Class and Race Recommendations?

[ArrixGrimm]

So, I have been informed that I will be playing as a PC in a level 1 game by a new DM, and I will be the most experienced player at the table...the downside is I don;t know what I want to play. I did have an idea to play a Plague Doctor themed character, but with a twist, instead of combating disease with herbs and poultices, what if you used just used good old martial prowess? Any ideas that could work? I would like to keep access to the heal skill if possible, we are also using 3.5

[Gildedragon]

Warforged Crusader

[ArrixGrimm]

I am guessing Warforged for their Immunities?

[Gildedragon]

Yeah.
Mechanically you just don't want to get sick; but thematically you could just wipe yourself down with some poison to disinfect yourself and that way you can safely move through a quarantine.

You want to dip into a spellcaster class to get "craft Alchemy"
And you want to focus on the Devoted Spirit discipline and (if path of war is allowed) Silver Crane

[ArrixGrimm]

Normally I would be all for the Warforged, but we already have on as the fighter and he is very pleased with his character, so I would rather not double up of races. Also, aren't Crusaders religious?

[Gildedragon]

Normally I would be all for the Warforged, but we already have on as the fighter and he is very pleased with his character, so I would rather not double up of races. Also, aren't Crusaders religious?

No. They are cause driven. You have a strong cause.
Well what races are the rest of the party?

[ArrixGrimm]

I am only aware of the Warforged, I will be helping the others build characters in the coming days. I know only classes right now, One wants to play a Ranger, and the other a Bard

[Gildedragon]

My take would be: don't worry about doubling up on a race, cause a) warforged fits with your character concept, and b) it means you got each other's back on the healy-crafty front

Now if dragon magazine is allowed you might want to take the Spark template to boost your charisma (if you do go crusader); the SLAs might also allow you to qualify for Alchemy crafting without needing to take levels in a casting class. It will tank your wisdom but it differentiates you from the other warforged.

[ArrixGrimm]

But Warforged lack full emotions and Humanity, and i plan of Role playing his character. I was going to go with either a Human or Elf, because the idea of a skinny guy, swinging around a large weapon appeals to the concept.

I love the Spark Template, it helped me break a Sorcerer/ Battle Dancer build I had

[torrasque666]

But Warforged lack full emotions and Humanity, and i plan of Role playing his character. I was going to go with either a Human or Elf, because the idea of a skinny guy, swinging around a large weapon appeals to the concept.

I love the Spark Template, it helped me break a Sorcerer/ Battle Dancer build I had

Ah but that's what Reforged is for. Get in touch with your humanity.

[ArrixGrimm]

True, but isn't that a PrC? And I do not see where Crusaders get healing.

[torrasque666]

True, but isn't that a PrC? And I do not see where Crusaders get healing.

That it is. But think of it like this: your constant exposure to human suffering and reactions to it (compassion, pity, etc) have awakened an empathy you thought nonexistant. You seek to understand your own humanity.

And crusaders, while they don't get healing spells per say, they can use some Devote Spirit maneuvers to heal pretty much consistently through the day. In addition though, Warforged can make craft checks to heal/repair themselves/other warforged. And since neither of you have to sleep, you can work on each other when the rest of the team beds down for the night, or any other time you have 8 hours to spare.

[Gildedragon]

But Warforged lack full emotions and Humanity, and i plan of Role playing his character.

??? No... they are fully capable of exploring sensation (hence them developing the reforged philosophy) and of feeling (no immunity to fear, mind affecting, or morale effects). They do not NEED to eat, but since they can still benefit from consumables, they still CAN eat if they want.

True, but isn't that a PrC? And I do not see where Crusaders get healing.

It is a PrC but it is also a religion within eberron. You can be a Reforged without having classes in Reforged.
Crusaders get healing via the Devoted Spirit discipline. For example, the Crusader's Strike maneuver heals an ally up to 11 points when you hit an enemy of a different alignment with it.
Nice thing of this is that Crusader maneuvers are not supernatural effects, but wholly extraordinary, which has warforged benefit fully from them.

[ArrixGrimm]

Is there any other Classes that would work, so far Crusader, Warrior, and Binder look like winner, though I will need to read Binder in detail.

[Gildedragon]

Paladin, but it does do spells;
Artificer (for all your crafting needs);

Rogue wouldn't be too bad: lots of skillpoints and you might want 2 generally useless skills for fluff (Profession (Herbalist), and Heal) on top of Craft (Alchemy) and whatever other skills you come to need.

Speaking of craft (alchemy): in Tome and Blood there is an item called Healing Salve, alchemical item that cures 1d8 points of damage. Wholly mundane item, so it might be something your healer might be interested in making.

[ArrixGrimm]

Is there a way to scale it up with High Alchemy checks?

[Gildedragon]

Maybe, sorta, but not really
There is the feat Augmented Alchemy which raises the DC by 20 and doubles the effect (of damage, area, or duration) but there's two problems
a) healing isn't 'dealing damage' and it doesn't have an area or duration
b) the feat is [Epic]

But you can make multiple doses of the stuff during your down time; and you just need one to get people back in the game.

Clearwater Tablets are also something you probably will craft a lot of (purifying water sources and the like)

[ArrixGrimm]

Very true, though it would be nice if it was scaling, but makes for a good cheap potion for 1st level characters

[Gildedragon]

Very true, though it would be nice if it was scaling, but makes for a good cheap potion for 1st level characters

and overall quite good for a warforged party member: it is an Ex effect, it heals them wholly.

[ArrixGrimm]

Still not entirely Keen on playing a warforged, but I am sure the other player will love to have a healing item before he can get oils

[Gildedragon]

Still not entirely Keen on playing a warforged, but I am sure the other player will love to have a healing item before he can get oils

If Crusader works for you then go for a Cha boosted race; avoid Int penalties, you want the skillpoints for crafting during your downtime

If Artificer works: get all the int bonuses you can

If neither tickles you: Binder at level 7 (5 if you took Improved Binding, which you ought have) gets Buer who gives immunity to diseases and some healing.

A Venerable Dragonwrought Kobold works great; +3 to all mental stats (no disease immunity but you can get that from other sources).

You can ditch wisdom and just never be the one that stands guard ('pay' your spotter with Pricklewort extract (Dragon 301, 54) an alchemical item that boosts Spot and Listen checks).

[ArrixGrimm]

Artificer is an interesting idea for the build, given they are suppose to be magical craftsmen, not disease slaying combatants

[Gildedragon]

Artificer is an interesting idea for the build, given they are suppose to be magical craftsmen, not disease slaying combatants

It's just the class; besides you craft the cures and then use weapons to deliver them.
daggers evocative of syringes, for example

[ArrixGrimm]

Plus on demand Bane weapons

[ArrixGrimm]

What if I opened it up to arcane classes and such?