We're getting our duxks in a row to run this AP when it finally comes out... and while we're open to the new Epic rules we're also very open to preferring not to use them. We have been assured that the campaign could be run without using those rules even if the challenges may be greater because of it and - for the moment at least - this looks like the party we will run:
Demon-blooded Tiefling 1st level Oracle (Lore) / 19th level Paladin of Torag (Oath of Vengeance, Oath Against Fiends)
Really great backstory that includes an aasimar mother and a fiendish father who continues to search for his offspring as well as a childhood spent in a reclusive temple devoted to Torag and raised by Dwarves. Quiet, brooding but self-sacrificing and noble to the core. (Heavy use of Lay on Hands both makes him an unkillable tank and a Smiting machine).
Azata-blooded Aasimar 16th level Dawn Dervish & Sound Striker / 4th level Paladin of Sarenrae (Oath of Vengeance)
A melee/ranged switch-hitter, she is everything her Tiefling comrade is not... which is the reason he both harbors a secret love for her and a certainty that it can never be. Vivacious and engaging, she follows the Goddess Sarenrae with a delightful zeal. Their potential romance will make for a nice subplot. (The Azata's favored class option for Bards will help make her a fearsome melee combatant early on while Weird Words should offer a potent 'middle range' option).
Half-Elven 9th level Master Summoner / 11th level Holy Tactician
A follower of Iomedae, he is a tactical leader who fights with a bow and summons only archons and celestial beings. His preferred method of battle will be to summon a 'pack' of Lantern Archons and use his tactical abilities to maximize their effectiveness when hunting evil. (Think a dozen Lantern Archons + the teamwork feat Target of Opportunity... and perhaps Haste).
Dwarven 20th level Evangelist (Madness)
The wild card. This chaotic neutral character was driven borderline insane by the what he witnessed at the hands of the abominations in the deep earth and his eventual escape to find waiting for him an eternal night sky... he remains convinced that the end of all things is coming and he intends to do everything in his power to stop it - and suffers none of the ethical or moral hang-ups his companions hold to. (The Visions of Madness ability has to be one of the best buffs/de-buffs in the game and he gets to use it almost at will... not to mention all of those spontaneous Enchantment spells plus Bardic Performance).
We figure with the representatives of three of the biggest Good-aligned Gods being brought together to face the threat of the Worldwound and a wild card in place, there's a lot of potential for great role-play, and the combination of classes and abilities should mesh very well together.
I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on the party and especially interested to hear of any other characters or groups that are getting geared up to play, even if it is so far in advance of its release.
My wife and my self are planning on playing a married couple me a greatsword or bastard sword wielding tiefling swordmaster (3pp class) and she'd be playing a celestial blooded sorcerer.
His family believes in fighting fire with fire. To follow in their patron Ragathiel's footsteps in an attempt to create a better demon slayer began breeding with demons. The first being a demon who ascended and hos spirit now lives on in the blade he wields.
She is from a noble family who have taken part in every crusade since the very first. They have taken in his family for two generations and have become close choosing not to judge them by their appearance.
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My wife and my self are planning on playing a married couple
Woah! How'd you come up with that one?
First edition gamers...a ftr/mage/thief elf, a ftr/cleric half elf, a bard drow elf, and a mage human...All are at least 16th level [the bard who boosted his ftr/thief with a ftr level of 8 and thief of 9 thanks to those books and the "ask the sage" column in dragon, 1st edition bards are hit point monsters!]and the highest is just a bit over 20th in both ftr and cleric...
Never imposed class limits on player characters...just seemed silly to have to explain how ancient elven mages never got over 11th level.
Yup!..absolutely no holding back in this adventure arc! Thank You Paizo, this is something I can challenge their "quasi-retired heroes" with...
Short of demon lords and quasi dieties I was kinda running out of challenges for them...These heroes have been run in my campaign since waaaay back in 1989! Yes that means my friends and I have had fun playing ad&d for over 23 years!
Long Live Gaming!
Update:
Subtle changes in our line-up though we continue to be very excited about the upcoming AP... one of us needs to pick up the Mythic rules though to see which templates best fit the characters we're planning. The tough part is going to be holding off the start of the AP until the entire thing is released - I give us a 50/50 shot right now.
This is the party on how it stands today, minus Mythic templates:
Tiefling (Demon-blooded) 1st level Oracle (Lore, Legalistic) / 19th level Paladin (Oathof Vengeance, Oath against Fiends) remains as Torag's champion in the battle to come.
Aasimar (Azata-blooded) 18th level Dervish of Dawn / 2nd level Master of Many styles is the group's lone female and an emissary of Sarenrae. We expect there to be a bit of a tragic love story between she and the tiefling.
Half-Elven 20th level Master Summoner - its undecided yet if the character is going to restrict himself to using only celestial creatures and angels/archons, etc. or if he is going to be someone who specializes in summoning fiendish creatures and demons/devils... it'll definitely be one or the other, but the character will be good inclined regardless. Obviously the first option will make for more seamless role-play, though we're not certain yet if that's the goal.
Dwarven 20th level Evangelist - we've found it ironic that its the only member of the party with a low Charisma who will be responsible for Performance skills including Bardic Performance, but the character concept is great and the player is really excited about the 'added perspective' he thinks he'll bring.
I've pretty much settled on the "classic" cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard party (sort of). I did add a few twists to avoid some stereotypes:
Aasimar (Halo, Heavenborn) Wizard (Conjurer); planar scholar and main party artillery/battlefield controller. Depending on the details in the Player's Guide, may consider wizard 6/ranger (Favored Enemy evil outsiders, naturally) 1/eldritch knight 2/arcane archer 3/eldritch knight +X to also act as a ranged damage-dealer (and backup healer with wands of cure light wounds). Dedicated to stopping the demonic incursion, but not suited to be a cleric, oracle, or paladin.
Halfling (Low Blow, Underfoot, Warslinger) Cleric (Mendevian Priest of Iomedae, Heroism sub-domain); church representative (Knights of Ozem connections?) and main party buffer/healer (also secondary combatant, both melee and ranged). Expected to be heavily involved in most aspects of the plot.
Human (Focused Study) Fighter (Dragoon); crusader/templar (knight-in-training?) and main party combatant (depending on the AP, mounted combat may not be developed beyond the archetype and some skill ranks/Skill Focus (Ride) at 8th level). Probably going to take Eldritch Heritage at 3rd level and possibly other feats in the chain (can have quite a bit of fun with the character, depending on which bloodline is used; Abyssal could be especially poignant).
Human (Silver Tongued) Rogue (Investigator, Sanctified Rogue); another church representative (but probably not openly...) and main party face/skill monkey (also secondary combatant). More focused on rooting out corruption among the crusaders than the cleric, but also expected to be heavily involved in the plot.
I expect to be able to refine the characters a bit more when the Player's Guide and the mythic rules are released.
Human (Focused Study) Fighter (Dragoon); crusader/templar (knight-in-training?) and main party combatant (depending on the AP, mounted combat may not be developed beyond the archetype and some skill ranks/Skill Focus (Ride) at 8th level)...
Bleh, not enough proofreading. Dragoon gets Skill Focus (Ride) at 1st level. One or two mounted feats isn't that big of a deal for a fighter, though.