Obvious class choices

[alleynbard]

Does anyone else feel some of the classes seem to suffer from "obvious choices"? When playing in a standard Paizo AP, which would you rather have?

Wizard
Arcane Bond vs. Familiar
Evocation Specialist vs. Divination Specialist
Universal vs. Specialization

Druid
Domain vs. Animal Companion

Ranger
Granting Allies Partial Favored Enemy Bonus vs. Animal Companion

Cleric
Selective Channeling Feat vs. Healing your enemies

I know these aren't exactly "cut and dry" but if you were a player what would your choices be in these siutations. Having just started a playtest campaign I can tell you what my players decided to do. In every instance they took the obviously optimal choice, the one the provides the most benefits the fastest and over a long period of time.

Opinions? Thoughts? Am I crazy?

[0gre]

alleynbard wrote:

Arcane Bond vs. Familiar

Druid
Domain vs. Animal Companion

Ranger
Granting Allies Partial Favored Enemy Bonus vs. Animal Companion

Some people love the pets some people hate them, some DMs discourage the additional characters on the battlemat. These choices are all personal choice.

Quote:

Evocation Specialist vs. Divination Specialist

Universal vs. Specialization

There are similar 'obvious' choices in the SRD. Some people enjoy playing less than optimal choices because it matches their character concept.

I don't think you are crazy but don't see these choices as cut and dried as you seem the feel they are.

-- Dennis

[Natch20]

alleynbard wrote:

I know these aren't exactly "cut and dry" but if you were a player what would your choices be in these siutations. Having just started a playtest campaign I can tell you what my players decided to do. In every instance they took the obviously optimal choice, the one the provides the most benefits the fastest and over a long period of time.

Opinions? Thoughts? Am I crazy?

You're crazy. :)

A well-used animal companion can be pretty amazing and get you out of a tight spot, and conversely a partial favored enemy buff party-wide is pretty powerful. They both are pretty awesome if used properly.

All in all, they're all good flavor. Not every Druid wants a pet following him around, and this gives them options within the base rules.

I had a Paladin in 3.5 rules, and I didn't want the mount, so I was working on a complicated custom ruleset with my DM to work it out, but now there is a cut and dry option for most classes.

More flexibility is always fun, and all of these options are pretty enticing.

[SirUrza]

To each their own. The less optimal choices aren't the ones needing playtesting IMHO. :)

[Pathos]

SirUrza wrote:

To each their own. The less optimal choices aren't the ones needing playtesting IMHO. :)

True that... It's the ones that seem to good to be true, that the denizens of OZ will be working on to break to their advantage. ;oP

[Uncle Monkey]

alleynbard wrote:

Does anyone else feel some of the classes seem to suffer from "obvious choices"? When playing in a standard Paizo AP, which would you rather have?

Druid
Domain vs. Animal Companion

Opinions? Thoughts? Am I crazy?

Count me as one of those who like the animal companion for the Druid. There are plenty of good buffing spells on the Druid list, and properly prepared and utilized an animal companion can be a great tank.

Of course, this does not rule out the possibility that either one of us is crazy ;)

[alleynbard]

SirUrza wrote:

To each their own. The less optimal choices aren't the ones needing playtesting IMHO. :)

I can agree with that.

[hogarth]

SirUrza wrote:

To each their own. The less optimal choices aren't the ones needing playtesting IMHO. :)

I'm not even sure which is supposed to be the "optimal" choice in some of the listed cases! E.g. domain vs. animal companion and Evocation vs. Divination.

[alleynbard]

hogarth wrote:

SirUrza wrote:

To each their own. The less optimal choices aren't the ones needing playtesting IMHO. :)

I'm not even sure which is supposed to be the "optimal" choice in some of the listed cases! E.g. domain vs. animal companion and Evocation vs. Divination.

I was trying not to mark any choice out as sub-optimal (which would mostly consist of opinion), just to get people's takes on each of the abilities. Are there "obvious choices" when looking at certain classes.

When I said "optimal choices" I was talking about damage output. My phrasing was perhaps a bit off there. I should have said "optimal choices for combat situations". But even that phrase doesn't sit right. Consistently my players chose the abilities that grant damage over other benefits. I am not sure what else I should call it.

[hogarth]

alleynbard wrote:

I was trying not to mark any choice out as sub-optimal (which would mostly consist of opinion), just to get people's takes on each of the abilities. Are there "obvious choices" when looking at certain classes.

Ah! I see.

Cleric:
* Travel domain

Wizard
* Universalist
* Arcane bond (if I want a pet, I'll buy one)

Druid
* Animal companion at low levels, domain (Air? Animal?) at high levels

Paladin
* Weapon (see above comment on pets)

Ranger
* Share favored enemy bonuses (")

Rogue
* Opportunist
* Dispelling Attack

Sorcerer
* Arcane bloodline
* Fey bloodlin

Barbarian
* Surprise Accuracy
* Clear Mind

[0gre]

alleynbard wrote:

When I said "optimal choices" I was talking about damage output.... Consistently my players chose the abilities that grant damage over other benefits. I am not sure what else I should call it.

Many people would disagree that maximizing HP damage/ round is optimal. For example, the poster above me mentions the travel domain (which... I hadn't read up until now... that rocks).

[Reddog]

You know they made a new feat to make the channeling of the cleric work without healing opponets right. Selective channeling......

[alleynbard]

Reddog wrote:

You know they made a new feat to make the channeling of the cleric work without healing opponets right. Selective channeling......

Uhhh...yes....which is why I mention it in the first post. I can't imagine a cleric not taking that feat, no matter what they are channeling.