So, my friend and I just started playing recently in a home game. He is completely new to the game. I decided to play S&S Lem because I was looking for someone to play who could support, but still explore on his own and close locations without outside help.
The other player is playing Damiel, and frankly, doesn't need all that much help, even with all the newbie mistakes he is making. We picked up a harpoon early and he is doing better than I am, somewhat to my annoyance. However, we did run into a problem where his cure was in his discard, and so were BOTH of mine, due to some bad rolls. I couldn't protect him then, and had to be careful myself, although we still beat the scenario (it was 0-2 and he POTIONED (of glibness) the frelling villain dead, again much to my annoyance since I thought I would be the star with my high charisma).
My question is this: who is a good character that can solo and support? I have heard Alahazra, but can she handle checks and closing locations on her own? I think barriers would stop her cold, especially since many of them require strength or dexterity. Currently, I am just playing in that 2 person game, but will be starting soon with another group and would like to be able to do the same for them, since only one of them will be a Pathfinder card game veteran.
I have access to S&S characters, and also the Cleric and Bard class decks. I know I could use RotR characters, but would prefer not to, for logistical reasons.
I was thinking Heggal. His high Charisma and Wisdom would be of benefit to cover Damiel's and other's weaknesses, he can heal (and is much less likely to lose ALL his allies (for healing) AND cures), and he is pretty good on his own with the extra d4 to everything. Digging up his weapon would be the only big issue each game session.
Lirianne can do a bit of that. Use her cards to support others and use her high wisdom to deal with some of the barriers.
Alahazra is a great party Quarterback. Just hold back a combat spell and use everything else to either scout or help other characters.
I did this at the S&S Marathon at BGG CON and it was really helpful in a teaching role.
You pretty much answered your own question.
All the characters you mentioned in your post are good support characters that can handle themselves well. Alahazra, Lem, Heggal.
As Troymk1 mentioned, there's Lirianne who can go exploring on her own while also assisting in combat for her allies on other locations. You have Class Deck Kyra who is self sufficient in combat, has the ability to heal, and has Divine skill which is key to support spells. Then there's Oloch, who is an extremely great support character after a few power feats.
And most of all, there's Damiel. He is a good support and can definitely handle himself. As I've already mentioned in your other thread, you cannot find anyone better at doing pretty much EVERYTHING. I think the reason you are somewhat annoyed is because you really like the character, wish you picked him because he can handle himself and support really well, but is on the hands of a less capable player than yourself.
Everyone else who is not Damiel has a more profound weakness than him that could be covered by other characters. I don't think you can find the character you are looking for and at the same time outshine Damiel.
Just stick with your choice of Lem, then pick Damiel on your next playthrough.
Interesting perspective. I may try Damiel in the other game (although I suspect that one of the other players will REALLY want to play him). That may be the answer, in that Damiel doesn't need any help, but can supply plenty of it. So, while I wanted to be support, I really can't because he has no need of it.
Thanks for the encouragement, though. Since I am so new to the game, I don't trust my own instincts. I figured Alahazara, for example, would be good but was afraid that I would really struggle because I already struggle with barriers on the characters I have played. That's the point of a cooperative game, though, no character can do everything. I apparently want a character that can, so I can make sure my friends are successful by not only helping them succeed on their checks, but by going through locations on my own, as well.
Basically, based on those criteria... I want Damiel.
Thanks for the list of characters that are good supporters and OK on their own, and the tip about Divine skill. Interestingly, those are my favorite characters, which I think points to the fact that I am starting to develop a good understanding of how the characters work in the game. I am also looking at that blog post for adventure 6 and kinda freaking out because I don't forsee my characters EVER being able to handle those monsters, LOL. But with Damiel blasting a hole in them and my support, I am sure he can do it... Cause, you know, he's Batman. He has a tool for everything.
Sidebar; Jirrelle is my personal Favourite. She outshines everyone in results.
Damiel has been exceptionally useful. But not the star of my 6 'man' crew.
Jirrelle just seems to be able to deal with nigh everything.
I would strongly consider Feiya, and the role of Sea Witch specifically. Her power to reduce difficulty of any bane at her location makes her a powerful support character, but also helps her on her own checks. It's also substantially less feat intensive (and ultimately more reliable and powerful, though less versatile), than Lem's power, and those extra feats allow her to have a far larger handsize (she should reach 9 cards by the end of the campaign). The handsize helps ensure she has enough cards to both support her team and explore on her own.
The ability to recharge blessing of Hshurha also serves a similar dual function. She can generate additional explores without discarding cards, or she can add dice to any checks. Hshurha is arguable the most powerful blessing in the set, since it gives you two dice on the majority of rolls that you make. And her huge handsize and ability to recharge most of her cards every turn allow you to use those blessings repeatedly.
Her ability to recharge animals to get back spells from the discard pile is incredibly powerful. You can use it to ensure that crucial spells remain in your hand turn after turn (for those scenarios when you always want to have resist energy available, for instance). You can also use it to mitigate damage; when you take damage, discard a spell, then recharge an ally to take the spell back to your hand. Free healing!
Oh, and at 1d12+3, she has the strongest base casting stats in the game.
Well said Joshua. I am using her thus, except cannot recharge the blessing yet! (Cannot wait)
The thing I have found about Alahazra is that her scouting ability helps the party get the boons you need. So she ran with Masterwork Tools and Ruby of Charisma for decks two and three and didn't worry too much about barriers (plus she often can avoid really bad banes by her scouting).
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I would also add the Alahazra synergies nicely with Damiel. Yes, scouting helps everyone, but she help Damiel in particular because she allows him to use Tot flask to get the precise potion he needs before an encounter. She makes cards like Potion of the Ocean, Potion of Fortitude and Potion of Glibness far more powerful.
My question is this: who is a good character that can solo and support? I have heard Alahazra, but can she handle checks and closing locations on her own? I think barriers would stop her cold, especially since many of them require strength or dexterity.
The thing about Alahazra is she rarely goes into a situation without being prepared. Scout out an annoying barrier? Just go to a different location this turn. Virtually no character is going to be good at every combat check and every barrier, and there are ways to make up for any particular deficiency (masterwork tools or Blessing of Abadar, for example).
But regardless, here's how I would divide the S&S characters based on their support/solo abilities
Good at solo and support:
Alahazra
Damiel
Feiya
Good at support, but not solo
Lem
Lini
Oloch (he gets a lot more powerful later on)
Good at solo, limited support
Jirelle
Lirianne
Merisiel
Seltyiel (has trouble early on)
Valeros
There's also Ranzak, who kind of defies categorization here. He helps the group by aquiring cards and taking extra explores, but he needs other players to help him out with combat.
See, now that's interesting. I actually found that Lini did amazingly well on her own because she basically has no weak skill. On paper, she seemed like everything I wanted but she was unexpectedly not very fun to play. With her allies, I was always shuffling my deck almost every turn, and then after the power feat, seeing the same cards over and over again.
Powerful, yes, but not very FUN.
I see the point about Alahazra, the scouting allows her to use her tools (sometimes literally) to help her overcome things she normally wouldn't be able to, and to know with certainty what is needed to beat the current top card of a location.
And witch was my favorite class in Pathfinder RPG, and I like Feiya. The reason I liked witch was that I could heal and debuff, which isn't so in the card game. I don't like that I cannot heal my friends as Feiya because (besides it not being like a true Pathfinder witch) it means I can't fix their horrible, HORRIBLE mistakes when they make them (and my goodness do they ever make them). However, the proactive protection through reduction of difficulties is very nice. I think if the veteran player chooses Damiel or a healer, I will play Feiya, since I can protect and he can heal off whatever get's through.
Safe Harbor lets you get some healing as a witch. Resurrection also works very well with Feiya's mechanics. But your right over all, she doesn't bring a ton of healing to the table.
She does the card game equivalent of debuffing, by lowering the difficulty of both monsters and barriers. Safe harbor can be used for healing, but if your friend is playing Damiel then you probably don't need any more.
Oh yea, I definitely like the debuffing she does, but it's the healing that keeps the characters going. It's a little part of why I struggle choosing between bards and Clerics. Both heal and buff, but do so in different amounts. Perhaps a Clerard or a Baric would be perfect for me :P
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I played as Kyra the Cleric in one of my Rise of the Runelords runs partnered with Valeros. She is a fantastic character in my opinion. The healing is low cost and very helpful, and she holds her own in combat. If you are leaning towards a healer of some kind, I definitely recommend her since you have her class deck.
I'm not huge on bards in general so I can't say much about them.