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I have a new guy joining our group and he is a big comic book fan. He wants to be a Batman type character. Unfortunately, our group needs a leader... Are any of the leader classes suited to this?

bard or warlord with stealth....

Artificer would probably be the best bet. Emphasis on gear and all that.

Thematically, artificier is probably the best fit out of the box since, like Batman, they're all about being crazy-prepared with gadgets.  It also doesn't hurt that the Int and Wis focused builds lend to being a good detectives. 

Bards are also a great option because they get a lot of trained skills and, with a small feat investment, can get sizable bonuses to their untrained skills.  Which works since not only is Batman crazy-prepared, he's also crazy good at pretty much everything.  Also, the Jynx Shot at-will makes for a great bat-o-rang attack.

In general, physical skills may be a bit of an issue since most leader builds (I think all?) lack dex as a key attribute (which hinders Acrobatics and Stealth), and often either lack strength as a key attribute or athletics as a key skills.  However, training (via background), the skill focus feat, skill powers, and a choice item or two can help considerably in making up for any deficiencies without too large of an investment.

Pick a class and be a moping, emo, manipulative, sociopathic, untrusting douche?

Oct 28, 2012 -- 11:49AM, Salla wrote:

Pick a class and be a moping, emo, manipulative douche?

What if I want to be Adam West Batman?

Oct 28, 2012 -- 11:50AM, Qmark wrote:

Oct 28, 2012 -- 11:49AM, Salla wrote:

Pick a class and be a moping, emo, manipulative douche?

What if I want to be Adam West Batman?

Then you can be awesome instead.

Bear in mind Batman's alignment too. It can be all over the place at times, but 'Chaotic Good' may be the best bet (I'm into comics too but he may have a specific Batman in mind). 

Batman would have to put points into almost everything, having an immense knowledge on any number of things, with a genius IQ, great strength and dexterity, etc. It sounds like a Bard may be the best choice, a human one since you can get two feats (one in improving all your untrained skills, and another for specializing in one particular (probably Intimidate* or Stealth), just a suggestion.

→   On the subject of Batman characters, I'm new to the game and have a Lawful Evil character in mind that would work similar to Batman's methods (deception, influence, and power I mean, not his combat). However, I hear Lawful Evil can conflict with most groups, and I also wanted to hear if my character backstory makes sense or if it's stupid, but I don't want to clutter the forums up with another thread.
Can anyone send me a private message, and take it from there?

*EDIT: Meant to put Intimidate not Bluff 

Oct 28, 2012 -- 9:09PM, Moch wrote:

Bear in mind Batman's alignment too. It can be all over the place at times, but 'Chaotic Good' may be the best bet (I'm into comics too but he may have a specific Batman in mind). 

Batman would have to put points into almost everything, having an immense knowledge on any number of things, with a genius IQ, great strength and dexterity, etc. It sounds like a Bard may be the best choice, a human one since you can get two feats (one in improving all your untrained skills, and another for specializing in one particular (probably Intimidate* or Stealth), just a suggestion.

→   On the subject of Batman characters, I'm new to the game and have a Lawful Evil character in mind that would work similar to Batman's methods (deception, influence, and power I mean, not his combat). However, I hear Lawful Evil can conflict with most groups, and I also wanted to hear if my character backstory makes sense or if it's stupid, but I don't want to clutter the forums up with another thread.
Can anyone send me a private message, and take it from there?

*EDIT: Meant to put Intimidate not Bluff 

You're talking the wrong edition.

ooooh oooooh I know! How about a bardIartificier with the alchemist theme! that could work!

Or just play without a leader.
the need for a "balanced party" is a total myth. you don't need all the roles.
I run a game where everyone is playing a striker. They kill everything.
Haven't managed to kill one of them yet, and they're at 13th level.

Batman is a Brutal Rogue.

A Dex/Cha, Skald Bard, using a bow (batarang). High Dex, so it's good at stealth. High Cha, so it's good at intimidation. Bard of all trades feat to be good at everything else.  Alchemist theme for the gadgets.

Nov 7, 2012 -- 4:05AM, Olrox17 wrote:

A Dex/Cha, Skald Bard, using a bow (batarang). High Dex, so it's good at stealth. High Cha, so it's good at intimidation. Bard of all trades feat to be good at everything else.  Alchemist theme for the gadgets.

A bow? They want to be Batman, not Green Arrow.

Shuriken, Boomerangs... Always available aren't they? 

Batman-Flavored leader?

Gggross!

innuendo aside... some sort of acrobatic rogue or fighter type should work.

I've seen lots of discussion about 'roles' in the party. They seem artificial. If you want to be a leader, just give the party an example worth following and encourage them to push themselves because you believe in them. Pick some diplomacy skills. Don't steal the glory. Be willing to share the burden, shoulder the responsibility and listen to the needs of the people who you would lead. Then sleep in a cave. Boom! Leader. Batman-Flavored Leader.

Nov 10, 2012 -- 10:15PM, Sanctuarykitten wrote:

Nov 7, 2012 -- 4:05AM, Olrox17 wrote:

A Dex/Cha, Skald Bard, using a bow (batarang). High Dex, so it's good at stealth. High Cha, so it's good at intimidation. Bard of all trades feat to be good at everything else.  Alchemist theme for the gadgets.

A bow? They want to be Batman, not Green Arrow.

Shuriken, Boomerangs... Always available aren't they? 

What about the Bat-bow?

Nah, if you're going Adam West Batman, then melee is a requirement.  How else will you get the BAM! and BASH! and WHACK! and IMPACTSOUNDEFFECT! stuff?

Personally I think that bat-man and leader cannot coexist in the same character.  But thats just my take on Batman.  Here is why I think this:

Batman - Dark Knight, Chaotic Good awesome at stealth and combat and gadgets etc.  Works alone or with one other doing similar tricks.

Leader - Enabler.  Different leaders enable in different ways, but the Leader should be granting attacks/saving throws/buffs to allies and be built to make the team work as a cohesive unit.

With those definitions, Batman Leader seems impossible in my mind. 

Nov 10, 2012 -- 10:15PM, Sanctuarykitten wrote:

Nov 7, 2012 -- 4:05AM, Olrox17 wrote:

A Dex/Cha, Skald Bard, using a bow (batarang). High Dex, so it's good at stealth. High Cha, so it's good at intimidation. Bard of all trades feat to be good at everything else.  Alchemist theme for the gadgets.

A bow? They want to be Batman, not Green Arrow.

Shuriken, Boomerangs... Always available aren't they? 

Reflavor away!  Mechanically, it's a bow, but fluff-wise, it's a batarang. 

Nov 15, 2012 -- 3:28PM, Planeswalker817 wrote:

Nah, if you're going Adam West Batman, then melee is a requirement.  How else will you get the BAM! and BASH! and WHACK! and IMPACTSOUNDEFFECT! stuff?

Thanks to its class features, a Skald Bard is very good in melee too. Good MBA out of the gate and some kick ass melee class powers. It's a very versatile combatant.