What is the most cliché adventuring party you can think of?

[Shiftybob]

I will be running Dragon's Demand this evening, and we've decided that we're going to ham it up as much as possible. It's going to be nothing but tacky oneliners, tavern brawls, and dungeon smashing. None of this boring-ass political intrigue or three dimensional character nonsense. We are just going to embrace our inner 1980s Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.

It's a 4 player party.
What would you build?
I would like to take some helpful character advice to my players this evening.

[Marthian]

most cliched

Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, and Wizard.

[Darigaaz the Igniter]

Marthian wrote:

most cliched

Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, and Wizard.

[BuzzardB]

IMO Human Fighter, Dwarven Cleric or Fighter (with an axe of coarse), Halfling Rogue, Elven Wizard or Ranger.

[Ari Kanen]

Drow TWF Ranger, Grumpy Dwarven Fighter/Cleric, a physically weak and uncharismatic, but genius level mage, a token female elf rogue, and human, usually melee based frontman/leader (even though their charisma is also a dump stat.

[Daethor]

To refine more, maybe a:

Stupid/Loud Human Fighter
Serious/Dour Dwarf Cleric
Witty/Funny Halfling Rogue
Serious/Intellectual Elf Wizard

Party dynamics include the human and halfling playing jokes on the elf and dwarf, the dwarf and elf hating each other due to racism, and maybe the wizard's logic being trumped by emotional reasoning (a la Spock and Kirk).
Oh, and the big human fighter should call the halfling "little buddy."

Not sure if it's the *most* cliched, but it sounds pretty cliched to me.

[Finlanderboy]

4 black mages!

[uriel222]

Fighter,

Rogue,

Black Mage,

Red Mage

[Shiftybob]

Daethor wrote:

To refine more, maybe a:

Stupid/Loud Human Fighter
Serious/Dour Dwarf Cleric
Witty/Funny Halfling Rogue
Serious/Intellectual Elf Wizard

Party dynamics include the human and halfling playing jokes on the elf and dwarf, the dwarf and elf hating each other due to racism, and maybe the wizard's logic being trumped by emotional reasoning (a la Spock and Kirk).
Oh, and the big human fighter should call the halfling "little buddy."

Not sure if it's the *most* cliched, but it sounds pretty cliched to me.

If that ain't the most cliched, I don't know what is.

Good job! I think you've captured the contrasting personality types well.

[jerrys]

human ranger, elf fighter, dwarf fighter, human fighter, wizard, and four halflings

[Vincent Takeda]

Explodomage.... Wizard of fire... Who typically burns more of his own party and the surrounding foliage than his enemies.
The druid who's love of wildlife and nature only extends far enough to coldly and carelessly send it to its death by throwing it mercilessly in the path of anything that wants to kill him.
A kender thief who steals more from his own party than anyone else
An unmitigating murderhobo who swings at everything that moves, doesnt stop until its dead, pompous, arrogant, ruthless, uncompromising.... We'll call him a.... paladin.

And not a single damn cleric. Ever.

[Advanced Template]

A male human from humble beginnings who is destined to be a great hero and is automatically good at everything he tries.

A high born female, her life has been spent dedicated to studying the prophecy that foretells the coming of the hero. She thinks his beginnings are too humble and doubts that he can really be the one. They fight a lot at first but she can't help but fall for him.

A wise old man. He is the only one to see that the male is really the hero of prophesy. He acts stuffy but deep down he likes a good winking joke.

A goofy sidekick. He might be an ex criminal. He is worse than the hero at everything. He likes to joke around a lot, and is constantly getting in trouble.

[RedDogMT]

Human Ranger
Dwarf Fighter
Elf Ranger
"Human" Wizard (with beard)
Halfling Commoner
Halfling Commoner
Halfling Warrior (with a frying pan)
Halfling Commoner (with a really powerful world changing ring)

oh darn it, jerrys already said this... :)

[Zhayne]

Dwarf Fighter
Elf Wizard
Human Cleric
Halfling Rogue

[I Hate Nickelback]

7 Dwarves.

Their classes are irrelevant.

[Mojorat]

You could invert the cliche somehow and have a halfling fighter and dwarf wizard not sure how the cleric and rogue spots can be inverted.

[Ciaran Barnes]

Any dwarf has to drink and sound Scottish. Wizards need to war pointed hats.

[Adamantine Dragon]

13 dwarves, one wizard and a halfling

[Torger Miltenberger]

Adamantine Dragon wrote:

13 dwarves, one wizard and a halfling

*Addendum* The wizard is a DMPC that rarely ever casts spells and is mostly around to add a sense of gravitas

- Torger

[137ben]

Shiftybob wrote:

Daethor wrote:

To refine more, maybe a:

Stupid/Loud Human Fighter
Serious/Dour Dwarf Cleric
Witty/Funny Halfling Rogue
Serious/Intellectual Elf Wizard

Party dynamics include the human and halfling playing jokes on the elf and dwarf, the dwarf and elf hating each other due to racism, and maybe the wizard's logic being trumped by emotional reasoning (a la Spock and Kirk).
Oh, and the big human fighter should call the halfling "little buddy."

Not sure if it's the *most* cliched, but it sounds pretty cliched to me.

If that ain't the most cliched, I don't know what is.

Good job! I think you've captured the contrasting personality types well.

Guys! In 1st edition they made it really clear that humans were vastly superior to all the other races. That's stuck around to a lesser extent. So actually, I would argue that an all human party gives the human/dwarf/elf//halfling party a run for its money.

But yes, obviously it must have a stupid fighter with heavy armor, a greedy rogue who's always stealing from the party, a wizard who does nothing but blast, and a cleric who does nothing but heal.

[Gallo]

Male Human Fighter with Greatsword
Female Human Rogue with Longbow (and a treasure fetish)
Male Dwarf Cleric (now with vampire template)
Male (probably) Elf Wizard

Then have as what is effectively the rogue's cohort:
Male Human Bard

And as the fighter's quasi-cohort:

Male Halfling Ranger (with psychopath template)

Just make sure they are played very two-dimensionally......

[DrDeth]

Fighting Man, Magic User, Cleric.

[Conman the Bardbarian]

A halfling cavalier, aasimar paladin, a grappling monk, and an eidolon with a pet wizard?

[Vincent Takeda]

Oh geez. I'm sorry. I didnt realize this was going to be a pathfinder campaign we were talking about... The most cliché party for pathfinder groups is

zen archer

am barbarian

iron man with 6 arms (synth summoner)

cat girl

[zefig]

A synthesist summoner, a dual-wielding double-pistol 3-armed mysterious stranger pistolero, a bloatmage, and AM BARBARIAN?

Dang, I got distracted and snark-ninjad.

[Sissyl]

Don't forget, the humble hero from peasant beginnings needs a mentor. The mentor dies.

[Mark Hoover]

Most clichéd in ever? 1 human oracle, 12 human followers, all Expert NPCs.

Some other clichés:

Human wizard (youth), 1/2 giant ranger, smattering of other wizards

Human wizard (youth), demon wizard (afflicted w/a curse so no spellcasting), 2 troll rogues, 1 male and one female (brother and sister team)

1 human female commoner, 1 damphir fighter (shiny), 1 human (lycanthrope - werewolf) monk

I'm sure there's a lot more I'm missing.

[Icyshadow]

Marthian wrote:

Most clichéd

Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, and Wizard.

Added cliché value if the entire party consists of Core Races.

[Kyras Ausks]

acrobat barbaren mage thief ranger cavalier and a pet unicorn

[Aelryinth]

barbarian, fighter, rogue, wizard.

Think Conan the barbarian. Heh.

Oh, and 1E didn't make humans 'superior' unless you were talking post-10th level. Before 10th level, multiclass demihumans owned the world.]

==Aelryinth

[Chemlak]

1 halfling adept
1 male human fighter (possibly fighter/rogue)
1 female human fighter whose mother is the big bad evil sorceress.
2 pixies
1 human female druid who can't seem to control her wildshape.
1 human baby who is the rightful queen.

[Captain K.]

2 Conjuror Wizards both with Str and Cha 7, with 2 Clerics, probably with reach weapons

Most cliched I can think of. But that's okay, it's optimised

[Tin Foil Yamakah]

Lets see..

Human fighter(very strong, not so intelligent, even less wise)

Elven or 1/2 Elven female Ranger( Very serious, very smart, very wise...yet she cant stop thinking about the human fighter, sexual tension anyone)

Dwarven fighter (scottish accent, functioning alcoholic, all meat diet, longish beard that defines his dwarfishness, cool helmet with bull horn sticking out each side and of couse a sweet double sided battle axe)

Halfling thief ( Extermely high dex and charisma, practical joker, banned in certain areas due to "misunderstandings" with folks who frown on theft)

Human wizard ( Ok you can go 2 ways here... 1. Elderly dude sporting robe and hat with stars and crescent moons nice long white beard and a staff(see vincent takeda) who has a penchant for starting folks on adventures only to dissapear for extended periods of time due to "wizard" stuff, only to reappear to save the parties bacon and drop some knowledge that they could have used before said encounter.....or younger mage still human im guessing late twenties who has shown immense promise but their is a block that is keeping him from reaching his full potential. Probably something from his childhood said problem manifests itself in the form of questioning his morality/ethos should I take the easy evil path or should I stick it out and hope the good wizards at the academy tell me the stuff they have been holding back from me since I was found on their doorstep.) Now that I think of it they adventuring together as master and apprentice and at the final battle after the BBEG offers apprentice everything he could want, the now dying elder wizard reveals the long lost piece of information that has eluded our young hero it was the BBEG who killed your family....noooo! and of course the apprentice strikes down the evil enemy.

[Valkir]

Lion King Template:
Young fighter; destined for greatness, but is tricked / flees his destiny. Returns to set things right...during a thunderstorm...
Mystic; gives up hope on young hero, until it is time to not give up hope. Finds hero like he knew where the hero was all along, and talks to him like they saw each other just last week.
Rogue(s); self-serving, conniving, and brave by virtue of lack of wisdom.
Muse; She is in love with the hero, and grounds him to his destiny. She provides the link to the future, by way of her womb.

How to Train your Dragon Template:
Hipster hero; should never have survived this long. Exists in the story only as a contrivance to prove to everyone else how wrong they have been all along.
Hipster Hero's girlfriend; he'd be dead a dozen times over without her, and yet somehow she is beholden to him.
2-Dimensional sidekicks; insert as many as needed.

Fantasy template:
Male human fighter; tough, and single minded. Depth optional.
Female human fighter; wears chain mail bikini that still manages to protect all the parts that are not covered. Despite years of fighting, still has perfect skin.
Old Wizard; voice of intelligence and wisdom for the party. Of course he has to self-sacrifice.
Rogue; For some reason gives up his selfish ways to assist the party.

[DungeonmasterCal]

Any game where clerics and wizards adventure in "robes".

[Captain K.]

One or all of the PCs should be an orphan left on the temple steps.

They should all be 'the chosen one' spoken of in ancient prophecy (don't worry about contradictions).

The leader should be a lively teenager who adventures between school lessons. They are probably the Chosen One and are always with amazing ninja/ki powers.

At least one should be brooding and mysterious. Let a cruel smile play on his lips occasionally. His name should be 'Unknown'.

[Mythic Evil Lincoln]

Remember to refer to each other by class in character.

[Nails]

Human Fighter
Human Ranger
Human Wizard
Elven Ranger
Dwarven Fighter
Halfling Commoner
Halfling Commoner
Halfling Expert
Halfling Rogue

[Ross Byers]

One Halfling commoner, 13 Dwarf Fighters and/or experts, and a DMPC 'wizard' of indeterminate race.

Alternatively,
Four halfling rogues, an elf ranger, a dwarf fighter, two human fighters, and a DMPC 'wizard' of indeterminate race

[Captain K.]

Vincent Takeda wrote:

Oh geez. I'm sorry. I didnt realize this was going to be a pathfinder campaign we were talking about... The most cliché party for pathfinder groups is

zen archer

am barbarian

iron man with 6 arms (synth summoner)

cat girl

Spot on. I haven't seen Fighter/Cleric/Wizard/Thief since AD&D days.

You missed out Ultra-prepared Batman Wizard with invisible Imp familiar

Dervish Dance Elf Magus

[Kazaan]

Four Clerics:

1 Reach cleric
1 Healing Battery cleric
1 Offensive Caster cleric (Fire domain, most likely)
1 Summoning Cleric

[Kydeem de'Morcaine]

Aelryinth wrote:

...

Oh, and 1E didn't make humans 'superior' unless you were talking post-10th level. Before 10th level, multiclass demihumans owned the world.]

==Aelryinth

And it was almost impossible to survive to level 10+

[Ansha]

The Companions of the Lance.

[Galldorn, Order of the Lion]

How about this: A conflicted half-elf ranger/fighter who's seen as the leader of the party but who constantly doubts his own ability to lead.

A middle aged dwarven fighter...with axe and "darn those young'uns but I have a heart of gold that you can't see because.....GET OFF MY LAWN!!!" personality.

Twin human brothers: one a hulking fighter, and the other a highly intelligent, and sarcastic, wizard. Try to make as many references to "one person in two bodies" as humanly possible.

A human cavalier who's ultra-serious for his young age and might as well have a tattoo saying "Tragic Hero" from the moment you say his name.

A fun-loving halfling rogue who's as apt to annoy the party as hurt the enemy.

You can have multiple NPCs that can step into PC rolls when the tragic cavalier dies heroically or when the wizard separates himself from the group to further his own dark ambitions or just to provide different points of view to the overarching conflict.

....yeah, you can guess which books I've been re-reading recently, huh?

[Galldorn, Order of the Lion]

Ansha wrote:

The Companions of the Lance.

About 20 seconds late on my part.

Well played.

[Ross Byers]

Human great sword fighter
Human archer rogue
Dwarf cleric
Halfling thrown weapon ranger
Elf evoker
Human bard

[the David]

I'd say Dwarf Fighter, Elf Wizard, Halfling Rogue and a Human Cleric.

You could just take Kyra, Valeros, Merisiel and Ezren though. Are the iconic characters cliché enough?

[TheRavyn]

Vincent Takeda wrote:

Oh geez. I'm sorry. I didnt realize this was going to be a pathfinder campaign we were talking about... The most cliché party for pathfinder groups is

zen archer

am barbarian

iron man with 6 arms (synth summoner)

cat girl

This. Definitely this. Rofl!

I don't think I've seen a simple Fighter/Wizard/Rogue/Cleric party at a Pathfinder table ever.

[Rerednaw]

Well I have a few backgrounds...

Tragic childhood, home village razed, family slaughtered before their eyes.
Lone wolf, stealthy, mysterious, always wears black.
Always optimistic chosen one with own personal halo aura add secret super power in extremis.
The chronicler/packrat. Probably nearsighted.
The exile with a dark past, probably hunted or haunted by same.
Total impulsive, acts before thinking. But extremely lucky (though has to keep finding new parties to group with.). Best if rogue.

Entire party, save chosen one are socially inept.
If female, higher AC proportional to exposed skin.

I still +1 the human fighter, elf wizard, halfling rogue, and dorf cleric.

[14 sided die]

Drow TWF ranger with scimitars and magical panther figurine
Grumpy dwarf fighter with an axe and shield combo
Oversized human barbarian with a warhammer
Female human fighter with longbow
Fat halfling rouge who uses a mace

Optional-
Svirvneblin fighter with hands that were replaced with mining tools
Blind human ranger with his many animal friends
Pech polymorphed into a hook horror
sea captain