Gear-Dependent classes - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Gear-Dependent classes

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
nubman76
May 05, 2008 19:29:14 I'm trying to figure out what classes are the most and least gear-dependent and I'm talking about classes from all D&D books that give new starting classes besides the ones in the PHB. I'm considering picking one of the least gear dependent classes out to play and see how Vow of Poverty works with it. Any help from the people on these boards would rock and make my choice easier to know what to look at what to pick from.

Thanks CO boards.
#2
umarovi
May 05, 2008 19:42:14 Druid is the staple for VoP characters, but since you're looking for non-core ones, I'd say (unarmed variant) Swordsage. Swordsages meet the litmus test of gear-independant damage and gear-independant flight. Also, they can benefit reasonably well from the stuff VoP gives.
#3
bejik
May 05, 2008 19:44:46 Hypothetically if you have a BSF to run interference an erudite* or a sorcerer would be one of the least gear dependent classes as they need really very little to be playable, though not exactly optimal. Monks also come to mind as a fairly gear independent class.

*I'm AFB right now so I can't look up whether Erudites need a book or something like that will edit post once I get back to my books or someone corrects me.
#4
nodaisho
May 05, 2008 19:57:34 Monks I would disagree with, I have found they are heavily reliant on magical equipment at higher levels, unless VoP (I don't have BoED) gives the equivalent of an amulet of mighty fists, monk belt, stat-boosting items, and AC-boosting items, I haven't made a monk in long enough to remember everything you want for them at higher levels.
#5
bejik
May 05, 2008 20:04:30 I totally disagree with the idea of the feat honestly. Adventurers find and take stuff not take vows of poverty. But on the subject I agree that at high levels without gear no class really works the way it's supposed to. Even the mentioned sorc or erudite will eventually need stat boosting items, save boosting items, wands things like that. Looting is basically essential to the idiom that is being a PC, and depending on alignment **** and pillage as well. Everything in a dungeon that isn't nailed down or on fire is loot that can be traded for things I want. But I digress. Just because you *can* play a character with little gear doesn't mean you *should*.
#6
umarovi
May 05, 2008 20:12:50
Monks I would disagree with, I have found they are heavily reliant on magical equipment at higher levels, unless VoP (I don't have BoED) gives the equivalent of an amulet of mighty fists, monk belt, stat-boosting items, and AC-boosting items, I haven't made a monk in long enough to remember everything you want for them at higher levels.

It sorta covers that stuff - the big issue is not AC/Attack. It's no utility stuff. At high levels, monks NEED magic items for flight, teleportation, etc. or they just sit on the ground watching everyone else duke it out DBZ style.

Spell-to-power Erudite might work - they even have a thingy to spend 2 PP in order to ignore costly material components. I'd just be worried about the really small number of abilities - normally Erudites are quite dependant on triggered items for utility spells that they can't afford to know. I'm not too familiar with them though, so maybe it's workable.
#7
bejik
May 05, 2008 20:37:43 When it comes to vow of poverty the best data I've ever found is in the below two links.

Vow of Poverty
Vow of Poverty - Revisited
#8
sillia
May 06, 2008 13:48:55 At the opposite end: Artificers are the most gear-dependent. Their entire class is built around making magic items.

--S
#9
proof100_dup
May 06, 2008 14:23:08 the vow of poverty is not worth it. there are so many awesome items to get it is silly. not to mention all of the awesomeness that is within bunkos bargain basement. the benefits of poverty are cute, but hardly worth the hassle.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 nubman76 May 05, 2008 19:29:14	I'm trying to figure out what classes are the most and least gear-dependent and I'm talking about classes from all D&D books that give new starting classes besides the ones in the PHB. I'm considering picking one of the least gear dependent classes out to play and see how Vow of Poverty works with it. Any help from the people on these boards would rock and make my choice easier to know what to look at what to pick from. Thanks CO boards.
#2 umarovi May 05, 2008 19:42:14	Druid is the staple for VoP characters, but since you're looking for non-core ones, I'd say (unarmed variant) Swordsage. Swordsages meet the litmus test of gear-independant damage and gear-independant flight. Also, they can benefit reasonably well from the stuff VoP gives.
#3 bejik May 05, 2008 19:44:46	Hypothetically if you have a BSF to run interference an erudite* or a sorcerer would be one of the least gear dependent classes as they need really very little to be playable, though not exactly optimal. Monks also come to mind as a fairly gear independent class. *I'm AFB right now so I can't look up whether Erudites need a book or something like that will edit post once I get back to my books or someone corrects me.
#4 nodaisho May 05, 2008 19:57:34	Monks I would disagree with, I have found they are heavily reliant on magical equipment at higher levels, unless VoP (I don't have BoED) gives the equivalent of an amulet of mighty fists, monk belt, stat-boosting items, and AC-boosting items, I haven't made a monk in long enough to remember everything you want for them at higher levels.
#5 bejik May 05, 2008 20:04:30	I totally disagree with the idea of the feat honestly. Adventurers find and take stuff not take vows of poverty. But on the subject I agree that at high levels without gear no class really works the way it's supposed to. Even the mentioned sorc or erudite will eventually need stat boosting items, save boosting items, wands things like that. Looting is basically essential to the idiom that is being a PC, and depending on alignment **** and pillage as well. Everything in a dungeon that isn't nailed down or on fire is loot that can be traded for things I want. But I digress. Just because you can play a character with little gear doesn't mean you should.
#6 umarovi May 05, 2008 20:12:50	Monks I would disagree with, I have found they are heavily reliant on magical equipment at higher levels, unless VoP (I don't have BoED) gives the equivalent of an amulet of mighty fists, monk belt, stat-boosting items, and AC-boosting items, I haven't made a monk in long enough to remember everything you want for them at higher levels. It sorta covers that stuff - the big issue is not AC/Attack. It's no utility stuff. At high levels, monks NEED magic items for flight, teleportation, etc. or they just sit on the ground watching everyone else duke it out DBZ style. Spell-to-power Erudite might work - they even have a thingy to spend 2 PP in order to ignore costly material components. I'd just be worried about the really small number of abilities - normally Erudites are quite dependant on triggered items for utility spells that they can't afford to know. I'm not too familiar with them though, so maybe it's workable.
#7 bejik May 05, 2008 20:37:43	When it comes to vow of poverty the best data I've ever found is in the below two links. Vow of Poverty Vow of Poverty - Revisited
#8 sillia May 06, 2008 13:48:55	At the opposite end: Artificers are the most gear-dependent. Their entire class is built around making magic items. --S
#9 proof100_dup May 06, 2008 14:23:08	the vow of poverty is not worth it. there are so many awesome items to get it is silly. not to mention all of the awesomeness that is within bunkos bargain basement. the benefits of poverty are cute, but hardly worth the hassle.