Min/max... kinda

[Marshall]

I'd go with switching out the Aristocrat for Bard. Then Play an aristocrat, take your skills and add the extras. The Bardic Knowledge represents higher education. Take the Strorytelling and Epic and similar perform abilities, heck even Dance and/or Harpsicord. Instead of 'singing' for bardic inspiration you recite stories of past heroic deeds, etc etc...

Aristocrat is a state of mind or a social station, not really a character class.

Beauracrat on the other hand.....

 

[Marshall]

Yeah, but the character's not an archer - he's an aristocrat whose training has been in contests and against targets more than animals and monsters. I'm not quite sure how I'd justify that... even to myself. Perhaps, though.

Point Blank and Precise

 

[Thanee]

Spellfire!? ^^

Bye
Thanee

 

[Crothian]

Spellfire!? ^^

Bye
Thanee

He can't use Cosmopilitian or Educated, but I'm sure Spellfire will be allowed

 

[Thanee]

Alertness?

Or Improved Initiative?

Or one of those +2 to one save feats?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Plane Sailing]

Could you give us a sentence or two about why you want to play a member of the aristocrat class? That would be extremely helpful (for me at least) when it comes to making suggestions for the character.

Cheers

 

[CRGreathouse]

Could you give us a sentence or two about why you want to play a member of the aristocrat class? That would be extremely helpful (for me at least) when it comes to making suggestions for the character.

1. While I have an overall favorite class, I try to broaden myself by playing other classes. I've played most of the PH classes as PCs (9 out of 11), but none of the DMG classes.
2. I've played characters with aristocratic backgrounds before, but never as dedicated characters - they were all adventurers who 'happened' to be minor nobles. I wanted to reverse that role.
3. I think that the aristocrat is a playable class. While their combat abilities are subpar at the least, they grant me the class skills and skill points I need to fill in this particular background.
4. I think it's fun to break the tradition of playing only PC classes.

 

[Technik4]

Feats

I think alertness would fit an arsitocrat, probably got yelled at by whoever keeps the archery range to pay attention a lot. Also, librarians (historians, etc) usually can be very good at noticing little details at a glance, like books or scroll titles.

I suggest dropping the sense motive in favor of forgery or perhaps appraise. Reason? Well, your wisdom isn't too hot, youre already choosing a lot of wisdom based skills with spot and listen, so if you want to keep sense motive I would raise your wisdom.

Your intelligence favors Forgery, Appraise, and Read Lips. Your charisma favors Disguise, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Intimidate, and Perform. Forgery, Read Lips, and Handle Animal are exclusives.

Finally, youre disregarding one of your classes' strengths: Armor Proficiency as high as Heavy. I suggest at least chain shirt.

So, to recap, my suggestions: Drop sense motive, pick up int or cha-based skill, drop skill focus sense motive, pick up alertness, buy some armor.


Technik

 

[CRGreathouse]

Re: Feats

So, to recap, my suggestions: Drop sense motive, pick up int or cha-based skill, drop skill focus sense motive, pick up alertness, buy some armor.

Sense Motive is key, perhaps I'll take your advice in reverse and raise Wis to improve it. Armor's a good idea; I'll pick up either a chain shirt (mobility) or breastplate (looks better, higher AC).

 

[dcollins]

It seems like your strengths are: (1) skill selection, (2) martial weapons and armor; (3) better-than average initial gold. So what occurs to me is:

- Good starting armor: I'd go all the way for banded mail (although breastplate or chainmail is good, too).
- Get a horse for your (outdoor) mobility (w/Ride skill).
- I like the longbow/longsword with archery focus.
- See if you can buy a dog or hawk as a companion (w/Handle Animal skill).
- Use that "feint in combat" option a lot (w/Bluff skill).
- Load up on Listen, Spot, and Wilderness Lore skills if you really want a he-man type hunting aristocrat.