Okay, having a bit of trouble deciding on the last spot. Looking at the team as the following, which role should fill the open spot? Which one would be doubled up?
Face, Divine, Frontline, Arcane, Skill Monkey, and Open Slot...
My personal opinion is a second frontline or a second skill monkey, not knowing who the choices are.
Cathryn is very much a support character - she'd be a little sad as the only melee, so she works as fifth member, if you like. Not to toot my own horn.
Assuming that posting history was a weighing factory for filling the other five slots, I would use the open/duplicate slot to give a new poster a chance to build some history.
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Any time I build six character parties (in games like Baldur’s Gate and such) I always go for two frontliners, though I don’t know if I’d say there’s a one-to-one comparison in the utility of that between CRPG and table-Top.
I do not know the make up of the party so I would lean towards a second front liner. It helps to have those that can take a hit and deal damage so that the others can stay alive.
I would agree with Darkmeer...a second front-liner or skill monkey
Or, all the roles being filled, just anyone that you think has a good background or that you think will fit your style.
Actually, an extra meat bag is always nice. Being a meat bag myself, though, that statement would seem like self publicity, so let's just imagine I didn't say that xD
Okay, having a bit of trouble deciding on the last spot. Looking at the team as the following, which role should fill the open spot? Which one would be doubled up?
Face, Divine, Frontline, Arcane, Skill Monkey, and Open Slot...
What about Knowledge?
When I think about party composition I generally think about where people would want to be on the battlefield and then think about what they will do off the battlefield.
So everyone is either frontline or backfield. Backfield characters need to be using ranged attacks or casting spells at range (or have some other way to contribute), while frontline characters need to be competent in melee. Most character classes can do either, though some classes are more effective in some roles than others. For Example, you might think of a Rogue as a skill monkey, but a Rogue commonly makes a good frontliner who also has a lot of skills. Overall with six people I would want 3 and 3. Or possibly 4 front and 2 backfield, or 3 and 2 and 1 switch-hitter.
Some of those characters can have abilities outside combat, though a few of them should be dedicated to combat and probably won't have a lot of agency outside it. I wouldn't want a character in the party that is a "Face" and then does nothing in combat but hides behind the rest of the party. But the "outside combat" roles I would look for would be Skill Monkey, Face, Knowledge, Divine, & Arcane. Someone can fill more than one of these roles. Someone who doesn't have one of those has to be particularly good at combat.
Sir Bleeparolo is designed to be in the front line of melee. He won't be the primary damage dealer (though when he charges with a lance and has divine favor going he will have +7 to hit and does 2d6+8 damage) but he can take a fair bit of punishment. So he's a full divine caster with frontline capability. He also has good diplomacy, though he doesn't have Bluff or Intimidate, so he can "Face" a bit as well.
This was a tough decision, whom to choose, which goals to put together to best tell our shared story. In the end I decided upon a group whose backgrounds would tie both to the starting campaign but later chapters as well without overshining anyone else or taking away from the group as a whole. I tried to find a balance of skills and abilities which would make the threats faced survivable, but also perhaps more importantly memorable. The characters chosen were not overly dependent upon one strict build plan, but remained flexible enough that over time the character could grow organically, together, or at least that remains my hope.
There were a lot of great submissions, more than I expected for a campaign in such an old game world. I originally wanted to hold at five players, but settled on six because I saw too many opportunities and benefits from the quality of applicants received. I even toyed briefly with a seven or eight person party, but ultimately rejected that because it would take away some of the limelight from everyone overall. I think I achieved a balance that will allow each player to tell their tales while helping each other do the same, and still carry the day against the evil forces threatening Oerth, "Oh great and vengeful Random Number Generator willing."
To those not chosen I'm sorry. It wasn't because I didn't like your stories, but I wasn't sure how to work them in with everyone else and do both yours and theirs the justice they deserve.
As it is I've selected the below to join our merry band of heroes destined to battle the maddening forces of Tharizdun.
Braggi Wrongere aka Jereru - Human Barbarian
Cedryk aka Daniel Stewart - Human Druid
Filnefillan Lotusbow aka Darkmeer - Elf Wizard
Jocasta Salazar aka Jesse Heinig - Human Investigator
Musami Forgeborn aka Ietsuna - Dwarf Fighter
Toruk the Traveler aka Wehrpig - Human Warpriest
Congratulations to those chosen, and my sincerest thanks to everyone who applied. Paizo certainly has some of the best gamers around and you are proof of that fact.
Congratulations all. I'm Looking forward to watching from the sidelines.
Gratz to those chosen! Have fun!
Thank you for choosing me, and to those left behind, I looked at all the other players, and I really liked the depth of everyone's character. You all did awesome I hope you all find great games soon!
Darn! Missed out on another one.
Oh well. Have fun guys! Keep me in mind if a spot opens up.