Template, Class and Build ideas for this character concept?

Captain Trek

First Post
Hiya

Now, this is going to sound incredibly bizzare, but here we go...

Basically, in my current D&D 3.5 group, we have a Paladin (soon to multiclass into Crusader) who grew up on a farm, and still pays her old home frequent visits. Quite some time before the beginning of the in-game story, this character got a bit too big for her britches, smashing a crime-ring before heading to the farm to celebrate and get thoroughly sloshed. Naturally, she had been followed, and the remaining thieves struck, severely damaging the farm and killing the paladin's younger sister, something the character was never able to herself for until recently (with a lot of help from my current character).

Now, the pally's family also owned a sheepdog at some point (the paladin has mentioned it in-character, but nothing too specific), and here's where my crazy idea comes in...

As a back-up character (in case my primary character should bite the dust), I was thinking that perhaps the dog also died in the attack, but through mysterious forces unknown (I hope to flesh that part out later on) its essense (for want of a better term) remained, and became bound up into a sapient form that is to be "deployed" when the paladin's need is greatest (as indeed it will be if my current character should die, given that she and the paladin are currently lovers).

This character will be the same race as the paladin, but I am thinking of applying the Celestial or Half-Celestial template. Personality-wise, she is to strongly demonstrate the playfulness and fierce loyality of the original pooch. She will be a hard worker and yet also a big sleeper, fit of body yet big of apetite, and large of personality overall. She'll also be, perhaps, slightly more touchy-feely than the conservative noble-born Factotum in our party will be comfortable with. :p

Which brings us to the ultimate question: What the Hell kind of class and build is appropriate for such a character? I honestly don't know! We have enough characters (eight in all including two Cohorts and my current character) that I can play pretty much anything without leaving huge holes in the party's skillset, so I can focus purely on what would be appropriate for a character like this... But again, I'm kind of stuck for ideas...

Any advice you guys could give would be greatly appreciated.

Note: Much as this may look like a prank, my desire to create (and, if she becomes needed in-game, roleplay) this character IS quite genuine.

EDIT: Oh and pretty much all official material is allowed except for Dragon Magazine. My DM does veto and disallow certain things, but does so purely on a case-by-case basis. Also, the character's race is a homebrew one we're using, but this race can use anything that, by RAW, specifically requires you to be human.

EDIT 2: Current character level is 4th (2nd for the Cohorts). Note, if you're curious, that the "Cohorts" are NPCs that the DM wanted to attach to the party (semi-DMPCs, effectively). We decided operating them as per the Cohort rules would work best, even though that breaks the usual Leadership rules.
 
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emoplato

First Post
Well Chaotic Good is definitely a start. I think a Favored Soul really can fit the bill quite nicely as they aren't bound by any specific order or religion. However, I think for us to really help I think you need to tell what you want to do in the game. Personality can easily come out of a strategy, but doesn't work as well the other way I have found.
 

Herzog

Adventurer
The first thing that popped into my head was 'Hound Archon'.
But, with their 6 racial HD and LA of +5, that doesn't seem to be a very good option....

Leaving the race/template(s) for others to figure out, we turn to class(es):

(sheep)dog suggests some kind of 'controller'. being able to 'herd' the opposition into situations more beneficial for your party. Druid seems appropriate (maybe with a preferred shapechange form? :) ) although other options given in Complete Mage for 'controller' archetypes (probably more specific to arcane casters) might help you as well.


Edit: oh, and maybe you can list the current makeup of your party? It's one thing to not 'leave a hole', it's quite another to step on someone elses toes (especially when you create an exact same race/class/feats combination......)
 
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Antariuk

First Post
I think Herzog is right, a controller theme seems very appropriate, or at least something of being a protector. Marshal (Miniatures Handbook) or knight (PHB II) would be something fitting for a non-spellcasting solution, although marshal might be too much of a charismatic leader for a character that is essentially a huge puppy (in mind). Yeah, thinking about it, knight would definitevly a better fit. Depends on how strictly you follow the fluff I guess.

As for templates, there is a protector template in the Book of Monster Templates from Rite Publishing. Its Pathfinder, so its like 90% compatible with standard D&D 3.5, but in this specific case parts of the template are clearly not appropriate for a PC, such as immunity against all compulsion effects, resistance 5 against all energy types, and some hefty ability increases. But still, it might work as an inspiration for a homebrew solution. I'd like to quote the whole thing, but I'm quite sure its not allowed as the book is not for free?
 

RUMBLETiGER

Adventurer
So, if I've got this straight, the sheepdog dies, but somehow reincarnates, and becomes a PC.

Of the same race as the Paladin, what race is the Paladin?

The idea of a being's essence remaining and playing a part in the character sounds very "Magic of Incarnum" to me.
 
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emoplato

First Post
I think Herzog is right, a controller theme seems very appropriate, or at least something of being a protector. Marshal (Miniatures Handbook) or knight (PHB II) would be something fitting for a non-spellcasting solution, although marshal might be too much of a charismatic leader for a character that is essentially a huge puppy (in mind). Yeah, thinking about it, knight would definitevly a better fit. Depends on how strictly you follow the fluff I guess.
I would disagree, the companion is looking to be a Crusader. However now that I think about it a Bard/Wardblade Song of the White Raven would really fit personality wise and no one would argue the potential effectiveness.
 

Captain Trek

First Post
Edit: oh, and maybe you can list the current makeup of your party? It's one thing to not 'leave a hole', it's quite another to step on someone elses toes (especially when you create an exact same race/class/feats combination......)

Point taken...

My current PC is a crossbow-skirmisher Scout. The other five PCs are the Paladin-going-into-Crusader (sword-and-board and face), a greataxe Fighter (purely damaged focused... he's a secondary character being played by the same player playing the Paladin), an Evoker Wizard (who has somehow managed to pull off "Lawful Neutral pyromaniac" quite believably), a Cleric of the setting's resident big-cheese diety with the Sun and Knowledge domains (primary focused on being the party's walking medkit) and an intimidation-focused Marshal (Motivate Charisma + Intimidating Strike + Never Outnumbered + Imperious Command, with Dreadful Wrath for backup. Also a second face).

The two Cohorts are the previously mentioned Factotum (plenty capable of taking over skill-monkey duty from the Scout despite being a couple of levels lower) and a Dragonfire Adept (who has a backstory almost as bizzare as that of the ex-canine I'm currently working on).

Well Chaotic Good is definitely a start.

Without a doubt. :)

The idea of a being's essence remaining and playing a part in the character sounds very "Magic of Incarnum" to me.

I thought so too, but making her an actual Incarnum class didn't seem appropriate...

Anyway, I'll definitely look into the Bard thing. I'm not too familiar with Bard builds, so I'll have to do some homework, but it certainly could work. Favoured Soul might be good too provided I "toolbox" with it (using the crowd-control spells from the cleric spell list to "corral" the enemy in the manner Herzog proposed) so that she doesn't overlap with the band-aid-box Cleric.

Hmm... any other ideas?
 
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Dannyalcatraz

Schmoderator
Staff member
Supporter
Savage Species' Feral Template- even if the DM recosts it as +2LA- would be appropriate for this PC, giving it an animalistic tint without going full Anthropomorphic Animal.

To add a bit more of that flavor, perhaps taking a few levels of Wolf Totem Barbarian would be in order.

A couple levels of Battle Sorcerer or Stalwart Sorcerer could let you mix in a couple of spells. Depending on which spells you select, this could go a variety of ways:

1) optimized caster list

2) spells that reinforce his animalistic nature

3) spells that reinforce his nature as a reincarnated being

Doing so would also open up all the Bloodline/Heritage feats that have Sorc as a prereq. Some could be interesting if reflavored- infernal sorcerer shout (and it's prereq) get reflavored as some kind of "reincarnation" feat, and he gets to have a very effective "Bark!"
 

Dannyalcatraz

Schmoderator
Staff member
Supporter
Some other thoughts:

1) Focused Specialist Abjurer and/or a Variant Abjurer fills the protector role.

2) PsyWar has all kinds of powers that grant natural attacks- echoing the PC's past as a dog- plus has the HP and combat ability to "defend her flock."

3) OA Shaman has unarmed combat (after its 3.5Ed update, it scales with level) and full casting, talks to spirits, and could qualify for the Shiba Protector PrCl. With the right Domains, could fill a protector role very nicely.
 

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