Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lesliweird 06-29-05, 11:51 AM	Our desert campaign is winding down, and with one of our players leaving our DM wants to start over with a campaign set on a jungle island full of awakened animals (since he found out gorillas were tougher than a lot of monsters). I was hoping for some advice about party composition. The DM's wife is a hack and slasher, and will play a barbarian, since that's what does the most damage and forces her to learn the fewest rules. That's just a given. Unless we can get a commitment from a mutual friend for whom driving will be a problem, that leaves two other players. Our DM has been cackling to us about carnivorous plants and awakened animals, so it seems like druid would be a must for at least one of them, and Ranger not a bad choice for the other. Except we also know he's got a hard on for the undead. Anyway, I was just hoping I could get some tips on rounding out the party if we can't get a fourth player and can't count on our barbarian for anything that doesn't involve dealing or taking damage. Or helpful feats to take. Or, anything really.
Illion the Red 06-29-05, 11:56 AM	You might just want a bard for versitility. You get some party-buffing and some minor healing. They get a pretty solid skill progression, and with a dip into rogue, they can handle most of the search/disarm/open duties. They certainly won't be the tank, but they will be able to at least help some.
Xante Flatnose 06-29-05, 12:08 PM	You might just want a bard for versitility. You get some party-buffing and some minor healing. They get a pretty solid skill progression, and with a dip into rogue, they can handle most of the search/disarm/open duties. They certainly won't be the tank, but they will be able to at least help some. Don`t understand it wrong. My favorite class IS the bard. But I do not think it will fit a jungle campaign. It is better for him/her to stay in plains and in taverns and roads. Unless we can get a commitment from a mutual friend for whom driving will be a problem, that leaves two other players. Our DM has been cackling to us about carnivorous plants and awakened animals, so it seems like druid would be a must for at least one of them, and Ranger not a bad choice for the other. Except we also know he's got a hard on for the undead. Ranger will give you the advantage. And when anyone says Ranger, I just remember Bards. as rangers are the lorekeepers of wilderness..
Vapthorne 06-29-05, 12:42 PM	Don`t understand it wrong. My favorite class IS the bard. But I do not think it will fit a jungle campaign. It is better for him/her to stay in plains and in taverns and roads. To throw an idea out; if you have access to Unearthed Arcana, then a Savage Bard might be well suited for a jungle campaign. If you're stuck with Core only, then I'd agree with Xante and stick with a Ranger-type. In fact, I'd recommend a ranger moreso.
friedmad 06-29-05, 01:22 PM	the WORST thing you can do in D&D, and the #1 reason why D&D groups break up is... DONT LET ANYONE'S WIFE PLAY!! Our group's DM wanted to teach his wife D&D and so she has been playing with us...for a year...and STILL doesnt get it....and b**tches and moans every friggin session about it....and throws tantrums....and etc etc etc....we are ready to quit over it... DONT DO IT
lesliweird 06-29-05, 02:09 PM	DONT LET ANYONE'S WIFE PLAY!! Our group's DM wanted to teach his wife D&D and so she has been playing with us...for a year...and STILL doesnt get it....and b**tches and moans every friggin session about it....and throws tantrums....and etc etc etc....we are ready to quit over it... DONT DO IT Kimmy's a permenant fixture, I'm afraid. Either that, or we lose the DM, and to be honest we're running low on friends to play with as it is. And I guess it's on the bright side that since he never calls her on cheating, we get through a lot of combats that should technically be too hard for us. Actually that's not fair. She's quit that since we got high enough level that she can slam most any opponent legitimately. And she's been pretty good about about obeying most rulings once they're explained to her, though she does threaten to make the DM sleep on the porch at least once a session. I think he enjoys ******* her off, though, so I guess it works out okay... :rolleyes: Edit: What the hell? I can't say "****"? What kind of messed up **** is that?
Xante Flatnose 06-29-05, 03:23 PM	What the hell? I can't say "****"? What kind of messed up **** is that? It is called code of conduct fellow, Code of conduct...
celtredleg 06-29-05, 03:54 PM	Ranger and druid might be the ticket. I have a hard time going without a cleric, and with undead in the wings that may be better than the Druid. If you can get a 4th go ranger druid cleric. And make the ranger a melle type. I cansee very short ranged encounters in the jungle.
KoboldSlayer 06-29-05, 04:16 PM	If undead are a real problem but you want someone competent in the wild, take a cleric instead of a druid and select a nature-related deity (Obad-hai, Silvanus, etc. Depends on what world you are playing in.) Then you will get some decent domain spells that are off the druid list, while at the same time retaining your ability to turn undead.
lesliweird 06-29-05, 04:20 PM	It is called code of conduct fellow, Code of conduct... Well, yes, that makes sense for real profanity, but for "****** off"?
Phrennzy 06-29-05, 04:27 PM	the WORST thing you can do in D&D, and the #1 reason why D&D groups break up is... DONT LET ANYONE'S WIFE PLAY!! Our group's DM wanted to teach his wife D&D and so she has been playing with us...for a year...and STILL doesnt get it....and b**tches and moans every friggin session about it....and throws tantrums....and etc etc etc....we are ready to quit over it... DONT DO IT No, that's not the worst, or the most common reason. Immaturity is. Aside from that, and back on topic, is: How can you NOT want to play a druid? This is like Druidic heaven! Plants and animals galore! Heck, you could have multiple druids. Or go split class druid/ranger or druid/rogue. There's plants and animals EVERYWHERE! GO DRUID!
friedmad 06-29-05, 04:40 PM	wild-elf druid ranger nuff said
SeidonVanDolf 06-30-05, 07:56 AM	Tough one. Ranger is good though. Favored Enemy: Undead. And a good woodsy type if the need arises (and it sounds like it's arising). And maybe a Druid or Cleric of a Nature God(dess). A Sorcerer could be useful but I think Druid or Cleric would be a better bet.
High King Tigernmas 06-30-05, 08:00 AM	Something with Handle Animal... A Cleric maybe? For healing...
friedmad 06-30-05, 10:26 AM	if you have Faerun Campaign Setting book or the Players Guie to Faerun, check out the sections on Chult - there youll find some good ideas about favored classes and races for a jungle setting
TheErsatzFacsimileOfMe 06-30-05, 10:59 AM	I would go druid/rogue...Nothing says lovin' like casting summon natures ally and ducking into battle for some flanking and SA damage. :smirk: Sorry, it's the build I've been pushing lately. Summoner/Flank-Attack. I'll stop now.
namesbeenchanged 06-30-05, 10:59 AM	Cleric of Ehlonna (Animal and Plant Domains and Sun domain as well) Cleric 6 (Animal and Sun domains)/Radiant Servant of Ehlonna 10/contemplative cleric 4 (or something else that grants an extra domain and then grab the plant domain as extra domain for this class)
Zalak 06-30-05, 08:41 PM	A druid or nature cleric is probably a good idea. But don't forget you can multiclass the two. A few levels for turn undead might be a good thing. Multiclassing is probably a good idea here. Forget summon monster, just use your animal companion. But remember that this is no good against plants or undead. Overall, it's best to have more then one skill against this sort of range of enemies. If your DM is using lots of effects for the environment, noncombet feats like run, self-sufficient, and stealthy might be better choices then you'd realize. The jungle prevents lots of opportunities for sneaking and ambushes, and since druids won't be harmed by the difficult terrain, running can be a major boost to them. You're likely to have more variety in opponents then animals, plants, and undead. For example, expect tribes of barbarians, yuan-ti, perhaps homebrew abberations, and swarms of all kinds, perhaps including homebrew. This depends mostly on your DM's style. What campaign setting are you using? Use campaign-specific material to the greatest effect possible.
eudas 07-08-05, 02:11 PM	druid, ranger, barbarian, and cleric would be a powerful party in such an environment. druid's handbook: http://www.wizards.com/leaving.asp?url=http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=165279&origin= Druid spells such as 'align fang', 'magic fang', etc. can help out vs undead. Plus, tons of energy spells available to them. some ranger builds: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=57494 eudas
friedmad 07-08-05, 02:41 PM	just make sure whatever class you take can cast non-detection or youre screwed - practically everything that lives in a jungle can smell ya from miles away - not good if you plan on camping and sleeping in the wild...
Bruunwald 07-08-05, 02:51 PM	Spirit Shaman in Complete Divine might be a good back-up or alternative to druid, if your DM has a thing for incorporeal undead. They draw spells from the druid list, but get animal guides, can smite "spirits" (which includes fey and incorporeal undead) and gain a ghost touch ability with whatever weapon they are wielding.
Bruunwald 07-08-05, 02:54 PM	the WORST thing you can do in D&D, and the #1 reason why D&D groups break up is... DONT LET ANYONE'S WIFE PLAY!! Our group's DM wanted to teach his wife D&D and so she has been playing with us...for a year...and STILL doesnt get it....and b**tches and moans every friggin session about it....and throws tantrums....and etc etc etc....we are ready to quit over it... DONT DO IT Insulting, irrelevant and untrue. There's an entire thread around here somewhere with tons of people (myself included) posting nothing but success stories around teaching the game to their significant others.
SeidonVanDolf 07-23-05, 03:08 AM	Insulting, irrelevant and untrue. There's an entire thread around here somewhere with tons of people (myself included) posting nothing but success stories around teaching the game to their significant others. Whilst I myself have not posted on this thread I am a full supporter of it. Don't assume that all women are the little Betty Crocker happy homemaker types or the domineering Peggy Bundys of the world. They aren't. If you believe that then you aren't much of a man yourself then are you, Al?