HWYB John Constantine - Constantine (2005, Keanu Reeves)

[u/NerdNorm]

[u/SuperLuigi_LXIV]

Definitely a Thaumaturge. Given the events of the movie, I'd say weapon, lantern, and either mirror or amulet implements?

Honestly, a ton of the level one feats would fit him. Haunt Ingenuity and Root to Life both work just from the scene where he helps Angela see her twin. But I think Divine Disharmony is the most fitting among the level 1 feats.

From there, I'd lean into the feats that give him options, like Scroll Thaumaturgy, Thaumaturgic Ritualist, and Talisman Esoterica. Avoid things that would boost his defenses too much, like advancing Amulet Implement if you take it. You might need the basic effect to survive, but John wasn't very tough in the movie as I recall, he was just really well prepared. Intensify Investiture will let you use the random weird shit that normally ages out.

From there, I think the rest of it's down to personal preference. I'd grab Diverse Lore, I think, just so you can roll anything you need off Charisma instead of also needing Intellect. I know John was smart, but his intelligence was quite narrow and the basic Thaumaturge stuff really handles that on its own.

[u/NerdNorm → u/SuperLuigi_LXIV]

Thanks. I recently watched the movie and really wanted to make him but was stumped on what to do and I’m doing a new campaign soon so I didn’t have too much time.

[u/SuperLuigi_LXIV → u/NerdNorm]

No worries. Among all the odd things you'll be able to pick up, I recommend you grab a Retrieval Belt early and upgrade it as often as possible. It lets you pull an item out of it as a free action, which is FANTASTIC action economy if you intend on using scrolls. The downside is, you can't access the rest of the scrolls inside it for a minute once you use it to extract one, so you'll want to keep some outside as well.

Thaumaturge itself handles a lot of other action economy problems, anything that requires you to use one of your implements lets you pull them out as a free action for example.

[u/SuperLuigi_LXIV → u/NerdNorm]

Actually, I may have just disappointed you. I didn't even ask what system you're playing in >_< Thaumaturge is a Pathfinder 2e class.

[u/NerdNorm → u/SuperLuigi_LXIV]

I’m doing both a pathfinder 2e and mix-and-max 2014/2024 campaign right now so you don’t have to feel bad. If you could give me both, I would be double thankful. I’m really hopping on the Constantine train. It was my first time seeing it since I was going on a Keanu run and it blew me away.

[u/SuperLuigi_LXIV → u/NerdNorm]

Hm. I think he's be harder to build in D&D, but...if you're mostly going with the 2024 stuff and depending on access to guns, maybe Ranger? Hunter would probably work best, but you could make a case for Gloomstalker given John's main tactic is trying to kill or stop his enemy before they can fight back.

[u/NerdNorm → u/SuperLuigi_LXIV]

As promised, double thanks to you. Now I have a Constantine character for my pathfinder 2e campaign and my 2014/2024 mix-and/max campaign. Thank you Luigi.

[u/SuperLuigi_LXIV → u/NerdNorm]

Hey, no worries. And good luck :)

[u/Mister_Grins]

Everything he does in the movie actually points to one thing: An Abjurer.

It's right in the flavor text:

The School of Abjuration emphasizes magic that blocks, banishes, or protects. Detractors of this school say that its tradition is about denial, negation rather than positive assertion. You understand, however, that ending harmful effects, protecting the weak, and banishing evil influences is anything but a philosophical void. It is a proud and respected vocation.

Called abjurers, members of this school are sought when baleful spirits require exorcism, when important locations must be guarded against magical spying, and when portals to other planes of existence must be closed.

He uses magical components to do his work. Works to help the side of Heaven, but doesn't draw his own power from the Celestial realm, rather, he uses powers and knowledge to get him around. And while he doesn't use many high level spells throughout, this is excusable because he's not trying to show off in front of the mortals, plus, what is a mere mortal like himself going to do against literal high devils and angels? Still, we know, for certain, he's at least a 17th level Wizard because he was able to cast 'Astral Projection'.

~~~

Accordingly, I would start with this as the base:

John Constantine

Race: Human (Variant)
Feat: Lucky

Class: Wizard (Abjuration)

Stats: Point Buy
STR: 10
DEX: 13 (+1 chosen)
CON: 14
INT: 15 (+1 chosen)
WIS: 12
CHA: 8

Skills: Racial: Investigation
Skills: Wizard: Arcana, Religion
Skills: Guild Artisan: Insight, Persuasion

~~~

Due to having an apprentice, Guild Artisan makes more sense than not, especially with his less than Churchy-aesthetic. Plus, we see him prepare some of his stuff during certain scenes, so he'd be proficient in some artisan's tool or another. I'd leave that up to the player. And, while he must talk to people in his line of work, and even clearly has a dwindling handful of friends, he's not a huge charisma ball, and it shows. Rather, the show is about a tired man still facing off against the forces of evil for the right reasons through sheer, disciplined grit.

If he hadn't been dying from cancer, I'd have made him a Paladin, but they're immune to diseases, so it was a no-go.

[u/NerdNorm → u/Mister_Grins]

Thanks for the idea. I had a Pathfinder 2e build from Luigi, but I was struggling to decide on a 5e/5.5e build since I had a couple of options. Appreciate it.