Seeking advice on raising character or bringing new...

[Valkir]

Now, I realize the standard generic answer is "Play the game in a way that makes you happy" and a get that; trust me, I get it. But I would like to hear from folks their advice and experiences on this dilema. Please avoid spoilers pertaining to the Serpent's Skull AP.

With that said, we had just arrived in the lost city of Saventh-Yih, and the second combat saw the death of my 7th Lvl Dwarf Monk. We broke that game session, and the DM tells me that I have amassed enough faction points with our chosen group to have a raise dead spell cast for me. So I need to weigh many things here.

For raising:
He's survived so far, and has RP value to the other companions of the Shiv.
He died in a stupid way, and I should learn to play combats with more wisdom.
He retains his standing with the chosen faction.
He fills roles with high perceptions, movement, and grapples that can move big guys (even though doing so got him killed [side-bar question: should a grappled girallon be able to Rend?]).

Against raising:
Classic monk failings (which I won't go into here), make him a running ball of combat fail.
The party of seven includes a ranger (with dino pet), fighter, paladin, inquisitor (switch hitter), ranger (range), wizard, and yours truly. NPCs fill the cleric role, and we are considering leaving them back at base camp. in short, we are already front-line heavy.

If I bring in a new character, he starts with 0 faction standing, and the points available to my monk are wasted. OOH! IDEA! what if I bring in a new cleric, and at 9th level take leadership, allow the faction to raise the monk, and Boom! Instant cohort!

[Gauss]

A Grappled Girallon is able to make a full attack and thus can rend. Lesson here: do not grapple creatures which can dish out massive damage while they are grappled when you cannot. If you insist on grappling such creatures, pin them the first opportunity you get so they cannot make attacks.

It looks like you have plenty of martial power in the group. Personally, I would take a cleric (non-healing kind) since you are considering leaving the healbots at base camp. Then again, I like clerics for non-healing purposes so take my advice with a pound of salt.

- Gauss

[Valkir]

Gauss wrote:

A Grappled Girallon is able to make a full attack and thus can rend. Lesson here: do not grapple creatures which can dish out massive damage while they are grappled when you cannot. If you insist on grappling such creatures, pin them the first opportunity you get so they cannot make attacks.

It looks like you have plenty of martial power in the group. Personally, I would take a cleric (non-healing kind) since you are considering leaving the healbots at base camp. Then again, I like clerics for non-healing purposes so take my advice with a pound of salt.

- Gauss

Thanks, Gauss. If I do bring in a new pc I am thinking party support because I have played already APs in front-line and arcane capacities. Going to bump this one time in hopes of getting more opinions or advice.

[Valkir]

Valkir wrote:

Gauss wrote:

A Grappled Girallon is able to make a full attack and thus can rend. Lesson here: do not grapple creatures which can dish out massive damage while they are grappled when you cannot. If you insist on grappling such creatures, pin them the first opportunity you get so they cannot make attacks.

It looks like you have plenty of martial power in the group. Personally, I would take a cleric (non-healing kind) since you are considering leaving the healbots at base camp. Then again, I like clerics for non-healing purposes so take my advice with a pound of salt.

- Gauss

Thanks, Gauss. If I do bring in a new pc I am thinking party support because I have played already APs in front-line and arcane capacities. Going to bump this one time in hopes of getting more opinions or advice.

We will be picking up this AP in about 2 weeks, and I am no closer to a final decision than I was a month ago. The party has no "face" member; but I wonder how important that is in a ruined city. The party also has no rogue, and no PC cleric. I've put together several interesting concepts around what the group lacks, and I plan on discussing this with the other players, but would also like more advice here.

[waiph]

Bard that does rougish things. One of the cool trap-finding bards that still has performances would be a Support/Face/Rogue and do it pretty well, and grab a CLW want for Healz. Like a boss!

Since you're high level, atm, you can take Whip Mastry to have a reach weapon and fantastic battelfield control while performing. An aquatic Half-elf gets Net proficency IIRC, if you want that too.

[Azaelas Fayth]

Bard wouldn't be to bad.

If you want to keep your standing go ahead and raise your monk.

Just remember that Monks require massive System Mastery. Ironically, one can get that mastery faster by playing Martial characters more than Caster characters.

Personally I would raise the monk. Though I love the Monk and can easily make it work.

If I did build a new character. It would probably be a Bard(Archaeologist) and be heavily inspired by Indiana Jones and focus on the Whip.