So, I've been given a sort of "challenge" by my GM for another game. In it, I have to play essentially a low-level character with so-so abilities, though the rest of the party is much higher level with an elite array. Heck, it's probably above elite for them.
So, here's the concept: Young orphan, born into poverty to begin with, and raised by a cruel adoptive parent. Discovers early on he has some sorcerer powers that manifest in him being able to disguise himself and heal his own wounds inflicted on him by thugs. Earns coin from performing buffoonery and acrobatics in the more affluent neighborhoods. Perhaps a bit of pickpocketing, if the Artistic Evader is around. Often has to take the back ways home lest he be robbed by the earlier-mentioned thugs, and has learned to hide himself well. In true Disney-esque fashion, he gets discovered by a more benevolent wizard who, along with his cavalier companion, take him off the streets and into the life of a squire, where the pair is intentionally raising this person to be a hero. So maybe the pair's motives aren't all that pure. It could be they're grooming him because he's a local, and would be a long-term investment for some power.
With that:
Class: Street Performer (Bard variant, APG)
Stats (post racial-adjustment): STR 10, DEX 17, CON 10, INT 10, WIS 9, CHA 15)
Skills (expected of a Street Performer): Acrobatics, Climb, Escape Artist, Perform (Comedy), Sleight of Hand, Stealth
I'm being given starting gold for a 3rd level PC, given by the character's benefactors, to hopefully give a little better chance of survival.
Now... Can I make this guy have some survivability in a party with a 5th level Wizard, Cavalier, and Cleric? What should I buy to help him not die at the first encounter? Should I assume that, for the most part, the character is going to stay back and shoot from hiding, rather than join his companions in melee (at first)? Oh yeah, and any suggestions on level progression? I'd like to stick with the Bard variant as much as possible, but again, he's being groomed to be a hero, after all.
I would think about the dodge line of feats to boost AC, and some of the later ones in the line give mischances to hit if I remember correctly. If you have to get into melee, remember the aid another action, as it gives you something useful to do, but is less likely to draw the attention of the enemy. If you make yourself hard to hit, and focus on boosting the party rather than doing direct damage, the monster will either have to try to hit you, and in the process accept more attacks from the party members who are more likely to hurt it, or ignore you and attack those actually hurting it, and hope that your boosts aren't enough to make your party members too tough for it.
So, I've been given a sort of "challenge" by my GM for another game. In it, I have to play essentially a low-level character with so-so abilities, though the rest of the party is much higher level with an elite array. Heck, it's probably above elite for them.
I think your GM is being a dick.
I think your GM is being a dick.
Then count me in the "Dick" camp as well. I've done this in games in the past, where players roll to determine starting levels, generally 1d4+ something. They stay in a "band" of levels and, after a few sessions, start to even out, to where the lower level guys are usually only 1 level behind most of the time. It gives more of a "Aragorn/hobbits" feel, and my players seemed to like it.
The issue here, me thinks, is that the DM has a story in mind, and it may go badly for the group as a whole if the story goes off the rails.
I think your GM is being a dick.
He might be if it wasn't for the fact that we had a funny conversation beforehand, he posed the challenge to me, and I, most importantly, accepted.
He just never stipulated on how I go about making the character work. Never said I couldn't ask on a forum!
Then count me in the "Dick" camp as well. I've done this in games in the past, where players roll to determine starting levels, generally 1d4+ something. They stay in a "band" of levels and, after a few sessions, start to even out, to where the lower level guys are usually only 1 level behind most of the time. It gives more of a "Aragorn/hobbits" feel, and my players seemed to like it.The issue here, me thinks, is that the DM has a story in mind, and it may go badly for the group as a whole if the story goes off the rails.
Yes, it appears there's a story in the works. My job would be to help this character survive. All I want to do is give my 1st level street rat a little oomph to help him survive until the gap closes.
The problem is, is that I have no idea which route to take as far as purchasing magic items. A friend just called to tell me his wizard's going to dump off the extra cloak of Elvenkind on the lad, so there's that. So, just standard +1 Armor or something? Masterwork weapons? I really suck at shopping lists. :D
Thanks a lot for the advice!