Grod_The_Giant
2017-08-30, 11:42 AM
So. I've been tossing around some ideas for an upcoming game, and the one I keep circling back to is a knife thrower. A harmless-looking, skinny little dude who, when the crap hits the fan, produces a dozen knives from nowhere and proceeds to put them all in your eye from across the room. "Soulbow," says I, "sounds like a fun way to do this." I can easily flavor my mind blade and arrows as pulling knives out of my sleeve, and Soulbows make pretty nasty archers. And my GM has said that they're open to a few Soulknife houserules (such as full BAB), though he doesn't want to "totally rebuild the class." So the PF version is out, probably; I haven't been able to get other details.
All books are allowed, and potentially some Dragon material, but-- and this is a big one-- no vancean magic is allowed. (It's a setting thing, we're going steampunk-and-psionics). Incarnum is also out, ToM is a "maybe," and ToB is "yes."
And then there's the catch: we're starting at level 3, so the first few levels leading into Soulbow are going to be really important. I'd like to lean more on mental stats than physical, and I have a strong preference for at-will abilities over ones with a daily limit. And most of all, I'd like to have as much of my schtick online as soon as possible, though I know Soulbow won't work until 6th.
-----------
My current plan is something like so:
Middle Aged Strongheart Halfling Rogue 1 (Feat Rogue, Mimic) /Swordsage 2/Soulknife 2/Soulbow 2-3/more Swordsage I guess, I don't even care so many levels ahead of where we're starting.
1st level feats: Nymph's Kiss, TWF, and Point-Blank Shot
3rd level: Intuitive Attack
6th level: Precise Shot and Rapid Shot
Doing so lets me start with strong and varied skills (including a decent Social presence without needing much Cha) and use Wis as my main stat from the get-go. I'm a bit worried about damage, though. Hopefully TWF plus manuevers will keep me afloat for a few levels? I could potentially drop Nymph's Kiss and switch to Swordsage 2/Rogue 1 to pick up Shadow Blade... Any suggestions on how to punch this up? Dunno if flaws will be available, or what sorts of cheap equipment I could nab.
Another thought was Factotum 3/Soulknife 2/Soulbow. Getting Brains Over Brawn would be lovely, and +Int to damage a few times is decent low-level boost? I'd be losing out on a feat this way, though, and have less synergy overall.
Otherwise, I'm... kind of blanking. In a normal game I'd probably go with a Bardic Knack Bard, or maybe a Cloistered Trickery Cleric, but that's not really on the table here. The more I stare, the more I find myself wishing I could use Pathfinder stuff-- Heretic Inquisitor 1/Soulbolt Soulknife 2, with Mind Daggers and my 3rd level feat on Extra Blade Skill (Focused Attack) would be so bloody nice for this...
All books are allowed, and potentially some Dragon material, but-- and this is a big one-- no vancean magic is allowed. (It's a setting thing, we're going steampunk-and-psionics). Incarnum is also out, ToM is a "maybe," and ToB is "yes."
And then there's the catch: we're starting at level 3, so the first few levels leading into Soulbow are going to be really important. I'd like to lean more on mental stats than physical, and I have a strong preference for at-will abilities over ones with a daily limit. And most of all, I'd like to have as much of my schtick online as soon as possible, though I know Soulbow won't work until 6th.
-----------
My current plan is something like so:
Middle Aged Strongheart Halfling Rogue 1 (Feat Rogue, Mimic) /Swordsage 2/Soulknife 2/Soulbow 2-3/more Swordsage I guess, I don't even care so many levels ahead of where we're starting.
1st level feats: Nymph's Kiss, TWF, and Point-Blank Shot
3rd level: Intuitive Attack
6th level: Precise Shot and Rapid Shot
Doing so lets me start with strong and varied skills (including a decent Social presence without needing much Cha) and use Wis as my main stat from the get-go. I'm a bit worried about damage, though. Hopefully TWF plus manuevers will keep me afloat for a few levels? I could potentially drop Nymph's Kiss and switch to Swordsage 2/Rogue 1 to pick up Shadow Blade... Any suggestions on how to punch this up? Dunno if flaws will be available, or what sorts of cheap equipment I could nab.
Another thought was Factotum 3/Soulknife 2/Soulbow. Getting Brains Over Brawn would be lovely, and +Int to damage a few times is decent low-level boost? I'd be losing out on a feat this way, though, and have less synergy overall.
Otherwise, I'm... kind of blanking. In a normal game I'd probably go with a Bardic Knack Bard, or maybe a Cloistered Trickery Cleric, but that's not really on the table here. The more I stare, the more I find myself wishing I could use Pathfinder stuff-- Heretic Inquisitor 1/Soulbolt Soulknife 2, with Mind Daggers and my 3rd level feat on Extra Blade Skill (Focused Attack) would be so bloody nice for this...