A viable lone adventurer... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A viable lone adventurer... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
IrishRover
02-08-07, 03:08 PM If a character is going to be adventuring alone (due to choice, not due to the demise of the rest of her group) what class or combination of classes would work? Obviously, there's many choices; I'd like to see what various people think. I'm assuming at least 7th level or so, as lower level is likely too weak to survive alone (and I prefer adventures of that level or higher)

This is not someone who stays in a single area, but travels.

Any thoughts?
DarkNick
02-08-07, 03:18 PM Anything would work, why wouldn't it?

Solo games don't tend to run like your standard 4 player party games. One class is just as good as another - as long as the game is tailored for that character.
kerveroc
02-08-07, 03:37 PM a crusader is a very good option, he is both a healthy warrior plus a healer without even spending extra rounds. if you cook him up with a half dragon template and put some breath feats he becomes a really good challenge for your enemies.
Seeker95
02-08-07, 03:56 PM Cleric or Druid. And a good DM.
SilverFoxKnows
02-08-07, 05:03 PM Ranger. Decent hit die, good BAB, two good saves, good skill points with a decent selection, animal companion and a few spells. One of my favorite classes. Druid would be good, too.
Einvaldurinn_mikli
02-08-07, 05:23 PM Druid. After all their theme song is "Anything you can do....":P
Fireclave
02-08-07, 05:26 PM CoDzilla, or Bard. Nuff said.
Bruunwald
02-08-07, 06:46 PM Solo games don't tend to run like your standard 4 player party games. One class is just as good as another - as long as the game is tailored for that character.

Exactly. And as Seeker mentioned, a good DM is essential.

All that said, I have DMed many a solo game, and I can say that my favorite characters to do this for were paladins and clerics, with the accent on cleric.

The ability to spontaneously heal and to buff oneself goes a long way to enabling a good challenge for a solo character, and the healing makes quick friends among NPCs.
Herobane
02-08-07, 06:47 PM I've got an expal going quite nicely on his own.
freeholder
02-08-07, 07:04 PM Barbarian Sorceror multiclass

But the player will also play and lich rat and an awakened ax bard

Then DM will play a wizard
Board_Rider
02-08-07, 07:17 PM I personally like the Ranger(or Druid)/Rogue multiclass build. In my XP this combo provides stealth, skills, access to Divine and Arcane (via UMD) spells as well as decent combat ability.

Some others:

Warblade/Incarnate
Scout/Cleric
Swordsage/Swashbuckler
Ramses III
02-08-07, 10:48 PM Druid. Cleric or some kind of arcane gish would be viable as well.
Always-Late
02-08-07, 10:55 PM Dru[i]d. Comes with tank.
LordQuazk
02-08-07, 11:08 PM For fun? Barbarian/Rogue.

thog use raging power attack greataxe sneak attack for d12+3d6+456

Just imagine it! Someone notices you're pickpocketing them, tries to kill you, and then gets cut in half by a greataxe!
Krusk
02-08-07, 11:52 PM Id say anything that can hold its own in melee, but still is able to do some divine magic for healing. The healing could be done by using wands/rods whatever. But that requires ranks in use magic device.

Also a bard would work well enough, but the game would have to be more focused on roleplay.
swallowyersoul
02-09-07, 02:38 AM monks really shine on their own.

they're slightly below average on many things, but are largely self-sufficient (they can self-heal, have a wide variety of skills available,etc).

also, and here's the crux, many of the monk's weaknesses are only problems because they have to hang around with their slower, noisier teammates.

once you have a speed of 60 and a solid hide skill not much around is going to really put the fear into you.
KJW
02-09-07, 07:59 AM Anything can work, check the thread, Guide to Solo Campaigns, in my signature for lots of help on running these types of adventures. Personally, you should see what the player wants to run and then build the campaign around that. At 7th level just about all classes are potent enough for solo gaming. You can tailor to the PC and if necessary add NPCs to help out the PC if he makes a really weak character. If the PC goes for a ranger type then you focus on a wilderness campaign, if the PC goes for a rogue then maybe a more urban campaign. The beauty of solo campaigns is the fact you only have to tailor adventures for one PC, which is nice and pretty easy.
Findail
02-09-07, 09:13 AM Spirit Shaman.
marcel_deathbringer
02-09-07, 02:00 PM monks really shine on their own.

they're slightly below average on many things, but are largely self-sufficient (they can self-heal, have a wide variety of skills available,etc).

also, and here's the crux, many of the monk's weaknesses are only problems because they have to hang around with their slower, noisier teammates.

once you have a speed of 60 and a solid hide skill not much around is going to really put the fear into you.

My thoughts exactly.
I think monk would be excellent.
IrishRover
02-09-07, 03:30 PM For fun? Barbarian/Rogue.

thog use raging power attack greataxe sneak attack for d12+3d6+456

Just imagine it! Someone notices you're pickpocketing them, tries to kill you, and then gets cut in half by a greataxe!

:rofl:

I love that!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
IrishRover 02-08-07, 03:08 PM	If a character is going to be adventuring alone (due to choice, not due to the demise of the rest of her group) what class or combination of classes would work? Obviously, there's many choices; I'd like to see what various people think. I'm assuming at least 7th level or so, as lower level is likely too weak to survive alone (and I prefer adventures of that level or higher) This is not someone who stays in a single area, but travels. Any thoughts?
DarkNick 02-08-07, 03:18 PM	Anything would work, why wouldn't it? Solo games don't tend to run like your standard 4 player party games. One class is just as good as another - as long as the game is tailored for that character.
kerveroc 02-08-07, 03:37 PM	a crusader is a very good option, he is both a healthy warrior plus a healer without even spending extra rounds. if you cook him up with a half dragon template and put some breath feats he becomes a really good challenge for your enemies.
Seeker95 02-08-07, 03:56 PM	Cleric or Druid. And a good DM.
SilverFoxKnows 02-08-07, 05:03 PM	Ranger. Decent hit die, good BAB, two good saves, good skill points with a decent selection, animal companion and a few spells. One of my favorite classes. Druid would be good, too.
Einvaldurinn_mikli 02-08-07, 05:23 PM	Druid. After all their theme song is "Anything you can do....":P
Fireclave 02-08-07, 05:26 PM	CoDzilla, or Bard. Nuff said.
Bruunwald 02-08-07, 06:46 PM	Solo games don't tend to run like your standard 4 player party games. One class is just as good as another - as long as the game is tailored for that character. Exactly. And as Seeker mentioned, a good DM is essential. All that said, I have DMed many a solo game, and I can say that my favorite characters to do this for were paladins and clerics, with the accent on cleric. The ability to spontaneously heal and to buff oneself goes a long way to enabling a good challenge for a solo character, and the healing makes quick friends among NPCs.
Herobane 02-08-07, 06:47 PM	I've got an expal going quite nicely on his own.
freeholder 02-08-07, 07:04 PM	Barbarian Sorceror multiclass But the player will also play and lich rat and an awakened ax bard Then DM will play a wizard
Board_Rider 02-08-07, 07:17 PM	I personally like the Ranger(or Druid)/Rogue multiclass build. In my XP this combo provides stealth, skills, access to Divine and Arcane (via UMD) spells as well as decent combat ability. Some others: Warblade/Incarnate Scout/Cleric Swordsage/Swashbuckler
Ramses III 02-08-07, 10:48 PM	Druid. Cleric or some kind of arcane gish would be viable as well.
Always-Late 02-08-07, 10:55 PM	Dru[i]d. Comes with tank.
LordQuazk 02-08-07, 11:08 PM	For fun? Barbarian/Rogue. thog use raging power attack greataxe sneak attack for d12+3d6+456 Just imagine it! Someone notices you're pickpocketing them, tries to kill you, and then gets cut in half by a greataxe!
Krusk 02-08-07, 11:52 PM	Id say anything that can hold its own in melee, but still is able to do some divine magic for healing. The healing could be done by using wands/rods whatever. But that requires ranks in use magic device. Also a bard would work well enough, but the game would have to be more focused on roleplay.
swallowyersoul 02-09-07, 02:38 AM	monks really shine on their own. they're slightly below average on many things, but are largely self-sufficient (they can self-heal, have a wide variety of skills available,etc). also, and here's the crux, many of the monk's weaknesses are only problems because they have to hang around with their slower, noisier teammates. once you have a speed of 60 and a solid hide skill not much around is going to really put the fear into you.
KJW 02-09-07, 07:59 AM	Anything can work, check the thread, Guide to Solo Campaigns, in my signature for lots of help on running these types of adventures. Personally, you should see what the player wants to run and then build the campaign around that. At 7th level just about all classes are potent enough for solo gaming. You can tailor to the PC and if necessary add NPCs to help out the PC if he makes a really weak character. If the PC goes for a ranger type then you focus on a wilderness campaign, if the PC goes for a rogue then maybe a more urban campaign. The beauty of solo campaigns is the fact you only have to tailor adventures for one PC, which is nice and pretty easy.
Findail 02-09-07, 09:13 AM	Spirit Shaman.
marcel_deathbringer 02-09-07, 02:00 PM	monks really shine on their own. they're slightly below average on many things, but are largely self-sufficient (they can self-heal, have a wide variety of skills available,etc). also, and here's the crux, many of the monk's weaknesses are only problems because they have to hang around with their slower, noisier teammates. once you have a speed of 60 and a solid hide skill not much around is going to really put the fear into you. My thoughts exactly. I think monk would be excellent.
IrishRover 02-09-07, 03:30 PM	For fun? Barbarian/Rogue. thog use raging power attack greataxe sneak attack for d12+3d6+456 Just imagine it! Someone notices you're pickpocketing them, tries to kill you, and then gets cut in half by a greataxe! :rofl: I love that!