Curse the Halfling's page

Don't forget the feat Selective Channelling. Allows you to choose a number of creatures (= to your charisma modifier) not affected by your burst.

Thanks again. Have gone for a Stonelord. As other party members are a Dwarven Cleric, Eagle Shaman and Half-Elf Ranger I wasn't bothered about the spells but liked the Paladin idea. Stonelord looks fun :)

Having gone through the first chapter of CC as a PC, I'll warn you (without getting to spoilery) that there was a significant amount of investigation and other non-combat activity required to get through it. If your character doesn't have anything to contribute skill-wise out of combat you may get pretty bored with those sections. Since paladins have diplomacy and sense motive as class skills I'd recommend putting at least one rank into one or both of them.

Funnily enough I did put a rank into those as they were about the only class skills that seemed to fit my idea. Which meant that despite hoping I could sit back and let someone else "lead" (I've just finished DMing a campaign that's lasted for four years so didn't want to play a character that I have to think about too much) I'm already the party diplomat...

Thanks for the input. I knew there was a lot of undead in this AP so was thinking Paladin. The additional ideas are really helpful - like Psion-Psycho's build.

I don't know this adventure path but we're going to be starting it soon. I rarely play warriors so fancy having a lean mean slaughtering machine - someone else can be the brains/face of the party. Would appreciate any suggestions for a suitable character build please.

My fun comes from almost ever step of the gaming process. I enjoy using the mechanics to best fit my character concept. It usually starts square peg-round hole, but with thought research and effort, I usually end up with something I'm happy with. I enjoy watching and discussing the same process with my firends as they roll their characters. I have fun with the GM as he explains what kind of game we're going to be in, how our characters met...etc. I enjoy RP and hack n slash with that character putting him through his paces, and seeing how he interacts with the rest of the party. I've even enjoyed a character's death once or twice. It's the whole thing that's fun for me.

You sound like the sort of person I'd enjoy roleplaying with.

As for the question posted, why do you play RPGs: To have fun. And though there are different ways of enjoying the game, I know that the one that works best for me is to feel heroic/competent. I want to be able to humiliate lesser foes (I usually prefer defense builds to offense) and tackle greater threats sooner. That's why I optimize.

It's not about being better than the other players (I'd like for them to optimize as well, and will help them if they want), nor is it about beating the DM (I'm not sure how one can even claim to do this).

See, that can be read like a power gamer making excuses for his power gaming. Don't get me wrong - a fighter with strength 10 isn't going to be much fun and no, I'm not advocating that every character should be totally normal, skilled at basket weaving and a sociable kind of chap. But equally why should every fighter have a strength of 18, high constitution and good dexterity? Oh yes, to humiliate lesser foes (read the GM's NPCs) and tackle greater threats sooner (become even more powerful)

The thread has nothing to do with now I play.<SNIP>

I know - the post wasn't aimed at you. Peace be on you.

If by "win" you mean "survive to the next adventure so you can keep playing without having to roll up a new character," you might be on the right track. Here's a shocker for you -- some players actually enjoy level-appropriate challenges that might kill their characters! If everything is stories about lollipops, and everyone's survival is guaranteed, a not-inconsiderable proportion of gamers get bored and quickly find another game.

The people I play with, and I myself, tend to enjoy two broad categories of things in a game, not just one:

(1) Role-playing, character development, and story; and
(2) Tactical challenges to overcome, with some risk of character extinction present to add consequences to the endeavor.

If item (2) is present, you need to survive it in order to continue with (1). If that's what you mean by "to win," then fine. But I get the impression that what you're REALLY trying to say is that anyone who enjoys item (2) is automatically an Enemy of the One True Noble Way of #1 Gaming, and must therefore be scorned and derided. Which means that your opinion can be dismissed as irrelevant by anyone other than you.

No, you've read my post wrong. People on this thread are raising their hackles because their penchant for optimising their characters is being called into question. They are giving the impression that the game is about building the biggest and hardest PC in order to defeat the GM and/or the other players. They're completely missing the point that to do so is powergaming/min-maxing/whatever. Hence my question - why are they playing the game? Because it seems that they are playing it to win. Which isn't the point of the game, as you have pointed out. Playing for that reason (to win) you might as well play Monopoly and make car or dog noises as you move the pieces around the board. Or dig out copies of Talisman or Warlock of Firetop Mountain and roleplay your character in that. As soon as you start designing a character where the stats and, therefore, the mechanics are paramount you are power gaming (and, therefore, min maxing/optimising/whatever else you want to call it). You are playing to win indicating that you are seeing the GM and other players as your opponents to be outplayed. Which they're not. The GM is a player too and you are all playing the game together.

Interesting thread which leads me to one question. Why do you play RPGs? Because the overwhelming impression I get from quite a few of the posts would seem to be "to win".

Thanks. Couldn't see that for looking.

Does this work if the friend summoned is unconscious (not dead)?

Cheers.

Charging anything with reach will do that, since it will move through their outer threatened square

That's what I recall. Thanks

Hmmm. Agree with all that but why do I have this recollection that charging does attract an AoO?

I hate to say it (because it is the actual answer), but: Frikking Magic!

On that basis you don't need to do anything as a caster except wave your hands in the general direction of "away from yourself" and any spell you cast will hit what you want "by magic". Reminds me of the dum dum bullets in Roger Rabbit.

That's rubbish. Magic Missile was always a good spell to use against Mirror Image as you could aim an individual missile at each image taking out the images. Saying it ignores the images and goes straight to the real wizard sucks big time. How can the caster know which "image" to cast the spell at? She would have to aim it at one specific image not in the general vicinity.

I doubt this happend since WotC did not have a Dealer booth...

But games were being run in the main building. That said they were not very well attended when I was there yesterday however GenCon UK is usually quiet on the first (and often second) days as a lot of us Brits baulk at taking time off for it. Plus it is much smaller than the old days when it was at Camber or even Loughborough. However that means that those of us that do attend the first day get a nice relaxed wander around and time to chat to the dealers, artists etc. Which we took advantage of with Jason, Erik and co as well as getting them to sign all the umpteen copies of the beta and Campaign settings that we bought. Thanks guys!