Pathfinder case study #5: Gandalf the Grey

 So it wasn't my intention to do the Fellowship, but I really wanted to do a magic-user.  The problem is that nearly every iconic wizard or witch or whatever is difficult to shoehorn into Pathfinder/D&D class coventions.  I went through several phases of thought with my build for Gandalf.  My first thought was to design Gandalf as a 'monster' advanced with chracter classes, seeing as how the Istari aren't human.  However, the fact that they came in the shape of men and are subject to all the frailties of that race convinced me that Middle-earth's wizards have to play by the same rules as regular humans, just with a bit of a head-start.

So next I considered designing a unique class for Gandalf... something like a cleric or druid but which would learn spells like a wizard.  I decided that would be 'cheating' so I decided to go with at least official rules, then decided to stay with core.  Music is a powerful and integral force in Middle-earth.  Indeed, all existence is a result of the Music of the Ainur... and all strife is the result of Melkor's attempts to play notes of discord.  Also, Gandalf certainly has a great wealth of knowledge, so bard seems appropriate.  Basically I looked at all of the bard's class abilities and spell lists and determined what I thought would be the most powerful effects that would fit the powers that Gandalf displays or, that Tolkien lore implies he is capable of. 

After deciding on bard 9, I looked at other possible classes, giving divine spell-casters a long look, as well as the NPC class expert.  I decided there were a few magical effects that Gandalf displayed that could not be attributed to bard spells or Gandalf's magic items, so the multi-class had to include spell-casting, and after agonizing thought I decided on the sorcerer.  So here is the result of the case study:

Gandalf the Grey

Male human (ainur) bard 9, sorcerer 6
LG Medium humanoid (human)
Init +3; Senses Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +3 deflection, +1 dodge)
hp 133 (9d8+6d6+45+15)
Fort +11, Ref +14, Will +21
Defensive Abilities combat expertise, dodge, toughness

OFFENSE

Speed 35 ft.
Melee +12/+7 Glamdring (1d8+3/19-20)
Ranged +12 (by weapon)
Special Attacks bardic performance (countersong, distraction, fascinate, inspire competence, inspire courage +3), fleet, holy, mighty cleaving, vital strike

Spells Known (Bard) (CL 11^th; concentration +15)

3^rd (4/day)—daylight, good hope, major image, speak with animals

2^nd  (5/day)—alter self, animal messenger, animal trance (DC 16), heroism
1^st  (6/day)—charm person (DC 15), cause fear (DC 15), comprehend languages, silent image, ventriloquism
0 (at will)—daze (DC 14), detect magic, know direction, mage hand, mending, read magic

Spells Known (Sorcerer) (CL 8^th; concentration +12)

3^rd (4/day)—identify, versatile weapon

2^nd (7/day)—eagle’s splendor, pyrotechnics (DC 16),
1^st (7/day)—burning disarm (DC 15), flare burst (DC 15), hold portal, true strike

0 (at will)—arcane mark, disrupt undead, flare (DC 14), light, prestidigitation, resistance, spark

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 21, Cha 19
Base Atk +9; CMB +10; CMD 23
Feats Arcane Strike, Combat Expertise, Dodge, Eschew Materials, Fleet, Skill Focus (diplomacy), Skill Focus (history), Toughness, Vital Strike
Skills Climb +4, Diplomacy +22, Disguise +8, Handle Animal +10, Heal +8, Knowledge (arcana) +17, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +14, Knowledge (engineering) +11, Knowledge (geography) +16, Knowledge (history) +20, Knowledge (local) +17, Knowledge (nature) +12, Knowledge (nobility) +12, Knowledge (planes) +11, Knowledge (religion) +14, Linguistics +12, Perception +13, Perform (oratory) +22, Perform (sing) +14, Ride +4, Spellcraft +13, Stealth +7, Survival +8, Swim +3

Languages All

SQ arcane bond (staff), bardic knowledge, bardic performance, bloodline (arcane), cantrips, lore master, versatile performance (comedy, oratory), well-versed
Combat Gear Glamdring (+2 holy longsword of mighty cleaving); Other Gear broad-brimmed hat, fine pipe and 1 pound of pipeweed, Narya, traveler’s cloak, wizard’s staff (+2 sacred bonus to will saves, caster level, and spell DCs)

Narya

Narya functions as a ring of sustenance, and major ring of fire resistance.  In addition it has the following powers:

·         +3 deflection bonus to AC

·         +3 resistance bonus to saving throws

·         Gandalf may cast bless 1/day

·         Gandalf may use the ring to cast any spell with the fire descriptor as will as lightning bolt and chain lightning provided Gandalf expends a number of spell slots with a total of spell levels equal to the level of the spell being cast (i.e. one 1^st and one 2^nd level spell slot to cast the 3^rd level spell fireball)

So my goal was to make Gandalf subtle, yet powerful.  Narya allows for Gandalf's stronger displays of power, and the rest of his abilities are either mundane, or usually buffing of some kind, the goal of the Istari being to assist the free peoples in fighting the enemy rather than matching their own power against Sauron's.  Typically Gandalf uses the least spell of effect that can accomplish his goal and (particularly when with the ringbearer) avoids the use of magic as much as possible due to the fact that other magical beings can sense when magic is used, and even pinpoint the location of either the magic-user or location of the casting (it's not clear which).

For optional rules, I would consider changing the bard and sorcerer to divine casters... whether magic is arcane or divine seems to depend on the user (good=divine, evil=arcane) or it's just all divine in Tolkien legendarium.  But that really is just a matter of flavor.

I would definitely use class defense bonus,  and probably the taint rules, at least for the One Ring.