles, your perspective rolls with him. Not a desirable firing platform.

As with all solutions in life and D&D, Mount it on top of an Undead under your control.

Due to their slim and ergonomic design, Skeletal ring bearers move smoothly and effortlessly throughout the battlefield, with some mental commands, you can even order it to move somewhere specific too!
It's bare bones hydraulics system allows for unimpeded movement throughout difficult terrain and maintains your gate ring on a level field for maximum spellcasting efficacy. And it's lack of organs, brains and general thought processes, allows it to move to places where normal, weak adventurers would not dare to. Underwater Temple filled with loot? Well, you can scratch the filled with loot part right off.

The Skeletal Ring bearer even comes in different colors and clothes, so as to fit your preferences! Want an 80s themed Undead Hippie? We got it! Want your Bearer to look like a warrior? We got it! Want your skeletor to look like Skeletor? We got it! Just send a Message to the Astral Plane of Necromancy and Enjoy your awesome new Proxy Spellcaster!

APoN is not liable for any Undead swarms, doomsday, enraged DMs, Crazy cat ladies, Angry Pun-Puns and the end of the world. Skeletons require assembly, must be kept in a dry and cool location when not used, Refunds are not accepted. Limited supply stock.

[Extra Anchovies]

If this is Pathfinder, you'll want a Witch. Their Scar hex lets them affect allies from up to a mile away, and the witch can cast spells as if they have a piece of the scarred creature's body, which is good for divinations. This post (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=480.0;msg=2243) from StreamOfTheSky's excellent Witch handbook (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=480.msg2243) provides a stay-at-home witch build.

[ace rooster]

Extract gift from fiendish codex can give a demon the ability to see through another character's eyes at will, as well as giving you a telepathic bond. Mission control has to be a demon, but otherwise fine.

[Heikold]

I'd suggest would be taking Urban Druid to level 9 to gain this ability:

Information Network (Ex): Upon reaching 9th level, an urban druid has established an information network in a number of cities equal to her Charisma bonus. While in any of these cities, the urban druid only takes half an hour to make a Gather Information check (rather than a full evening or day). In addition, if any event occurs in a city that would interest the urban druid, she may make a Gather Information check to learn of the event as a free action. Knowledge of such an event reaches the urban druid's ears in 1d4 hours unless the urban druid is in an area that cannot be reached by her contacts.

That way you could have a Sherlock Holmes-esque homeless network who keep you informed about what's going on and can deliver messages to the party. Similarly you can use your animal companion to keep an eye on things especially if it's a rat, a crow or a pigeon - something that nobody's going to notice.

If you're a complete evil dickbag then there's always the Fiend of Blasphemy Prestige Class that allows you to designate people as Cultists under your command and you can use the ability to scry on them and if they displease you, you can torture and/or kill them remotely.

FoB is probably the best option, but obviously it's not suited to every campaign!

[Heikold]

Extract gift from fiendish codex can give a demon the ability to see through another character's eyes at will, as well as giving you a telepathic bond. Mission control has to be a demon, but otherwise fine.

That'd work perfectly with the Fiend of Blasphemy option.

[Doc_Maynot]

If you are willing to open up Dreamscarred Press books, at later levels that eventually can become the Vitalist's shtick with it's collective's telepathy at unlimited range and the ability to manifest their powers on the ones in that range.

[Flickerdart]

I made a thread much like this one (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?319378-Doing-stuff-without-being-there) a while ago, take a look!

A combo you can do as a psychic theurge is casting remote viewing, then using it to cast a summon spell and using Imbued Summoning to slap a sanctum greater status on it, letting you cast buffs on it from another plane.

Another nice toy is Enspell Familiar, which lets you share spells with a familiar at a 1 mile range instead of a 5ft range. If you have a combat familiar, you can cast buffs upon it from way far away.

[Prime32]

If you are willing to open up Dreamscarred Press books, at later levels that eventually can become the Vitalist's shtick with it's collective's telepathy at unlimited range and the ability to manifest their powers on the ones in that range.I had a Tactician build that combined this with Landlord to get a bunch of support items at reduced cost. The Expanded Collective feat and a Helm of the Hydra let you reach unlimited range sooner. Also the Commander (www.d20pfsrd.com/psionics-unleashed/classes/tactician/archaetypes/Dreamscarred-Press/commander) and MetanexusUPsi archetypes are great for this - the latter lets you set a member of your collective as the origin point for your powers, which greatly expands your options.

Stuff in my stronghold (really more like a panic room) included:

A pair of Aspect MirrorsCS to provide line of sight to my companions (the other end held by my psicrystal).
Combination Crystal Ball/Third Eye Sense
Engraved Circle of Protection from EvilSBG
Hall of SpeechSBG
Hole of HidingSBG
Inscriptions of PrivacySBG
Inscriptions of VacancySBG
Lots of wands within arm's reach, for use with UMD

[Psyren]

If you are willing to open up Dreamscarred Press books, at later levels that eventually can become the Vitalist's shtick with it's collective's telepathy at unlimited range and the ability to manifest their powers on the ones in that range.

Was coming here to say this. Not only can an upper-mid-level Vitalist monitor the entire party from their living room, they can also buff and heal them as needed.

[Darkweave31]

Wizard focused on divinations? This concept would likely work best at higher (or cheesy) levels...

Send a detachment of your favorite minions to support the party, provide intelligence and guidance... if you're like me, have a spellcasting minion open a gate from your demiplane above the target and fire a barrage of spells through it (personally or via other minions).


There is also a greater status spell that allows you to cast low level touch spells on the target(s).

A war weaver combined with a familiar to touch your allies might be able to pull it off, though the wording is shaky... Essentially cast spells into your quiescent weaving and designate your familiar as the toucher, then when you release the spell(s) your familiar must touch the targets rather than you.

[Lorddenorstrus]

@OP It happens to late in the game to be a realistic option unless you're playing a higher level game.. but the first thing that popped into my head was just a wizard doing his old Astral projection I don't feel like actually risking my body while we head off into near death situations. Though that might not meet what you thought as it's not really a form of communication more so as a fake body to use for adventuring.