There's a lot of Will saves involved in Reign of Winter?
Yes. Very this. One of my players took Iron Will and plans on taking Improved Iron Will.
I've been DMing the game for a couple of years now, and we're coming to the end. You definitely want to use the Player's Guide, as it offers great suggestions.
I'm of the opinion that any party can find a way to best any situation, as long as you have the basics (somebody that can do damage; somebody that can patch you up; somebody that can talk; somebody that can provide support functions [like fly]). Pathfinder offers a phenomenal number of ways to meet these basic requirements.
Nevertheless, this campaign definitely rewards a few specific choices.
First and foremost, a race or class that offers cold resistance is excellent. Dealing cold damage is not great. Dealing large amounts of fire damage will reward you time and time again. Your initial hunch of something like a boreal sorcerer that takes fire spells is spot-on.
Witches get a number of fun options, if you're comfortable with a high degree of backstory association.
My sense is that Druids are almost as useful (bonuses against fey!), without any backstory overhead. Alas, nobody played either of these for me.
Traps are no big deal. If you build somebody explicitly to be a trap monkey, I think you will be disappointed. My players tripped every one and didn't die for it. Curses, on the other hand, are something to be reckoned with, so if you can make somebody good with those, do so.
There's plenty of opportunities for using enchantments, but do have a backup plan. There are some high-profile fights against things immune to it. Will saves are just as important as they always are. You've got a lot of witch foes in this campaign who will test a low will save, but they are smart enough to test your other saves if you're tough to crack mentally.
I can confirm that a druid is a good choice. One of my players plays a druid, and he is very effective, especially in the wilderness encounters and against fey.
Another has a sorcerer with a lot of fire spells. He is very effective as well.
And the bard is quite effective. He also fits nicely with the fairytale theme.
Someone specializing in ranged attacks is also quite useful.
No on has addressed why Monks are poor choices for this AP and one of my players is planning on rolling an unchained monk for our first session saturday. Why is the monk bad? Should I suggest for him to play a different class?IMO, monks and rogues/ninjas are possibly the two worst fitting classes (unlike Jade Regent).
Mechanically, monks are as effective as they are in other APs. A qinggong monk of the four winds or master of many styles with Efreeti Style (for the bonus fire damage) and Marid Style/Marid Spirit (for the cold resistance) can do pretty well (Dragon Style/Dragon Ferocity/Dragon Roar is also useful in conjunction with Elemental Fist, if you have enough feats). Sohei may also be OK.
Thematically, on the other hand, they don't have as many built-in "hooks" as other classes and they will not have many class-appropriate items that I can remember (other than from one encounter in the fourth book).
^Monks may not have much in the way of built-in hooks, but you shouldn't let that stop you. And you can get indirect hooks -- be a visitor from Tian-Xia in Taldor on what was supposed to be business (probably working for somebody else, since you are starting out at 1st level), and then things went down the tubes, and now you are looking into crossing the Crown of the World to get back home, but before you can start out, this diversion comes up . . . .
Do not forget that Rasputin was called 'the mad monk' (historic reference). Perhaps you could use that to your advantage.
Do not forget that Rasputin was called 'the mad monk' (historic reference).
<wince>
Christian (Eastern Orthodox, in Russia) monks are not the same as Far East (usually Buddhist or Shinto) monks. In game terms, "monks" are not (necessarily) tied to organized religions.
Also, a monastery =/= a dojo. Even in the Far East, unarmed fighting styles are only one aspect of what is taught and practiced in a monastery (not the main focus).
I know that. You could play with the concept, however. After all, the player characters do not know that.
Assuming an 18 Dex human gunslinger with a pistol hits level 6 she'll be hitting, and hit she will thanks to touch AC, enemies for 1d8+4+PBS. If she takes the right feats, 1d8+8+PBS twice or thrice. This is without any magic equipment or spells whatsoever. Say our gunslinger's investigator friend buffs her with cat's grace, she purchases or enchants her weapon, and routinely fights with the gnomish archer bard Mischievo we could be looking at +16/+16/+11 1d8+12.
And Mischievo's thinking about taking haste next level.
Please tell me Mischievo is a real character and provide a detailed account of his antics. Thank you.
Magical Child Vigilante.
In fact, a party of three Magical Child Vigilantes, and one Alchemist. ;)
... I'm having a sudden vision of a Pathfinderised version of the Bat-family tackling this AP. It could be fun, although they would be a little light on the spellcasting side (unless one re-flavoured it as "using high-tech equipment"). Maybe they could get their doctor in the form of a Cleric cohort? :)
I'm starting a game and these are my 3/4 of my players so far,
Gnome Flame Oracle with Failed Apprentice and Snowstepper trait
Human Paladin with Warded against Witchery and favored energy resistance trait cold for human paladins
Half-Elf Ranger Skirmisher with favored enemy Fey and Wayfarer traits
what else would be good?
I have run this to a lawful evil party. Having lots undead means an easy bypass to most environmental problems