|
I ran into the same issue with my 4-person group and concerns. Up through level 5, you aren't going to miss an arcane caster at all, especially with a 6-person party. Past that, it's nice but not essential.
At later points, if no one can use the arcane loot and everyone is vying for the same gear, you may have some imbalance in party wealth. Also, at later points, wizardly identification of magic items, crafting, and teleportation really becomes handy.
I like to let things play out as it will. At one point we ended up with a 4-person party of 3 fighter-types and 1 inquisitor. Not a lot of options, and that lack of options eventually led to some party deaths. It happens.
Finally, there's a lot of good "knowledge" items out there, so if you don't have those skills represented, might find a more creative way to share.
|
You don't really "need" any classes in Kingmaker. I would say the least effective class is a traditional rogue, just because of the nature of the adventures and the AP. Some very effective classes are mounted build cavalier and paladins, druids, and bards (mainly for the diplomatic/social aspect).
However, since this AP runs higher than most others as far as level goes (right up close to 18 at the end), then you really do gain some advantage in having at least a couple full casting classes.
If you are the GM: Don't worry about it, it's their problem ;)
If you are a player: Don't worry about it, just have fun :)
Seconding what redcelt said...our party rogue was often stuck for things to do. My advice would be to find out which way they'd be taking the rogue and then choose a class that...I hate to say this...does it better. If combat, choose an inquisitor or ranger (the AP will happily support two rangers, especially if they work together to create characters); if they want to play a skill monkey, then I'd recommend a bard. A sorcerer would supply the arcane-ness that the group is missing and act as party 'face', too. Understand that I don't believe that "the rogue is weak"; Kingmaker, however, isn't an AP in which they get too many chances to shine.
With a party of that size, you should be grateful that no-one is playing an arcane caster...you're going to have trouble as it is. Battlefield control on top of all those melee-types are going to make short work of anything they encounter. I speak as a player in a party of 6 that the DM is having A LOT of trouble with.
We regularly dont play with a rogue anymore.
1) Alchemists do traps nicely
2) We have had certain inquisitors fit the role
3) you can find and defeat magical traps with magical means.
We often dont have the "healer"
1) potions and scrolls
2) wands
3) half elf with UMD, skill focus UMD and decent cha.
we have had a very successful group in which the hex crafter/inquisitor coupled with potions gave us enough healing.
you can also at level 8 have someone take leadership feat and have a cleric flunky.
we have also added a house ruly effect, that is based on a conglomerate of former editions of the game: You heal your level in hit points from a night of rest (so 8th level characters get back 8 hp) and you heal 1/4 your level in stat damage a night (so 8th level characters would be able to heal up 2 points of stat damage.... their choice which, if there is more)
As far as blindness, deafness or amputation? Only magical healing helps that.
But heck, a druid could always throw a blind guy off a cliff and reincarnate him? "SEE! I cured your blinds! you can see a again!"
OH did you roll crappy physical stats? Ok. off you go! one more time!
|
|
So far, the lack of a cleric (player left the game) has not been as noticeable as the lack of a wizard or druid when one of those players is absent from the table. Our rogue went shadowdancer and is the spymaster, which helps his character shine, since my game is very political. Otherwise, he struggles a bit during the "dungeon phase".
If you are playing in a politically charged game, a druid and/or arcane class is IMO mandatory. It is a critically essential ability to pass information and move quicker than everyone else in the world. My party would have had their asses handed to them several times over if it was not for the wizard and druid using teleport, tree stride, wildshape, message, etc. These abilities keep the players' badly needed troops from walking into ambushes, slaughters, and gives the kingdom the early warning they need. If the party does not have these classes in it, encourage them to add NPCs like Jhod, etc to the council so they at least have access to them.
Also, I highly recommend giving every player the leadership feat for free, just not letting them use their cohorts as part of their party. They can be mayors of key cities, sub-generals in charge of troops, wizards in charge of academies, scouts, etc. This allows the players a sense of being rulers and makes its even more personal when some place they are not gets attacked. This is also another way to fill in these extremely useful classes.
BTW Lee, you have to keep us posted on how your game progresses, I seem to remember you were leaning towards the Game of Thrones style...
|
Having played book 1-2 of Kingmaker, I have to say that having a "crafter" character is great for a Kingmaker party.
In my party, our wizard took the craft items feats and it really helped the party. We will able to gear out pretty well by level 6.
Kingmaker is kinda more free roaming then other AP, so try to remind your players that they should think long term when they make a character.