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I have a friend that has SLE (Lupus) that manifasts as extreme fatigue at times. He goes from chipper and awake to comatose on the couch in about an hour's time. The frequency/severity is increased based upon how much emotional or physical input he experiences. Essentially, the more input he gets, the faster he goes down.
We've been playing RPG's for a goodly while now. Were on 3.0, then 3.5, then some 4E, now some GW. Would like to do PFRPG with him, but when we played 3.5 he often got burned out quick. I don't think it helped that he was playing a multi-class thief/wizard (what he wanted to play...) as there were an increasing number of decisions to make throughout the course of a game as we went up in levels.
So - question for the Paizo Team: In playtesting or other studies, or just based upon player's experiences, what is the "easiest" class to play? And how would you cook up that character to minimize things based upon what I've described here.
Thanks!
Pete
I have a friend that has SLE (Lupus) that manifasts as extreme fatigue at times. He goes from chipper and awake to comatose on the couch in about an hour's time. The frequency/severity is increased based upon how much emotional or physical input he experiences. Essentially, the more input he gets, the faster he goes down.
We've been playing RPG's for a goodly while now. Were on 3.0, then 3.5, then some 4E, now some GW. Would like to do PFRPG with him, but when we played 3.5 he often got burned out quick. I don't think it helped that he was playing a multi-class thief/wizard (what he wanted to play...) as there were an increasing number of decisions to make throughout the course of a game as we went up in levels.
So - question for the Paizo Team: In playtesting or other studies, or just based upon player's experiences, what is the "easiest" class to play? And how would you cook up that character to minimize things based upon what I've described here.
Thanks!
Pete
Ranger-archer build. With group bond instead of animal companion. Hes a 1 trick pony, he fills it full of arrows.
Alternately fighter 2-handed specialist.
Hrmmm, Your friend likes the sneaky caster type, If you have the apg I would say a Arcane Duelist would not be to bad, Make or print spell cards of his chosen spells, and make a sign or button for when he uses his bard song and have his attack stuff written out for ease of math. Personally I have more fun creating some characters than what they play out too. But Also it comes down to maybe running 2 campaigns that way he doesnt get out leveled or you take over if he crashes.
I pray for your friend to get better with some of the treatment options.
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32
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I echo the the ranger and fighter advice. I play a fighter right now and it is nice to have my options be which bad guy to hit first.
It sounds like any spellcasting class would be a bit much. However, if he insists on playing one then help him out in cutting down the time spent reading through the book. Spell cards are a great way to do this.
I echo the the ranger and fighter advice. I play a fighter right now and it is nice to have my options be which bad guy to hit first.
It sounds like any spellcasting class would be a bit much. However, if he insists on playing one then help him out in cutting down the time spent reading through the book. Spell cards are a great way to do this.
I will go one step forward and say no to any spellcaster that memorizes spells from a book/familiar (or whatever), those kind of casters involve a lot of input from the player.
Also between 2H fighter and archer ranger i vote for the archer ranger, this class has less options when it comes to leveling up (selecting feats etc.) also the spellcasting ability of the ranger is so little it won't has a lot to do.
Honestly? Save or die spontaneous caster (Sorcerer). Melee classes are very fiddly, with lots of conditional modifiers. Barbarian? Oh are you raged? Did you power attack? Charge? Flanking? What about all those group buffs did you remember those? It's a nightmare. I know it's sort of conventional wisdom that fighter types are easier to play, but I think a sorcerer with single and aoe save or die/save or suck spells would be easiest to play. No attack rolls, AC never changes, your target rolls the saves not you. Now it might take more system mastery to make one that fits the group, but once its created I contend that it is easier to play.
Beginning of combat? Glitterdust. Things still not dead? Haste.
I think that meatrace may have found something very good.
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I concur with both posters above.
Go for a high output blaster/SoD sorcerer.
Stick with "always on" buffs (Mage armor, Mount, Ant Haul), direct damage spells, and SoD stuff.
For feats, Spell Focus, Toughness, Improved Initiative, and Extend Spell.
Skills as a Sorcerer don't really matter too much.
Should let your buddy have a set pattern of behavior, which still contributes quite significantly to the table while remaining easy to use.
I'm going to put in another vote for Sorcerer. Sorcies aren't necessarily easy to -build- properly, but depending on that build, they can be incredibly simple to play. Good luck! :)
I'm going to put in another vote for Sorcerer. Sorcies aren't necessarily easy to -build- properly, but depending on that build, they can be incredibly simple to play. Good luck! :)
Yep. Totally my point. The only thing that I worry about is the "buyers remorse" of a sorcerer. When you pick a spell you think you'll use all the time and just don't. It can be frustrating. Which is why I suggested stuff like buffs and glitterdust, and a smattering of utility depending on if there's other casters in the group.
I'd even suggest a standard build for you, assuming say 20 point buy. Human. 8 Str 12 Dex 16 Con 10 Int 10 Wis 18 Cha (w/+2). Imp Init at 1st level, Toughness at 3rd. Arcane or Elemental bloodline. Don't take blast spells, maybe 1 decent AoE blast (FB or CoC) and take the Arcane Blast feat for single target stuff.
If SoD is boring to you (as it becomes to a lot of people) buff/debuff is fun too. Haste/Slow combo. Waves of Fatigue. Ray of Enfeeblement.
Ok my work here is done, I'm just thinking aloud now.
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It sounds like you don't just want a class that's easy for him to play; you need something that's straightforward for the other players to fill in for him, if he needs a break, or can't make it to the game.
I've seen games get bogged down in debates of 'What would Bob Do?', and any PC needs to be simple enough to potentially be played as a second character by the GM or another player.
On that note, make sure you use a PC sheet that is intuitively laid out. Dozens of fiddly boxes spread over a dozen pages are a pain for anyone to use if they aren't the usual owner. Ideally you want something laid out as simple as a statblock from an adventure, with any race and class abilities reprinted for easy access.
Fighter or Sorcerer with "always on" feats like Toughness, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus, Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will, Great Fortitude, Spell Penetration, Defensive Combat Training (if sorcerer), Dodge (maybe Mobility and Spring Attack), Shield Focus, Spell Focus, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Skill Focus (and the +2/+2) feats, Combat Casting, maybe Item Creation or Metamagic Feats, Quick Draw, Run, Dash, Endurance, Nimble Moves (Acrobatic Steps), Vital Strike, Weapon Finesse, maybe Blindfight, etc., seem the easiest to play.
That's actually quite a big list of feats, and doesn't even delve into the APG which has lots more, mostly of the racial-boosting variety.
He could make a really capable tank by being a dwarf or half-orc fighter and taking Dodge, Shield Focus, and Iron Skin. That's +3 to AC right there! And if he's never hit, he doesn't have to worry about tracking hit points, so that will be less strenuous for him as well.
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It sounds like you don't just want a class that's easy for him to play; you need something that's straightforward for the other players to fill in for him, if he needs a break, or can't make it to the game.
I've seen games get bogged down in debates of 'What would Bob Do?', and any PC needs to be simple enough to potentially be played as a second character by the GM or another player.
On that note, make sure you use a PC sheet that is intuitively laid out. Dozens of fiddly boxes spread over a dozen pages are a pain for anyone to use if they aren't the usual owner. Ideally you want something laid out as simple as a statblock from an adventure, with any race and class abilities reprinted for easy access.
I have started doing exactly this, ever since my work schedule changed & I am unable to attend every week like in the past.
I simply create a "stat block" character sheet, laid out just like in the Bestiary / GMG / etc. and keep it up to date via Google Docs. I link everyone who plays in that game, so if they need my PC to play, they have instant access to an easily laid out, fully realized character sheet.
Bonus points: since my handwriting leaves a lot to be desired, this process makes it easier for everyone at the table, including me. I just print out the 2 page sheet and take notes on paper, before transferring the changes to the electronic document after the game.
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It sounds like you don't just want a class that's easy for him to play; you need something that's straightforward for the other players to fill in for him, if he needs a break, or can't make it to the game.
I've seen games get bogged down in debates of 'What would Bob Do?', and any PC needs to be simple enough to potentially be played as a second character by the GM or another player.
On that note, make sure you use a PC sheet that is intuitively laid out. Dozens of fiddly boxes spread over a dozen pages are a pain for anyone to use if they aren't the usual owner. Ideally you want something laid out as simple as a statblock from an adventure, with any race and class abilities reprinted for easy access.
Yes, this is spot on. Every session always includes a period of time when he's down. Used to be I'd take over, but the last couple years other players have stepped in, which has been a real benefit to me. So you are correct that part of the desire of simplicity is so other players can step in until he's back up.
The statblock on a single sheet is a great idea - we do sometimes have to fiddle about with his 3-4 sheets.
Once upon a time, Fighters were an easy class.
The problem with fighters since 3.0e has been that they have very deep considerations during character creation. This means they are best played by people who plan several levels ahead and know what they want. In those conditions, they are an "easy" class to play.
I'll vote for sorcerer.
I'll throw my vote in for Sorcerer, those are pretty easy specially if you have all his spells as spell cards ready to go. Just update em for level and effect and dice.
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Rogue.
Worse comes to worse, play the stereotypical thief which most players do already. Pump all the obvious skills. Not an insane amount of feats to have, and can just take the simple combat feats and rogue talents. Damage output will not be reliant on you. No chance to take the wrong spells. Need to learn flank and flat-footed, but that's still less work than any spellcaster.
All spellcasters are more complicated by having to know lots of spells, effects, how to use them, knowing concentration checks and save DCs, having to actually pick the correct spells. I have rookie players that just cannot aim spells properly and hit all sorts of things.
Most fighting types are extremely complicated due to heavy math, feat trees, and that a mistake can really limit effectiveness.
So what did you end up making him?