3 PC Reign of Winter suggestions

[Balthesar]

So I'm about to play in a "solo" campaign of RoW. Newer DM so I don't want her to have to modify encounters much. I want her to be able to run it as is for the most part.

I dont want to run more than 3 people if possible. Pets are fine, its more of trying to distinguish personalities. I have plenty of experience with the system and can min/max well, but I have no experience with small group play, so not sure what will synergize well. So I'm looking for a good setup that can survive. I have heard that RoW is quite difficult for a standard group, so I know my group needs to be decent. My only real request is I dont want a group built around using the fire vulnerability of everything in the AP (which I hear is a lot). I just think that would get boring having the same fallback every time. Having some fire is fine though... just don't want like a special pyro caster or something.

I have not had a chance to play with, but am very interested in rogues, alchemists, bards, inquisitors, oracles, and summoners. If any of those would work well to 3 man RoW, great. If not, there's always next game!

[Lyra Amary]

You can probably take any combination of those classes and make it work, minus the Rogue.

Three summoners would be hilarious. And probably also really effective.

[EsperMagic]

I'd say Alchemist/Inquisitor/Summoner then. Or you know...Witch.

[Balthesar]

Yeah, I'm thinking the same right now. Alchemist, inquisitor, then either witch or summoner (leaning towards summoner just to get another set of actions, or maybe a druid).

The third class would be mostly straight forward, but the alch/inq have tons of build options and archetypes. What would you all suggest?

Should I be a 2-hander inq? or tank or archer? Would sin eater be good for some extra healing and rp fun with speak with undead? Or would spellbreaker be better.

For the alchemist, would a Mr. Hyde build be better than a bomb focus? Vivisectionist? (not many PCs to set up flanks)

Thanks for the help!

[roysier]

Many creatures are vulnerable to fire. A fire balling specialist would excel.

[EsperMagic]

roysier wrote:

Many creatures are vulnerable to fire. A fire balling specialist would excel.

Did you even read?

balthesar wrote:

. My only real request is I dont want a group built around using the fire vulnerability of everything in the AP (which I hear is a lot). I just think that would get boring having the same fallback every time. Having some fire is fine though... just don't want like a special pyro caster or something.

I would personally go 2 handed inquisitor with a 1st level dip in fighter for heavy armor and better weapons. Since you have full plate you can focus on str, then con and wis. Seems good and tanky. Try to take the feather subdomain for the animal comapnion and fly spells. then boon companion it up.

[Balthesar]

That sounds like a pretty good idea. I think that is probably what I will do. Question about the feather domain though, it just adds the fly skill and increased fly speed right? It doesn't actually give me access to the spell and would have to come from elsewhere correct?

Anyone have alchemist build recommendations?

[Rerednaw]

Witch (slumber, fly, possible healing patron) to cover arcane and cross-over some healing.
Quadraped pouncer Eidolon with Summoner pet for tanking melee/dps.
Alchemist bombs are touch AC AoE fire. Doesn't that put them in the "no-go" category? I'm running the AP and found them to be far worse than a fire-using pure arcane such as a wizard or sorcerer.
Maybe a druid for your #3. Full caster, decent healing, plus shifting for backup tanking as it is very versatile. And another combat pet to make up for action economy.

Also with a witch, druid and eidolon your entire party could be flying via their own class abilities as soon as they hit level 5-6.

[EsperMagic]

Balthesar wrote:

That sounds like a pretty good idea. I think that is probably what I will do. Question about the feather domain though, it just adds the fly skill and increased fly speed right? It doesn't actually give me access to the spell and would have to come from elsewhere correct?

Anyone have alchemist build recommendations?

Very true, i was thinking domain spells which arent a thing for inquisitors, though feather is still one of the better one with the bonus to perception.

As far as an alchemist, I dont have his character sheet but another player in our kingmaker campaign is playing one and at level 14, can throw bombs for 7d6+int mod, which his int mod with the cognatogen and wondrous items is about +14

[Balthesar]

So I think a 2-handed Inq with feather domain is definite at this point. Would spellbreaker be a good archetype for RoW? Or should I keep monster lore?

I think I'm going to pass on the alchemist. Probably going to take a summoner, not sure if synthesist or not (being Iron Man appeals to me).

So just need to nail down a third. Ignoring my favored class list (since i'm already choosing 2 from it), what would be a good third? What role is going to be lacking the most? Is there a particular class that would be great flavor for RoW? I see a few have mentioned witch, are they really good. I've honestly not looked at them much. For some reason they just never caught my eye. Am I missing out?

Thanks everyone for all of the help!

[EsperMagic]

as a witch you do get a sleep effect with no hd limit that has a dc which scales with your int mod and class level. Its pretty good the whole game as are some other hexes. You also get a good mixture of arcane and divine spells on your list, plus bonus spells from your patron.

[blackbloodtroll]

Half-Orc Scarred Witch Doctor would be good.

[Uqbarian]

Balthesar wrote:

That sounds like a pretty good idea. I think that is probably what I will do. Question about the feather domain though, it just adds the fly skill and increased fly speed right? It doesn't actually give me access to the spell and would have to come from elsewhere correct?

The Feather domain gives you fly as your 3rd-level domain spell (replacing dominate animal).

I'd recommend sticking with a regular inquisitor; Solo Tactics is likely to be more useful in the long run than the Spellbreaker archetype abilities.

For the third character, I'd recommend a bard or a druid (particularly an arctic druid). They're both flexible classes and they can add a bit more healing -- the inquisitor has some healing potential but is probably going to be busy hitting things most of the time. A witch would also be good -- more fragile than the other PCs, but very much in theme, with a good spell list and some very useful hexes.

[Tholomyes]

Uqbarian wrote:

Balthesar wrote:

That sounds like a pretty good idea. I think that is probably what I will do. Question about the feather domain though, it just adds the fly skill and increased fly speed right? It doesn't actually give me access to the spell and would have to come from elsewhere correct?

The Feather domain gives you fly as your 3rd-level domain spell (replacing dominate animal).

I'd recommend sticking with a regular inquisitor; Solo Tactics is likely to be more useful in the long run than the Spellbreaker archetype abilities.

For the third character, I'd recommend a bard or a druid (particularly an arctic druid). They're both flexible classes and they can add a bit more healing -- the inquisitor has some healing potential but is probably going to be busy hitting things most of the time. A witch would also be good -- more fragile than the other PCs, but very much in theme, with a good spell list and some very useful hexes.

Inquisitors don't get domain spells. They just get domain powers. In this case, Eye of the Hawk and Animal Companion. Now, Animal Companion is still very powerful, so it might still be worth taking that as the domain, and Fly as a class skill is pretty good, assuming you can get fly elsewhere. If you're going for a Two Handed inquisitor, the Rage subdomain is a good choice, though you're kind of locked in on who you can worship. I've never played this AP, so I don't know, but the Spellkiller Inquisition might be a good idea, since I'm guessing there will be more than a few witches throughout the AP.

[Uqbarian]

Tholomyes wrote:

Inquisitors don't get domain spells. They just get domain powers.

Huh! Oops. I've managed to completely miss that fact for three years. :)