A Pirate Campaign! And Me Without A Character

[Xallace]

Oh no, fellow Playgrounders! There is an upcoming campaign based around being seafaring Robin Hoods and/or villainous, weevil infested scumbags! And I don't have a character! And the prom is TOMORROW!

The problem I'm having is not stepping on anyone's toes. From a ship's-crew perspective, I'm thinking about being either the navigator and map-maker, the cook, or ship's chaplain. But as for character builds, here's what we have:

• Human Swashbuckler (Captain, party face)
• Human Battle Dancer* / Fortune's Friend** (First Mate)
• Human Factotum (Lead Gunner, Skill Monkey)
• Raptoran Druid / Some Raptoran PrC (Look-Out, ranged damage, control)
• Human Druid / Wavekeeper*** (Aquatic Specialist, Healer, Control)
• Dragon (Heck if I know, she just wants to be a dragon)
• One of these things... yeah. (Presumably front-line brute, although considering a bard, I hear? I... I really don't know.)

*From Dragon Compendium
**From Complete Scoundrel
**From Stormwrack


It's a big party, as you can see. We're purportedly getting two DMs for this shin-dig. But anyway, I'm trying to figure out if there's anything at all that the party doesn't have covered. All books are allowed, and the only restriction is "no dwarves or gnomes."

Any ideas on what to do?

[Serpentine]

You could nick from The Liveship Traders series: a monk (replacable with Cleric) directed through a series of unfortunate events into a life of piracy.
Or take inspiration from... well, various places, probably, but the Winding Circle Tamora Pierce series is what comes to my mind, and be a "weather witch" - some sort of spellcaster who focuses on weather magic. Useful for getting out of a becalming, and can double as a navigator.

[GenPol]

Yeah, I second the weather witch idea. It doesn't look like you guys have a navigator, and being able to control the weather on a ship is very useful.

[Xallace]

Somewhat ironically (And I guess I forgot to mention...), my original navigator idea was a sea-witchy sorcerer with wind, water, and weather magic. Then two decided they wanted to be wind/weather- and water-controlling druids, and I felt like I'd be stepping on some toes.

[DaedalusMkV]

Play a Ninja who's infiltrating the pirates...
No, no, too much meme for a real game.

You guys have no real arcane magic, and while that's not a terrible thing in a pirate-based game, it can be troublesome. Besides, what self-respecting crew of mercenaries is going to leave home without a mage of some sort, really? Wizard doesn't fit too well with the pirate methodology unless you're in it purely for the money, but this is just the sort of thing a Sorceror would be wanting to do; see the world, develop your skills, make some money and burn lots of flammable things. In all honesty, such a character would also be a massive benefit to any pirate crew. A well placed Fire Bolt or Acid Arrow can be used to severely damage the enemy's ability to flee (hit the sails) at early levels, Charm effects would be a huge help when figuring out what to do about ransom and finding any hidden cargo or coin, and at medium to high levels you can basically destroy any ship that comes after you using Fireballs, Walls and Water elementals. With the Druids buffing your ship's abilities and an arcanist messing with the enemy, your ship will be far, far more effective overall.

[EvilJoe15]

Whenever I make a pirate character I listen to Alestorm for inspiration.

In this case I'd go either a Bard > Sublime Chord > Ur-priest > Mystic Theurge
Or Barbarian 1 / Warblade 6 / Bear Warrior 1 / Blood Claw Master 2

[vampire2948]

I like the idea of ship's cook. You could be the Morale Officer, and go for lots of Morale Boosting Bardic Music tricks. With the obligatory fiddle, naturally.

That'd also allow you to give the group some arcane magic, perhaps through sublime chord or some sort of similar PrC later on.

Hope you have a fun campaign.

Vampire2948,

[Temotei]

A summoner would be kind of cool out at sea. Your DM might have to work on the summoning lists a bit though.

[The Glyphstone]

A Thri-Keen Swashbuckler with the Crossbow Sniper feat, quadruple-wielding flintlock pistols hand crossbows, repeaters if necessary. See if you can get the Insectile template applied, with the corresponding extra hand crossbows. Unleash a withering storm of rapid-fire misses on your enemies in true piratical fashion.

[Pyron]

It's a shame that the position of ship's gunner is taken. Because I think that role be awesome for a Dragonfire Inspiration Bard. With the right build, each cannonball could do an additional +7d6 Sonic Damage - that'll make one nasty salvo.

[Critical]

Be a Wizard with a wooden leg and an eyepatch, speak with the piratish style(Yarr and all that), act like you're the boss. Also, consider Malconvoker PrC, summoning various stuff to the other ship is cool.

[Mongoose87]

It's a shame that the position of ship's gunner is taken. Because I think that role be awesome for a Dragonfire Inspiration Bard. With the right build, each cannonball could do an additional +7d6 Sonic Damage - that'll make one nasty salvo.

What's a pirate ship without a singing pirate?

[arguskos]

Glass cannon: Sorcerer-->Stormcaster (It's Wet Outside).

You don't step too much on the toes of the weather druids, and still blow stuff up with excessive lightning (always fun).

[Pluto]

Artificer.

Turn that ship into something wonderful.

Also, increase party wealth, access spells outside the Druid list and get as close as you can to playing Batman in a D&D campaign.

edit:
Also, make unique items to match the party's needs. Want something like a magic blunderbus? Make one.

[Optimator]

Artificer is a great choice. With all those days at sea you have the perfect opportunity to craft. Also, you can do anything--which is a plus. Weather control, healing, blasting, anything.

[Radar]

Whenever I make a pirate character I listen to Alestorm for inspiration.

In this case I'd go either a Bard > Sublime Chord > Ur-priest > Mystic Theurge
Or Barbarian 1 / Warblade 6 / Bear Warrior 1 / Blood Claw Master 2

I'd rather go with a classic pirate music, but it's just a matter of taste.

I do think, that a Dragonfire Inspiration Bard would be devastating especially if you menage to apply your bonus to everyone on the ship (some way to widen your aura). The gunner will appreciate the massive bonus to all of his cannons and it will be effective during boarding as well. Also: parrot familiar!

What's a pirate ship without a singing pirate?

Yes, how would anyone one want to miss such an opportunity.

[Doc Roc]

Artificer.

Turn that ship into something wonderful.

Also, increase party wealth, access spells outside the Druid list and get as close as you can to playing Batman in a D&D campaign.

edit:
Also, make unique items to match the party's needs. Want something like a magic blunderbus? Make one.

Artificer with Landlord from stronghold builders.

It's cool-ship-o-clock.

[arguskos]

Artificer with Landlord from stronghold builders.

It's cool-ship-o-clock.

....Prismatic Ship?

Obdurium flying ship?

Ship with laser ballistas?

Oh dear. That sounds like a recipe for disaster (though awesome).

[Doc Roc]

Depends. I was going to start simple, with SUBMARINER! capabilities, and FLIGHT! Ain't nothing like ramming a ship from above, then diving to collect the wreckage from the bottom of the sea.

I mean, haven't you always wanted to yell about remodulating the shields or shunting all power to drive systems?

[arguskos]

Make the ramming prow out of a prismatic wall, for giggles.

Also, RAMMING SPEED! needs to be provided by elementals or something. Aren't there rules for such things in Eberron's material somewhere?

[Doc Roc]

No way, and risk destroying loot?

There are rules for such things in eberron, but they don't really reach the desired speeds... I'll think of something, if it comes to that. :)

[arguskos]

Hmm, loot destruction is a pain...

A-ha! Use the Cloudkill bombs for catapults from SBG.

[Doc Roc]

I think we could probably settle for spell-clocks and spell turrets. I'll think on this.

[Cogidubnus]

It's a real shame paladins and pirates don't mix. Cos having a shark as a class feature would be awesome.

[Doc Roc]

It's a real shame paladins and pirates don't mix. Cos having a shark as a class feature would be awesome.

It doesn't help that paladins are really weak from a mechanical standpoint on top of being really rough to actually RP. Double threat, neh?

[Learnedguy]

Way I see it, the only spot left to fill is the out of place spot! Be the guy that don't suit in!

(What "The dragon is already out of place"? It's a dragon! You don't argue with dragons about where they belong!)

No, you want to be the guy in excessive heavy armor!

How about a warforged juggernaught warblade/crusader?

[Cogidubnus]

Way I see it, the only spot left to fill is the out of place spot! Be the guy that don't suit in!

(What "The dragon is already out of place"? It's a dragon! You don't argue with dragons about where they belong!)

No, you want to be the guy in excessive heavy armor!

How about a warforged juggernaught warblade/crusader?

This was the basis behind calling for a paladin XD

[Escheton]

half-ogre goliath with a weaponthrower build.

take exotic weapon prof: orkish shotput
orkish shotput at +2 size that is...so cannonballs

[The Tygre]

You need to check out Freeport if you're going to do anything even remotely Pirate and D&D related. Third party books should also give you a boat-load of PrCs for your amusement.

[Flob]

I haven't read most of the other posts, but I would play a kineticist psion and take the gusting winds power. It just makes SO MUCH SENSE. Also, you could focus on like, epic winning at everything. 'Cause I love me some psion.