newbie party [Archive] - Wizards Community

newbie party [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
flad
07-14-07, 01:24 AM hi yeah sorry to bother you guys with this simple question but i have heard about if you have 3 or more elfs or magic users in a party they get special buffs reason i ask is i have 3 elfs one druid on mage and one wizard in a group we want to know what advantages we get for being all elfs and all magic users

thanks for your time
decembersfrost
07-14-07, 01:25 AM Might wanna try posting in the D&D general threads. You'll probably get a better answer there.
Dark_Rhapsody
07-16-07, 11:56 PM No...I have not heard that...
Warforged Goblin
07-17-07, 07:42 AM To my knowledge there is no rule like that anywhere in D&D.
Symar
07-17-07, 06:25 PM You get the advantage that you can all be kick-butt casters end-game, and share a common race which can help in roleplaying situations. That is all. Are you thinking of a video game or something?
Demangel
07-18-07, 09:30 PM I also know of no such official rule in any of the core books I have...

However, I would imagine that there WOULD be mechanical advantages -

Magic item creation - This has never been my strong point in rules interpretation (I'd rather my parties be adventuring rather than working in sweat shops making magic bags), but I would imagine that a group of spell casters could easily split the work when creating items, reducing some cost elements to time and possibly materials etc.

Ritual magic - As a DM i would rule that having multiple mages in a party could mean the party could conduct more elaborate time consuming rituals that do extra special super duper things. Heck it's used as a plot device AGAINST PC's all the time, I see no reason why the reverse can't be true.

Same race - I see this is a much more minor benefit, one more inclined to be RP oriented, however possible mechanics that the party could benefit from might include:

1: Improved teamwork (each character has a more in depth understanding of the cultural side of their peers, and this gives them special insight during all forms of decision making). It could apply a minor benefit (+1 for example) to initiative roles (I'd make each PC roll a dc15 check of some kind, say knowledge, or just plain wisdom if your stumped for the skill to use). Or in those cases when your party plans out their next actions (say laying an ambush etc).

2: Improved racial communication - In the case of elves for example, they all (presumably) speak the same bonus language besides common, it could then be easier for them to hold private conversations in some situations without having to be in private.

There are probably more, but these are two obvious ones I would be tempted to consider if I was running a party like that. just be careful what you give your party, because you may inadvertently break game balance if you make the benefits be too strong. When in doubt I prefer to give my players more options, rather than improved options.

I see all benefits the party would gain from this mix of race/class revolve purely around team work oriented activities.

Thats my two Copper pieces on the subject :)
LoneStranger
07-20-07, 07:42 PM The only buffs the party would get would be the ones that all those spellcasters get and cast on each other. I haven't heard of anything like what you're asking about at all.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
flad 07-14-07, 01:24 AM	hi yeah sorry to bother you guys with this simple question but i have heard about if you have 3 or more elfs or magic users in a party they get special buffs reason i ask is i have 3 elfs one druid on mage and one wizard in a group we want to know what advantages we get for being all elfs and all magic users thanks for your time
decembersfrost 07-14-07, 01:25 AM	Might wanna try posting in the D&D general threads. You'll probably get a better answer there.
Dark_Rhapsody 07-16-07, 11:56 PM	No...I have not heard that...
Warforged Goblin 07-17-07, 07:42 AM	To my knowledge there is no rule like that anywhere in D&D.
Symar 07-17-07, 06:25 PM	You get the advantage that you can all be kick-butt casters end-game, and share a common race which can help in roleplaying situations. That is all. Are you thinking of a video game or something?
Demangel 07-18-07, 09:30 PM	I also know of no such official rule in any of the core books I have... However, I would imagine that there WOULD be mechanical advantages - Magic item creation - This has never been my strong point in rules interpretation (I'd rather my parties be adventuring rather than working in sweat shops making magic bags), but I would imagine that a group of spell casters could easily split the work when creating items, reducing some cost elements to time and possibly materials etc. Ritual magic - As a DM i would rule that having multiple mages in a party could mean the party could conduct more elaborate time consuming rituals that do extra special super duper things. Heck it's used as a plot device AGAINST PC's all the time, I see no reason why the reverse can't be true. Same race - I see this is a much more minor benefit, one more inclined to be RP oriented, however possible mechanics that the party could benefit from might include: 1: Improved teamwork (each character has a more in depth understanding of the cultural side of their peers, and this gives them special insight during all forms of decision making). It could apply a minor benefit (+1 for example) to initiative roles (I'd make each PC roll a dc15 check of some kind, say knowledge, or just plain wisdom if your stumped for the skill to use). Or in those cases when your party plans out their next actions (say laying an ambush etc). 2: Improved racial communication - In the case of elves for example, they all (presumably) speak the same bonus language besides common, it could then be easier for them to hold private conversations in some situations without having to be in private. There are probably more, but these are two obvious ones I would be tempted to consider if I was running a party like that. just be careful what you give your party, because you may inadvertently break game balance if you make the benefits be too strong. When in doubt I prefer to give my players more options, rather than improved options. I see all benefits the party would gain from this mix of race/class revolve purely around team work oriented activities. Thats my two Copper pieces on the subject :)
LoneStranger 07-20-07, 07:42 PM	The only buffs the party would get would be the ones that all those spellcasters get and cast on each other. I haven't heard of anything like what you're asking about at all.