#plumekith

A while ago when I did the review for the ninja class, I mentioned that shinobi historically have used fire and explosives in their tool kit to distract guards and provide a little bang in their arsenal when they needed it.

While any ninja character can benefit from smoke bombs and other alchemical explosives, today’s subject is a specialist that makes full use of bombs in their arsenal, the gunpowder bombardier!

Gunpowder has long been part of Japan’s history, not just for fireworks of ninja explosives, but also in terms of firearms, but we won’t be focusing on the latter today.

It’s delightful to see this aspect of historical ninja be focused on in the game, even if there is an element of cinematic flexibility added to it, as we shall soon see.

These bombers seem to never run out of explosives, at least, not while their ki pool lasts, letting them draw, light, and throw these explosives from hidden pouches, and even creating bigger bombs with a bit more expenditure of ki. As they grow in mastery, the formula for these bombs improves to be even more potent.

Additionally, as they grow in power, they also learn how to add special substances to the bombs for added effect, creating bright flashes to leave a foe seeing stars, additives that make the retort deafeningly loud, sticky substances to entangle, or a startling crack to leave the foe shaken. Later on, they can introduce noxious substances to leave the target retching, or a potent mix that leaves them stunned.

They also learn, after a fashion, how to improve the fuses on these explosives so they can be delayed, letting them go off later when the shinobi is considerably further away either as a distraction, timed sabotage, or simply a surprise attack that leaves the foe guessing where the attack came from.

If you wanna have some fun with explosives and be a ninja at the same time, this archetype can be a fun way to do so. I respect the choice to not make these bombs a clone of the alchemist variety, as well as the way that additional effects are added. Using the ki pool as the resource, representing how they’ve prepared a non-specific amount of explosives and hidden them on their person is very cinematic ninja-y, while also holding true to how such a specialist would prepare. That being said, while the bombs are powerful, they will not be your primary damage dealers, as your sneak attack will likely always do more. However, if you want ranged damage and potential debuffs, they can be quite useful in that regard. Also, don’t forget that mundane alchemical weapons are still a thing, which you can supplement your arsenal with.

With this sort of specialization, you can go a few different ways. Perhaps your character was trained especially for explosives by their mentors, or maybe they spend more time on such arts than their other lessons, worrying or annoying their teachers.

The party has been tasked with sneaking into the local daimyo’s estate while their explosives expert creates a fire on the opposite end of the compound. They sneak in through the stables, only to discover that something else has already been infiltrating them, a monstrous horse-headed sagari, which has already devoured the lord’s prized steed.

Though not exactly an accurate name, the shinobi known as the peacock tengu is neither a peacock nor a tengu, but a plumekith aasimar. This flashy ninja forgoes stealth, but still proves his worth through his element of distraction not just with the potency of his bombs, but also the fact guards can’t keep their eyes off of him when he appears.

pathfinder ocs

I’m sorry I haven’t really drawn a lot as of late. It’s been hectic year. But I managed to push out another Asuka drawing, cause why the fuck not?

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Character for Pathfinder, a Plumekith Bard Dancer.

 Not every investigator is on the right side of the law, even if they share the same goal of justice. Similarly, not all with an investigative mind have the luxury of scientific pursuits.

Enter the snoop, a roguish sort that, for better or worse, has a knack for sticking their noses where they don’t belong. However, unlike most investigators, they mix their keen minds with street smarts, rather than great knowledge, though they do overlap in many areas.

They might be private detectives or vigilantes at best, or information brokers or shadow manipulators at worst, seeking dirt on their fellow criminals. Regardless, they make it a point to keep an eye on what is going on in the underbelly of the cities they call home.

Though this archetype clearly blends aspects of two classes, it’s not actually from Advanced Class Guide, but from Ultimate Intrigue, but it clearly draws inspiration from the idea of melded class archetypes.

 Lacking a scientific background does nothing to dull the senses of these detectives, and like a true investigator, they are incredibly insightful, though this is limited to various areas of non-combat expertise.

They also can learn a limited variety of talents associated with investigators, in addition to those available to sneaks such as themselves. These talents are drawn from those based on information gathering.

Be it by force or by manipulative wordplay, snoops are exceptionally good at coaxing information out of unwilling informants.

Just as information is valuable, so too can the right misinformation, and these rogues are adept at seeding truth or lies in the form of rumors in a settlement, ensuring most if not everyone hears what they want them to hear.

The rogue talents associated with this archetype also focus on information gathering, but also on being stealthy of mind and body as well as solid detective work.

Looking for a skill monkey rogue specializing in information? This archetype may be right for you. The combination of rogue talents with a handful of investigator talents means you can probably get all the answers if you look in the right places. Don’t forget to throw a few combat aspects into your build too, though, as someone as nosy as these characters tend to make a lot of enemies.

 If you’ve been looking for an excuse to play a hard-boiled character who knows the streets and the value of information, this might be what you’re looking for. Then again, some snoops may be a bit more optimistic, even though they know the harshness around them.

  Just as it was rumored he was close to a breakthrough, the private investigator Rogram goes missing, only to turn up later in bulky clothing, and having an uncanny trilling quality to his voice. In truth, he was captured and replaced by the mi-go he had been on the trail of, his brain preserved in one of their cylinders.

 One would think that having the vibrant plumage of a garuda would make the job of detective harder for the plumekith known as Vanenda. However, she manages with the help of magical items. Despite her lofty status, she feels for the people in the lower district, and fights to expose the oppressive forces above them.