Best race/class for solo campain? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Best race/class for solo campain?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
piropoint
Jul 28, 2009 9:01:29 I know that teamwork and roles are stressed in 4.0 but I might be starting a solo campaign with a buddy of mine (unless we can wrangle up a few more players). If that doesn't work out though, which classes and races make for the best solo PC? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
#2
Shiftkitty
Jul 28, 2009 9:08:27 I don't think there is a "best" of anything in 4e. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, so It's largely up to the player to decide what they excel at. Some players can wrangle wizards around like nobody's business, and if the encounters are scaled appropriately, can handle themselves just fine. Others are frighteningly good with rogues. Myself, I'd choose fighter. Same for races.

One thing I've gleaned from solo games in 4e is that you have the luxury of choosing for flavor a lot more than in other versions/games (IMO). So, flavor-wise, for solo campaigning from a DMs perspective, I've had the easiest time setting things up for rogues (more likely to be working alone), and the drow rogues seem the most natural fit for my game.
#3
trialsbyfire
Jul 28, 2009 9:09:06 I'd take any race with a decent escape ability (The Drow, for example, has abilities that can provide concealment, and augmented with a few feats these become powerful indeed) and as for class, pretty much anything that can keep itself alive. The Barbarian is a decent choice, with lots of HP, lots of damage, and lots of self-buffs and self-heals. Barbarians also have a good few powers that send temporary HP your way every time you hit an enemy. Whatever you do, I wouldn't pick a leader role class. They're not so good on their own.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is... play a Drow Barbarian.
#4
Herrozerro
Jul 28, 2009 9:17:54 You dont have to play "Solo" You could have the Player play more then one character.
#5
cmdluke
Jul 28, 2009 9:39:06 or you can run an NPC to fight along side them.
#6
Seeker95
Jul 28, 2009 10:01:02 There is no right or wrong race / class combination.
There is a right and wrong player: Flexible and creative, not rigid and linear.
There is a right and wrong DM: Flexible and adaptive, not rigid and pre-set.

The biggest burden in a solo campaign is on the DM. S/He must be able to tailor *everything* in the game. A solo campaign is so far a deviation from the norm that almost nothing in the "norm" is applicable. Encounters, treasure, skill challenges, and even game time -- all of these need to be carefully monitored and adjusted, often on the fly.
#7
igniz
Jul 28, 2009 10:03:49 A Bard or Cleric would be an obvious choice, reasonable defences, healing, abilities to fight at range or melee, you'd have to stick to avoid powers that only benefit allies (obviously), and your MC options should suit whatever weaknesses you have.
#8
pint_glass_crusader
Jul 28, 2009 11:22:55 As was said above, really, you can play whatever you want.

However, if you want something competative... I would suggest a Human, Dwarf, Minotaur or Warforged [STR based] Paladin...

A decent STR (say... 17+) will allow you to fight in melee (and at range with heavy thrown weapons) and a CON/WIS of about 15 each (if you can get it) will give you 30HP and plenty of Healing Surges, plus a few lay on hands to heal yourself in a pinch.

With the new Mighty Challenge feat from Divine Power, a STR Paladin can now have a healthy Divine Challenge to bump their damage.

With a Multiclass (Avenger is really good BTW), you can also begin to address some of your other limitations.
#9
Dragoncat
Jul 28, 2009 11:23:26 There is no best character for a solo campaign because the character will completely define the campaign.

If you are a rogue, you're probably going to have stealthy adventures, if you are a wizard, much blasting might ensue. A fighter should put on his war face, while a druid will probably be more involved in the affairs of the woodlands.

So pick a class that you want to play a game around, not the other way. If you want a religious story and the dichotomy of good and evil, pick out a divine class, if you want a more down-to-earth campaign, go martial, etc.
#10
flipguarder
Jul 28, 2009 11:32:57 wisdom based Fighter MC Cleric. You might, after building the character, think hybrid fighter/cleric would be good.
#11
borg285
Jul 28, 2009 22:46:14 Sorcerer | ranger using dragonfrost with spitting cobra stance because the monsters have no other good target so you get an attack on each of them. Normal DPR builds focus on getting as many attacks vs one target as possible and ignore how much total damage you do to a group, but with a solo campaign you'll have to be doing the damage sometime, so why not do the damage during their turn as an opportunity action.

The build also is good for going feycharger. The sorcerer | swordmage version got the highest DPR so I chose to do ranger in heroic for the awesome DPR kingdom and doing the double multiclass background to get swordmage MC and figher MC.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 piropoint Jul 28, 2009 9:01:29	I know that teamwork and roles are stressed in 4.0 but I might be starting a solo campaign with a buddy of mine (unless we can wrangle up a few more players). If that doesn't work out though, which classes and races make for the best solo PC? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
#2 Shiftkitty Jul 28, 2009 9:08:27	I don't think there is a "best" of anything in 4e. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, so It's largely up to the player to decide what they excel at. Some players can wrangle wizards around like nobody's business, and if the encounters are scaled appropriately, can handle themselves just fine. Others are frighteningly good with rogues. Myself, I'd choose fighter. Same for races. One thing I've gleaned from solo games in 4e is that you have the luxury of choosing for flavor a lot more than in other versions/games (IMO). So, flavor-wise, for solo campaigning from a DMs perspective, I've had the easiest time setting things up for rogues (more likely to be working alone), and the drow rogues seem the most natural fit for my game.
#3 trialsbyfire Jul 28, 2009 9:09:06	I'd take any race with a decent escape ability (The Drow, for example, has abilities that can provide concealment, and augmented with a few feats these become powerful indeed) and as for class, pretty much anything that can keep itself alive. The Barbarian is a decent choice, with lots of HP, lots of damage, and lots of self-buffs and self-heals. Barbarians also have a good few powers that send temporary HP your way every time you hit an enemy. Whatever you do, I wouldn't pick a leader role class. They're not so good on their own. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is... play a Drow Barbarian.
#4 Herrozerro Jul 28, 2009 9:17:54	You dont have to play "Solo" You could have the Player play more then one character.
#5 cmdluke Jul 28, 2009 9:39:06	or you can run an NPC to fight along side them.
#6 Seeker95 Jul 28, 2009 10:01:02	There is no right or wrong race / class combination. There is a right and wrong player: Flexible and creative, not rigid and linear. There is a right and wrong DM: Flexible and adaptive, not rigid and pre-set. The biggest burden in a solo campaign is on the DM. S/He must be able to tailor everything in the game. A solo campaign is so far a deviation from the norm that almost nothing in the "norm" is applicable. Encounters, treasure, skill challenges, and even game time -- all of these need to be carefully monitored and adjusted, often on the fly.
#7 igniz Jul 28, 2009 10:03:49	A Bard or Cleric would be an obvious choice, reasonable defences, healing, abilities to fight at range or melee, you'd have to stick to avoid powers that only benefit allies (obviously), and your MC options should suit whatever weaknesses you have.
#8 pint_glass_crusader Jul 28, 2009 11:22:55	As was said above, really, you can play whatever you want. However, if you want something competative... I would suggest a Human, Dwarf, Minotaur or Warforged [STR based] Paladin... A decent STR (say... 17+) will allow you to fight in melee (and at range with heavy thrown weapons) and a CON/WIS of about 15 each (if you can get it) will give you 30HP and plenty of Healing Surges, plus a few lay on hands to heal yourself in a pinch. With the new Mighty Challenge feat from Divine Power, a STR Paladin can now have a healthy Divine Challenge to bump their damage. With a Multiclass (Avenger is really good BTW), you can also begin to address some of your other limitations.
#9 Dragoncat Jul 28, 2009 11:23:26	There is no best character for a solo campaign because the character will completely define the campaign. If you are a rogue, you're probably going to have stealthy adventures, if you are a wizard, much blasting might ensue. A fighter should put on his war face, while a druid will probably be more involved in the affairs of the woodlands. So pick a class that you want to play a game around, not the other way. If you want a religious story and the dichotomy of good and evil, pick out a divine class, if you want a more down-to-earth campaign, go martial, etc.
#10 flipguarder Jul 28, 2009 11:32:57	wisdom based Fighter MC Cleric. You might, after building the character, think hybrid fighter/cleric would be good.
#11 borg285 Jul 28, 2009 22:46:14	Sorcerer \| ranger using dragonfrost with spitting cobra stance because the monsters have no other good target so you get an attack on each of them. Normal DPR builds focus on getting as many attacks vs one target as possible and ignore how much total damage you do to a group, but with a solo campaign you'll have to be doing the damage sometime, so why not do the damage during their turn as an opportunity action. The build also is good for going feycharger. The sorcerer \| swordmage version got the highest DPR so I chose to do ranger in heroic for the awesome DPR kingdom and doing the double multiclass background to get swordmage MC and figher MC.