Determining Races & Classes for a Campaign? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Determining Races & Classes for a Campaign? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LordCrom
03-21-08, 06:52 AM Newbie question.

I have heard and read that it is prefered to have a diverse group of players in a campaign. Does this mean that there is to be a different Race & Class for each of the players or can there be multiple of the same race as long as each of them is a different class?

So say there were 5 characters in a party. Does it matter if 4 of them are human as long as they are each a seperate class such as Fighter, Rouge, Wizard & Druid?

Thank you - LordCrom
runestar
03-21-08, 07:00 AM It really depends on your own individual preferences.

There is certainly nothing in the rules which prevent you from running a party consisting of 5 elves, or heck, 5 elven wizards (though you may run into problems because of a lack of access to a diverse pool of talents such as trapfinding, melee or healing, but that is another issue altogether).

It is merely recommended that you have different classes to fill out the various roles and responsibilities, so that you can readily handle the various challenges you will encounter.

But outside of that, any combination is fair game, so long as you know what you are getting into.:)
Mad_Jack
03-22-08, 11:27 AM Different races in a party are of negligible importance next to having a decent selection of classes represented in a party, but even that is somewhat negotiable... Like runestar said, you could have a successful party of elven wizards, provided that you worked out tactics that played to your strengths and took steps to account for the weaknesses of the party.
Theoretically, you can make almost any combination of races and classes in a party work, as long as you put the effort into it. Of course, some may or may not be worth that amount of effort, lol.
BugBytes
03-22-08, 12:52 PM It really depends on the DM 's preference. Our DM doesn't like us to use too much non-combat magic and healing spells because he thinks it's too powerfull so he prefers paladins to clerics.

You do need a balance of classes and races but it's easier to determine one if you've already decided the other. For example a halfling makes a better rogue than barbarian. You might want to ask the DM for a short overview of the Campaign. When is it? What's the climate? Etc.
Alter_Boy
03-22-08, 02:13 PM Never let a player take a race that are enemies to another PC's race. Especially if he'll play the hatred to a hilt.

On the same case, don't allow Paladins. Ever.

Kidding. ;)
guamae
03-23-08, 01:51 AM Not particularly adding anything new, or contradicting anything, but:

From my experience in D&D based computer games and the few times i managed to be a player, in any game currently on the market, you basically need a rogue to deal with traps, a cleric to do healing, and an arcane caster to dish out the pain. Outside that having fighter types is good for soaking damage between heals.

I've also played successfully soloing with a carefully crafted half-orc barbarian. Had enough HP and good enough saves to just take traps and bash through any lock, plus the crit range on a Falchion with the Improved Critical feat lets you do serious damage (specially when you have maxed strength).

Class and race are only really important for killing things. In between that, where the real game takes place, class and race are just window-dressing for how you want to play your character.
Etarnon
03-26-08, 05:11 PM I allow players to do whatever race they want, classes are restricted for campaign reasons.

Most of the characters end up being human, with an occasional Dwarf, or Elf.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LordCrom 03-21-08, 06:52 AM	Newbie question. I have heard and read that it is prefered to have a diverse group of players in a campaign. Does this mean that there is to be a different Race & Class for each of the players or can there be multiple of the same race as long as each of them is a different class? So say there were 5 characters in a party. Does it matter if 4 of them are human as long as they are each a seperate class such as Fighter, Rouge, Wizard & Druid? Thank you - LordCrom
runestar 03-21-08, 07:00 AM	It really depends on your own individual preferences. There is certainly nothing in the rules which prevent you from running a party consisting of 5 elves, or heck, 5 elven wizards (though you may run into problems because of a lack of access to a diverse pool of talents such as trapfinding, melee or healing, but that is another issue altogether). It is merely recommended that you have different classes to fill out the various roles and responsibilities, so that you can readily handle the various challenges you will encounter. But outside of that, any combination is fair game, so long as you know what you are getting into.:)
Mad_Jack 03-22-08, 11:27 AM	Different races in a party are of negligible importance next to having a decent selection of classes represented in a party, but even that is somewhat negotiable... Like runestar said, you could have a successful party of elven wizards, provided that you worked out tactics that played to your strengths and took steps to account for the weaknesses of the party. Theoretically, you can make almost any combination of races and classes in a party work, as long as you put the effort into it. Of course, some may or may not be worth that amount of effort, lol.
BugBytes 03-22-08, 12:52 PM	It really depends on the DM 's preference. Our DM doesn't like us to use too much non-combat magic and healing spells because he thinks it's too powerfull so he prefers paladins to clerics. You do need a balance of classes and races but it's easier to determine one if you've already decided the other. For example a halfling makes a better rogue than barbarian. You might want to ask the DM for a short overview of the Campaign. When is it? What's the climate? Etc.
Alter_Boy 03-22-08, 02:13 PM	Never let a player take a race that are enemies to another PC's race. Especially if he'll play the hatred to a hilt. On the same case, don't allow Paladins. Ever. Kidding. ;)
guamae 03-23-08, 01:51 AM	Not particularly adding anything new, or contradicting anything, but: From my experience in D&D based computer games and the few times i managed to be a player, in any game currently on the market, you basically need a rogue to deal with traps, a cleric to do healing, and an arcane caster to dish out the pain. Outside that having fighter types is good for soaking damage between heals. I've also played successfully soloing with a carefully crafted half-orc barbarian. Had enough HP and good enough saves to just take traps and bash through any lock, plus the crit range on a Falchion with the Improved Critical feat lets you do serious damage (specially when you have maxed strength). Class and race are only really important for killing things. In between that, where the real game takes place, class and race are just window-dressing for how you want to play your character.
Etarnon 03-26-08, 05:11 PM	I allow players to do whatever race they want, classes are restricted for campaign reasons. Most of the characters end up being human, with an occasional Dwarf, or Elf.