Non-Rogues in the intrigue campaign

[Willowhaunt]

I'm playing in a game that's low on combat and high on intrigue, backstabbing, and mystery, and just lost my Elf Rogue/Wizard (tried to rat the party out to the Harpers when they turned evil, and got caught). So I'm looking for suggestions on unusual character classes and concepts tht work in the non combat campaign. I thought of playing a Cleric of Bane, but looking at the Cleric's spell list it just seems to read off as a list of buffing and healing spells, nothing as potent as, say, my previous character's illusions. I'm looking for a character class that won't seem too much like my previous character (no rogues, wizards, and probably Bards, since they often play like a combination of the two) and still allow me to have a role other than crushing skulls. Any ideas on how the non-secretive character classes can be twisted into social/political entities despte D&D's emphasis on combat...?

 

[shilsen]

Cleric of Boccob with the Knowledge and Trickery domains.

 

[the Jester]

How bout a ranger?

With the various favored enemy skill bonuses they get, they seem like they'd do well at intrigue (especially involving their favored enemies).

A druid's ability to wild shape into animals that are expected to be underfoot is another good ability for an intrigue-based game.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Play a psion telepath.

 

[cdsaint]

I think the Urban Ranger variant from Unearthed Arcana might be interesting. It swaps out some wilderness skills for social and urban skills, replaces track with urban tracking, and, best of all, lets you take an organization as a favored enemy (so that favored enemy bonuses like sense motive work vs members of that organization).

It looks pretty good to me, you'll still be somewhat combat oriented, but still useful for intrigue.

Chris