Hiding at the back. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hiding at the back. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Delvor
11-26-04, 06:34 AM I've just joined a long running campaign where the players are all really involved and the DM's really good, but their highest Level character is at 12, then they are all around 789 with one guy at 6.

My character was level 4 with these guys in a high level dungeon. He was quite lucky to not be hurt really as the creatures of the dungeon were fighting something else (Artifact or something), So i guess what i'm asking is should my guy just hang at the back till he gets experiance up? He's Rogue
Naeron
11-26-04, 07:00 AM You need to strike a balance between avoiding combat that will kill you and doing your bit. So hanging around in the rear is the best thing to do, however that doesn't stop you playing a part in combat.

As you are a Rogue the thing to do is try for Ranged Sneak Attacks, beg or borrow improved invisibility or hide items that allow you to use the sniping rules. Otherwise just used ranged attacks with a mighty composite shortbow.

Another alternative would be hit and run tactics using Spring Attack, dart in for a single attack (flank if you can for the SA bonus) and then back out again so that you avoid the reply attacks, a move bonus would be very useful here.

As long as you are doing the best you can I doubt any of the other PC's would be unhappy and you will catch up with their level as you get more xp.
Telperion
11-26-04, 07:37 AM Kindly ask your DM for permission to create a 7th level rogue and you'll be fine. The party's average character level is 8.4, so that comes down to 8. Remove one from the average character level and you are all set to join the party as far as level / XP are concerned.
kardock
11-26-04, 08:06 AM this happend to me once and i have to say it was a nice challenge and a lot of fun staying alive at so low a level compared to the rest of the party. and since i was a wizard, my hp were very low also.

i started at 1st level and the party was 5-6 so i remember casting my single magic missile at the most appropriate moment to bring the baddy down. the fighter and priest were doing all the damage and when the dm described the baddy as being bloody and weak then bang, a single magic missile, 3 points of damage and the baddy down. you should see the face of the other guys :D

don't ask the dm to be higher level, just do your best, make sure to do some actions in the game, and when you will get the same level you will be real proud of yourself.
CzarGarrett
11-26-04, 10:47 AM As a rogue, you're best bets are to snipe with crossbow/regular bow and make some sneak attacks here and there.

With an average level of 8, your share of XP should be rather high, and you'll rush up to level 7 or 8 by the time they get to level 9 or 10 and be pretty much on par with the rest of them.
kardock
11-26-04, 11:27 AM your post has reminded me of some fond memories.

in the time i went from 1st level to 5th level, i was very efficient.

i was using invisibility to throw things on the floor before the baddies to imped their move (since this is not an attack i was able to stay invisible), i was casting magic missile from some cover (you have to see your target so a hole into a planck is enough :D ), and sometimes i was able to move into close range for some action then run like hell! i even had to cast expeditious retreat quite a few times.

those were great moments!

believe me, in those times, you get really creative!
Board_Rider
11-27-04, 11:30 AM I agree with the above posters. You should just try the ranged SA thing. Could you be the scout? You can back down or go boack and tell the party of anything you find.
Delvor
11-27-04, 12:08 PM Thanks for help, the thing about xp though the dm just gives the same set amount for each session
tec-9-7
11-27-04, 01:56 PM i was using invisibility to throw things on the floor before the baddies to imped their move (since this is not an attack i was able to stay invisible),
Ah, yes! The old "invisibily-scattering-caltrops" trick! That's a great way to help, as is maxing your stealth/disarm skills. That should give you some good participation abilities w/o you getting totally waxed in combat.
berek65
11-27-04, 02:13 PM maybe you could checkout your surroundings,not sure if your inside or
out,search rooms around you for treasure, secret compartments ect.
you know rouge,theif things.
CzarGarrett
11-29-04, 10:58 AM the thing about xp though the dm just gives the same set amount for each session

It shouldn't matter too much.

If the DM gives 5000 XP per session, and you're at 4th level, then you'll move up to 5th level, while everyone else is still on 7th level. It takes less to get you to that next level, so you might be able to get up to 7th level in 4 sessions, in those 4 sessions everyone else maybe gets up to 8, and you've closed the gap.
nyysjan
11-29-04, 11:37 AM maybe you could checkout your surroundings,not sure if your inside or
out,search rooms around you for treasure, secret compartments ect.
you know rouge,theif things.
Rogue, Thief

rouge is a color
theif i've never even heard about
Duvanok
11-29-04, 03:33 PM Highest level character is 12 and you are level 4. . .

Just wondering why your "really good dm" is allowing this kind of imbalance. If everyone is having fun, Great! But it sounds like every one is not having fun, especially you who has to pose the question: should I take part in the game and probably die, or just hang out in back and let everyone else play DnD?

Talk to the guy, if he's a good DM he'll fix it so everyone is having fun. If he doesn't, then I would probably leave the group.
Good luck.
the dmg
11-29-04, 05:02 PM You need to strike a balance between avoiding combat that will kill you and doing your bit. So hanging around in the rear is the best thing to do, however that doesn't stop you playing a part in combat.

As you are a Rogue the thing to do is try for Ranged Sneak Attacks, beg or borrow improved invisibility or hide items that allow you to use the sniping rules. Otherwise just used ranged attacks with a mighty composite shortbow.

Another alternative would be hit and run tactics using Spring Attack, dart in for a single attack (flank if you can for the SA bonus) and then back out again so that you avoid the reply attacks, a move bonus would be very useful here.

As long as you are doing the best you can I doubt any of the other PC's would be unhappy and you will catch up with their level as you get more xp.

I agree with Naeron on this. The best thing you can do is really stay back and do what you can for now, until you gain higher levels.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Delvor 11-26-04, 06:34 AM	I've just joined a long running campaign where the players are all really involved and the DM's really good, but their highest Level character is at 12, then they are all around 789 with one guy at 6. My character was level 4 with these guys in a high level dungeon. He was quite lucky to not be hurt really as the creatures of the dungeon were fighting something else (Artifact or something), So i guess what i'm asking is should my guy just hang at the back till he gets experiance up? He's Rogue
Naeron 11-26-04, 07:00 AM	You need to strike a balance between avoiding combat that will kill you and doing your bit. So hanging around in the rear is the best thing to do, however that doesn't stop you playing a part in combat. As you are a Rogue the thing to do is try for Ranged Sneak Attacks, beg or borrow improved invisibility or hide items that allow you to use the sniping rules. Otherwise just used ranged attacks with a mighty composite shortbow. Another alternative would be hit and run tactics using Spring Attack, dart in for a single attack (flank if you can for the SA bonus) and then back out again so that you avoid the reply attacks, a move bonus would be very useful here. As long as you are doing the best you can I doubt any of the other PC's would be unhappy and you will catch up with their level as you get more xp.
Telperion 11-26-04, 07:37 AM	Kindly ask your DM for permission to create a 7th level rogue and you'll be fine. The party's average character level is 8.4, so that comes down to 8. Remove one from the average character level and you are all set to join the party as far as level / XP are concerned.
kardock 11-26-04, 08:06 AM	this happend to me once and i have to say it was a nice challenge and a lot of fun staying alive at so low a level compared to the rest of the party. and since i was a wizard, my hp were very low also. i started at 1st level and the party was 5-6 so i remember casting my single magic missile at the most appropriate moment to bring the baddy down. the fighter and priest were doing all the damage and when the dm described the baddy as being bloody and weak then bang, a single magic missile, 3 points of damage and the baddy down. you should see the face of the other guys :D don't ask the dm to be higher level, just do your best, make sure to do some actions in the game, and when you will get the same level you will be real proud of yourself.
CzarGarrett 11-26-04, 10:47 AM	As a rogue, you're best bets are to snipe with crossbow/regular bow and make some sneak attacks here and there. With an average level of 8, your share of XP should be rather high, and you'll rush up to level 7 or 8 by the time they get to level 9 or 10 and be pretty much on par with the rest of them.
kardock 11-26-04, 11:27 AM	your post has reminded me of some fond memories. in the time i went from 1st level to 5th level, i was very efficient. i was using invisibility to throw things on the floor before the baddies to imped their move (since this is not an attack i was able to stay invisible), i was casting magic missile from some cover (you have to see your target so a hole into a planck is enough :D ), and sometimes i was able to move into close range for some action then run like hell! i even had to cast expeditious retreat quite a few times. those were great moments! believe me, in those times, you get really creative!
Board_Rider 11-27-04, 11:30 AM	I agree with the above posters. You should just try the ranged SA thing. Could you be the scout? You can back down or go boack and tell the party of anything you find.
Delvor 11-27-04, 12:08 PM	Thanks for help, the thing about xp though the dm just gives the same set amount for each session
tec-9-7 11-27-04, 01:56 PM	i was using invisibility to throw things on the floor before the baddies to imped their move (since this is not an attack i was able to stay invisible), Ah, yes! The old "invisibily-scattering-caltrops" trick! That's a great way to help, as is maxing your stealth/disarm skills. That should give you some good participation abilities w/o you getting totally waxed in combat.
berek65 11-27-04, 02:13 PM	maybe you could checkout your surroundings,not sure if your inside or out,search rooms around you for treasure, secret compartments ect. you know rouge,theif things.
CzarGarrett 11-29-04, 10:58 AM	the thing about xp though the dm just gives the same set amount for each session It shouldn't matter too much. If the DM gives 5000 XP per session, and you're at 4th level, then you'll move up to 5th level, while everyone else is still on 7th level. It takes less to get you to that next level, so you might be able to get up to 7th level in 4 sessions, in those 4 sessions everyone else maybe gets up to 8, and you've closed the gap.
nyysjan 11-29-04, 11:37 AM	maybe you could checkout your surroundings,not sure if your inside or out,search rooms around you for treasure, secret compartments ect. you know rouge,theif things. Rogue, Thief rouge is a color theif i've never even heard about
Duvanok 11-29-04, 03:33 PM	Highest level character is 12 and you are level 4. . . Just wondering why your "really good dm" is allowing this kind of imbalance. If everyone is having fun, Great! But it sounds like every one is not having fun, especially you who has to pose the question: should I take part in the game and probably die, or just hang out in back and let everyone else play DnD? Talk to the guy, if he's a good DM he'll fix it so everyone is having fun. If he doesn't, then I would probably leave the group. Good luck.
the dmg 11-29-04, 05:02 PM	You need to strike a balance between avoiding combat that will kill you and doing your bit. So hanging around in the rear is the best thing to do, however that doesn't stop you playing a part in combat. As you are a Rogue the thing to do is try for Ranged Sneak Attacks, beg or borrow improved invisibility or hide items that allow you to use the sniping rules. Otherwise just used ranged attacks with a mighty composite shortbow. Another alternative would be hit and run tactics using Spring Attack, dart in for a single attack (flank if you can for the SA bonus) and then back out again so that you avoid the reply attacks, a move bonus would be very useful here. As long as you are doing the best you can I doubt any of the other PC's would be unhappy and you will catch up with their level as you get more xp. I agree with Naeron on this. The best thing you can do is really stay back and do what you can for now, until you gain higher levels.