New Player O.C.Cs

[Sohisohi]

I'll be running a game again, one player wants to be a combat focused magic user: I was thinking Cyber Knight, Magebane, Laser Mage. . . but I'd like additional suggestions regarding combat focused mages / magic man-at-arms? Smoker

Another hinted at being ash ketchum, I'll probably offer him the dog handler character in DR/CE (probably Chaos Earth) but am open to suggestions/summoners? Changed their mind, something DPS and maybe even pilot related. They want to be a ~51% cyborg, my thoughts are either the Chrome Warrior or Half-Borg but I'm open to suggestions. Is there a Pilot Borg class? Additionally, is there a good starting vehicle for somebody who wants to pilot a Robot Armor?

3rd player has yet to respond, I'll edit-in his request at a later date.

[Mogge]

Maybe a Combat Mage, it's in the Mercenary adventure book. I like that O.C.C.

[Marcethus]

Temporal Warrior from Rifts England. Battle Magus from Federation of Magic, are two off the top of my head.

[Grazzik]

Unless you a) want a whole specific backstory for the PC that ties them to a setting or b) you strip the context out of the OCC and just use the powers and stat block out of context, then the Combat mage or Temporal Warrior are generic enough to fit into any game.

[desrocfc]

There are a boatload of classes found in WB16, the Super Spy from Mercenaries; honestly you could away with a LLW depending on how the player wants to execute it. It it more skills-based combat, or magical?

[Soldier of Od]

Re the combat-focussed magic user, I would recommend the Battle-magus from Federation of Magic, as others have said.

Re the "Ash" character, I think a dog handler would be quickly outclassed if you are playing Rifts (I am assuming as the other classes you listed were from Rifts). The dogs will be ash in the first fight! If you want someone with creatures that can fight for them, what about the "T-Monster-Man" Tattooed-man sub-class, who can bring their animal and monster tattoos to life? For a "pet" class with real-life creatures, maybe the Shifter, or the Summoner from PFRPG? Or a warlock that can summon an elemental?

Hope that helps.

[Marcethus]

There are a boatload of classes found in WB16, the Super Spy from Mercenaries; honestly you could away with a LLW depending on how the player wants to execute it. It it more skills-based combat, or magical?

I forgot about the Super-Spy OCC. That's a good choice as well. Though it may be more focused on Espionage than combat.

[desrocfc]

There are a boatload of classes found in WB16, the Super Spy from Mercenaries; honestly you could away with a LLW depending on how the player wants to execute it. It it more skills-based combat, or magical?

I forgot about the Super-Spy OCC. That's a good choice as well. Though it may be more focused on Espionage than combat.

It doesn't scream magic combat like the Battle Magus, which presents a whole set of options.

For all it offers, the Super Spy mixes 'best' with psionics or the superpower options, IMHO. The magic option doesn't compare to what a LLW has in terms of both spells and skill selections.

[Marcethus]

There are a boatload of classes found in WB16, the Super Spy from Mercenaries; honestly you could away with a LLW depending on how the player wants to execute it. It it more skills-based combat, or magical?

I forgot about the Super-Spy OCC. That's a good choice as well. Though it may be more focused on Espionage than combat.

It doesn't scream magic combat like the Battle Magus, which presents a whole set of options.

For all it offers, the Super Spy mixes 'best' with psionics or the superpower options, IMHO. The magic option doesn't compare to what a LLW has in terms of both spells and skill selections.

I agree that it doesn't scream combat magic. I have used the magic option of the Super Spy and had fun with it. But that was as a Magic Thief/spy more than combat.

[Curbludgeon]

If the player is new in the sense of new to Palladium, then combat mage options like the Battle Magus and Temporal Warrior add kind of a lot to deal with, while the Combat Mage is pretty hamstrung. I'd suggest take a look at the Smoker out of the old Manhunters book (not the more recent Coalition Manhunters). It's your basic wizard from a high tech society (Manhunters is an outer space setting, so the pilot skill options might get limited a bit in Rifts) where the main advantage is half PPE price on combat themed spells.

[Grazzik]

If the player is new in the sense of new to Palladium, then combat mage options like the Battle Magus and Temporal Warrior add kind of a lot to deal with, while the Combat Mage is pretty hamstrung. I'd suggest take a look at the Smoker out of the old Manhunters book (not the more recent Coalition Manhunters). It's your basic wizard from a high tech society (Manhunters is an outer space setting, so the pilot skill options might get limited a bit in Rifts) where the main advantage is half PPE price on combat themed spells.

Very good point. Temporal magic is a bit abstract for a new player, though an experienced player from another game system may easily adjust.

Again, it comes back to what does the player want, as posed by desrocfc - namely, is the combat aspect they are looking for skills based or magic based?

If the former, the Combat Mage would work or perhaps an adapted Half Wizard from PFRPG's MoM would give a mix of combat skills and offensive spells.

If the latter, adapting the Forsaken Mage from PFRPG's MoM could allow for the selection of a wide variety of heavy hitting combat oriented spells from different disciplines. I'd be tempted to say that I'd have the PC switch from a 1st or 2nd level combat OCC to the Forsaken Mage showing a backstory of normal military experience giving way to unconventional mystical studies as the PC sees the power of magic on the battlefield. Alternatively, start with a Forsaken Mage and add Advanced Training from HoH to give more combat skills/flavor.

If just looking for a magical tank, go with LLW or Dragon Hatchling.

[Sohisohi]

Thank you all, he wanted to deal damage by casting spells for days. I was able to give him a list based on your suggestion and he made his choice.

Perhaps I can capitalize on your good will for a little longer:

My second player changed their mind, wanted something DPS and maybe even pilot related. Specifically they want to be a ~51% cyborg, my thoughts are either the Chrome Warrior or the Half-Borg with skills in piloting, but I'm open to other suggestions.

Is there a Pilot Borg class?
Additionally, is there a good starting vehicle for somebody who wants to pilot a Robot Armor?

[Marcethus]

Partial reconstruction Headhunter.