I usually switch roles between playing and Dm'ing seeing our group has been playing for nearly ten years each. It's a nice break from the taxing DM role to just sit back and play and we all know the rules by heart anyway. But, I digress. I have been playing the role of Paladin and Ranger every time and want to find a different class. I would be interested on hearing everybody's selling points on their favourite class seeing most of us have been at it for a while.TY.
Newfiesailor
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Fighter is my favorite class.
It is an easy class to teach, play and use. I like the fighter the best too because of its purity. The Fighter class is not diluted. It is just straight up fighting. And, given the class's expanded access to feats, which are mostly combat oriented, the fighter can literally be the king of battle.
But, I am an old school hack-and-slash, kill them now search for treasure later type of player. Whenever I am at the table, and it's my turn, I spend the least amount of time in the rule book figuring out my actions, abilities, etc. As a fighter it is very simple. Others don't have to wait on me to look something up or clarify some class-related rule.
Fighter - simplicity, ease of use, and combat effectiveness.
-------- Don (Greyson) --------
Salt Lake City, Utah
Creative Director
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My current favorite class is the bard, closely followed by druid and cleric. Bards get maligned unfairly, I feel. They get a lot of quite excellent abilities and skills and spells, as long as you have a DM who realizes that there's more to the game than kicking in doors and taking pies from orcs.
Of course, it's a constant battle defending my poor bards from the wrath of the other editors who seem to take morbid delight in mocking me for my choice, but I'm confident that if Erik ever gets around to running this campaign he keeps saying he's about to run, I'll be able to teach them the error of their ways.
Definately the Wizard. There's nothing more satisfying than being able to take 'shortcuts' through plots to defeat the evil that threatens the <insert victim/s here>.
I'm not talking about simply overpowering the bad guy with spells, or discovering a way to simply eliminate foes with a selective use of spells. I'm talking about seeing the look of frustration on a DMs face when you are caught unawares by the 'bad guy', only to throw up a Wall of Ice to buy enough time for an escape and re-group.
I'll agree with James though, Bards are definately a mockable class unless played in a correct campaign, something that makes them less MacGuyver-ish, and more an extremely specialized class. Perhaps its greatest weakness is its lack of utility in all styles of play, perhaps just because the pictures of them in the PHB always suck...
But there's nothing a PC can't do with a high Charisma, a bucketload of social skills, and a DM with a mystery to unravel. Leave the other players to swing their swords, I'd rather discover the clues, find the villian, and watch my little minions...oops, fellow PCs...hack them apart merrily at my command.
Paul there are a lot good classes and then there are bards. It all depends on the style of character you want to play. I for one like characters who go against type in some ways but then reinforce it in others. In recent D&D memory I have played:
A dour/hyper-efficient black-clad cleric dedicated to Hades who when confronted by undead would occasionally fly into a rage and attacked them bodily. They where after all cheating the Lord of the Underworld his due.
A fighter (more of a scottish pirate) with light armor who was a notorious cheat, liar, coward and swindler. He was also quite superstitious and his old wives-tales where often dangerously wrong. Most people thought he was a rogue.
A tall, lightly armored falcion wielding moorish fighter who was all about honor and prophesy though he was also very learned and had the knowledge (arcana) skill.
A cynical wizard prodigy who hated the hypocricy of religion (he actually planned on one day dethroning the gods). He was the type of guy that sees the evil and unfairness in the world and tries to fix it regardless of the cost. It was up to the party over the course of the campaign to steer him away from the darkside.
A female human paladin of exceeding beauty and grace who didn't put on airs or even notice because she was so devote in her beliefs.
An orc barbarian/slave/fighter/gladiator whose life story mirrored Conan's early life as shown in the first movie.
A clever circus performer specializing in trick riding, crossbow sharp shooting and highwire stunts - a lawful good rogue.
Now on to Bards - I simply cannot stand the D&D bard (and the pictures in the books ain't the reason - In fact they're quite good). A friend of mine summed it up best in an email discussion we had just yesterday.
"I have to agree on the way having the bard whip out a harp in battle totally ends my suspension of disbelief. Get a sword and get in here, you ninny. People are dying. Even the very best song only inspires me to hit you for not being here in the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune with me."
Now I love my Middle Earth/Rolemaster bards. I like Fflewddur Fflamm ("A Fflamm is ever faithful") in the Taran series by Lloyd Alexander but no bard in any fanatasy story I have ever read (nor would want to) whips out a tuba, triangle or musical saw in the middle of a dungeon combat encounter and begins to play. I take that back. In the first installment of Downer one tried and he got killed for it (kudos to Kyle). Bards can inspire troops in times of war and individuals in times of need, they can make good detectives and are built to fit most niches but I think trying to listen to some fop's inspiring oration during a fast paced fight involving a horde of charging orcs is just plain dumb.
Sorry for the tirade but it needed to be said.
Paul (and everyone) I for one would suggest looking at the section in the rule books relating to each class' role in the game/group and doing something you haven't done before (except the bard which still needs to be fixed). If you have traditionally played the stand out character (paladins typically are) take a traditionally supporting character class and work with that. Another option is taking a class that you are used to and giving it a different spin. How about a sauve, lightly armed and armored paladin who uses a rapier in a duelist style? Or a ranger who was raised in the wild by friendly aranea spiderfolk? Trust me playing a wide range of character types can only make you a better player and DM when it gets back to your turn behind the wall of fear and ignorance.
-Triple G
You ever think about writing a book, GGG? It seems you have the literal ability and quite the imagination to come up with all those original ideas for characters. It would seem there is a whole lot more I could do with the classes I am playing than the traditional roles. I guess being the DM sometimes tends to center you on the numbers and micromanagement involved in the game. And it carries over to my role as a character. That was good input, TY for the ideas. Anyone else?
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Creative Director
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Now on to Bards - I simply cannot stand the D&D bard (and the pictures in the books ain't the reason - In fact they're quite good). A friend of mine summed it up best in an email discussion we had just yesterday.
"I have to agree on the way having the bard whip out a harp in battle totally ends my suspension of disbelief. Get a sword and get in here, you ninny. People are dying. Even the very best song only inspires me to hit you for not being here in the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune with me."
Sorry for the tirade but it needed to be said.
What also needs to be said, then, is that bards can focus on other types of performance than music. And they don't have to just stand there during a fight performing; they can start up a bardic music effect on round 1 of combat, and then move on to other things, be they attacking with weapons, casting spells, using other bardic music effects, or whatever.
Anyway, I'm not gonna get into a big argument about whether or not bards are cool or not. That's one of the many great things about D&D; all the choices! One person's bard can be the next person's paladin; it's all good.
GGG is absolutely right about mixing it up, though; play different characters! You might just find a new favorite class!
I can't believe no one's mentioned the best class of all... the CLERIC of course!
The cleric is a great opportunity for some challenging role playing (which I make my players remember before they pick this class). It's really something when you get a player who tries to figure his area of worship into all his characters decisions, and that's the way a real cleric should be played. And, let's face it, no other character has a better chance of making it on their own than the cleric.
In many ways, I think they are almost too powerful compared to other classes.
Great armor selection, good BAB, excellent all purpose attack/defence/utility spells, and some great special abilities as well.
One of my favorite combinations I've played is the fighter/cleric, which can be done in many ways...
The Dwarf: Daewar Trollcleaver a fighter/cleric of Clangeddin Silverbeard, one of my favorites, a classic dour, heavy drinking dwarf who always looked at everything as a battle that needed to be won (even the laundry).
The elf: Zan'zan'arana-zan (Zan for short) -love those over the top drow names... a fighter/cleric who was one of the few drow male clerics of elistree (sp?). He wore light armor but fought using two blades and was quite a sneaky little guy.
The Human: Aden Thundershield, a new fighter/cleric of St. Cuthbert, a former cauldron town guard and a former drunk, who crossed the wrong nobleman in town. He found his faith after landing in the gutter. I play him as a sort of cross between Judge Dredd and the stereo-typical wild-west lawman.
Don't cross the LAW boy, or the LAW will cross you!
Hope this also gives you some ideas.
Cheers
What also needs to be said, then, is that bards can focus on other types of performance than music. And they don't have to just stand there during a fight performing; they can start up a bardic music effect on round 1 of combat, and then move on to other things, be they attacking with weapons, casting spells, using other bardic music effects, or whatever.
Perhaps interpretive dance?
I recently had a bard in the group who would play his horn for one round (SIX SECONDS!) at the beginning of a fight. Six seconds of anything that he could play/sing/shout this side of "Avengers Assemble!" is not (in my not-so humble opinion) going to be particularly inspiring to anyone faced with the afore mentioned orcs. I mean how many movies or books feature a six second pep talk? And the fact that they will undoubtably do something similar everytime the party gets into a fight or tight situation (say maybe 13 times per level, times twenty levels or 260 six-second hiaku's) - well let's just say that "the once there was a man from...." line will make me want to kill the bard as badly as the orcs do. Worse still there is absolutely no game mechanic reason that he/she shouldn't pull out their oboe or hand spoons and play a six second waltz/rock anthem. In fact it is encouraged in most situtations this side of in-game funerals or when the characters are trying to be sneaky.
"Yo bard can you inspire us to be quieter! We don't want the monsters to hear us!" said the klazomaniac in the group (See I got this post back to characterization - Take that Wil!)
Anyhow I love bards just not the way they inspire people in the game and trust me I've tried as both DM and player but the rules don't support what should be in most cases a serious class feature.
Now Paul thanks for the kind words and trust me I have thought about it - I even wrote the first 100+ pages of trilogy based on modules X4 and X5 both of which still bring back fond memories for me. The outline was for about 1200 pages however I realized that my chances of getting published through WOTC were slim at best and went on to other things.
Now though, that I have offended the the powers that be I doubt I will be allowed back on the list never mind in print. ;) Perhaps others will put in a good word for me.
The ever INSPIRING,
Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Te, Do, GGG
PS If anyone is interested in or has already purchased all the assorted rights you need to make the Hobbit Movie a reality let me know I have an incredible script. I even have a marketing angle for it. You can advertise it as "The GOOD Prequal."
Although I've DM'd nearly 99% of the time (actually 100% in the past 7 years) I have always had a soft spot for Rangers and Sorcerers.
Rangers - because of their almost "jack of all trades" appraoch. Good enough as a scout or even a rogue in a pinch, but sturdy enough in a fight.
Sorcerers - You can't get more raw with magic than a sorcerer. The ability to just cast their spells on a whim, is just devastating. I have a sorcerer in my gaming group now who uses mostly fire based spells. The character has the temper to match, and everytime he gets a bit upset, everyone notices the temperature in the room taking a sharp rise. Then stuff burns...
I love monks. They can do everything and they need nothing. While most players do the whole wandering "Kane" motif, I personally really enjoy a monk who is a member of a temple. He has a master, his master has other students, discipline demands that a monk respect his master's other student's and his master's master...strange social and political intrigue abounds.
I particularly like dishonored monks (whether they dishonored themselves by their actions or their master's actions, or they were just framed for a dishonorable act makes no difference). There is something sad and pathetic about a wannabe monk, with law in his heart, but who couldn't cut the mustard and now has to be a fighter or rogue.
That being said, I also dig the bard. I totally agree with James on this one. There are all sorts of performance types other than singing. We don't call Shakepeare "the bard" for historical reports of his lovely singing voice. I once played an elven bard whose family and clan had been eradicated. He was a very morose elf and all of his performances were tragic epic speeches and soliloquies about the decimation of his people. He was a treat to play.
As far as sheer power...the cleric. Dear gods above, ye makers of 3.5 blessed the cleric with potentially more raw power than a figher of her level, not to mention the fact that she does not have to prepare cure spells, and oh, gimme a couple of handy dandy domain powers to boot. Yikes.
In one of the campaigns I play in, I play a half-orc cleric of Kord. It's just not fair. I wasn't even trying to munchkin and he's mightier than any other player by far. Clerics are fun to play to, because faith and the question of how they interpret their faith instantly creates fun roleplaying opportunities. Cleric's of a death god who aren't evil are a particular fun animal to play.
Just me two cents.
While I personally incline to fighters (especially to dwarfs), barbarian is quite intimidating class: Rage (incl. the increased Will save), Speed (this is IMHO quite powerfull feature), DR, Uncanny Dodge, D12 are quite a match for disadvantages: light armor (if speed to be maintained), normal number of feats. And the rules are not so difficult to learn too.
In regards to bards, I personally think that even a simple "For the King" or "For Homeland" cry at the start of the battle can inspire quite a courage and it does not take 6 seconds. The trick is to give the "good guys" emotional reason to fight, not just for gold and (maybe) glory.
Human bard in group I DM is usually singing (he'd preffer to play electronic guitar, but he couldn't do much more with it :-) while shooting from his longbow (Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot), so I can't agree with GGG he is for no good. And btw. in the heat of battle, combatants don't care if the cure spell was cast by cleric or bard.
Some good ideas there guys. I really like the distinctive ones that are of a different mold than the others.So far I like:
1. The barbarian/cleric worshipper of Kord. He sounds like a tough mother.
2. The sorceror with the affinity for flame and the temper to match.
3. The dishonored monk who is trying to redeem himself.
4. The lawful good circus actor acrobatic thief.
Now how about that for a party of dysfunctional personalities. There Green God, you want the characters for a book, step up to the plate. I don't think I am going to touch bards though. I'll leave that for you to dig yourself out of, GGG, though I may throw you a shovel. LOL funny comments.
The first character I played was a 1E ranger and it remains my favorite class today. I don't know why.
Thanks for the offer Paul, but I've got it.
In regards to bards, I personally think that even a simple "For the King" or "For Homeland" cry at the start of the battle can inspire quite a courage and it does not take 6 seconds. The trick is to give the "good guys" emotional reason to fight, not just for gold and (maybe) glory.
Human bard in group I DM is usually singing (he'd preffer to play electronic guitar, but he couldn't do much more with it :-) while shooting from his longbow (Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot), so I can't agree with GGG he is for no good. And btw. in the heat of battle, combatants don't care if the cure spell was cast by cleric or bard.
I will give you the first. The "Yo Joe!" works if there is some sort of commonality between the characters - though the Half-Orc might feel a tad conflicted.
The second part just doen't speak to the argument. If there was a Bard-like ability like say:
SUMMON BARBERSHOP QUARTET (Sp): Once per day a bard can attempt to pull 4 pit fiends from his butt with a 75% chance of success. All pit fiends so summoned have handlebar mustaches and a +23 bonus to Perform (sing) and Perform (tap-dance) checks. This ability is the equivalent of an 10th-level (epic) spell.
Now the point is that just because a class has a useful ability (like Inspire) doesn't make it not silly or destroy suspension of disbelief. That's the arguement. Anyone with a bucket of bow feats, a bow and a quiver is useful in a fight. Heck, anyone with a movement rate and hit points is "useful" in a fight.
I imagine Alan Adale from Robin Hood is probably the basis for the D&D bard in much the sameway that Aragorn is THE ranger. I can't recall a story or movie in which Alan used inspiration the way it works in D&D. Usually he and fellow bardic icon Fflewddur Fflam where in the thick of it with their swords and as I recall gave a good accounting of themselves. They had instruments but didn't stand on the sidelines cheering their boys on. "Go get 'em Rob! You got 'im now Rob! Throw dirt in his eye Rob!" That's called "aiding another."
Then there is that twinkie "singing/oration" rule that penalizes bards that want to play an instrument - puh-lease. What self-respecting half-intelligent bard would do anything but hum loudly while swinging her sword or plinking people with her bow. A friend of mine in the RPGA reports to me, wIng, that your singing bard is no aberration. Bards with instruments are a rarity in the RPGA 'cause you can't fight and play the fiddle at the sametime. The rules support the idea that character the class is BASED on namely Alan who played a lute was an idiot for doing so. Rangers have the paragon, Aragorn, to look up to and Bards have a fool - This if nothing else makes it a mockable class. I say the class (in particular inspiration) needs to be fixed the way the Ranger was so that it falls more in line with the things that make bards cool. Don't get me wrong I love the bard arch-type just not the one in this game.
-GGG
Are the message boards so dull that we've been reduced to this?
ASEO out
I can think of two prototype bards, GGG, but your right, they are few and far between . The bard I always think of is the bagpipers who would play when the Scottish and celtic warriors would go into battle. They say it used to stike fear in the heart of the enemies when they heard it and renew the fury of it's warriors because it gave them pride in their homeland. Being an ex-military man myself and used to marching in dress parades, when the bagpipers in the band started playing, man,you suddenly stood up straighter and marched with pride. I don't know if I could put a lute in the same category as the haunting tune of the bagpipe nor would any english feel any pride if the pipes played but maybe it should be changed from bard to "piper". And those Scottish highlanders were anything but pansy fops. I wouldn't put them high on any lore or charisma skills the bard needs
How about the drums of goblins? It seems to lead a real berserker aspect to their effectiveness in battle.
I think you are right, the bard needs a revision. These two examples exist in large scale warfare and I can just imagine a bagpiper trying to get his pipes going while arrows are flying and orcs are closing in in a dungeon environment. And what if an arrow strikes his pipes or drums and they are broken? What then?
I think the bard should be turned to an Investigator: cut the music crap, he can do that in his spare time. Give him magic in necromancy and illusion and charm schools.Increase feats to improve his investigative skills. Now you got a class; great in city environments, add a few thief skills and make him more valuable.His lore is up becaues he is now the science nerd of the group but still charismatic to investigate anything that needs investigating. This might be called the "CSI Effect" but it works for me.
Wait now, Holy crap! I now have my next character I want to play. A bard/mage who is an investigator. Funny how things work!TY
I also think the monk class would be of greater effect if he/she used the hit and attack tables of a fighter/paladin/ranger/barbarian. Let's face it, the guy is a fighter. If you played TOEE on your PC, you realizes how hard it is for a monk to hit the Higher AC's.
Anyway, just my rant. Thanks for the ideas
Are the message boards so dull that we've been reduced to this?
ASEO out
Well, ASEO I suppose we could always complain about Wil Wheaton. ;)
Alright folks I am taking the fight for a better bard out of this thread. Feel free to join or (or dare you) oppose me at "No holds Bard."
I now return you to your regularly scheduled topic: "What's everyone's favourite class?"
Bwahahahaha,
GGG
PS I heartily agree with Tony, Nicolas and Edgewood about the classes and examples they gave. Especially Nicolas' Kung-Fu reference.
PPS Paul if you want bring your shovel.
What, I'd never complain about Wil Wheaton...just the poor articles he writes and the Dungeon staff seems hell bent to continue.
That being said,...
In my game we allow a spell book Bard. With less spells per day, but a larger castable selection, it allows the character to tailor their spells to a Dungeon romp, an infiltration of the lord's mannor, or a night preforming at the local tavern.
Spell progression is like the Wizards
Spell level 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1st 2 0
2nd 2 1
3rd 2 1 0
4th 2 1 1
5th 2 2 1 0
6th 2 2 1 1
7th 2 2 2 1 0
8th 2 2 2 1 1
9th 2 2 2 2 1 0
10th 2 2 2 2 1 1
11th 2 2 2 2 2 1 0
12th 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
13th 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0
14th 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
15th 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0
16th 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
17th 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0
18th 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1
19th 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
20th 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
In all other regards, they are the same as a PHB Bard.
AS a DM, I've found the Offensive spell Sorcerer to be a boon for any party. They fill the heavy artillary role. The Magic Missile machinegum has saved parties unable to hit high AC foes, or incorpreal foes time and time again.
ASEO out
I'm hurt by all the hatin' for the Bard, which is one of my favorite classes. (Bard and Ranger... and I liked 'em BEFORE 3.5 hopped up the skill points).
From the sound of it, what people don't like here is the flavor-text. And that's just silly. You can play a bard whose performance style is Trash Talk if you want. You can play it as an inspirational speech -- don't TELL me that Henry V's "Once more unto the breach" speech, delivered at a bloody yell while waving a sword around, isn't inspiring.
What you're sort of doing by this "Nope, they have a lap-harp and sing about rainbows and unicorns" mentality is allowing the Wizard, Cleric, and Fighter to be the kickass modern-day fantasy incarnations that make them cool, while shoving the bard into the goofy old-days incarnation. You do that, it's no wonder the bard isn't fun to play.
But mechanically, if you really have trouble with a character class that can give all his buddies a +1 to attacks and damage (+2 at 8th, +3 at 14th...) for AS LONG AS HE KEEPS PERFORMING, then you're not really examining all the options. Sure, it's not the most glamorous job in the world, sitting in the back row while plinking the bad guys with arrows and giving the front-row people a bonus to hit and damage, also freeing up the Cleric from having to use some of his spell slots for buffs -- but c'mon. As long as I keep performing -- and every round after the first is free, except that I don't get to use verbal components or verbal command words -- you get a +1, or more at higher levels. That's not good?
I don't play my bards as goofy poets unless I want to. I played one who talked like a football cornerback (having heard them miked on ESPN a few times). "What have they got? WHAT have they got? C'mon, man, they got NOTHIN'. You gonna let that ugly scaly thing hit you? You gonna LET him do that? I DON'T THINK SO. Hey, scaly thing! Give your mama my best -- I know I always do! THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!"
No lap-harps for me, man.
I agree alot with Patrick, and really this applies to all of the classes. The rules give you the mechanics to play the character, but it's the player who gives him/her unique personality. In the case of bards, you can definately have a character who is a master of any instrument, swoons the hearts of every lady-in-waiting in every court in the realm of timbucktoo with his good looks, has command of the written word, and is still a great swordsman, duellist, or whatever.
He certainly doesn't have to be a wuss (unless that's what you want to portray). I think any class is playable, no matter what. But as I said before, I have a soft spot for the ranger and sorcerer.
Well, that's my two coppers...
One of my personal favorite charaters to date combines I think two great classes. The Ranger/Druid. I've heard a lot about bards and I give them their due, and I know one guy who preaches the religion of the cleric, but like someone mentioned earlier creating a completely different character with same core classes can really spice up the game.
While he is not your typical forest dwelling tree hugger, Asad is desert ranger/ druid. Our group played some extensive games in desert enviorns and I had a blast. I tailored all his spells to reflect his desert nature. Barkskin became sandstone skin, goodberries became gooddates. Also a lot of low level spell like heat metal came in really handy with those fighters and paladins who liked to prance around in their plate mail
armour.
Well, thats my two coppers and I raise you a silver...
My favorite class? Hard to say. I've always had a fondness for the psionic types but a good "tank" fighter can be fun, too. As the player of a bard in one of Greg's parties I can concur that sometimes all I can really do is "inspire courage" as my bard doesn't have the AC or hp to deal with the baddies we face very well. Also, I came into the group late, so that left me trying to fill a niche in the group. That being said, I enjoy playing the bard, sure it's a bit of a challenge to integrate him very well, but I've had my moments (being transformed from an elf to a dwarf - as the party lovingly called the "dwelf" and back made for some fun).
In another party, I have a githyanki psion. Lots of fun especially before the rest of the party knew what he was, they were just glad to see my astral constructs appear.
I've always been a fan of playing a non-stereotypical character. I do like to mix up the races and classes I play just to get a feel. Over the years, I've probably had a character in just about any combination you can think of.
But to list my favorite? Hmmm. Ranger would be first (they really ruled the roost in 1ed), then vanilla fighter, then thief/rogue (depending on the version). After that it gets murky as I've had fun playing a variety of classes. When either Lycoris (the bard) or Rath'kiel (the psion) passes from this mortal coil, I've got a neat idea for a vashar (BOED) fighter that I think I can have fun with. Bottom line, I just like to have fun.
I thought I'd answered this one already. Weird. Anyway. My favourite class... As a player, I love being a sorcerer, because it's fun being heavy artillery. As a DM, sorcerers are fun and extremely easy... Unlike the other classes, no explanation is really needed for a sorcerer. He can be anyone, anywhere, any time. So if you want a particular type of personality for a villain, it's very easy to create that type of character and then make him a sorcerer. After all, it's all intuition and innate skill. I guess fighters are pretty similar... You basically just have to say that the character trained with some weapon master and then learned on their own. Whatever. It lets me be lazy in figuring out how the character developed their power, which is nice when you're too busy to spend as much time as you'd like creating your campaign... ;-)
Clerics are fun too, because they've got a built-in motivation for all sorts of things. Paladins have the same benefit. Their actions are kind of limited, but within their range of actions that are believable, you don't really need any explanation for any of the goofiness that these guys get up to. "Why is this bugger going to so much effort just to make our lives miserable?!" "He's a cleric, that's what his god demands." "Oh, yeah, that makes sense."
Thanks for the input, guys. I figure I am going to play a sorceror but with a different slant. The best I can come up with is an ogre mage sorceror who is polymorphed to look human but will turn the tide on the party when the chips are down at the end of the adventure. I would really like to hear anybody else's slant on a sorceror with a different groove.
Cleric. Easy question for me =)
In my opinion, the class offers up the greatest range of in-class variety. Multiple dieties with multiple domains, greater possibility of adopting non-class skills as domain abilities, positive/negative energies, and a huge range of spells.
There are so many different types of Clerics as well: War Clerics, Buff/Weaken Clerics, Turn/Rebuke Clerics (elemental turn/rebuke Clerics), Healers, etc, etc..
Good hitpoints, all the armor, shields, and self-healing and protection spells make them hard to kill; not only can they save themselves from almost anything, they can save any party member as well. Capable melee at low levels and of course flamestrike and other offense spells at higher levels. And all the important divinition/location spells.
Immense range of tactics. Domain spells, Metamagic and Creation Feats, no spellbooks or learning from scrolls to deal with; you have access to all spells.
Most important of all: Roleplaying opportunities!
Bards have always been the most fun for me to play. “look a magic weapon – hey I can use that” Look, it’s a scroll – hey I can use that” Look it’s a wand - hey I can use that” “hey who can pick a lock? – let me take a crack at it”. I don’t have to sit around and wait for every other character to “fulfill their roles” I can jump in and do pretty much everything – without the limitations that come from multi-classing. Sure I’m not the BEST at everything, but I do pretty much EVERYTHING. Which goes a long way for feeling like I can contribute to the party to me.
Always a huge support for the other players in combat, and pretty good myself, and always an even bigger advantage when role-playing in a town/city setting. No one is better than the bard for sweet talking his way in and out of situations, and when you get stuck – “here I can explain it better with the song…” a little “Fascinate” then maybe “Suggestion” if you need to. “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for” come on how cool is that?
(Check out my longer pro-Bard rant in the “No Holds Bard” thread)
As for Wil Wheton – ok, we realize that you’re a sensitive guy already and you love everyone * blush * now quit writing crap and talk about things you like about the game. If you want to keep on the “touchy feely” aspects of the game write for “Woman’s World” already. Yeesh.
It's a couple-a-ways tie between--
Ghost-Faced Killer (Dragon)
Angel Hunter (Unholy Warrior's Handbook)
Alienist (various sources)
my first character was an elf paladin named zhou, who, i realized later, was a demon from the last thane, but anyway, my favored class?
well, i like, paladins, clerics, sorcereors,and rogues, the only classes i do not ever play are ranger and wizard
Thanks for the input, guys. I figure I am going to play a sorceror but with a different slant. The best I can come up with is an ogre mage sorceror who is polymorphed to look human but will turn the tide on the party when the chips are down at the end of the adventure. I would really like to hear anybody else's slant on a sorceror with a different groove.
My character in the campaign I'm playing in right now is a half-orc sorceror with a strong dose of dragon blood. The party cleric (a human) is my character's half-brother. It makes for an interesting campaign. :-)
The thing with sorcerors is that they're masters of taking advantage of a situation. That's really what they are -- you give them an opening, they'll tear you to shreds. A wizard has a lot less ability to react to a change in the situation, but they're also a lot better able to set things up so they'll gain their own opening.