So I was wondering, if you were designing the Paizo Iconics, which Class and Race combos would you use, and why?
If you want, also include a brief outline of future cl;lass progression (feats, skills, etc).
Try to use every race at least once.
The Races and Classes
Barbarian
Bard
Cleric
Druid
Fighter
Monk
Paladin
Ranger
Rogue
Sorcerer
Wizard
Races
Human
Dwarf
Elf
Gnome
Half-Elf
Half-Orc
Halfling
Here are my thoughts
Dwarven Fighter Will be wearing heavy armor, so the speed reduction of Dwarves is offset. +2 Con for a melee type is awesome. The Dwarf bonus to saves vs spells helps mitigate the poor will save of teh fighter. No Int penalty (like the Half-Orc) so the Combat expertise line of feats is an option.
Elf Bard Was going to go Gnome, but an Elven Bardic Archer who buffs and shoots behind the safety of his allies sounds like a cool character to me.
Gnome Barbarian Eberron has it's Halfling Barbarians, so why can't we have our Gnome Barbarians? The +2 to Con helps, and the -2 the Str is helped by rage. The +1 to Hit for being small helps fuel power attack, the +1 AC for being small helps with only medium armor, and the bonus to speed from barbarian overcomes the 20 foot movement of the gnome.
Half-Elf Druid Well, may as well give the Weakest race the strongest class, to balance it out. The druid needs the least help from it's race, so may as well make it the race that provides the least help. Plus the bonus to diplomacy helps at low levels to keep the Druid's grove safe. Take Spell Focus (Conjuration), Augment Summoning, Natural Spell, Extend Spell, and Quicken Spell, and you are set.
Half-Orc Monk This one may seem a bit strange. But Monks need their strength to ensure they actually dish some damage, and the Half-Orc penalties are two the 2 stats a Monk doesn't need as much (Int and Cha). Seems like a good match to me.
Halfling Rogue Halflings to me just seem tailor made to be rogues. Small size, +2 Dex, and a +1 Bonus to saving throws, all adds up to a very good Rogue, especially if you throw weapon finesse into the mix.
Human Barbarian The extra feat and skill points really help out the barbarian who has a decent skill list to spend the skill points on, and can really benefit from a number of combat feats.
Human Cleric Like the druid, a very powerful class that really doesn't matter what race you take, but with only 2+INT skill points a level, and a great skill list, the extra human skill point is great (as is the extra feat to spend on combat or casting feats)
Human Paladin The Paladin needs most of his stats to be as high as possible, so can;t really afford to take the hit most of the other races give. Also, being in melee means he can benefit greatly from feats (Mounted Attack Line, Power Attack Line), so again, human is a great choice.
Half-Orc Ranger This could just as easily be Human or Elven as well. My favourite play with a Ranger is to take the archery style, and pick up power attack for when I do get stuck in melee. Surprisingly, a good strength helps out a ranged attacker also s much as it helps melee (Strength rated Composite Longbows).
Gnome Wizard Again, this one could have gone any number of ways, Human, Elven, or Halfling are all good options, but I choose gnome to provide a nice contrast to the gnome Barbarian. the Bonus to Con and Illusion DCs also helps.
I look forward to seeing what other people think.
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
|
Looks like you're making largely optimal choices (aka min-maxing).
What about unusual combinations that are more flavor-oriented than designed to statistically take advantage of racial bonuses and class skills?
The dwarven fighter in heavy armor has been done - yes, mathematically it makes perfect sense, but WotC already has Tordek. I can't argue with your logic, but Paizo is looking for something different and is exploring new ways to interpret the OGL.
So, what about a halfling wizard (necromancer)? Or a savage half-orc bard? Or a gnome monk?
You can make the characters even more unique with minor tweaks - for example, maybe the half-orc plays the drums - three dwarf skulls he wears on his belt/hip and he smacks them with a hollowed out thighbone. Or maybe he's a city bred rogue - and he plays the lute, which when flipped over is a carefully disguised repeating crossbow? There are no statistical bonuses there, but it makes for an interesting character.
I agree with Eyebite. I think that the point of the Iconic is to present interesting character concepts. Don't like the way they're statted up? Change them for your own game.
Some interesting character concepts I've been playing around with are a dwarven ranger who's clan has been trained for centuries to be the frontline against Underdark incursions (TWF Path, Favored Enemy drow or abberations, focus on Hide, Move Silently, Spot and Listen). I love halfling wizard/sorcerors with a conjuration focus and neutrel alignments for sheer versatility. Half orc druid with a viper companion who was abandoned in a swamp as a child and learned to survive on his/her own for healing and a back up melee fighter, plus fun roleplaying oppurtunities. Elven rogues tickle me too, don't really know why. I blame that on Elath Craulnobler (sp?) from FR for that one.
Yes, my preference for characters tends (very much?) towards the min-maxing or optimising side, that is what I naturally relate to much easier (probabaly has something to do with being an engineer).
But I would still love to hear other's suggestions for what they would like to see from the iconics.
|
Going SRD, and going for fun:
Halfling Wizard
Half Elf Druid
Human Barbarian
Aasimar Paladin
Elf Ranger - Bow style
Halfling Sorcerer (Rune tattoos all over his body)
Halfling Rogue
Dwarf Bard (Hard Rock Hallelluya)
Elf Fighter
Half-Orc Cleric
Gnome Monk
After seeing the elf art, I'm rather tempted into an Elf Rogue. These are the iconics I shall be making for the competitor party that my players will be able to ask for aid. The first four they'll meet are the Human Barbarian, Aasimar Paladin, Halfling Rogue and Sorcerer. No healing to demonstrate that healing is usefull but not necessary.
You only need 3 health potions ;)
Cool question. These are my personal picks, based entirely on images I have in my head and with no consideration towards optimization (heh, I don't post for a month and everyone starts calling "min-maxing" "optimizing"). That's the way I play so, here we go:
Elf Barbarian, male (sort of a dreadlocked wood elf beserker with a greatsword).
Human Bard, male (a cunning trickster/wanderer).
Human Cleric, female (I honestly can't think of anything better than Kyra).
Halfling Druid, male (A wolf-riding savage little protector of the wilderness).
Human Fighter, male (wandering swordsman/mercenary with a bastard sword).
Human Monk, female (a hero of the common people, barefoot from peasant stock).
Dwarf Paladin, female (with er... a sword and shield? - I have trouble imagining interesting paladins, which is probably why I've never played one).
Human Ranger, female (A grizzled tracker with a bow).
Half-Orc Rogue, male (tall thin half-orc survivor with a rapier who isn't afraid to go toe-to-toe).
Half-Elf Sorceror, male (with spiky anime hair and covered in talismans).
Gnome Wizard, female (Sort of a less ugly female Yoda - cranky and wise but good-hearted).
Good to see you again kahoolin.Cool question. These are my personal picks, based entirely on images I have in my head and with no consideration towards optimization (heh, I don't post for a month and everyone starts calling "min-maxing" "optimizing").
It's good to be back. I went on holiday in real life and when I got back I decided to take a break from my regular routines. I was a bit of a message board nut before I left, so hopefully I can be a little more restrained this time.
My boring job with free net access isn't helping my addiction much though :)
|
RPG Superstar 2011 Top 32
|
Dwarf Bard (Hard Rock Hallelluya)
Yeah! A dwarven bard would be awesome! Sure he gets penalized mathematically, but just imagine the gravelly voice.
A buff bard with a large axe - maybe the axe has strange holes methodically cut and placed on it - so it can be "played" as a flute. It also whistles discordantly when it's swung in battle. Maybe he also has ranks in dance - and performs an acrobatic set with the axe, whistling it around in the air as moves (like a frenzied dervish dance perhaps).
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
|
For Varisia I would totally play a Dwarven Ranger/Rogue who has a knack for ferreting out Goblin warrens... with a big nasty Riding Dog animal companion just to spite the gobbos!!! He'd also of course be tracking down the Sandpoint Devil just to prove it's a hoax!
For contrast a Noble Chelaxian Paladin from Korvosa out to convert the heathen Varisian's by way of valient deeds would be fun too.
- Vrock around the Clock
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
|
For Varisia I would totally play a Dwarven Ranger/Rogue who has a knack for ferreting out Goblin warrens... with a big nasty Riding Dog animal companion just to spite the gobbos!!! He'd also of course be tracking down the Sandpoint Devil just to prove it's a hoax!
For contrast a Noble Chelaxian Paladin from Korvosa out to convert the heathen Varisian's by way of valient deeds would be fun too.
- Vrock around the Clock
Ever heard Tibetian over chanting? That's how I picture a Dwarven bard's music
|
|
The Iconics I use to test run my adventures are (and I know they may not be SRD only, but whatever):
Dwarf Soulknife (multiclass Psion at later levels, he's also missing his left hand...small detail, but essential to his personality.)
Half-Orc Cleric
Human Rogue
Warforged Artificer
Thri-Kreen Bard (plays either a drum and a lute, or a bass and a lute at the same time as he "sings")
Dwarf Ranger- Tempest - two weapon specialist.
Aasimar Cleric- craft potion and arms and armor
Human Wizard 3, Psion 3, Cerebromancer
Elan Psychic Warrior
Human Ninja
Human Monk
Elf Duskblade
Human Wizard-Wayfarer Guide- crafting feat heavy
I never did like the 4 character parties, 8 seems about the right number.
With the Ranger, Duskblade, Psychic Warrior and at higher levels the Monk for heavy combat it is a solid party. The Ninja and Cleric have specific rolls and the wizard and cerebromancer are heavy artillery.
|
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
|
Dwarf Ranger- Tempest - two weapon specialist.
Aasimar Cleric- craft potion and arms and armor
Human Wizard 3, Psion 3, Cerebromancer
Elan Psychic Warrior
Human Ninja
Human Monk
Elf Duskblade
Human Wizard-Wayfarer Guide- crafting feat heavyI never did like the 4 character parties, 8 seems about the right number.
With the Ranger, Duskblade, Psychic Warrior and at higher levels the Monk for heavy combat it is a solid party. The Ninja and Cleric have specific rolls and the wizard and cerebromancer are heavy artillery.
Heavy party but hardly Iconic.
www.d20srd.org is your friend :-)
Wood Elf Barbarian (Whirling Frenzy variant), Two-Weapon Fighter
Dwarf Divine Bard, combat bard specializing in plain-chant
Cleric depends heavily on their deity for flavor, each deity has at least one "iconic" cleric*
Half-Orc Druidic Avenger, optimized for melee/wild shape combat or using the Aspect of Nature variant
Human Fighter, the archer, swashbuckler, two-handed weapon, two-weapon, and weapon/shield versions are all iconic
Halfling Monk (Sleeping Tiger style), can be very effective
Half-Elf Paladin (Favored Enemy variant), remove Knowledge (Nobility) and Sense Motive from class skills, add Knowledge (Nature) and Survival
Human Ranger (Wild Shape variant), probably specializing in archery and using wild shape for melee
Human Rogue, the Combat Feat Rogue and Wilderness Rogue variants are both viable choices, even for "typical" thief-style rogues
Gnome Sorcerer, disabler/trickster concentrating in illusion spells (possibly with a burrowing mammal as an Animal Companion)
Human Wizard, choosing straight wizard, specialist (with or without the Specialist Wizard Variants), Domain Wizard, or Combat Feat Wizard can all work
*- The domains chosen also play a part. A cleric of Pelor with the Good and Strength domains should be different than one with the Healing and Sun domains. The Healing and Sun cleric could work well as a Cloistered Cleric, for instance. A cleric of Kord with the Luck and Strength domains and Martial Weapon (Greatsword) is an iconic adventurer combat-cleric. So is a cleric of Heironeous with the Good and War domains and Toughness.