Have you created a "themed" party? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Have you created a "themed" party? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Meshakhad
04-10-05, 01:22 AM I was once wondering how useful certain skills are in D&D. For example, has anyone ever used Hide? I mean, the ranger, rogue, and monk can do it, but what good is it if the cleric is visible? So I imagined a "stealth" team, where everybody put ranks in Hide, and nobody wore much armor. The cleric had the Trickery domain, or we could have a druid. Ok, Hide is cross-class for druids, but it's the same for sorcerors, wizards, and psions.

Then I got thinking about the possibility of other "themed" parties. For instance, we could have the exalted party, where the rogue is going for Slayer of Domiel, the sorceror is an exalted arcanist, and the paladin and cleric... no explanation needed. So, I am asking you, have you ever created an entire adventuring party where there was one skill or mindset dominant (sneaky, ranged combat, LG)? Not just for fun, but an actual party you used in a game.
Gedrin
04-10-05, 03:01 AM I've not done this in the past, but plan to do something similar in my next campaign.

Normally, I give the players a good idea of the environment they will be based in (or in the case of my current campaign, begin in), and then let them make characters that will work in that environment. My players tend to talk things over with each other too, so characters normally fit together on some level. Often they're all from the same country, so there are cultural similarities as well.
Deflare
04-10-05, 03:14 AM Hmm... Never done it before, but the idea is interesting. The workability depends on the party layout- obviously, an all-melee party would get smished by anything with magic.

An all-sneaker party could do quite well. The monk and ranger would be the biggest tankers, the usefulness of a rogue is obvious, and a Bard could supply spellcasting ability. As for prestige classes, just use the Complete Adventurer.

All LG party? That may not work so well; no Barbarians, Bards, or Druids, and Clerics have a somewhat restricted domain selection. It works fine for the Core 4 (Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard), and it's great for paladins and monks, but the class limitations get a tad irritating (I like Barbarians, smeggit!). Similar limitations apply to any other alignment-specific party.

Theoretically, an all-magic-user party could be pretty strong. 7 out of 11 of the core classes are magical, as are many of the prestige classes. Paladin or Ranger as fighter, Bard or Cleric helping in the fight, and the mages acting as the stars of the show, using explosive magic in combat and utility spells to cover any Rogue-ish needs. Actually, Rogues may count for the party if their Use Magic Device skill is high enough.
NcT
04-10-05, 03:45 AM That almost happend at my friend's house. He was Dming and told me and a few others to make Chars So I made a Rog/Sorc but there was already a Rogue so we all were about to make Rog/druid, Rog/pally but that never happend but it could of worked.
Mirikon
04-10-05, 11:28 AM Never tried it before, other than in a thread or two talking about what a cool party for X ECL would be. Could be fun, though, depending on what the theme was.
Jayr
04-10-05, 12:38 PM I've been in more theme parties than you can shake a stick at.

The elven druids:Male half-high elf/half-drow druid 7/animal lord 1 -- boar companion
Female half-human/half-wood elf druid 5/shifter 3 -- snake companion
Male wood elf elf druid 5/verdant lord 3 -- wolverine companion
Female wood elf druid 5/wolflord 3 -- wolf companion

It started when two players wanted to be elf druids, then a third wanted to be a drow druid to mess them up, then the DM told me I should be Orochimaru, but I messed up because I don't read the manga he's in. Surprisingly, it worked.

The holy warriors:Our current party is:
LG male human cleric 1 of Pelor -- Healing and Strength domains
LG male half-elf paladin 1 of Heironeous
LG female trumpet archon 1 of Rao
LG male ranger 2 of Elhonna (DMPC)

I'm the trumpet archon. We basically bicker and smite things. In our first battle, we defeated 8 1st-level orc warriors and a 3rd-level orc fighter.

The fey group:This group is from way back, I DMed it:
CG male drow ranger -- panther companion (and two scimitars!)
NG male drow druid -- snake companion
CG male grig
CG female elf ranger -- wolf companion
NG female elf druid -- wolf companion
CG male pixie -- named Tofu

No explaination needed.

Here's an elemental mage party:Fridge, the NE male gnome cleric 11/? 5 of Ulutiu -- Cold and Ocean domains
Teji, the CE male human shugenja 6/elemental savant 10 -- fire specialist
Taruk, the CN male human sorcerer 16 -- Energy Substitution (sonic and electricity)

Very strange things happened. After a romantic subplot worthy of a crappy soap opera, we killed the tarrasque and sunk Atlantis, then Teji and Fridge became omnipotent and slew each other, and Taruk (pronounced "truck") ruled the world. I was Teji.

I love theme parties.
Good & Evil
04-11-05, 12:09 AM The players in the group I run currently are:

1 Rogue/Fighter
1 Sorceror
1 Cleric
1 Fighter
1 Bard

First adventure in, I ask for hide checks to avoid a patrol coming down the forest trail. Them: "32, 24, 25, 22, 27". Me: "How in the...oh, wait. You're all halflings." They got a kick out of that :)
Plastik
04-11-05, 03:10 AM Most of my parties follow a constant theme I like to call "Decidedly Mediocre". Other than that nope, nothin.
CzarGarrett
04-11-05, 08:33 AM I had one in FR where we were all followers of Tempus.

I believe I was a CG Fgt/Clr, and along side of me there was a CG Barb, CN Barb, CG Cleric, CN Fgt/Rog.

Average STR for party: 15.

In combat, we destroyed EVERYTHING. But when faced with a role play situation, myself and the Fgt/Rog were the only ones who had enough of a CHA to use bluff, diplomacy, or just smooth talk our way though problems. Which usually turned into the barbs attacking before we could talk our way.
Ratheus
04-11-05, 08:45 AM Back in second edition, I bought the complete book of dwarves. A week later, we started a new campaign. We had like four different types of dwarves, and a human thrown into the mix. It was more of a tavern busting party than an adventure. It didn't last long (the BBEG accomplished his plans while we were all drinking).
HypnoticMonk
04-11-05, 10:58 PM I played in an all Lawful Good campaign and it was a blast! Everyone was on the top of their game every night it seemed!( but then one of my buddies started sleeping with the DM's girlfriend... things slid to a stop for a while and never quite picked back up)

as a weird aside, here in Pittsburgh, the RPGA group I belong to is going to be playing some Living Force StarWars roleplaying.. with an All - Jawa Team!! (talk about a weird theme..)
Mikal
04-11-05, 11:01 PM I once tried to go with a whole 'dark arts' party. I wanted to have a Ninja, Warlock, Hexblade, and Evil Cleric/Adept (so he could become a Hexer), but unfortunatly couldn't get anyone to actually make it with me.

So I dm'ed a game and made them a major npc party. Twas fun. Especially when the PC's decided to go with a sort of holy roller thing-- paladin, monk (of the paladin and clerics order), fighter/pious templar, and of course, good cleric.
allenchan
04-11-05, 11:15 PM Had an idea for an ice themed party

Wizards/Elemental Savant (Lord of the Uttercold feat)
Half-Dragon fighter
Barbarian2/Rogue X (Frozen Beserker feat)
Cleric/TNecromancer

neutral group

Everyone had the Tomb-tained soul feat (from Libris Mortis) so the cleric could heal them, and with the wizard's Lord of the Uttercold (CA) feat, they all got healed from the wizards 'ice' balls. (or the cleric took no damage, since he took the cold damage but got healed from the negative) It also healed the cleric's minions.
Nytmare
04-12-05, 02:38 PM Mounted - Cleric/fighter, paladin, wizard, ranger/rogue

Religious - Paladin, cleric, cleric/bard, cleric/fighter

Dwarven Sappers - Dwarven rogue/fighter/sorcerer combinations

Halfling Paladins - Not much to describe here, we were mounted on goats.

Cat Burglars - Rogue/sorcerer combinations

All Wizards with Cohorts - Illusionist w/ cleric of Boccob, summoner w/ druid, diviner w/ ranger

I still keep insisting that I'm going to run an 'all mimics' campaign. I'm sure I'll get around to it one of these days.
AramilWindwalker
04-12-05, 02:49 PM I really like the idea of an all-sneaky group(just without halflings), ever since i found the Complete adventurer, since it has everything.

Or an all-divine group(just without halflings), since I got complete divine.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Meshakhad 04-10-05, 01:22 AM	I was once wondering how useful certain skills are in D&D. For example, has anyone ever used Hide? I mean, the ranger, rogue, and monk can do it, but what good is it if the cleric is visible? So I imagined a "stealth" team, where everybody put ranks in Hide, and nobody wore much armor. The cleric had the Trickery domain, or we could have a druid. Ok, Hide is cross-class for druids, but it's the same for sorcerors, wizards, and psions. Then I got thinking about the possibility of other "themed" parties. For instance, we could have the exalted party, where the rogue is going for Slayer of Domiel, the sorceror is an exalted arcanist, and the paladin and cleric... no explanation needed. So, I am asking you, have you ever created an entire adventuring party where there was one skill or mindset dominant (sneaky, ranged combat, LG)? Not just for fun, but an actual party you used in a game.
Gedrin 04-10-05, 03:01 AM	I've not done this in the past, but plan to do something similar in my next campaign. Normally, I give the players a good idea of the environment they will be based in (or in the case of my current campaign, begin in), and then let them make characters that will work in that environment. My players tend to talk things over with each other too, so characters normally fit together on some level. Often they're all from the same country, so there are cultural similarities as well.
Deflare 04-10-05, 03:14 AM	Hmm... Never done it before, but the idea is interesting. The workability depends on the party layout- obviously, an all-melee party would get smished by anything with magic. An all-sneaker party could do quite well. The monk and ranger would be the biggest tankers, the usefulness of a rogue is obvious, and a Bard could supply spellcasting ability. As for prestige classes, just use the Complete Adventurer. All LG party? That may not work so well; no Barbarians, Bards, or Druids, and Clerics have a somewhat restricted domain selection. It works fine for the Core 4 (Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard), and it's great for paladins and monks, but the class limitations get a tad irritating (I like Barbarians, smeggit!). Similar limitations apply to any other alignment-specific party. Theoretically, an all-magic-user party could be pretty strong. 7 out of 11 of the core classes are magical, as are many of the prestige classes. Paladin or Ranger as fighter, Bard or Cleric helping in the fight, and the mages acting as the stars of the show, using explosive magic in combat and utility spells to cover any Rogue-ish needs. Actually, Rogues may count for the party if their Use Magic Device skill is high enough.
NcT 04-10-05, 03:45 AM	That almost happend at my friend's house. He was Dming and told me and a few others to make Chars So I made a Rog/Sorc but there was already a Rogue so we all were about to make Rog/druid, Rog/pally but that never happend but it could of worked.
Mirikon 04-10-05, 11:28 AM	Never tried it before, other than in a thread or two talking about what a cool party for X ECL would be. Could be fun, though, depending on what the theme was.
Jayr 04-10-05, 12:38 PM	I've been in more theme parties than you can shake a stick at. The elven druids:Male half-high elf/half-drow druid 7/animal lord 1 -- boar companion Female half-human/half-wood elf druid 5/shifter 3 -- snake companion Male wood elf elf druid 5/verdant lord 3 -- wolverine companion Female wood elf druid 5/wolflord 3 -- wolf companion It started when two players wanted to be elf druids, then a third wanted to be a drow druid to mess them up, then the DM told me I should be Orochimaru, but I messed up because I don't read the manga he's in. Surprisingly, it worked. The holy warriors:Our current party is: LG male human cleric 1 of Pelor -- Healing and Strength domains LG male half-elf paladin 1 of Heironeous LG female trumpet archon 1 of Rao LG male ranger 2 of Elhonna (DMPC) I'm the trumpet archon. We basically bicker and smite things. In our first battle, we defeated 8 1st-level orc warriors and a 3rd-level orc fighter. The fey group:This group is from way back, I DMed it: CG male drow ranger -- panther companion (and two scimitars!) NG male drow druid -- snake companion CG male grig CG female elf ranger -- wolf companion NG female elf druid -- wolf companion CG male pixie -- named Tofu No explaination needed. Here's an elemental mage party:Fridge, the NE male gnome cleric 11/? 5 of Ulutiu -- Cold and Ocean domains Teji, the CE male human shugenja 6/elemental savant 10 -- fire specialist Taruk, the CN male human sorcerer 16 -- Energy Substitution (sonic and electricity) Very strange things happened. After a romantic subplot worthy of a crappy soap opera, we killed the tarrasque and sunk Atlantis, then Teji and Fridge became omnipotent and slew each other, and Taruk (pronounced "truck") ruled the world. I was Teji. I love theme parties.
Good & Evil 04-11-05, 12:09 AM	The players in the group I run currently are: 1 Rogue/Fighter 1 Sorceror 1 Cleric 1 Fighter 1 Bard First adventure in, I ask for hide checks to avoid a patrol coming down the forest trail. Them: "32, 24, 25, 22, 27". Me: "How in the...oh, wait. You're all halflings." They got a kick out of that :)
Plastik 04-11-05, 03:10 AM	Most of my parties follow a constant theme I like to call "Decidedly Mediocre". Other than that nope, nothin.
CzarGarrett 04-11-05, 08:33 AM	I had one in FR where we were all followers of Tempus. I believe I was a CG Fgt/Clr, and along side of me there was a CG Barb, CN Barb, CG Cleric, CN Fgt/Rog. Average STR for party: 15. In combat, we destroyed EVERYTHING. But when faced with a role play situation, myself and the Fgt/Rog were the only ones who had enough of a CHA to use bluff, diplomacy, or just smooth talk our way though problems. Which usually turned into the barbs attacking before we could talk our way.
Ratheus 04-11-05, 08:45 AM	Back in second edition, I bought the complete book of dwarves. A week later, we started a new campaign. We had like four different types of dwarves, and a human thrown into the mix. It was more of a tavern busting party than an adventure. It didn't last long (the BBEG accomplished his plans while we were all drinking).
HypnoticMonk 04-11-05, 10:58 PM	I played in an all Lawful Good campaign and it was a blast! Everyone was on the top of their game every night it seemed!( but then one of my buddies started sleeping with the DM's girlfriend... things slid to a stop for a while and never quite picked back up) as a weird aside, here in Pittsburgh, the RPGA group I belong to is going to be playing some Living Force StarWars roleplaying.. with an All - Jawa Team!! (talk about a weird theme..)
Mikal 04-11-05, 11:01 PM	I once tried to go with a whole 'dark arts' party. I wanted to have a Ninja, Warlock, Hexblade, and Evil Cleric/Adept (so he could become a Hexer), but unfortunatly couldn't get anyone to actually make it with me. So I dm'ed a game and made them a major npc party. Twas fun. Especially when the PC's decided to go with a sort of holy roller thing-- paladin, monk (of the paladin and clerics order), fighter/pious templar, and of course, good cleric.
allenchan 04-11-05, 11:15 PM	Had an idea for an ice themed party Wizards/Elemental Savant (Lord of the Uttercold feat) Half-Dragon fighter Barbarian2/Rogue X (Frozen Beserker feat) Cleric/TNecromancer neutral group Everyone had the Tomb-tained soul feat (from Libris Mortis) so the cleric could heal them, and with the wizard's Lord of the Uttercold (CA) feat, they all got healed from the wizards 'ice' balls. (or the cleric took no damage, since he took the cold damage but got healed from the negative) It also healed the cleric's minions.
Nytmare 04-12-05, 02:38 PM	Mounted - Cleric/fighter, paladin, wizard, ranger/rogue Religious - Paladin, cleric, cleric/bard, cleric/fighter Dwarven Sappers - Dwarven rogue/fighter/sorcerer combinations Halfling Paladins - Not much to describe here, we were mounted on goats. Cat Burglars - Rogue/sorcerer combinations All Wizards with Cohorts - Illusionist w/ cleric of Boccob, summoner w/ druid, diviner w/ ranger I still keep insisting that I'm going to run an 'all mimics' campaign. I'm sure I'll get around to it one of these days.
AramilWindwalker 04-12-05, 02:49 PM	I really like the idea of an all-sneaky group(just without halflings), ever since i found the Complete adventurer, since it has everything. Or an all-divine group(just without halflings), since I got complete divine.