this should be a simple question - but...

it shouldn't be that uncommon for a character with a particular focus to not have both of the skills in a BSM couplet.  In that situation you have a result cap of 15, an increased error range, and an improved crit range.  I forget, is there something official with critical successes bypassing result caps?

Since our last group had a budding alchemist making potions and elixirs, I should bring this up.

You throw a potion of Fireball (like the grenade).

but here is the catch (from memory, book at home): 10' throwing range with a x3 maximum increment = maximum 30' range.  Significantly less than the fireball stock range.

and with potential deviation, Fireball in a Can is potentially a bad day waiting to happen.

just a word to the wise - one that Pat says he should have put in big bold print somewhere.

"It is not suggested to use ALL of the options presented in a single game."

Our first group took the toolbox of the system, dumped it all on the table and we eached grabbed a handful of pieces and the duct tape. we had:
Infernal Goblin Mage
his brother, Infernal goblin Burglar
Floating Unborn Mage
Lava Elemental Giant Soldier
Dazzling Human Female Courtier (then soldier, then swashbuckler)
Pit Fighting Human Lancer.
Jungle Clutch Saurian Scout  which was retired and replaced by -
Angelic Human Sage / Priest of Fortune

No, he is collecting bones from vanquished foes to use in skeletal creations or as material components of his Craft: Alchemy projects.
He is a dark young lad, and I would imagine used his Enchanter's lure to draw small woodland animals to him for easy mutilation.  Sociopath.

Now - how to find the right niche for the next character.
our melee side is well served by:
Mr Charging Mastery / Mobility basics with the 60' move and a Spear.
Claymore wielder of Doom
unhittable (but not very damaging) Two weapon defense Double Shield user.

The Sage / Burglar / Emissary Mr Chance Feat and Mr. pretty boy courtier round out the "skill" characters

Often hard to find a tactical hole to fill in a group of 7 players.

No worries about the Thread-jacking.

as My character was already a follower of one of the Death gods in our home-brew setting, I am working on a plea for Cheating Death.

There was a wish with the loosely phrased "Gather my companions" and then an Artifact level teleport.

I'm just happy that I didn't miss any specific language on banishment.

::: One Variant for Cheating Death, what with everyone just going up a level, is taking a level of Priest to mark my faith.  Hampers my spell progression though.  I have already gone on record that I will not tolerate the undead to make a mockery of life (Adept Undead turning and a goddess of the afterlife - and I didn't even know that the Enchanter was dabbling in Necromancy) though, so a case could be made that being returned to life by anything short of direct godly mandate would turn me a bit Emo.

Now, with all of the above being true, and 6 levels of Channeler being for nought, I need a new character - and conveniently the whole party is in a whole new land (ejected out of the aforementioned Death Combat with a Wish, the two other negative wound characters barely recovering).

As I was what amounted to our Magical Firepower, it would be a fitting to the party needs to continue in the magical support role.
But I find that building a mage on the heels of another mage is hard not to turn into the second coming of the same character (this one will NOT be doing the Elemental type).

Anyone have a notion for a Mage with a Unique Spin?

Notions already being considered:

Full Casting Supremacy, plus some new tricks out of Spellbound (Playtester)

Ogre (Oni) - although I may discuss with the GM how to do a rework of Magic Resistance like we discussed on these boards.

Some other Specialist (Playtesting) - although in specializing I may leave the party with a gaping hole.

So, it has become a little bit of a joke among my playgroup that my characters die.  Frequently.
Rarely is it because I do anything more stupid than eschew armor in favor of following through with a character's concept.
It is usually because the dice decide to get together and run a train on my character.

So, when I found the Cheat Death concept, I figured I would employ it in some fashion eventually.
Alas, my death came upon me suddenly and dramatically (Dramatic Scene - No Cheating Death).

Haste'd Dire Lions with Charge attack.  3 swings doing 2d8+7 punches through 50 vitality and 12 wounds pretty quick.  So much so that I made it all the way down to negative 17 wounds. (He's dead Jim)

So, my spell slinger wasn't "normal", full on Elemental Legacy.  Which means that, upon death, I am Banished.  Whatever that means.  But we are pretty sure that 'simple' forms of resurrection are out of the question.  Anyone with a better memory (or running a search on a PDF copy) have any other information on what it means to be banished?

also remember (p227, Mobility)

While a winged character is in the air, he is considered 1 Size larger for Defense, as well as Blend and Sneak checks.  His error ranges with attacks and Spellcasting checks also increase by 2 (or 4 while he hovers).

Makes the "fly and attack" option, a little dangerous.

Two pieces of crazy that my brain assembled yesterday:

Level 3 Saurian Martial Artist - the forgotten Alligator technique of Animal Kung-fu
Strength Build
Feats:
River Clutch (1)
Martial Arts (1)
River Crest (1) (Sorceror background for the extra Species feat, or one of the cool player crafted ones)
Master's Art (3)
Native Ferocity (3)

this yields a Bite III attack
2d8 +4 (Martial arts) +STR MOD with a 15-20 crit, and the Grab Upgrade (yes, this character would be rolling out with Maxed out Athletics)

more Wierdness....
Giant Martial Artist (Trample I with Improved Stability) we call this Fe Fi Fo -Fu
Dwarf Blooded (don't ask how)
Mountain Born (Now Trample II)
Mountain Clan (Now trample III)
Native Ferocity (Trample IV)
Martial Arts & Masters Art (it is unarmed attacks)

Yields
2d12 +4 +STR MOD with 16-20 Crit
Trampling up to Medium Size foes (aka LITTLE PEOPLE)

and then, for the truly Genetic Monstrosity...
take the first one and replace Saurian with:
Saurian with Giant Blooded
that way you get the bite attacks up to a Large (1d10)
and then the player will start asking what it takes to get the Swallow ability.

notion (totally off the top of my head, and without cruching any numbers):

how easy (or hard) would it be to re-engineer all instances of Spell Defense so that they increase the DC of spells cast against them instead.
as to the amount, not sure.  I would be reluctant to let it scale overmuch.  Adding something like CON modifier or CHA modifier or a fixed +3 seems solid.  It would also lend itself to potential stacking (if worded in such a way).

And something like Mage Hunter could be done with a Stance...

I'm actually playing a mage hunter in the Rising Unrest PbP right now. Here's the character sheet if you'd like to have a gander. The plan is to make a classic Martial Artist / Monk, with the Mage Hunter, Haze Basics and Haze Mastery feats. I'm also planning on getting the save boost feats, seeing as it'll take at least 3 rounds before I can use Dam the River, and good saves can help make those 3+ rounds less painful. Otherwise he'll be a bog-standard "I punch things really well" type of character.

I am loathe to want to play rainmake here, but the Mage Hunter feat is going to preclude you taking the Monk Expert class, with all those paths it does give caster levels.  (the GM could hand wave that though)

on the notion of Draconic heritage or Drake craft weaponry.

do you still need both hands?  being consider to always have something should still mean you need the right appendages to use it, right?
if we had some character option that said that you are always considered to have Thieves Tools, I doubt anyone would be trying to pick a lock while wielding their Shield and Sword.

Just a thought.  And it matters, my Draconic Heritage caster has taken to carrying a shod staff.  But if I need to be hands free, I will have to consider stdying martial arts.

other things to point out.

there isn't an option for buying 'cross-class' skills - that is what origin skills are for - and the occasional multiclass excursion.  Core abilities and proficiencies are the key elements from a character's first class.

Some fully fleshed out concepts are best addressed with a spread of classes.  Case in point, a member of my current party has ambitions towards being a heavily connected crime boss.  Started out as a Sage, for the sexy skill package and the action dice ability to make his future minions more successful.  Then Burglar, someone has to have the skills to teach budding young thieves.  Next up are going to be Emissary and Courtier for the abilities to get contacts and favors for cheaper.

@ludomastro - one oops there, for trip you want origin skill Acrobatics.

don't have my books on hand today... I would so dig this.

not that I know of.  But it could be done in pretty short order.

what sort of "example" level are we looking for?  Level 1 would be easiest.

the other quicky would be randomize races (talents), Specialties, and Classes - shake them up and Voila!
Svelte Human Fencer Priest
Elf Guardian Sage
Giant Shield Bearer Scout
Orc Swindler Martial Artist
Ogre Criminal Courtier (WTF?!)

or you could take each class and use races and Specialties to simply take them in two different directions.
Sneaky Git - Goblin Rogue Scout
Shooter - Saurian Archer Scout

Skirmisher - Savage Human Barbarian Soldier (Charge Basics & mobility Basics)
Armored Hammer - Orc Fighter Soldier (Sword basics & Shield Basics)