3.5 New Campaing, new PC, what to play???

[Dusk Eclipse]

My group has decided to give our Eberron campaing a rest, and decicided to start a new one, the thing is that I don't know what to play this time.

Normally I play skillmonkeys, but I am a bit sick of them, so I a come to ask for the insight of the playground on this issue.

For start we generate stat by 4d6b3, flaws are optionals but the HAVE to affect the character (no shaky for a great axe wielding barbarian for example).

We haven't decided starting ECL but most probably it will be between 3 and 5

I don't know the party composition yet, but I think one player was going paladin into justiciar, and a buff bot cleric.

I have got access to most books so feel free to go wild; but please cite the books.

[Mongoose87]

Warforged Warblade. It's got twice as much war as a regular Warblade.

[Tinydwarfman]

Warforged Warblade. It's got twice as much war as a regular Warblade.

Oh no, not one of these again. Soon we'll be talking about how much war can fit into one character. As if we didn't already have enough bears and dragons...

[Dusk Eclipse]

Warforged warblade/cleric with war domain/going into war mind
using a warhammer and riding a warbeast

hows much war is that?

[Curmudgeon]

For something different, try a Favored Soul of Kossuth. You get free

• Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain)
• Weapon Focus (spiked chain)
• Weapon Specialization (spiked chain)

and of course all the caster goodness.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Who is Kossuth? is he a FR god? and how viable a FS would do as a tripper?

[Mongoose87]

Isn't Kossuth distinctly non-existent in Eberron?

[Dusk Eclipse]

Isn't Kossuth distinctly non-existent in Eberron?

This campaing (probably) won't be in eberron.

[Mongoose87]

Ack misread that "a rest." Ignore that post.

[hotel_papa]

Try a Changeling Factotum. See if your DM will let it become a Chameleon. Either way, still the ultimate infiltrator. Nothing quite like casting an arcane spell as a circumstance bonus to your disguise as a wizard. Or healing someone to pose as a paladin. Loads of fun.

I know you said no skill-monkeys, but a Factotum with knowledge skills, the Knowledge Devotion feat and a liberal application of Font of Inspiration can be a phenomenal display of brains over brawn in a fight.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Try a Changeling Factotum. See if your DM will let it become a Chameleon. Either way, still the ultimate infiltrator. Nothing quite like casting an arcane spell as a circumstance bonus to your disguise as a wizard. Or healing someone to pose as a paladin. Loads of fun.

I know you said no skill-monkeys, but a Factotum with knowledge skills, the Knowledge Devotion feat and a liberal application of Font of Inspiration can be a phenomenal display of brains over brawn in a fight.

I'll consider that, but how about this.
Human Factotum
(ab)use Iajutsu Focus and gnomish quickrazor
enter into Iajutsu master (if my dm rules only Katana, there is aptitude enchantment to fall back on)
Max Knowledge skills and power Knowlege devotion.

[Volkov]

Oh no, not one of these again. Soon we'll be talking about how much war can fit into one character. As if we didn't already have enough bears and dragons...

I'll see your excessive wars, and raise you one Czin the Death god....With the power of the last word.

[Curmudgeon]

how viable a FS would do as a tripper?

Spells help. You can get Foundation of Stone at level 1 to resist counter-trips (something that Improved Trip distinctly doesn't help), and Bull's Strength is level 2.

[deuxhero]

A Pathfinder Summoner is fun if the DM allows it.

[Dusk Eclipse]

A Pathfinder Summoner is fun if the DM allows it.

Are they in the pathfinder SRD?

also silly question to ask but ise there a fighter handbook? I am considering a tripper build

[adecoy95]

druid is good if you have access to the spell compendium, you get:

a full caster
a good fuzzy (or slimy) ally
wild shape (you can cast in any form with natural spell) for mobility or combat
you never need to concern yourself with prestige classes if you dont want to.

i would go wild, but i might go a little too wild lol, druids are really cool

[Totally Guy]

A gimmicky gish! I always have fun with those, but they take a while to establish themselves.

What would likely be the highest level the campaign might reach?

[Duskranger]

Warforged warblade/cleric with war domain/going into war mind
using a warhammer and riding a warbeast

hows much war is that?

Needs more dragon

[Totally Guy]

Warforged warblade/cleric with war domain/going into war mind
using a warhammer and riding a warbeast

hows much war is that?

You need War-nuts to make a War-dwarf salad!

[Duskranger]

Actually I would suggest something like a PHB2 class. I really enjoy the looks of the Duskblade, and a dragon shaman is fun to play.

But it's what you would prefer.

[deuxhero]

Are they in the pathfinder SRD?

Yes. Be sure to cherry pick the version you use. The versions have a HUGE power gap between them (early verisons get the best wizard spells at the same time as a sorcerer with a fighter as a class feature, while the newest is horribly nerfed)

[Everyman]

Since you have both a paladin and cleric in the party, your group is pretty set on melee force. You don't want to play a skillmonkey.
...
I'd say go with a mage of some sort. Since I don't know what kind of characters appeal to you, I can't offer much more advice than that regarding arcanists.

Alternatively, you might want to try playing a different "system" than normal. Incarnum and binders are a blast to play (Totemists are my favorite).

[Amphetryon]

I'd vote Dread Necromancer, but the Paladin will probably take umbrage.

Consider a Warlock headed to Sentinel of Bharrai in BoED(sp). Cavalry of Dire Bears for the win.

[deuxhero]

Oh, try a Beguiler. It fits both the mage and skill monkey roles.

[Telonius]

Warforged warblade/cleric with war domain/going into war mind
using a warhammer and riding a warbeast

hows much war is that?

Needs one level of Warlock.

[Dusk Eclipse]

First of all thanks for the replies

@Deux Hero: I'll try to find the original version of the summoner and see how it is also as I said no more skill monkeys for me, at least in this campaing

@adecoy95: hmm druids never played one except in a one shot.

@Duskranger: Meh I am banned to play Duskblades (my first optimized character was a duskblade, one-shot to the boss of the session) besides If I don't play skill monkeys I play gishes.

@Everyman: Totemist are fun but as you said we have too much meele power... though a ranged totemist built (ab)using manticore's belt and Necklace of natural attacks sounds tempting

@Amphetryon: concerning dread necro I have one as a Back up character in the eberron campaing we are giving a rest so no.
Bear calvary..... sounds beary amusing
(OK I can't make puns)

[Everyman]

Ranged totemist are a lot of fun, but I have to admit that melee totemists are better. The difference in the number of melee soulmelds versus ranged ones is just huge.

Maybe you should consider something classic, like a wizard. Sure, it isn't the wildest idea, but between the roles that your group is covering and the fact you want to avoid skillmonkeys (and apparently melee)...well...I don't see too many other options.

Of course, there are more than enough PrCs to help customize it to your tastes. If you did go with a mage, what kind of abilities would you like?

[adecoy95]

@adecoy95: hmm druids never played one except in a one shot.

your missing out, the trick is to find good animal forms, the fleshraker from monster manual 3 is a good start at 5th level.

not to mention that druids get access to nothing short of the coolest spell ever, extract water elemental, it may not be super powerful, but it oozes flavor

[Amphetryon]

@Amphetryon: concerning dread necro I have one as a Back up character in the eberron campaing we are giving a rest so no.
Bear calvary..... sounds beary amusing
(OK I can't make puns)

Warlock/SoB is a fun one; I have a level 13 statted out.

[Dusk Eclipse]

your missing out, the trick is to find good animal forms, the fleshraker from monster manual 3 is a good start at 5th level.

not to mention that druids get access to nothing short of the coolest spell ever, extract water elemental, it may not be super powerful, but it oozes flavor

I know druids are powerful, I am pretty familiar with the tier system, and I am an average (at my best) optimizer, so I know the raw power Druid have at their beck and call; but I don't want to play one. Thanks for the suggestion any way.

@Everyman: I am not sure, apart from the occasional gish I don't play full casters.