Making Genji from Overwatch

[JackPhoenix]

I seek help for one of my co-players, who doesn't have an account here.

He wants to create a character based on Genji (http://overwatch.gamepedia.com/Genji) from the video game Overwatch, mostly inspired by this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=559tgF2--4g) trailer

The character will be in party with my moderately optimized void school wizard, and I'm helping him to make it effective, as his grasp of the rules and optimisation is somewhat poor. My first thought was Unchained Ninja (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/unchained-classes/rogue-unchained/alternate-classes/everyman-gaming---unchained-ninja) 4/Slayer X, for access to eastern weapons, ninja tricks (deflect arrows, based on trailer) and Dex to hit and damage with wakizashi from ninja side, medium armor (if not going Stygian Slayer), and decent toughness in melee. I think he'd rather use katana, but it can't be finessed and I don't remember if there's a way to make it use dex, since I haven't played or paid much attention to PF since 5e came out.

He wants the race to be android (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/more-races/advanced-races-11-20-rp/android-16-rp), that's apparently not negotiable. His rolled stats are 14,17,16,16,13,15, starting level 1. No third party material (except the Unchained Ninja), setting is Golarion, likely Numeria. Simpler solutions are prefered, but not strictly necessary (I'll find a way to explain him how it works)

[Florian]

Why do you want to Weapon Finesse that build? Medium armor and STR focus work fine with a Slayer.
Aim for Magus (Armored Magus) 3/Slayer 7/Shadowdancer 1+ and be cool with that.

[JackPhoenix]

Why do you want to Weapon Finesse that build? Medium armor and STR focus work fine with a Slayer.
Aim for Magus (Armored Magus) 3/Slayer 7/Shadowdancer 1+ and be cool with that.

Mostly because android is a +Dex race. Also because I forgot you don't need finesse weapon for sneak attack in PF.

Sadly, there's another limitation I forget to mention: he doesn't want to play a spellcaster

[Florian]

Sorry, but translating a video game character over to d20/PF mostly means using spells or at least SLAs to mimic certain moves and get the mood and feeling right. There´s practically no way around that.

You want the speed and mobility right from the start? Then you want the ability to use Expeditious Retread and Force Dash and you want to have Armor Mastery to upgrade that. There´s practically no difference between Fan of Blades and Burning Hands, and so on.

It´s a common mistake to look at a race and see where it can push limits, but racial stats are actually great when filling holes in a build.

[JackPhoenix]

I don't think he wants to translate the abilities from the game directly, he's going more after the "feel" and the visuals from the trailer, i.e. decently armored melee "ninja", fast and stealthy. Normal rogue lacks the staying power to keep in melee, especialy without flanking buddy. Magus would be a good solution (one I haven't thought of), but it's a caster, even if the spells could be used for self-buffs. That dragon thing in the animation was outright magical, but he doesn't want spellcasting (and it could propably be simulated with magic items). I suppose he'll want mithral armor ASAP too, to avoid movement speed penalty, and keep to light armor until then.

I haven't played Overwatch, so I have no idea how the characters plays in the game, the trailer is all I know. I have few limitations to work with and no idea what exactly does he want.

[Psyren]

This should give you a quick and easy overview of Genji's moves and how he plays, even if you haven't played Overwatch:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VqllDUUpBI

As for his abilities, these are fairly simple to emulate. Here's the rundown:

- He's fast and agile (read: Dex-based)
- He can jump high and climb quickly
- His primary weapons are shurikens and a sword
- He can dash and attack his target in melee rapidly (swift strike)
- He can deflect projectiles

You can do all this in D&D/PF without spellcasting.

Personally, rather than Ninja I would use Unchained Monk. Not only can they do everything above, this also sidesteps the Android's Cha penalty by basing your ki and other abilities off Wis. For example, High Jump and/or Wind Jump functionally get you his double-jump ability; Light Steps can be used as his wall climb; A Blade of the Sword Saint will let you get his flurry-able katana, and you can nab Dex to damage with Effortless Lace + Agile (note: this also fits his fluff well since his katana is a special/specific weapon to him); Ascetic Style will both increase its damage and let you deflect projectiles with it; and Dimension Door + the Dimensional Dervish line will let you teleport to/through enemies and full-attack. For his Shuriken, that's literally just a full-attack, in both firing modes (you can target one character or spread the love around.)

[Tuvarkz]

Considering the character, I'd say an Android Myrmidon (Path of War:Expanded) Fighter?
Dex based, but at least 13 STR to qualify for Power Attack>Cut from the Air/Smash from the air
The extra bonus feats would help to sustain the amount of feats to get both dex and decent damage from the shurikens (Or a stance that added damage to all attacks).
The charge in line attack sounds like the 9th level Piercing Thunder strike, which you can pick up at 17th level via Advanced Study (Although it'd require a discipline weapon, which means either getting Weapon Group Adaptation or using a Nodachi instead of a Katana, which is an overall better weapon and can still be Finessed with Polearm Dancer, and then Deadly Agility to get Dex-to-damage).
The 8th level Piercing Thunder stance (Again, 15th level+Advanced Study to grab) should net you Wisdom to Acrobatics checks to jump; and the Pier

[DarenMellyl]

I know the thread is a bit old to post a reply now, but for someone looking around this might be of your like.
I have an Excel style sheet on Google Drive that I'm willing to share!

Genji full progression, from level 1 to 20, assumes 30 point distribution in ability scores for Pathfinder (it's a lot, yes, but if you have less just go full Dex, and if you roll... go full Dex; for 20 points I'd go 12 19(with +2 racial) 12 10 14 8). It has a custom flaw, which represents the Cyborg grafts, attained at level 3 for an extra feat which could have been taken at level 1, but I wanted to respect the fact that he had some training before he got destroyed by Hanzo. The flaw has some immediate impact in combat and some nasty heavy impact on... well, everything, in the long term if not considered properly.
Takes some stuff from 3.5e, such as Travel Devotion and some items from the MiT. You could ignore that column and all item stuff and just buy what you like. I'd recomend the Propellers tho (it's actually an item that occupies the body slot). Unless I screwed up the maths, it's worth 130k, and it allows unlimited daily uses of Greater Bladed Dash. And that's Swiftstrike. Unless you don't care about having that ability, then you want those.
Deflects come from Maneuvers. The Bushi Stalker archetype, allows for relatively easy maneuver recover during combat: by sheathing a weapon. It becomes really easy to achieve at some point, and works well with the character and the Mithral Current maneuvers.
Shurikens are for poking. Even in higher levels you'll want to go melee only after poking becomes unrealiable or dangerous.
And Dragon's Fury PrC provides what's closest to Dragonblade by level 10. So at character level 18, you get Dragonblade. You might get nerfed versions of Dragonblade levels before through Maneuvers.
There are tables for Maneuvers and Skills. Just look around the file.

There might be stuff you don't agree with, stuff not completely "legal", and maybe even mistakes. Not absolutely sure at this point... but it's obviously up to you to make changes that fit your needs!

Since I signed up to be able to share this, I can't post links. So mail me asking for the Genji build and I'll send it to you!

[MilleniaAntares]

I recommend looking into Path of War if your GM allows third party pathfinder. I recommend the stalker (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/classes/stalker/) base class, but alternatively you can invest into the hidden blade (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/archetypes/dreamscarred-press-rogue-archetypes/hidden-blade-rogue-archetype) rogue archetype.

Just invest mostly into Mithral Current (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/disciplines-and-maneuvers/mithral-current-maneuvers/) for melee and movement, Tempest Gale (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/disciplines-and-maneuvers/tempest-gale-maneuvers/) for ranged, Steel Serpent (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/disciplines-and-maneuvers/steel-serpent-maneuvers/) for sneakiness, and maybe Veiled Moon (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/disciplines-and-maneuvers/veiled-moon-maneuvers/). Some of the non-TWFing Thrashing Dragon (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/disciplines-and-maneuvers/thrashing-dragon-maneuvers/) maneuvers are also worth looking into.

If you really want the deflection ability that works as you expect (deflect opponent's attacks), try to get Twisting Parry (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/path-of-war/disciplines-and-maneuvers/piercing-thunder-maneuvers/#TOC-Twisting-Parry) as soon as you can, though note the ability can't deflect things directly back to the enemy. It also requires investing into a school that doesn't work well with the weapons you want to use.

Otherwise I suggest looking into counters that let you negate an attack and let you make a retaliatory attack. Mithril Current is really good with this, because it lets you move and counterattack.

Alternatively, try the shadow-pact avowed (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?509440-Forrestfire-Studios-Playtest-The-Avowed-a-3pp-warlock-with-a-psychic-bent).

The following shapes may be relevant:
Aether Blow: to pretend you have an okay katana, lets you attack and move at the same time at higher levels
Aether Ray: to make a single bad pseudo-shuriken

Aether Blade: to create your own katana
Aether Channel: if you insist on using an actual katana

Aether Barrage: if you want to fluff yourself as throwing a lot of shuriken
Aether Beam: as above, also 1 rank is needed for Aether Lance
Aether Rounds: if you insist on using your own shuriken

Work toward the Aether Lance feat so you can attack and move at the same time. This also boosts you up in the air if you aim it properly, just like Genji's own blade dash.

For clauses, invest more in personal buffs like Athletic Edge, Blend In, Personal Gravity, or Who Helps Themselves. Alternatively go for pulses like Frightening Pulse or Dusk Pulse, depending on the specific kind of ninja you want to be.

As a shadow-pact avowed, you also want to invest in Nightfall, so you can set up your own shadow-dodging even in broad daylight.

Sadly this class can't really provide a deflection equivalent all too well.

Best of luck!