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So, I'm about to start playing Pathfinder and have decided on Ratfolk. In similar games, I've usually played a paladin, cleric, or a very short stint as a fighter. My D&D/PFRPG experience isn't enough to amount to anything.

Given all of that, I figured I'd do a Rogue, Rogue/Fighter, or maybe even Rogue/Ranger. Since I have no experience with those classes, and they differ greatly from characters I have in other games. Problem is, I can decide because I can't think up even a basic character idea I like. I've not found any Ratfolk fluff/lore as of yet, and don't want to play the stereotypical shiny object obsessed Ratfolk.

I'm not asking for someone to come up with it for me, but if anyone could make general suggestions, or point me to Ratfolk lore that'd be great. I really like the more amiable version in Pathfinder (as opposed to evil, malicious description in D&D). I feel it opens up a lot more opportunities for a truly deep character build. Since it's likely I won't have many, if any, other Ratfolk around and most likely none in my group, I thought I'd play off the general opinion of other races of Ratfolk. Not happy go lucky, but maybe a little bitter from being used to being looked down on, or weirding people out. Not mean, hateful, or totally embittered, he's just come to accept the fact, like it or not. I dunno if I'm accurately verbalizing my thoughts, I'm also unsure how this could translate into class/build, but it's a start I suppose.

Sorry for the rambling, but it helped get an idea. I usually have no issues coming up with a character idea.

Cool stuff! I always liked the Rat Folk from Legend of the Five Rings. They were utter pragmatists- to them, survival in the present is equivalent to honour and proper behaviour for the other peoples. Anything you do to survive, to protect your young, your clan and yourself (so, if you are adventuring outside of ratfolk lands, I guess you could extend that to your friends to give you a reason to co-operate with the group and show off this trait in game). The Rat Folk in LOTFR also had a fear of "Tomorrow", some unspecified event in the future that they worried about. Their race lived in tainted wastelands to the north and had lived through two major upheavals/extinctions, and so they had a pragmatic view on survival and a fear that another upheaval was around the corner, so it is best to live in the present. They would have seen things like "a fair fight" and "Last stands" to be baffling, because to them you should only ever fight dirty, and you should only do a "last stand" if you absolutely can't run away (and most Ratfolk would have a plan to allow them to flee.)
I've put this into a few of my settings as "The Way of the Rat" which is a philosophy which emphasises bare survival over all other considerations.

If your GM allows, the ratfolk in your campaign could be from some dangerous frontier (could be an orc haunted wasteland to the north, something more magical in nature, or just the "underdark". ) This would help give you a grounding and a good in game explanation for your pragmatism and "live in the now" attitude.

This sort of mindset fits well with any rogue or rogue/other combination. I especially like a Rogue/Ranger who fights the traditional foes of the rat folk (whatever you or your GM decides they are), and is a great hero among his people, but might be seen as a coward by humans for hiding and sneaking around.

That's a great idea. It works very well with the abstract idea I have of him. Because of other races' opinions of them, they've kind of bad to just go about their business whatever that was. Some situation occurred, maybe his clan or family was destroyed by a natural disaster, rival group, or race and he has been left to fend for himself in a world that, while not outright hateful most of the time, is less than helpful and welcoming.

We actually are ending our L5R campaign unfortunately. I played a very combat oriented Togashi tattooed monk. Pulling an element from that game will be pretty cool.

Thanks! This helps a bit, and if I can decide on his back story, that will help me decide on which class combination, if any, to pair up with Rogue. Any more ideas are very welcome!


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Not the most original idea, but perhaps his clan/family was killed by Duergar. Either the Ratfolk tunnleled too deeply, or the Duergar went too high. This would tie in with the general mistrust Ratfolk have of dwarves.

I don't think I gleamed this from your OP, but have you checked out the ratfolk race from the Pathfinder Advanced Race Guide?

I did indeed. That's in fact where I first saw them. So far, I'm thinking Rogue/Ranger if I multicass. They seem to make more sense with the backstory that's developing.

Excellent I like the Rogue/Ranger combo

I think it allows for a lot of freedom, giving many options for a Ratfolk forced out of his warren. I imagine he'd at least be tolerated in most places but in others be forced to live in the wilds by others or by choice.

Very exciting.

Great stuff.

(Also, Rogue/Ranger is a very fun build to play. I did a Goblin with that build in 3.5. Multiple attacks + sneak attack ftw.)

The only thing I would find "issue" with is that you're giving up favored class bonuses and slowing down the progression of many of the abilities of one class or the other. But at the end of the day it's up to you.

Honestly, unless you're planning on wanting large amounts of rogue talents or sneak attack, I'd probably take 1 level of rogue (maybe level 2?) to gain access to the skills and what not, and then from there just level as Ranger...

That would be an option. I'm looking at different archetypes, Survivalist Rogue fits well with my idea, though not as adept in combat as I'd like. Dungeon Rover and Skirmisher Rangers come pretty close but lack some Roguish skills I'd like. Though I could still train them I suppose. I like Urban Ranger but the dependency on a favored community doesn't really work for him. Leaning towards Dungeon Rover Ranger or Survivalist Rogue as those would mostly get me what I want without multicassing. I'd prefer to stick with one class but am willing to multicass a bit to fit the character.