One class party, a thought experiment.

[FuelDrop]

Hyperthetical: You're creating a 4 man adventuring party, with a single restriction: all for PCs must be archetypes of the same class.

The party needs to be able to:

Fight.
Heal itself.
Overcome obstacles.

Stuff like social interaction is a lot less class dependent than these, so I'm nor making that a requirement as anyone can take some cross-class ranks in diplomacy and be the face.

My first thought is Arcanist:

White Mage provides healing.
Occultist summons monsters to fight in melee.
Brown Fur Transmuter is the team problem solver.
Elemental Master is the team blaster.

The primary strength of this team is that with a bit of teamwork they can each learn from the others spell books, allowing a net 8 free spells per level, and for the most part each can aid the others with their focus.

Of course, they have a significant weakness as well: Antimagic field screws this party in every way imaginable. Realistically, anything that is good against mages is extra good against this party as magic is their solution to practically every problem.

Still, I'd be interested in seeing what other people come up with.

[RumpinRufus]

I've wanted to run a campaign for an all-bard party for a while. Mostly just because I think a traveling band would make for a fun storyline.

[Chess Pwn]

All Cleric. Just normal clerics. They can fill anything.
Oracles because they are the same idea.
Shamans because they are unique yet the same idea.

D8, 3/4bab, medium armor, boosting abilities, good weapon options, spells, and healing.

[RumpinRufus]

An all-druid party might actually be awesome as well.

You might just have to find some way to limit how many summons are out on the board at one time though, just to keep combat moving.

[Snively]

All Summoners, because ick.

an all Alchemist party would be kinda nifty, but an all Paladin party would rock the socks off of so many things.

I like the idea of an All Bard party... LOTS of variety there.

[CommandoDude]

All Gunslinger Party - Form a firing line and kill everything that moves.

All Wizard Party - 1 Blaster, 1 Battlefield Controller/Debuffer, 1 Buffer, 1 Summoner

All Summoner Party - As the above minus the dedicated summoner, and with 4 Eidolons

[Oly]

Oracles. Bards if you're willing to save up money for when dead need to be raised, which even with Oracles you have to do until they get of high enough level (Bards do get healing spells). Probably Shamans as well but while I've read the class materials I haven't looked closely enough to be sure.

Metal or Battle Oracle for melee, focusing on physical stats.
Life Oracle for healing.
Lore Oracle (maybe Ancestor or Time if you want more flexibility) for knowing stuff.
Several choices for a generic magic Oracle who can also be party face because Oracles have Charisma as their casting stat.

The mysteries' differences allow for more "types" than many classes, though Clerics with different deity domains have that to a point as well-- but less skill ranks and Wis as the casting stat, so a face is hard to come by with Clerics.

...or...

Bard with magic weapons and armor and physical stat build for melee.
Bard who takes all the cure spells for healing. High charisma/diplomacy/bluff/intimidate for party Face. (again, Cha as a casting stat is very good if it's a one class party).
Bard maxing all knowledge skills plus Bardic Knowledge for knowing stuff.
Bard maximizing Charisma and Perform skills for buffs. Enough versatile performance tiers and that one might become the eventual party face.

Archetypes might be used to best make Bard work in that way.

Either is weaker than having different classes, of course, but with one class, those two are the best of the pre-ACG classes for a one-class party IMO.

Paladins might be okay: Limited spells, but very good melee, Cha a key stat that can also be used for face duty, and healing. Low on skill ranks, though, as well as weak on magic.

One more that wouldn't be too bad is the Inquisitor: Cha is not the casting stat (the party face might have to invest points to explicitly be that, which he won't use elsewhere), but different inquisitions open up different roles, doubly so if you take archetypes; some healing, 3/4 BAB like Oracles and Bards, spells not bad, and lots of skill ranks.

[RumpinRufus]

One thing I like about an all-druid party is that I feel druids are typically super-challenging to RP in an adventuring party. They don't fit right, their goals don't align, and they tend to fall into "tag-along" mode without much character development. Just my personal experience.

An all-druid party though would be a great opportunity to 1) explore the diversity of the class and 2) allow the druids to do quests they really care about instead of "let's go kill another evil thing!"

Plus, wouldn't it just be awesome if the whole party could easily morph into birds, or octopi, or moles, or fire elementals, and explore environments that no other party would even be able to enter?

[Secane]

Chess Pwn wrote:

All Cleric. Just normal clerics. They can fill anything.

Oracles because they are the same idea.
Shamans because they are unique yet the same idea.

D8, 3/4bab, medium armor, boosting abilities, good weapon options, spells, and healing.

2nd this.

One very important thing to remember is that at mid to high levels, the party will start facing enemies that can do ability score damage and drain.

The above classes are the ones that can repair such damage.

With the inclusion of domain spells and abilities, clerics can fulfill any number of roles in a party.

[Anonymous Visitor 163 576]

We did this in Living Greyhawk, way back when, and there was nothing that the Piety Society couldn't handle.

I can't speak to the others, but six clerics was extremely powerful.

[Chess Pwn]

If you do need a cleric archetype then evangelist is a good one. Also with all the variant channel potential, and positive and negative options. You can really get so much done.

[CKorfmann]

I have often thought of doing this. It actually makes a lot more sense to me to have peers adventuring together. The most likely combination of an adventuring party is people you know and have trained with.

A Bard band sounds like a great idea.

Sylvan elf guards or hunters like they encountered in LotR. All Rangers.

A group from a monastery. Could also be a mix of Clerics, Paladins, Inquisitors, and Monks.

A band of Ninjas.

These are generic suggestions, but I could list archetypes all day that would probably work.

[Dieben]

Holy Tactician Paladin Squad

"All your teamwork are belong to us."

[kestral287]

Any of the 9th level Divine casters will probably have the easiest time. After them, Bards.

But I have a soft spot in my heart so I have to say that you could swing a party of Magi:

-One of them (whoever prioritizes Int the most) takes Pragmatic Activator, and the party pools in to buy Wands of CLW. Also, Infernal Healing/Greater Infernal Healing can help with healing.
-Fighting is easy. Sword and Spell everything.
-Obstacles might get tricky, depending on what the obstacle in question is. They can all cast Fly and have at least a smattering of utility magic though. And there's always that trait to grant Trapfinding.
-One or more can take Student of Philosophy or whatever the any-one-Cha-skill-now-uses-Int trait to cover Face situations too.

Also, if they coordinate their spell choices on level up and share spells with each other, each gains eight spells per level. They have /all/ the options. Wizards and Arcanists can pull this trick off too.

Basically: Traits are awesome and can simplify this situation immensely.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Inquisitors could easily do this. They have 2 good saves decent combat ability and the ability to go nova a few times a day. They have enough skill points and class skills that they can cover all the needed skills. With the right domains or inquisitions they can have enough variety to make sure that each character is unique. They have a decent spell list and have full caster level.

Bards could also pull this off, but probably not quite as well as inquisitors. The big problem with the bards is there spell list is a fairly narrowly focused. Many of their best spells are enchantment and illusion so that makes certain types of creatures a greater challenge. Also since they are limited to light armor their combat ability is not quite as good.

Hunters would also do very well for this. Since they all would have animal companions that effectively doubles the size of the party. They can use medium armor and martial weapons so their combat ability is decent. They have decent spells including summon nature’s ally which means they can almost flood the battle field with creatures if needed. They have plenty of skills so they will not be lacking in that regard. This group will be one of the best for setting up ambushes.

Skalds would be another class that would do quite well. Again they have medium armor and martial weapons for decent combat. They don’t get quite as many skills as the others but bardic lore and versatile performance make up for that. Rage song and inspired rage will give a nice boost. Since everyone in the group has this they will be able to use it in almost all combats. They also have decent spells which can complement their other abilities and fill in where they are weak.

[Froth Maw]

I want to have an all barbarian party SO. BAD.

Problems? Smash.
Fighting? Smash.
Ranged? Throw stuff at it or get a flying mount.
Social? Everyone is nice to you so they don't get smashed or so you'll smash things for them.
Healing? If you smash all the things, they can't hurt you. Then use the money you steal from the things you've smashed to buy healing stuff/hire a skald.

[FuelDrop]

Ooh. All hunters group = ALL OF THE TEAMWORK FEATS!

Stealth Synergy + 4 hunters + 4 animal companions = roll 8 dice and pick the highest for stealth! ouch!

Outflank? You have all of the outflank. The enemy is so badly flanked that they think their back is their front!

[Westphalian_Musketeer]

I'll just toss my hat in with the Divine Casters lot. 3/4 BAB, decent array of spells, medium armor in most cases, etc.

Oracles would probably have less of a challenge in covering skills than clerics, you just need to divvy up which spell groups they each learn.

[boring7]

I ran with an all-wizard party as part of an all-wizard campaign. It was fun. Had issues with healing though.

[lemeres]

Mysterious Stranger wrote:

Hunters would also do very well for this. Since they all would have animal companions that effectively doubles the size of the party. They can use medium armor and martial weapons so their combat ability is decent. They have decent spells including summon nature’s ally which means they can almost flood the battle field with creatures if needed. They have plenty of skills so they will not be lacking in that regard. This group will be one of the best for setting up ambushes.

All that, and the fact that they have archetypes that allow them to steal either druid or summoner stuff.

Feral hunter gets wildshape just like a druid, except it is restricted only to animals ('oh no...... whatever shall we do? Maybe pounce as a tiger and then turn into an eagle to fly away?').

Primal companion hunter is more interesting though, if only in variety. It gives your animal companion the evo pool of an eidolon for minutes/level/day. So your wolf can suddenly grow claws and bat wings. And also, it has the option to apply those evo to your hunter if your animal companion is dead. So not only do you help clear up the playing field (4 hunters and animal companions? plus summons? Yeah, that would take a while), you are basically a watered down and balanced synthesist.

Sure, it is minutes/day kind of deal... but that is still more rounds than a barbarian can rage, and the bonuses you can get from improved ability score evo or large evo are about equal to rage (it is at least on par with an inquisitor's judgement, with far more uses per day). That and getting cool abilities like flight, immunities, damage reduction, or blind sight are well worth it.

Overall, there are a lot of things that an archetyped hunter can just ignore that other using just a bit of their resources.

EDIT: @ Fueldrop- stealth synergy with everyone sporting the +8 from the skilled evo.

[Under A Bleeding Sun]

My top 3 would be:

1) Shaman Party
2) Summoner Party
3) Oracle Party

Other good ones would be: Cleric Party, Paladin Party, Bard Party and Druid Party.

Arcanist, Wizard or Witch parties would be amazing if you were starting at midish levels.

[FuelDrop]

Of course, the true strength of an all bard party is that you get to go around introducing yourself as a band.

All Dwarf Bard Party: Rock/Metal band. 'Cause all Dwarfs care about is Rock, Metal, and Axes.

All Elf Bard Party: Boy Band. Complete with lip synching to ghost sound.

Anyone got any other good speciesist jokes for the bands?

[Goznaz]

I think Trap Finder trait is an awesome way to replace the need for a rogue in this. Unless your going oracle/sorc then seeker archetype works well too.

[Narquelion]

An all-alchemists party would be really fun and with all those cool archetypes you can cover all kind of bases. Also cheat and include an Empiricist Intellidiplomancer, are YOU going to tell him he's not a true alchemist?

FuelDrop wrote:

Of course, the true strength of an all bard party is that you get to go around introducing yourself as a band.

All Dwarf Bard Party: Rock/Metal band. 'Cause all Dwarfs care about is Rock, Metal, and Axes.

All Elf Bard Party: Boy Band. Complete with lip synching to ghost sound.

Anyone got any other good speciesist jokes for the bands?

Careful with Metal and Elves jokes mate, you might incur Undead Ronnie James Dio's wrath.

[Umbranus]

All 4th or 6th level casters + all divine 9th level casters could form a single class group.

[Renegadeshepherd]

If your looking for the best party it would be cleric hands down. After that Druid would likely be second best as it has tank/melee down better than cleric but lesser list. Then after that go down the charisma casters because of UMD needs. After that it falls apart real fast, I've never seen a party of wizards work for example.

[GM_Solspiral]

How has no one said Druid?

Can heal? check
Can fight? even if they can't their animal companions can
Overcome obstacles? as soon as they hit wildshpe

Edit- ninja-ed

[eakratz]

Mysterious Stranger wrote:

Skalds would be another class that would do quite well. Again they have medium armor and martial weapons for decent combat. They don’t get quite as many skills as the others but bardic lore and versatile performance make up for that. Rage song and inspired rage will give a nice boost. Since everyone in the group has this they will be able to use it in almost all combats. They also have decent spells which can complement their other abilities and fill in where they are weak.

Don't forget spell kenning. Having four guys that can cast nearly any spell in the game on demand would be very useful.

I'll throw a vote in for oracle as well, especially with the spirit guide archetype and the eldritch heritage feats. You can make a very versatile party with these options.

[ohako]

an oracle party

1. a tengu shigenjo oracle of metal as the fighter
2. an aasimar oracle of life as the healer
3. an elf oracle of the heavens with the blackened curse for the wizard
4. a halfling seeker oracle of the dark tapestry with the deafened curse for the rogue

[Brad McDowell]

4 Saurian Shaman Druids. They have a distinct fear of vehicles, and the T-Rex talks in the third person.

[Mathius]

I say 4 rogues.

This is for those who want to play on Impossible. Add in a 10 point buy and no buying consumables.

[Wiggz]

FuelDrop wrote:

I'd be interested in seeing what other people come up with.

Obviously level range makes a pretty huge difference, as does the potential inclusion of things like Leadership. for the sake of the mental exercise I'll assume levels 1-20 and that Leadership is not an option.

They'd be hurting for skill ranks, but an all-Paladin party could be fun and very effective:

Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Sacred Shield Paladin
Holy Tactician Paladin

Every member of the group would be able to self-heal and remove conditions as a swift action, would have high AC and ridiculously high saves as well as numerous immunities and just enough spells to put them over the top.

They'd be a buzzsaw in combat with much more staying power than most groups, but they'd struggle with skill-related issues apart from 'face' time.

[Imbicatus]

All Bard would be the best option. You would have Healing, Buffing, Skills, Combat, and Spells/Support

Core Bard, Arcane Duelist, Archaeologist, and Magician.

All Alchemist or Investigator would work as well for the same reasons.

[Umbranus]

Wiggz wrote:

FuelDrop wrote:

I'd be interested in seeing what other people come up with.

Obviously level range makes a pretty huge difference, as does the potential inclusion of things like Leadership. for the sake of the mental exercise I'll assume levels 1-20 and that Leadership is not an option.

They'd be hurting for skill ranks, but an all-Paladin party could be fun and very effective:

Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Sacred Shield Paladin
Holy Tactician Paladin

Every member of the group would be able to self-heal and remove conditions as a swift action, would have high AC and ridiculously high saves as well as numerous immunities and just enough spells to put them over the top.

They'd be a buzzsaw in combat with much more staying power than most groups, but they'd struggle with skill-related issues apart from 'face' time.

With being human and taking the improvisation feat one could at least cover the basics. And clerics have the same problem.

[pennywit]

I'm not a fan of single-class parties. I tend to prefer limiting class selection to two or three built around at theme (i.e., military, thieves' guild, pirates, magic school, defenders of the temple, or mime raiders).

That said, an all-fighter party appeals to me. Yes, they'd be weak in the bibbity-bobbity-boo department, and they'd have to pay retail for their cure potions. But the characters come straight out of Central Casting:

Lieutenant Hansel (Tactician), the third son of a minor baron, educated in the art of battle, a leader to his men.

Sergeant Ghodar Chillbottom, (Dwarf, Unbreakable), clad in heavy armor, not afraid of anyone or anything.

Quartermaster Tilly Burnybrows (Halfling, Cad). Specializes in obtaining hard-to-find items for the group and in dirty fighting. Nobody wants to know where he gets his items or how he learned to fight so well.

Mister Barkston (Half-Elf, Archer). The team's long-range specialist. Deadly with his longbow. Dresses in all black.

[Oakbreaker]

I know it would be far from optimal but a party of monks
have them all be Zen archers and nothing could reach them to get in melee and whenever a spellcaster appears they can still just laugh as they have great saves

[Majuba]

Just FYI, this concept is explored in the Private Sanctuary Class feature podcasts (most of them anyways). Most were done in 3.5 only, a few during transition to Pathfinder.

Archetypes make it to easy...

All Fighter Party for me - endless feats and feat chains for anything that need be done.

[Wiggz]

Umbranus wrote:

Wiggz wrote:

FuelDrop wrote:

I'd be interested in seeing what other people come up with.

Obviously level range makes a pretty huge difference, as does the potential inclusion of things like Leadership. for the sake of the mental exercise I'll assume levels 1-20 and that Leadership is not an option.

They'd be hurting for skill ranks, but an all-Paladin party could be fun and very effective:

Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Oath of Vengeance Paladin
Sacred Shield Paladin
Holy Tactician Paladin

Every member of the group would be able to self-heal and remove conditions as a swift action, would have high AC and ridiculously high saves as well as numerous immunities and just enough spells to put them over the top.

They'd be a buzzsaw in combat with much more staying power than most groups, but they'd struggle with skill-related issues apart from 'face' time.

With being human and taking the improvisation feat one could at least cover the basics. And clerics have the same problem.

Figure at least one of them in there will have the Dangerously Curious trait and/or the Unsanctioned Knowledge feat...

[Bigdaddyjug]

A full party of inquisitors could completely wreck stuff.

[Imbicatus]

Bigdaddyjug wrote:

A full party of inquisitors could completely wreck stuff.

True, but the severely limited judgments per day would limit them. Good thing that Sacred Huntmasters and Sanctified Slayers exist. ;)

[Bigdaddyjug]

Imbicatus wrote:

Bigdaddyjug wrote:

A full party of inquisitors could completely wreck stuff.

True, but the severely limited judgments per day would limit them. Good thing that Sacred Huntmasters and Sanctified Slayers exist. ;)

Yeah, they'd be sort on judgements at lower levels, but I think they could get around that problem.

[pennywit]

Witch could work, provided that everybody collaborated when setting hexes, patrons, and spells.

[MYTHIC TOZ]

All CoDzilla, ALL THE TIME.

[pauljathome]

Pretty much ANY class can be made to work. Rogues actually do quite well as an all rogue group would make for a quite different campaign but would be quite viable(they'd NEVER fight remotely fair).

I think the worst choice would be all fighters/slayers/gunslingers. It could work but pretty much almost the entire campaign would have to be focused on killing stuff.

[Imbicatus]

Rogues would do well if they all took teamwork feats and specialized in UMD.

Actually, I think party of all experts using nothing but teamwork feats would do quite well too.

[shroudb]

you need some high end arcane spells for some things.
you obviously need some form or remove X
you need to not die in 1 hit (if you are surprised, while resting, etc)
you need versatility WITHIN the same class

for me, all the above screams:

all shaman party <-far and beyond what other can do
all bard party <- pretty good
all cleric party <-some arcane troubles may arise

[lorenlord]

I'd have to throw my lot in with the Oracle party. With Life getting great mystery spells, they can definitely hang with Healing, and wearing Med Armor is a big plus as well. Seems like it owuld be a cool campaign as well. The Divinely Destined.

[Espy Lacopa]

Bestest Party ever:

All Barbarians, All The Time.

Need healing? Just let one of them pick up UMD and some healing wands.

Damage? Oh yes, plenty of that ^_^

Overcome obstacles? Obstacles are for killing.

[shroudb]

lorenlord wrote:

I'd have to throw my lot in with the Oracle party. With Life getting great mystery spells, they can definitely hang with Healing, and wearing Med Armor is a big plus as well. Seems like it owuld be a cool campaign as well. The Divinely Destined.

so... a blind man, a cripple, and a deaf walk into a bar...

:P

would make epic tales for the bard trailing them (and writing jokes about:P)