About to GM Kingmaker: Questions about group makeup and point buy.


Kingmaker


I'm going to GM Kingmaker for a group of friends who are very new to RPG's.

There's three of them and they've decided on Paladin, Barbarian, and Ranger. I plan to make up a 4th character for them to control. We tried this in Crypt of the Everflame and it worked out pretty well.

What class might best help them in Kingmaker? The barbarian and paladin will be melee while the ranger plans to be an archer.

I was thinking either controller bard or druid.

Also, I'm currently having them make their characters with 15-point buy, but can 20 be done since their group balance is a little off?

The paladin especially wants more points, but all I've told him is that I can always raise it later if need be.

Any other suggestions you can think of would be helpful, I've been scouring these boards for a week now. This is only my second time DMing after a ten year break, but I plan to do a lot of prep.

Thanks all.


The group balance thus far is fine. I would suggest a bard or perhaps a cleric type, although a druid might be an interesting choice as well.

Honestly, there isn't much need to go to 20 point buy. Effective characters can be made using less.


MT as general support/ control / crafter. Shoot go 25 for him since he like a npc


With me GMing, my group is nearing the end of the first book of Kingmaker. I have three party members: a human rogue/fighter that uses finesse, a spell-less ranger (3PP variant that loses casting and some other stuff for more skills and some other stuff) that focuses on archery, and a spirit shaman (also a 3PP that is sort of like a druid with spontaneous casting and some different class features) who focuses on spells.

I gave them two choices at the start: I could roll up a stoic, bland character to fill a role (probably healing or tank, etc.) or give them some bonuses to make up for the fact that they are short a man. Regardless of choice, I was going to run the AP as written - no pulling punches on account of their size. They chose the second option.

Thus far, I have given them a 25 point buy, an extra feat at second level, put their first level on the Fast track, and a few extra tidbits along the way:

Random benefits:

1) Jhod can craft scrolls as well as provide free spellcasting once his quest was completed, charging only half of the market price.

2) Restov, in response to a request for assistance in dealing with the Stag Lord's fort (which they only recently have discovered just how dang tough it is to attack), gave them a requisition for supplies worth 15,000 gold in which they can buy gear but return all of it (or gold equivalent) in 60 days.

3) A few extra items in the big fights or hidden areas, such as Tartuk, the Barbarian Cairn, and Kressle (who has been reworked into the rogue's sister who supposedly had come to the Stolen Lands and died long ago [captured, detained in Restov, escaped]).

So far, it's not been that bad. They are right about where they need to be as far as experience goes, and I almost always play WBL by ear, but they are definitely close (probably a bit above).


You have no arcane caster at all, and the paladin and ranger can not use wands till at least 4th level so you are hurting for both arcane and healing.

Assuming an all human party, I would have the 4th character be a human cleric of Erastil, using a bow.

On a 15 point build:
Str 14 (5)
Dex 14 (5)
Con 12 (2)
Int 8 (-2)
Wis 16 (14+2/5)
Cha 14 (5)

Or switch Dex / Wis.

Give him general spells and feats to use the bow effectively.

-- david
Papa.DRB


Papa-DRB wrote:
You have no arcane caster at all, and the paladin and ranger can not use wands till at least 4th level so you are hurting for both arcane and healing.

Paladins and Rangers can use wands from 1st level. They do not need to get to 4th level to use them:

Quote:
Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Spell trigger items can be used by anyone whose class can cast the corresponding spell. This is the case even for a character who can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin. The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.


Drejk wrote:

Paladins and Rangers can use wands from 1st level. They do not need to get to 4th level to use them:

Quote:
Spell Trigger: Spell trigger activation is similar to spell completion, but it's even simpler. No gestures or spell finishing is needed, just a special knowledge of spellcasting that an appropriate character would know, and a single word that must be spoken. Spell trigger items can be used by anyone whose class can cast the corresponding spell. This is the case even for a character who can't actually cast spells, such as a 3rd-level paladin. The user must still determine what spell is stored in the item before she can activate it. Activating a spell trigger item is a standard action and does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Ah, didn't realize that it was a house rule where I play...

-- david
Papa.DRB


go archer bard.
lots ranged stuff, and buffing up your three fighters
in time he will get a holy bow and with all the diff type arrows you can nerf, he will win

at least the 13th bard PC I GM to does!!

Silver Crusade

15 point builds are more than adequate; don't recommend 20 for a 4-person party. Group builds being "off" won't really make a difference if your players are halfway responsible in character development.

Since party can rely on wands/potions for healing, a sorcerer or someone that can use arcane equipment would balance things out, whether they be offensive, defensive, or buffing in nature. Wouldn't duplicate a role your party has (e.g. a druid might intrude on Ranger's outdoor usefulness).


Well, had our first session last night. A long lost friend, who had been out of town for a while, heard we were playing and was there when I arrived, making a druid. That settled that! I did leave them at 15 point buy and that does seem adequate.

Thanks for all the replies.

Opening encounter went well. I think one of the biggest problems will be three neutral characters and a lawful good paladin in the same group.

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