I'm working up a few characters to take to my first LFR con (played some LG before). I'm looking to take at least one character for each role, since I'm pretty flexable and like helping fill out tables, but am a bit curious as to what race/class combinations seem "too common" at tables.
So, in your humble opinion, what race/class combinations seem too common or cliched in your area? (not necessarily good or bad, just those that might elicit "of course, another elf ranger....")
In no particular order (imo):
Artificer: Deva
Avenger: Any
Barbarian: Goliath, Warforged, Dragonborn
Bard: Half-elf
Cleric: Kalashtar, Elf, Dwarf
Fighter: Dwarf, Warforged
Invoker: None
Monk: None
Paladin: Half-elf, Dragonborn
Psion: None
Ranger: Elf, Dwarf
Rogue: DROW
Shaman: Dwarf
Sorcerer: Drow
Swordmage: Deva, Eladrin
Warden: Dwarf
Warlock: lol?
Warlord: Eladrin
Wizard: Deva
In no particular order (imo):
Artificer: Deva
Invoker: None
Really? Deva artificers are cliche and common where you are? Creepy.
And Dwarven Invokers are the ones I see.
Any Race class combo where the race's two stat boosts go the class's primary and one of it's secondaries is basiclaly a cliche. Most people pick their race based on those bumps, I'm guilty of it usually and I'm sure most others are too.
I have a warforged fighter, an elf ranger, a drow rogue, a dwarven cleric, a Half-elf bard, also though I have a revenant paladin, and a Warforged artificer. The latter two are newer as I've started to try to make some more unique characters, but even then any race really can be any class and still be good at it for the most part.
Sometimes being a stereotype can be fun =p Sometimes being the Revenant Warforged soul Paladin of Kelemvor can be fun to =P
Some race class combo's I've seen that amuse me and are not cliche
Half elf barbarian.
Gnoll bard
Halfling Fighter
Shifter anything (really, I think I've run into two shifters ever)
Half orc wizard
Gnome ranger
*the default spacing on this board is ridiculous*
Basically, any race/class combo where the Race has stat boosts to the primary and secondary stats of a class. If you want to be original, play a human. 
Basically, any race/class combo where the Race has stat boosts to the primary and secondary stats of a class. If you want to be original, play a human.
In 4e I have found myself playing humans more often than not. I find the human racial traits to be outstanding (extra at-will, extra feat, choice of where to put a +2 on attributes). For my wizard and cleric, the extra at-will is particularly nice since it really lets those characters have a variety of options.
Elf Druids!
There are lots of combinations that are obvious, or more "optimal", or whatever.
The only combinations that are actually commonly played in my own local club are:
Elf (archer) ranger
Goliath barbarian
That is all. All of the other are only theoretically cliched, without actually being seen very much.
IME:
Elf (archer) ranger
Dragonborn paladin
Genasi swordmage
Hooray! My genasi warlord, dwarven druid, and half-orc fighter haven't made anyone's list!
I've also got a human swordmage and an eladrin ranger, but I know that those combinations are less favored by ability bonuses, so I'm not too worried about them.
I can't say that any combinations are showing up way too often where I am. We have a lot of optimal matchups, but they're spread out across classes well enough that they're not cliche.
I've also seen a gnome barbarian...funniest combo I've ever run across. 
I usually deliberately pick something different than the cliche combo when I'm making a character, and try to find a way to make it unique at the same time. For instance, I have an earthsoul genasi rogue. He thumps to get CA. I also have a Deva Dark Pact Warlock. He's curious about the dark arts, since he's done just about everything else in the course of his lives. He's a VERY bent character, lots of fun to roleplay. ^_^
Damon
Really, the elf ranger, the drow rogue, and the dragonborn paladin are the only ones I see a lot. The first two are clearly the best choice, especially the drow rogue, with the ability to grant combat advantage.
Try a Changeling Rogue, far more options and the ability to get CA reliably every combat as well. Not that Clever Strike doesn't largely solve the problem anyway.
Still a Changeling Rogue can start with a +12 Bluff modifier (Racial, Background, Skill Focus) before adding Charisma - which they can easily have up to 16 for a +15 modifier at first level which pretty much auto-works against most monsters in the whole Heroic Tier for Passive Insight. That's far more reliable than Darkfire.
Take Masterspy as a PP, and the changeling can relliably Bluff 2x in a fight for CA, and will pretty much never fail... not to mention the way it breaks Skill Challenges that have Bluff as a component.
I don't think any combination is too cliched. We see a fair amount of diversity, and even the more common combinations aren't all that common. 4E has so many options and plenty of sweet spots. And, there are a lot of players that will choose uncommon combinations just 'cause.
The key is really what you do with your combination. You can just be another combo for the stats, or you can be a fun PC that people want to interact with. That's up to you and how you flesh out the character. Play something you will enjoy and which you think can contribute.
Half-elf bard is becoming cliched now. Seriously go look at the threads about bards.
Half-elf bard is becoming cliched now. Seriously go look at the threads about bards.
Theoretically cliched (ie. looks optimal) or actually cliched (ie. people actually play enough of them to notice the excess)?
I personally have three half-elf bards(one's multiclassed into bard)...
I've seen many . . .
Fire Genasi Warlords
Elf/Half-Orc Avengers
Drow Rogues
Elf Rangers
Gnome/Half-Elf Bards
And very soon: Revenant or Drow Assassins.
Lets see
Drow Rogues(I know of like 6 of them in my group alone)
Half-Elf Bards
Avengers(Any, mostly elven, soon to be Githzerai)
Drow Sorcerors
Dwarven Fighters
Eladrin Swordmages
Eladrin Tactical Warlords
Dwarf Shamans
Drow Rangers
Mostly,
if you want to be original, just avoid being a drow, dwarf, or eladrin.
Heck, if you want to be special and unique, be a human!
A human anything is original.
A human anything is original.
BAH Every table has a minimum of 5 humans at it to begin with, why would I want to play one.
A human anything is original.
BAH Every table has a minimum of 5 humans at it to begin with, why would I want to play one.
Where do you play? I never see more than 2 humans at most at any given table. Humans are an endangered species around here. Something about -2 to a stat or something. Me? I love me some humans.
Heh... you missed the joke. He was talking about the actual players. 
Just doing a quick check of my PC's...
Elf STR Paladin...
Dragonborn Inspiring Warlord...typical if not cliche....
Human Conlock...Human anything and any warlock pretty uncommon, hehe
Human Rogue...ruthless ruffian Maxwell Edison...Bang Bang Maxwell's Silver Hammer (ok Mace) came down upon their heads!
Human spear+shield fighter
Human Valor Bard
Not much cliche here...
Let's not forget anything with a fullblade.
I do have an Elf Polearm Fighter, I haven't seen many of those, and my Revenant warforged soul paladin is fun =P
Seen often:
elf ranger, dwarf fighter, eladrin wizard and quite some humans here.
Playing myself:
LFR
-shadarkai wizard
-dragonborn fighter (maybe a bit cliche)
-genasi warlord
-halfling sorcerer (seen a lot more recently)
Other
-halfling monk
-human avenger
After running a few sessions at a con on the weekend, I'm seeing truckloads of:
Avengers of Tempus
Actually anything "divine" of Tempus - Ridiculous Rage of Tempus anyone?
Drow Rogues
Fullblades and Executioner's Axes
Halfling Chaos Sorcerers
Minotaur Barbarians
Entire "monster" parties... don't tell me that a Warforged, Dragonborn, Shifter, Gnoll, Drow and Genasi are not going to turn heads and have pointed crossbows when they walk into a human dominated town together...
The all-monster party is fun. The RPGA has made a conscious effort to allow people to play what they want, even if it wouldn't make the most sense for a given adventure. But that problem exists in many aspects of the game. Why would a wizard hire a bunch of fighters and barbarians for his mission? Why would a person from one nation hire six people from a rival nation?
And in reality, a human village should recognize an obvious raiding party consisting of all humans to be more dangerous than an individual of a monster race, minding his own business.
If I had to break down race/class combinations, I'd rank them in the following way:
Tier 1: Race has +2 in the primary and a secondary class ability score and a relevant racial ability/class option (elf ranger, drow rogue)
Tier 2: Race has +2 in the primary and a secondary class ability score (eladrin wizard)
Tier 3: Race has +2 in the primary class ability score (dragonborn fighter, any human)
Tier 4: Race has +2 in two secondary ability scores and a relevant racial ability/class option (dwarf fighter)
Tier 5: Race has +2 in two secondary ability scores
Tier 6: Everything else
A human anything is original.
BAH Every table has a minimum of 5 humans at it to begin with, why would I want to play one.
3 of my 6 PCs are human. I think that represents more than half the human PCs in my area.
www.lfr-oxford.oxif.org/heroes.html lists the higher level PCs in our playgroup, although I have played with many more PCs than this at con days, etc.
There are enough classes and options that I haven't seen too many archetypes massively over-represented. There are a couple that are starting to grate, though:
Druid: Elf. Seriously, are there any non-elf druids out there? I've played with four, and no non-elf druids. And no, razorclaw shifters don't count. Avengers are a similar story.
Fighter: Warforged. I've seen at least 4. Those that aren't are Dwarves (guilty as charged on that one).
Warden: Minotaur. I've yet to play with a warden who isn't one.
Warlock: Tiefling.
Paladin/Cleric: Since EPG & Divine Power hit, I'm getting a bit sick of Kalashtar versions of these two classes. At least three were started the week DP came out. So much for originality. And I've actually met no fewer than three Orc paladins. Of tempus. *Sigh*.
Swordmage/Taclords: 75% of these are Genasi. The rest are Eladrin.
Druid: Elf. Seriously, are there any non-elf druids out there? I've played with four, and no non-elf druids. And no, razorclaw shifters don't count. Avengers are a similar story.
My Reventant Avenger is rather optimized (cheesy, in fact), but I havn't seen any others yet.
My Gnome Druid is looking for some feat support...
And for some reason, my Dwarf Warlock is the only Hexhammer I've seen in play in the local play group...
I've implied it before in this thread, but I'm finding that the "optimized" or "obvious" choices are not actually seeing that much play in my neck of the woods (with the very few exceptions I have noted in my previous posts).
I'm actually quite surprised, in fact, and impressed with and proud of my club.
3 of my 6 PCs are human. I think that represents more than half the human PCs in my area.
www.lfr-oxford.oxif.org/heroes.html lists the higher level PCs in our playgroup, although I have played with many more PCs than this at con days, etc.
There are enough classes and options that I haven't seen too many archetypes massively over-represented. There are a couple that are starting to grate, though:
Druid: Elf. Seriously, are there any non-elf druids out there? I've played with four, and no non-elf druids. And no, razorclaw shifters don't count. Avengers are a similar story.
Fighter: Warforged. I've seen at least 4. Those that aren't are Dwarves (guilty as charged on that one).
Warden: Minotaur. I've yet to play with a warden who isn't one.
Warlock: Tiefling.
Paladin/Cleric: Since EPG & Divine Power hit, I'm getting a bit sick of Kalashtar versions of these two classes. At least three were started the week DP came out. So much for originality. And I've actually met no fewer than three Orc paladins. Of tempus. *Sigh*.
Swordmage/Taclords: 75% of these are Genasi. The rest are Eladrin.
I play a longtooth shifter druid. I wasn't interested in the Dex-based druid, wanting to be a spellcaster, and getting +2 to damage is nice with various blast and burst attacks.
I also play a gnoll fighter.
I've never seen a minotaur warden. I've seen a goliath warden. Minotaurs have been warlords, fighters, and especially barbarians.
I play a longtooth shifter druid. I wasn't interested in the Dex-based druid, wanting to be a spellcaster, and getting +2 to damage is nice with various blast and burst attacks.
I also play a gnoll fighter.
I've never seen a minotaur warden. I've seen a goliath warden. Minotaurs have been warlords, fighters, and especially barbarians.
Good to know there are some variances out there.
It's strange how different people in the same area seem to come up with the same things apparently independently, yet in another area no-one is playing that archetype.
(PS I think most people use minotaur wardens for the ability to use the 'opportunity gore' feat, which knocks the target prone if you hit with an OA, making them absurdly sticky).
Our group has an Eladrin Druid ( technically not an Elf, right? :P)
Some race class combo's I've seen that amuse me and are not cliche
Gnoll bard
*the default spacing on this board is ridiculous*
Would that gnoll bard be because of me?
Some race class combo's I've seen that amuse me and are not cliche
Gnoll bard
*the default spacing on this board is ridiculous*
Would that gnoll bard be because of me?
Heh, that would depend, are you Joe S. in pittsburgh?
Nope. I'm based in tucson.
Nope. I'm based in tucson.
You're a brave person to play the accordion. That's probably right after bagpipes on the list of instruments that make DMs want to kill the bard.
You're a brave person to play the accordion. That's probably right after bagpipes on the list of instruments that make DMs want to kill the bard.
My Living City bard (who was from the Moonshaes) played the Uilleann pipes (basically, Irish bagpipes). I definitely recall one or two DM specifically swinging for my instrument in combat. 
If i ever can, I want to make a bard essentials artical that includes combative instraments, and possibly another artical with a anthropomorphic horse race.
Acordians would be a reach weapon, lutes would basically be clubs ect.
Whole reason i choose accordian was that i was looking for one of the most awful, strangest things for a gnoll to play. I figured anything with strings would likely get cut because of the claws and anything that needs to be blown has a problem with thier flabby lips.
lutes would basically be clubs
El Kabong!
I don't really see an issue with most of the race/class combos that people call "cliche" in this thread - after all the game designers suggest most of those combinations right on the racial information page. They designed the race to be good in certain classes, and therefore (by internal game logic or external player logic) you are going to see lots of elven rangers, warforged fighters, and so forth.
The big trend I see in our area is that when a 'new' class pops up, suddenly there are a bunch of them at every table. Last week I decided to change tables because there were 4 assassins, my cleric and a paladin at the table.
There are also 'popular' players who seem to encourage newer players to play certain class combinations, specifically for the power gaming benefits (i.e., "I'm gonna make a ranger, because Joe was telling me about how I can do 60 HP of damage a round with my ranger, if I take this feat with that weapon and this background....").
So I see a lot of "its new lets make one" and "he's cool, so I'll be one too", mixed with the occasional "I've always played male dwarves, so I decided to get wild and play a female goliath instead".
There are a LOT of 'powergamers' in my area, not so many 'roleplayers'. I will cheerfully optimize a character, but only within the limits of my character concept - and thats where I start my character building.
lutes would basically be clubs
El Kabong!
Exactly! :D
I play a Longtooth Shifter Fighter, a Dragonborn Battle Cleric, a Warforged Warden, and an Elf Wizard/Divine Oracle.
I see lots of Elf bow rangers and Half-elf bards. Goliath barbarians are also far too commonplace (and flat-out bad, if you ask me)
Goliaths are pretty close to as optimized as you can get for a rageblood barbarian. The only thing better is a warforged but that applies to pretty much every class since Warforged is the best str/con race in the game.
Goliaths are pretty close to as optimized as you can get for a rageblood barbarian. The only thing better is a warforged but that applies to pretty much every class since Warforged is the best str/con race in the game.
Stupid quoting.
Anyway, I'm well aware of the strengths that goliath barbarians have, however, it's just that every one of them that I've played with has been pretty abysmal performance wise. I don't know whether that's just because of crap luck with dice or whether these guys are actually doing it wrong, but I've yet to really be impressed by Goliath barbs.
Of course, that might just be because my fighter deals higher average DPR than any barbarian I've played with.
If i ever can, I want to make a bard essentials artical that includes combative instraments, and possibly another artical with a anthropomorphic horse race.
Acordians would be a reach weapon, lutes would basically be clubs ect.
Whole reason i choose accordian was that i was looking for one of the most awful, strangest things for a gnoll to play. I figured anything with strings would likely get cut because of the claws and anything that needs to be blown has a problem with thier flabby lips.
If i ever can, I want to make a bard essentials artical that includes combative instraments, and possibly another artical with a anthropomorphic horse race.
Acordians would be a reach weapon, lutes would basically be clubs ect.
Whole reason i choose accordian was that i was looking for one of the most awful, strangest things for a gnoll to play. I figured anything with strings would likely get cut because of the claws and anything that needs to be blown has a problem with thier flabby lips.
You might need to check your quoting there sir.
The quote function (and some other things) have been screwy the last day or two.
And yet, somehow i keep avoiding the problem.
Drow Rogue.
Dragonborn Paladin.
Elf Ranger.
Tiefling Warlock.
Genasi Swordmage.
I've had a few instances where two players came to the table with mostly-identical character builds. Especially at low level this happens because people think it's obvious which powers to pick first.
Something to chew on.
A human anything is original.
BAH Every table has a minimum of 5 humans at it to begin with, why would I want to play one.
Where do you play? I never see more than 2 humans at most at any given table. Humans are an endangered species around here. Something about -2 to a stat or something. Me? I love me some humans.
Yep, I agree for humans have become the rare race in LFR. I made up a human fighter to play and I was the only one there. Sad.
At least i think he is human.
Wizard is probably one of the better classes for humans.
But humans are not one of the best races for wizards.
I think the issue is that (1) humans are the best race for no class, and (2) in a fantasy world, many people prefer an exotic race to "yet another" human.
I've also noticed that the average RPGA party consists of a dark elf, a haired monstrosity (gnoll), a guy that's permanently on fire (genasi) and pinhead from Hellraiser (bladeling). It's fun to think of how the average small village would react to this. I would estimate that most villages would quickly think of whatever quest they can come up with, to get thouse scary people away from them as fast as possible :P
I've also noticed that the average RPGA party consists of a dark elf, a haired monstrosity (gnoll), a guy that's permanently on fire (genasi) and pinhead from Hellraiser (bladeling). It's fun to think of how the average small village would react to this. I would estimate that most villages would quickly think of whatever quest they can come up with, to get thouse scary people away from them as fast as possible :P
WotC IP marches on. I have to admit it is fun to play as the newer races and its alot of fun to roleplay those aspects.
Wizard is probably one of the better classes for humans.
But humans are not one of the best races for wizards.
They're generally considered one of the best races for wizards(at least on CharOps). Wizards generally have to make two decisions otherwise:
Which NAD to ignore(Fort, Ref, Will)
Which attack type to ignore(Area, Close Blast, Single Target)
As an example, a human could take:
Winged Horde(Will, Burst) - new at-will in Dragon
Thunderwave(Fort, Close Blast 3)
Cloud of Daggers(Ref, Single Target)
A Wizard with those 3 has a lot of nice options and good reason to go Int/Wis - 1d6+Int+Wis for Cloud of Daggers is one of the best damage at-wills in the game.
Or they could take:
Thunderwave(Fort, Close Blast 3)
Scorching Burst(Ref, Burst)
Illusory Ambush(Will, Single Target)
They're generally considered one of the best races for wizards(at least on CharOps). Wizards generally have to make two decisions otherwise:
Which NAD to ignore(Fort, Ref, Will)
Which attack type to ignore(Area, Close Blast, Single Target)
Sure, that's nice on paper. In practice, you'll have three or four rounds of using encounter powers, daily powers, item powers and being stunned, and not much time left to use at-wills before combat is over. Nearly every other race offers a move- or minor-action power which you would likely have used in the meantime. The much-vaunted ability to Target All Three Defenses means a minor to-hit bonus at best, if you guess properly and if you don't care about riders. Cloud of Daggers is easily outdamaged by any area effect, and then there's Enlarge Spell...
Wizard is probably one of the better classes for humans.
But humans are not one of the best races for wizards.
They're generally considered one of the best races for wizards(at least on CharOps). Wizards generally have to make two decisions otherwise:
Which NAD to ignore(Fort, Ref, Will)
Which attack type to ignore(Area, Close Blast, Single Target)
As an example, a human could take:
Winged Horde(Will, Burst) - new at-will in Dragon
Thunderwave(Fort, Close Blast 3)
Cloud of Daggers(Ref, Single Target)
A Wizard with those 3 has a lot of nice options and good reason to go Int/Wis - 1d6+Int+Wis for Cloud of Daggers is one of the best damage at-wills in the game.
Or they could take:
Thunderwave(Fort, Close Blast 3)
Scorching Burst(Ref, Burst)
Illusory Ambush(Will, Single Target)
Also, I'd imagine Action Surge would be incredible on a wizard. I know my invoker loves it.
They're generally considered one of the best races for wizards(at least on CharOps). Wizards generally have to make two decisions otherwise:
Which NAD to ignore(Fort, Ref, Will)
Which attack type to ignore(Area, Close Blast, Single Target)
Sure, that's nice on paper. In practice, you'll have three or four rounds of using encounter powers, daily powers, item powers and being stunned, and not much time left to use at-wills before combat is over. Nearly every other race offers a move- or minor-action power which you would likely have used in the meantime. The much-vaunted ability to Target All Three Defenses means a minor to-hit bonus at best, if you guess properly and if you don't care about riders. Cloud of Daggers is easily outdamaged by any area effect, and then there's Enlarge Spell...
And humans then get the extra feat instead of that move or minor which they're using in the meantime, perhaps with every single attack. If you haven't taken a close look at feats lately, feats can be really scarce in Wizard builds.
Target all three defenses is more about Thunderwave. You want Thunderwave, that means your ranged at-wills only target a single defense. Likely something that entire groups of enemies are best at resisting. If you target Reflex and you run into an artillery as an example or controller if you target Will. You don't take Thunderwave, there are definitely moments where it would be your best option.
That's the advantage of being able to attack 3 NADs is you have 2 options with ranged and can still pick up the close blast. And Cloud of Daggers is only out-damaged by other spells when you have multiple targets. If you don't have multiple targets for any reason, then having 2 stats to do damage is very useful. Not to mention, you get to really swat the daylights out of swarms by hitting them with area damage twice.
Humans are top-tier Wizards. Are they the best race for every build? No. But they make fine Orb of Imposition Wizards.
However, humans get a lot of nice bennies to offset the second stat bump. Extra feat, extra skill, bump to all NADs, and they have some of the best feats in the game, and arguabley one of the best PPs in the game. They gets ome darn good tradeoffs for not having a minor racial power.
Also, I'd imagine Action Surge would be incredible on a wizard. I know my invoker loves it.
Action Surge on a powerful daily (and it is commonly held that wizards have some of the best dailies in the game) is one of the best reasons for playing a human wizard (in terms of mechanics, anyway). Better than targeting all three NADs at will, in my opinion.
Also, wizards (with one notable build exception) don't care too much about their secondary stat. 18 pre-racial is not uncommon, so not having the +2 to their secondary is not as significant as it is for, say, a sorcerer.
The bonus to NADs and trained skill and feat don't suck, either.
But as you may have gathered, I like playing humans. It's my way of being different.
Action Surge on a powerful daily (and it is commonly held that wizards have some of the best dailies in the game) is one of the best reasons for playing a human wizard (in terms of mechanics, anyway).
You could, however, also pick up action surge with a half-elf. Then pick up Magic Weapon with your Dilletante.
Elf archer ranger
Dragonborn paladin, sorcerer, fighter, barbarian and ranger
Eladrin wizard and warlord
Dwarf fighter, wizard, druid, and warden
Tiefling wizard, paladin, and rogue
Halfling rogue
Genise warlord, swordmage, and wizard. And stormsoul are annoying.
Golith anything really but the golith barbarian is annoying.
Razorclaw avenger
And I think thats it.
Action Surge on a powerful daily (and it is commonly held that wizards have some of the best dailies in the game) is one of the best reasons for playing a human wizard (in terms of mechanics, anyway).
You could, however, also pick up action surge with a half-elf. Then pick up Magic Weapon with your Dilletante.
Sure, but at least from the optimal/okay/sub-optimal viewpoint, Half-Elves suck as Wizards since they're a Con/Cha race. (Not that I would ever tell someone to not make a Half-Elf wizard if that's what they wanted) So the while you coudl do those things, one would have to ask why you would "handicap" yourself to do so.
The common combinations that have been cropping up here are quite annoying actually.
You assert annoying. What is annoying about the characters? Do you think that everyone should be trying to play against the tropes of the environment in which the game is set?
The game is intended to support Elf Archers Rangers. They are part of the core setting. They should be an effective, playable character - that doesn't mean that every player will be suited to employing one as their character. The same can be said for many of them....
To call one other thing out, though:
Dwarf fighter, wizard, druid, and warden
Tiefling wizard, paladin, and rogue
And I think thats it.
What is it about the two bolded combinations which you find annoying?
Genise warlord, swordmage, and wizard. And stormsoul are annoying.
What, specifically, about stormsoul genasi is annoying?
Or is it that the players of these characters
* don't (role)play the same game you do?
* don't (role or roll) play the characters "well"?
* don't know how to use their characters as members of a team?
Or even some other thing I'm not coming up with off the top of my head?
I will admit to being annoyed by PLAYERS who
* consistently try to step out of the game to ask for things to be easier, when no one else at the table is feeling more than adequately challenged
* design characters around powers that make them ineffective at either their primary or secondary role
* Don't participate enough to keep players who want to interact with the story and the party both from only being able to interact with the DM
So, basically - I don't care if the race/class combination of your character is the coolest off the wall pairing ever, or the same old Warforged Barbarian rageblood build, as long as you make the table more fun for the players and the DM. Making it less fun for both? well, that's a different sort of problem altogether.
Action Surge on a powerful daily (and it is commonly held that wizards have some of the best dailies in the game) is one of the best reasons for playing a human wizard
Yes. Action Surge is a very good mechanical reason for being human. A third at-will or an extra feat is not a very good mechanical reason (not that it sucks, either, but it's vastly overrated once you get beyond level 5 or so).
You assert annoying. What is annoying about the characters? Do you think that everyone should be trying to play against the tropes of the environment in which the game is set?
What is annoying is having two identical characters at the table, or getting a "deja vu" when meeting a new character. This is by no means universal, in that two elf archers can be roleplayed very differently. However, it is not uncommon for two different players to pick identical character traits when they have already chosen the same race/class combo.
You assert annoying. What is annoying about the characters? Do you think that everyone should be trying to play against the tropes of the environment in which the game is set?
What is annoying is having two identical characters at the table, or getting a "deja vu" when meeting a new character. This is by no means universal, in that two elf archers can be roleplayed very differently. However, it is not uncommon for two different players to pick identical character traits when they have already chosen the same race/class combo.
Agreed. In my local group there are four Str/Con fighters between levels 8 and 11 (two Dwarves, two warforged). At first glance they're very similar. They share several feats and powers, simply because those are the best options for Str/Con fighters (I tried to be different with some picks, but after 3 levels trying other level 3 encounter powers I gave up and fell back on the default 'Sweeping Blow'. I think that's more an indication that most fighter 3 powers aren't that great if you're con based).
However, the subtle differences in build become apparent at the table; moreover they are all roleplayed quite differently. Mechanically things might appear similar when Belryn the Dwarf or Faegrim the Dwarf are the front line of your party, but out of combat their decsions, their interactions with the party etc. are such that you could never confuse the two.
The moral of the story is that roleplaying is hopefully just as important an aspect of defining your character as their mechanics in battle. There may be an 'oh no, not another one' feeling when you first sit down to the table with yet another whatever (Elf druids round here - couldn't someone even be different enough to be a razorclaw?), but getting to know the character, there's enough roleplay potential for there to be a hundred unique Elf rangers, if you make it so.
Of course, if you play your elf ranger as 'Twin strike, twin strike, twin strike', then yes, that's repetitive. But it would be if it were a gnome ranger, once you got over the initial surprise.
Aparently I am one of those players with a ton of common builds.... but i'd like to thiink i picked qurky rasons. curently i have:
Halfling Storm Sorcer (nimble splecaster feat... never backed in a connor & can make burst efects in melee)
Elf Bloodbound seeker (i am mor shifty than & kobold & can reroll any where between 2 to 4 times depending on feets & timing)
Half-Elf Valor Bard (the Half-elf paragon path from arcane power = healing on speed at lv 16)
Eladrin Batlesmith Artificer (Eladrin Sholder i get spears to stab with reach & spears to trow..... & +2 damage. since i do best when i am adjicent to allies & my weapon powers are melee or ranged, spears are nice)
Kalashtar Enlightened Ardent (cause a race of pysic creaters with a pysionic class just works)
however for a fun race to replace dwarwf try a wilden.... same stats & your a tree-ish person. they make good primal garduan druids & the hardy form race feature can help shore up your lowest defense (fort, reflex or will). & again... your a tree-ish person, verry in touch with nature & your primal side.
Human Staff Wizard
Eladrin Wand/Longsword Wizard
Elf Ranger (possibly scrapped for Melee build)
Elf Devoted Cleric
Elf Avenger (without a fullblade)
Human Warlord (Tactical)
Drow Sorceress (storm build)
Human Battle Cleric
Human Paladin (Cha)
My uncommon/unique builds:
Elf Polearm Fighter - Only two people, one of which is myself, even has a polearm fighter in my area
Elf Tempest Fighter - Many people have a tempest fighter, not many choose Elf in my area
Eladrin Ensnaring Swordmage - Yes, the sucky ensnaring. I'm also bumping wisdom for Wandering Swordmage
Eladrin Battlerager Fighter - Oh yes, that's right. Working with two stats without a racial mod.
Revenant Invoker of Amaunator - Because it's funny when you reap someones soul in the name of the God of Light
Half-Elf Cunning Bard - Yes, I am a cunning Half-Elf Bard, not a Valorous. I'm also an archer bard
Warforged Paladin - Don't see many divine class Warforged. Mostly Barbarians or Fighters.
Halfling Thaneblood Barbarian - He's trained in diplomacy!
Commons in my area: ** depicts most common
Fighter - Dragonborn**, Dwarf**, Goliath, Warforged, Human**
Rogue - Halfling**, Drow**, Half-Orc
Warlord - Human**, Half-Elf, Dragonborn**
Warden - Goliath**, Dwarf
Wizard - Human**, Eladrin**, Gnome, Genasi Stormsoul
Cleric - Elf**, Human**, Dwarf,
Bard - Half-Elf**, Human
Warlock - Human, Tielfling, Drow**
Paladin - Dragonborn
Avenger - Elf**, Razorclaw, Deva
Artificer - Human, Deva**, Warforged
Barbarian - Dragonborn, Goliath**, Minotaur**, Warforged, Dwarf
Druid - Elf
Invoker - Human
Shaman - Dwarf
Aside from the race/class issue, has anyone noticed a disproportionate number of wizards from Thay and/or clerics/avengers from Impiltur?
No. But them seem to have been Born Under a Bad Sign.
Optimized Combos:
Dragonborn Dragon-Sorceror
Elven Seeker(MC Assassin&Rogue - go the Windrise Ports!)
Orc Fighter (MC Cleric of Chauntea, go Moonshavian Orphanages!)
HalfElf Charisma-Paladin (MC Bard)
Shadar-Kai Rogue (MC Assassin)
Slightly Stranger Combos:
Drow Cleric of Sune (MC Bard) (pacifist , but that doesn't mean she's cuddly, Love Hurts ya know!)
Dwarven Artificer (MC Wizard)
Gnome Wizard (MC Druid)
Changeling Bard (MC arcane everything, guess which paragon path I'm aiming for!)
and the ultimate oddity
Warforged Druid (MC Invoker) - cue the Transformers theme please!
I like to think they are all competent in their own ways.
Really, a cliche becomes a cliche because it is (at its core) TRUE, the only unforgiveable sin is to PLAY like a cliche, it's the magic you bring to the table that brings the game to life, not what is written on your pieces of paper!