new builds

[Necroscope]

We are getting ready to introduce our son to D&D. He wants to play a character whose main weapon is their claws. Kind of similar to a Kitsune. Any good suggestions on what class to start him out on.

We play 3.5 edition.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

It depends on whether he gets the claws from race, or if the class needs to grant them.

Kobolds get two claws and a bite (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20060420a) for no LA. The Draconic Creature template or Half-Fiend (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20031010a) 1 (and you don't need to take the rest of the template class (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20030824a)) gets it done for +1 LA.

If he needs his class to grant claws, Totemist is probably the best choice, or use Psychic Warrior (google King of Smack).

Otherwise have him go Swordsage if he gets claws from his race/template.

[Necroscope]

His race will already have claws. It is a homebrew race that our DM worked up. It's called Umbrae Volpes, similar to a Kitsune but it's going to be their progenitor race. He'll have Illusion spells, but with my boy he'll want to get right in the enemies face and fight. Instead of staying back and casting. We were thinking about making up one based off of Monk. But I figured that I would mention it on here and see if anyone came up with something he would like better.

[DrMotives]

So a clawed illusion-using gish. Sounds like a rogue-based gish for two-weapon sneak attack is what you're gunning for, illusions can help make opponents flankable. What is the source of the illusion spells he gets, or is that still up in the air?

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Bard could work well for this, it gets decent BAB plus Inspire Courage can be quite powerful if optimized, and there are plenty of illusions on the spell list.

[Piggy Knowles]

If you make maneuver and stance cards (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20061225a), swordsage is surprisingly easy and will work well here even if he's new to D&D. There are a lot of good flavorful maneuvers he can pick that will fit well with his fighting style, and if he has his maneuver cards ready it makes it easy to figure out things to do in combat. Just turn the cards upside down when he's used them so that he knows they aren't available anymore that encounter, and he can turn them back rightside up by meditating for a round.

Swordsage in general is a nice starter class because it's decent enough to stay solid without being overwhelming just by picking the maneuvers that sound neat (there are very few bad choices, and even picking a bad maneuver won't have negative repercussions over the long term). It's easy to customize and it gets something neat at every level, but most of those neat things are either new maneuvers/stances (which maneuver cards make simple to keep track of) or passive boosts that are primarily going to be reflected on the character sheet. Your son should be able to do something neat and interesting every round, mostly without dealing with any confusing rules that might break verisimilitude.

(If he has experience with other similar games then I still think swordsage is a good choice here, though the maneuver cards may not be necessary in that case... although they're definitely still a useful tool even if you're very familiar with D&D.)

[flappeercraft]

I'm thinking that he might like a couple levels in the Warshaper PrC since the shole fluff of that Prestige class is using natural weapons. It is also one of the best IMO for that. Recently, Jowgen created a thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?552498-Warshaper-entry-via-touchstone-and-sustained-use-via-Transmutation-effects) stating that you can qualify with the touchstone feat.

[Nifft]

Totemist has already been mentioned, and I'd second that recommendation if you're starting him at 2nd level or so.

If you're starting at level 5 or so, then consider a Wildshape Ranger (variant from Unearthed Arcana, available here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#ranger)), then into Master of Many Forms.

If you're starting at higher level, then consider the joy of Barbarian 4 / Fist of the Forest 3 / Frostrager ++ for big icy claws, and bonuses for behaving like a wild beast rather than a civilized human. Plus the whole ice-claw thing, and take the Pounce variant Barbarian for extra beast-ness.

[Kapow]

I play a lot with kids (10-12yrs) and one of them had a similar idea.
I ported back the bloodrager from PF and it works out great.

[Goaty14]

If you're starting at level 5 or so, then consider a Wildshape Ranger (variant from Unearthed Arcana, available here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#ranger)), then into Master of Many Forms.

I would second this, but MoMF requires a whole lot of book-keeping, especially if you're doing it in-person. I.e making a different sheet for every different form.

[Necroscope]

Ok thanks for the input I'll check all of these out and go through them with him.