Themed Parties [Archive] - Wizards Community

Themed Parties [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cynric
09-12-06, 07:51 PM Just a thought.

A few freeinds and I are looking at building a part of themed characters to play in the new region of Ratik when it returns in a month. We are looking at being devotees of procan but covering the four iconic roles of tank arcane, divine and rogue with committed people and there are a few others who will play with us occasionally.

Number one, has anyone tried this option in LG. Experiences, problems etc.

Number 2 as a result we are looking at thememing the damage output to electrical in terms of arcane (Stormcaster provided we can get access), while this could cause problems we think we can get around it with some feat choices.

Any suggestions would be welcome.
paigeoliver
09-12-06, 08:15 PM We have a local dwarf theme party that has been having great success. It is called the "Clan Rockhall Expiditionary Force". They have waltzed through some modules entirely due to the fact that the bad guys can't hit their armor classes and even when they can they all have 16-18 CON.

I have personally been trying to get local players interested in making an all flying party (all mounted on Dire bats), but there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest. It would turn those road ambush encounters into comedic encounters. The main problem with the flying party is that you can't make a balanced one before level 6, so it takes a whole year lead up time to do it.

I also think a pirate party would be great and you could make a balanced pirate party from level 1. All it really takes is light armor and profession sailor for everyone.
UMiskatonic
09-20-06, 02:42 PM We built an all-cleric party. There are six of us, all different gods, and a marshal we occasionally play with.

Great fun, and highly versatile. However, cleric/rogues are tough to build. All the others work fine.
trollbill
09-20-06, 03:11 PM Haven't tried it in LG yet, but in 2E we had a party of all elves or half-elves that were either straight cleric or multiclassed clerics of the elven pantheon. Worked nicely. Never was want for cures.
Mommy was an Orc
09-20-06, 03:33 PM Rogue 1/Cleric 4/Divine Prankster 10 works very nicely as a 'Rogue'

Great fun, and highly versatile. However, cleric/rogues are tough to build. All the others work fine.
chesspiece
09-20-06, 03:56 PM Haven't tried it in LG yet, but in 2E we had a party of all elves or half-elves that were either straight cleric or multiclassed clerics of the elven pantheon. Worked nicely. Never was want for cures.

Go, Team Cleric! :D

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0077.html
Reylance
09-22-06, 02:42 PM I thought about a party built around the characters of the anime Dragon Half, though not many people would get the reference.

A more realistic total party build, and one that might fit your idea, is a party where everyone has a shocker lizard familiar. Picture, at high levels, the arcane trickster escorting the six lizards, who then deliver a big zap. For a noncaster, it would take a level of wizard or sorcerer, Practiced Spellcaster, and Improved Familiar to get the lizard, but it's easy to design a relatively balanced party that can meet the goal. Possibilities:

Wizard
Mystic Theurge
Arcane Archer
Spellsword
Arcane Trickster
Arcane Hierophant
Bronze Dragon Disciple
trollbill
09-22-06, 03:16 PM The Arcane Heirophant wouldn't work because he loses his familiar when he becomes an AH and Shocker Lizard is not on the available animal companion list (unless you've got an AR that says otherwise).

Nice concept, though.
clik_ml
09-22-06, 06:08 PM I would totally love to play in an all shocker lizard familiar party. I'd be tempted to have a bard with obtain familiar/improved familiar.
Qworg
09-26-06, 02:39 AM For the cleric - Stormlord.

My Procanite has it and hasn't looked back. =D
Cynric
09-26-06, 05:57 AM So far we are looking at Stormlord, Stormcaster, Raging Barbarian (thunder), a Divine Champion and my scout ranger as the lightning team for Procan. I think it will turn out ok. What I would like to see is someone else join us with a stormsinger.
Gelth
10-04-06, 02:02 PM I'm a big fan of all Dwarven/Halforc parties. Who needs light sources? You can easily cover all four archetypal roles in the party with just Dwarves if you want, and everyone will have lots of hitpoints.
It's much easier to move through a dungeon undetected if nobody needs light to see.

--Penn, Ket Triad
gomeztoo
10-05-06, 04:45 AM I and two other players build the LG version of the totally spies once... (we instantly had several DMs vowing to never run a scenario for that party, ever...)
However as players we ran into the problem that we actually do not have a lot of opportunities to play together.
Hence the party never made it as a tight group past 'Mad God's Key'. I still play Clover, but not generally with the others.
paigeoliver
10-07-06, 11:53 PM A 6 Marshall party could be really nasty as well, since you could have all 6 of the best Marshall Auras active all the time.

Motivate Dexterity: Initiative and Dex skills.
Motivate Wisdom: Spot, Listen, Sense motive.
Force of Will: Bonus on Will saves.
Master of Tactics: Bonus on damage rolls when flanking.
Art of War: Bonus on disarm, trip, bull rush, and sunder attempts.
Over the Top: Bonus on damage rolls when charging.

Note that I didn't include the charisma aura. It's overkill and a mistake for most Marshalls. Once your character is say 7th level it won't matter if his diplomacy is +24 or +28, the result will be the same and everyone will be wishing he had a different aura instead.
Mommy was an Orc
10-08-06, 03:45 PM Note that I didn't include the charisma aura. It's overkill and a mistake for most Marshalls. Once your character is say 7th level it won't matter if his diplomacy is +24 or +28, the result will be the same and everyone will be wishing he had a different aura instead.

It is a mistake unless you're built properly for it, the same as any of the mental skill boosters. The big advantage of them is that you can ignore depth for breadth when spending your skill points. A Marshal with half maxxed Intimidate, Diplomacy, Bluff, and cross-classed UMD can be pretty good at all 4 of them with the Charisma Aura.
Iswald
10-08-06, 11:00 PM I don't quite see how a marshal is going to use their aura while making a diplomacy check. While they are talking to the other person, they're giving themself a pep talk and tips on what to say at the same time, rather disconcerting for the other person.
Mommy was an Orc
10-08-06, 11:37 PM I don't quite see how a marshal is going to use their aura while making a diplomacy check. While they are talking to the other person, they're giving themself a pep talk and tips on what to say at the same time, rather disconcerting for the other person.

You only have to give the pep talk on the 1st round of activating the power. After that, the only limitation is the Marshal is not under a set of unlikely conditions and that he be able to hear himself speak.

Not to mention, it isn't difficult to include a pep talk and tips on what to say when negotiating even if a DM decided to make a case of it. Something to the effect of, "I'm a professional X with long experience in these matters. I'm sure if we both look at our positions calmly and rationally, we can find common ground to resolve our differences."

There's both a pep talk and tips on what to say. You can also do what politicians do - tell the audience what you're going to say, say it, then remind them that you said it. It only sounds phony and weird when someone with a normal or below average charisma is saying it.
timerino
10-10-06, 05:59 PM A Party of Bards! ... imagine ...

"NO! I inspired you first! You get in combat."

The total lack of damage being dealt ... but the comedy ... the total farce of it all. Maybe all the bards be singing in the background until someone wises up and summons something to fight for them.

tim
Japangirl
10-11-06, 01:47 PM I inspire, you charm, you charm, you charm, you charm, you charm. Alright, that leaves us with five cohorts to be inspired and an inspirer bard. Next combat, anyone? :D
solbergb
10-11-06, 02:46 PM A Party of Bards! ... imagine ...

"NO! I inspired you first! You get in combat."

tim

It tends to go more like this:

Round 1: Haste, Inspire, glitterdust, confusion, grease and silence
Round 2: Bards either dump four more debuffs if they didn't stick, or wade in/start shooting all buffed up with similar competence to medeocre unbuffed fighter types, vs hampered enemies.

It's actually not that bad usually :)
TMoonshadow
10-15-06, 11:16 AM We tried a themed party in second edition for Living City - "The Hand of Helm". We were all clerics, paladins, and crusaders of Helm. It worked quite well, especially against humanoid opponents. (5 hold persons stopped a lot of fights). Buffed clerics and paladins make very good fighters, as well. If we could have thrown in a rogue, at least, that would have been helpful - but a rouge just didn't seem to fit in with the theme.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cynric 09-12-06, 07:51 PM	Just a thought. A few freeinds and I are looking at building a part of themed characters to play in the new region of Ratik when it returns in a month. We are looking at being devotees of procan but covering the four iconic roles of tank arcane, divine and rogue with committed people and there are a few others who will play with us occasionally. Number one, has anyone tried this option in LG. Experiences, problems etc. Number 2 as a result we are looking at thememing the damage output to electrical in terms of arcane (Stormcaster provided we can get access), while this could cause problems we think we can get around it with some feat choices. Any suggestions would be welcome.
paigeoliver 09-12-06, 08:15 PM	We have a local dwarf theme party that has been having great success. It is called the "Clan Rockhall Expiditionary Force". They have waltzed through some modules entirely due to the fact that the bad guys can't hit their armor classes and even when they can they all have 16-18 CON. I have personally been trying to get local players interested in making an all flying party (all mounted on Dire bats), but there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest. It would turn those road ambush encounters into comedic encounters. The main problem with the flying party is that you can't make a balanced one before level 6, so it takes a whole year lead up time to do it. I also think a pirate party would be great and you could make a balanced pirate party from level 1. All it really takes is light armor and profession sailor for everyone.
UMiskatonic 09-20-06, 02:42 PM	We built an all-cleric party. There are six of us, all different gods, and a marshal we occasionally play with. Great fun, and highly versatile. However, cleric/rogues are tough to build. All the others work fine.
trollbill 09-20-06, 03:11 PM	Haven't tried it in LG yet, but in 2E we had a party of all elves or half-elves that were either straight cleric or multiclassed clerics of the elven pantheon. Worked nicely. Never was want for cures.
Mommy was an Orc 09-20-06, 03:33 PM	Rogue 1/Cleric 4/Divine Prankster 10 works very nicely as a 'Rogue' Great fun, and highly versatile. However, cleric/rogues are tough to build. All the others work fine.
chesspiece 09-20-06, 03:56 PM	Haven't tried it in LG yet, but in 2E we had a party of all elves or half-elves that were either straight cleric or multiclassed clerics of the elven pantheon. Worked nicely. Never was want for cures. Go, Team Cleric! :D http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0077.html
Reylance 09-22-06, 02:42 PM	I thought about a party built around the characters of the anime Dragon Half, though not many people would get the reference. A more realistic total party build, and one that might fit your idea, is a party where everyone has a shocker lizard familiar. Picture, at high levels, the arcane trickster escorting the six lizards, who then deliver a big zap. For a noncaster, it would take a level of wizard or sorcerer, Practiced Spellcaster, and Improved Familiar to get the lizard, but it's easy to design a relatively balanced party that can meet the goal. Possibilities: Wizard Mystic Theurge Arcane Archer Spellsword Arcane Trickster Arcane Hierophant Bronze Dragon Disciple
trollbill 09-22-06, 03:16 PM	The Arcane Heirophant wouldn't work because he loses his familiar when he becomes an AH and Shocker Lizard is not on the available animal companion list (unless you've got an AR that says otherwise). Nice concept, though.
clik_ml 09-22-06, 06:08 PM	I would totally love to play in an all shocker lizard familiar party. I'd be tempted to have a bard with obtain familiar/improved familiar.
Qworg 09-26-06, 02:39 AM	For the cleric - Stormlord. My Procanite has it and hasn't looked back. =D
Cynric 09-26-06, 05:57 AM	So far we are looking at Stormlord, Stormcaster, Raging Barbarian (thunder), a Divine Champion and my scout ranger as the lightning team for Procan. I think it will turn out ok. What I would like to see is someone else join us with a stormsinger.
Gelth 10-04-06, 02:02 PM	I'm a big fan of all Dwarven/Halforc parties. Who needs light sources? You can easily cover all four archetypal roles in the party with just Dwarves if you want, and everyone will have lots of hitpoints. It's much easier to move through a dungeon undetected if nobody needs light to see. --Penn, Ket Triad
gomeztoo 10-05-06, 04:45 AM	I and two other players build the LG version of the totally spies once... (we instantly had several DMs vowing to never run a scenario for that party, ever...) However as players we ran into the problem that we actually do not have a lot of opportunities to play together. Hence the party never made it as a tight group past 'Mad God's Key'. I still play Clover, but not generally with the others.
paigeoliver 10-07-06, 11:53 PM	A 6 Marshall party could be really nasty as well, since you could have all 6 of the best Marshall Auras active all the time. Motivate Dexterity: Initiative and Dex skills. Motivate Wisdom: Spot, Listen, Sense motive. Force of Will: Bonus on Will saves. Master of Tactics: Bonus on damage rolls when flanking. Art of War: Bonus on disarm, trip, bull rush, and sunder attempts. Over the Top: Bonus on damage rolls when charging. Note that I didn't include the charisma aura. It's overkill and a mistake for most Marshalls. Once your character is say 7th level it won't matter if his diplomacy is +24 or +28, the result will be the same and everyone will be wishing he had a different aura instead.
Mommy was an Orc 10-08-06, 03:45 PM	Note that I didn't include the charisma aura. It's overkill and a mistake for most Marshalls. Once your character is say 7th level it won't matter if his diplomacy is +24 or +28, the result will be the same and everyone will be wishing he had a different aura instead. It is a mistake unless you're built properly for it, the same as any of the mental skill boosters. The big advantage of them is that you can ignore depth for breadth when spending your skill points. A Marshal with half maxxed Intimidate, Diplomacy, Bluff, and cross-classed UMD can be pretty good at all 4 of them with the Charisma Aura.
Iswald 10-08-06, 11:00 PM	I don't quite see how a marshal is going to use their aura while making a diplomacy check. While they are talking to the other person, they're giving themself a pep talk and tips on what to say at the same time, rather disconcerting for the other person.
Mommy was an Orc 10-08-06, 11:37 PM	I don't quite see how a marshal is going to use their aura while making a diplomacy check. While they are talking to the other person, they're giving themself a pep talk and tips on what to say at the same time, rather disconcerting for the other person. You only have to give the pep talk on the 1st round of activating the power. After that, the only limitation is the Marshal is not under a set of unlikely conditions and that he be able to hear himself speak. Not to mention, it isn't difficult to include a pep talk and tips on what to say when negotiating even if a DM decided to make a case of it. Something to the effect of, "I'm a professional X with long experience in these matters. I'm sure if we both look at our positions calmly and rationally, we can find common ground to resolve our differences." There's both a pep talk and tips on what to say. You can also do what politicians do - tell the audience what you're going to say, say it, then remind them that you said it. It only sounds phony and weird when someone with a normal or below average charisma is saying it.
timerino 10-10-06, 05:59 PM	A Party of Bards! ... imagine ... "NO! I inspired you first! You get in combat." The total lack of damage being dealt ... but the comedy ... the total farce of it all. Maybe all the bards be singing in the background until someone wises up and summons something to fight for them. tim
Japangirl 10-11-06, 01:47 PM	I inspire, you charm, you charm, you charm, you charm, you charm. Alright, that leaves us with five cohorts to be inspired and an inspirer bard. Next combat, anyone? :D
solbergb 10-11-06, 02:46 PM	A Party of Bards! ... imagine ... "NO! I inspired you first! You get in combat." tim It tends to go more like this: Round 1: Haste, Inspire, glitterdust, confusion, grease and silence Round 2: Bards either dump four more debuffs if they didn't stick, or wade in/start shooting all buffed up with similar competence to medeocre unbuffed fighter types, vs hampered enemies. It's actually not that bad usually :)
TMoonshadow 10-15-06, 11:16 AM	We tried a themed party in second edition for Living City - "The Hand of Helm". We were all clerics, paladins, and crusaders of Helm. It worked quite well, especially against humanoid opponents. (5 hold persons stopped a lot of fights). Buffed clerics and paladins make very good fighters, as well. If we could have thrown in a rogue, at least, that would have been helpful - but a rouge just didn't seem to fit in with the theme.