Pathfinder 1E Which is a better class for a brand new player?

[koesherbacon]

In an upcoming game one of my friends is going to be DMing for us, another one of our friends has expressed interest in playing even though he's never played before in the past.

The DM's primarily focus is on character development rather than mechanically optimized characters which I really dig. The new player really wants to play as a crossbow specialist, so I'd like to know which is a better option for him to play as. He's asked me to make his character for him since I have HeroLab on my computer, and then explain the abilities when we meet next week. The game is starting at Level 3, and he's already decided he wants to play as a Hobgoblin since he digs stealthy characters who are good at ranged combat. We're playing in a homebrew game starting in Turtleback Ferry in Varisia, where some tribes of goblin/hobgoblin/orcs/etc have formed an alliance with the town so playing as a monstrous humanoid will not be a big deal and another player is going to be a Goblin Rogue.

The choices I've narrowed it down to are...

• A Fighter w/ the Crossbowman archetype
• A Ranger w/ Crossbow combat style w/ the Skirmisher archetype so he does not need to worry about spells

I want him to have the most fun while learning the system and don't want him to get frustrated in the process.

So, which would you recommend? I'm leaning more toward the Ranger who will pickup the Companions hunter's bond so he also does not need to keep track of an animal companion.

Is there any particular reason I should opt for the Fighter instead?

Any input you guys/gals can give me will be awesome! Thanks a bunch

 

[Ahnehnois]

The tribal humanoid emphasis in the background you gave suggests to me that ranger is the more natural* choice. Also, the player said a stealthy character, right? I don't see that the fighter archetype grants Stealth as a class skill, so ranger wins on that count (though I do see one of the fighter archetype abilities grants a Stealth bonus; am I missing something?).

The upsides of playing a fighter relative to a ranger are largely about direct combat prowess; the ability to use better armor and the little extra boost from those special abilities. Unless you really, really care about maxing that crossbow out, ranger seems a better choice to me.

*No pun intended

 

[koesherbacon]

The Hobgoblin gets to treat stealth as a class skill for any class they choose, but I agree with you wholeheartedly. I also think he'll have more fun with the Ranger because of the skills they get for out-of-combat play.

Thanks, Ahnehnois

 

[Derren]

Ask him what kind of crossbowmen he wants to play. A frontline fighter (Pavise Crossbowman for example) which translates into fighter or more of a sniper/skirmisher which would be a Ranger (if not a Rogue).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The tribal humanoid emphasis in the background you gave suggests to me that ranger is the more natural* choice. Also, the player said a stealthy character, right? I don't see that the fighter archetype grants Stealth as a class skill, so ranger wins on that count (though I do see one of the fighter archetype abilities grants a Stealth bonus; am I missing something?).

The upsides of playing a fighter relative to a ranger are largely about direct combat prowess; the ability to use better armor and the little extra boost from those special abilities. Unless you really, really care about maxing that crossbow out, ranger seems a better choice to me.

*No pun intended

I'd agree with this post 99%. The only thing I differ on is that I think the pun was intended.











i would have.

 

[brvheart]

Even with the advantages of the ranger I would recommend the fighter as it is easier and less complicated for a new character to play. Not sure why he took crossbow rather than a melee weapon, but oh well.

 

[koesherbacon]

So his character won't be as optimized to the fullest, no big deal. I'm sure he'll have fun with the character, and since he's new our DM will definitely let him switch to something else if he doens't like it. The same will go for his wife who has decided to play our Cleric even though she's never played before either.

The game's s'posted to be fun, so if you're not playing who you want to play and instead playing who other people tell you to play you definitely won't enjoy yourself as much.

*Shoot... I didn't mean for that to sound snarky, I've had a horrible migraine since Saturday morning, and I haven't slept in over 32 hours bc of the pain*

 

[Starfox]

I'd go Ranger too. The fighter isn't such an easy class to play in Pathfinder, since all those feats really mean something, give new options, and so on.

Just be sure to put in some favored enemies for him to shoot.

 

[Herobizkit]

Yeah, the fact that he gets to be a hobgoblin is exciting, largely because many DM's tend to frown on Humanoid races. Ranger and Rogue will pair well together.

Favored enemy should be some kind of Humanoid and have lots of 'em around.

 

[brvheart]

Sorry to hear re the migraine. Usually sleep is the best medicine. I take Topomax daily for them. Might try Excedrin Migraine formula. It works for me.