Finally relinquishing DM chair, and I don't know what to play! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Finally relinquishing DM chair, and I don't know what to play!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ViolenceJack
Jul 14, 2009 13:35:26 Our party is: Inspiring Warlord, Paladin, Warlock, and Invoker. The player of the Rogue is taking over as DM, and so I could simply play a Rogue to replace her.

Trick is, I have so many ideas I can't decide. Gnome Hybrid Feylock/Rogue? Drow exiled noble rogue? Garrote specialist? Straight damage dealing Dark Pack Warlock?

Help me decide!

Party is 8th level, and I'll enjoy playing almost anything, which makes the decision extra hard.
#2
darquing
Jul 14, 2009 14:07:08 Non-hybrid gnome feylock sounds fun (why you want to go hybrid, I don't know), it gives a few possible plot hooks, especially if you talk to your DM about your background (unless the campaign is going to be light on the RPing).

Edit: Slightly OT, what is so awesome about hybridizing two classes?
#3
gargs454
Jul 14, 2009 14:15:06 Naturally, go with what you think would be the most fun.

But if you are like me and will enjoy almost any character (I spent about a decade in the DM's chair almost exclusively, so I definitely understand having fun with anything), then I would say go for a rogue, barbarian or avenger (assuming you want to play a striker). My main reason for saying this is that your party already has 2 range focused members, and adding a third could potentially make things tricky when you come up against skirmishers and lurkers. It might just balance your party out a little better.

But as I said, anything will work with this group, so take what looks fun.
#4
CCS
Jul 14, 2009 14:18:45 Write all the things your interested in on slips of paper, toss them all in a bag/box/hat etc, draw one at random.
#5
ViolenceJack
Jul 14, 2009 14:33:38
Non-hybrid gnome feylock sounds fun (why you want to go hybrid, I don't know), it gives a few possible plot hooks, especially if you talk to your DM about your background (unless the campaign is going to be light on the RPing).

Edit: Slightly OT, what is so awesome about hybridizing two classes?

There are fun things to do with a hybrid character that you can't with single class. What I was thinking of in this case is the possibility of being stealthy for huge amounts of time.

Using Eyebite, and stealthing around for sneak attack damage could be neat. Especially if combined with the Warlock class feature that lets them get concealment from moving (forget what it's called and I'm at work, so can't look it up). Deft Strike would be the Rogue at-will, to pop out from behind the bushes and say "boo!"
#6
darquing
Jul 14, 2009 14:55:43 Is it like gestalting in 3E?
#7
ViolenceJack
Jul 14, 2009 15:40:22
Is it like gestalting in 3E?

Not entirely, no. You essentially get half hit points from each class and reduced class abilities. For Warlock, that means no Pact Boon or Shadow Walk (or whatever that's called). You can gain some of these back with feats. Other classes receive similar treatment.

Additionally, you have to take at least one at-will from each class, and can never have less than one encounter or daily from each class IF you have more than one encounter or daily power. That is, if I took a Rogue encounter power at level 1, I'd have to either take Warlock at level 3 or retrain to a Warlock level 1 and take a Rogue level 3. As long as by 5th level you have one encounter/daily power from each class, you can then select as you like.

That's the gist of it.
#8
ViolenceJack
Jul 14, 2009 15:43:43
Naturally, go with what you think would be the most fun.

But if you are like me and will enjoy almost any character (I spent about a decade in the DM's chair almost exclusively, so I definitely understand having fun with anything), then I would say go for a rogue, barbarian or avenger (assuming you want to play a striker). My main reason for saying this is that your party already has 2 range focused members, and adding a third could potentially make things tricky when you come up against skirmishers and lurkers. It might just balance your party out a little better.

But as I said, anything will work with this group, so take what looks fun.

Yeah, that's some good thinking about the range thing as well. We already have two people mixing it up in melee, so a melee striker would be good to take full advantage of the Warlord's presence.

I lean more towards Rogue than Avenger or Barbarian. Which leaves me the choice: I was thinking of playing this Garrote specialist. Would probably be best as Brutal Scoundrel. Now, the question remaining: Surprisingly vicious (actually good-aligned, but vicious) fop of a deposed Drow noble, or more optimized Half-Ork for whom I have no backstory yet?
#9
Vilnias_Nastavnik
Jul 14, 2009 16:14:06 Did you see the Shadar-Kai write up in Feb Dragon? I used it to make a Shadar-Kai rouge and added the Devious Jaunt, making my Shadow Jaunt 6 squares, more than enough to gain combat advantage and use sneak attack.

Just sayin'...
#10
ViolenceJack
Jul 14, 2009 17:10:26
Did you see the Shadar-Kai write up in Feb Dragon? I used it to make a Shadar-Kai rouge and added the Devious Jaunt, making my Shadow Jaunt 6 squares, more than enough to gain combat advantage and use sneak attack.

Just sayin'...

Yeah, they're pretty cool all right. I have that stuff, for sure. I toyed with the idea of Shadar-Kai, but ultimately I like the Drow more. Which is odd for me; I despise the Forgotten Realms take on them, but if I think of them as powerful families in the Italian Renaissance, I'm all over that action.

The darkness abilities of the Drow would serve a similar purpose, although delicious teleporting action is tempting. I mean, it's all about combat advantage, right? Whether the opponent comes to me and I turn the lights out, or I teleport to a flank, it's all the same. Garrote time.

I think that pretty much solves the issue, although more suggestions are always welcome. just because I don't use it now doesn't mean I won't use it later. I love thinking about different character ideas/histories/builds. I don't have the patience for the math in the character optimization forums, but it's fun to go over those kinds of things with slightly less gusto.
#11
auspex7
Jul 14, 2009 22:50:20 My suggestion: Avenger.

Why:

1. Oath of Enmity. It makes you hit a LOT, it makes you crit a bunch, and it's flat out fun rolling two d20s for attacks. You'll be addicted to OoE before the end of the first encounter. Add Elven Accuracy or Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes for even more ridiculousness.
2. Extreme mobility = good times, and Avengers get Telep-
3. Who doesn't like melee goodness? Avengers have that. The awesome news is that their one ranged At-Will is also awesome. If you're human, take Radiant Vengance as 1/3 of your options. Ranged 10, radiant keyword, (Wis mod) Temp HPs... good times.
4. Fullblade. Executioner Axe. Mordenkrad. Pick one. Profit.
5. -ortation. See how fun it was when the second half of this word teleported down here from point 2? You'll have even more fun teleporting around the grid.
6. Perception, Religion, Thievery, Stealth. What a skill set!
7. Ritual Caster, if you want it.
8. Paragon goodness! Pit Fighter... Warpriest... Radiant Servant... Student of Caiphon...
9. Teleportation. It deserves 3 mentions.
10. Oath of Enmity. It does, too. So...
11. Oath of Enmity.
12. And again... OoE.

Two.

d20s.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ViolenceJack Jul 14, 2009 13:35:26	Our party is: Inspiring Warlord, Paladin, Warlock, and Invoker. The player of the Rogue is taking over as DM, and so I could simply play a Rogue to replace her. Trick is, I have so many ideas I can't decide. Gnome Hybrid Feylock/Rogue? Drow exiled noble rogue? Garrote specialist? Straight damage dealing Dark Pack Warlock? Help me decide! Party is 8th level, and I'll enjoy playing almost anything, which makes the decision extra hard.
#2 darquing Jul 14, 2009 14:07:08	Non-hybrid gnome feylock sounds fun (why you want to go hybrid, I don't know), it gives a few possible plot hooks, especially if you talk to your DM about your background (unless the campaign is going to be light on the RPing). Edit: Slightly OT, what is so awesome about hybridizing two classes?
#3 gargs454 Jul 14, 2009 14:15:06	Naturally, go with what you think would be the most fun. But if you are like me and will enjoy almost any character (I spent about a decade in the DM's chair almost exclusively, so I definitely understand having fun with anything), then I would say go for a rogue, barbarian or avenger (assuming you want to play a striker). My main reason for saying this is that your party already has 2 range focused members, and adding a third could potentially make things tricky when you come up against skirmishers and lurkers. It might just balance your party out a little better. But as I said, anything will work with this group, so take what looks fun.
#4 CCS Jul 14, 2009 14:18:45	Write all the things your interested in on slips of paper, toss them all in a bag/box/hat etc, draw one at random.
#5 ViolenceJack Jul 14, 2009 14:33:38	Non-hybrid gnome feylock sounds fun (why you want to go hybrid, I don't know), it gives a few possible plot hooks, especially if you talk to your DM about your background (unless the campaign is going to be light on the RPing). Edit: Slightly OT, what is so awesome about hybridizing two classes? There are fun things to do with a hybrid character that you can't with single class. What I was thinking of in this case is the possibility of being stealthy for huge amounts of time. Using Eyebite, and stealthing around for sneak attack damage could be neat. Especially if combined with the Warlock class feature that lets them get concealment from moving (forget what it's called and I'm at work, so can't look it up). Deft Strike would be the Rogue at-will, to pop out from behind the bushes and say "boo!"
#6 darquing Jul 14, 2009 14:55:43	Is it like gestalting in 3E?
#7 ViolenceJack Jul 14, 2009 15:40:22	Is it like gestalting in 3E? Not entirely, no. You essentially get half hit points from each class and reduced class abilities. For Warlock, that means no Pact Boon or Shadow Walk (or whatever that's called). You can gain some of these back with feats. Other classes receive similar treatment. Additionally, you have to take at least one at-will from each class, and can never have less than one encounter or daily from each class IF you have more than one encounter or daily power. That is, if I took a Rogue encounter power at level 1, I'd have to either take Warlock at level 3 or retrain to a Warlock level 1 and take a Rogue level 3. As long as by 5th level you have one encounter/daily power from each class, you can then select as you like. That's the gist of it.
#8 ViolenceJack Jul 14, 2009 15:43:43	Naturally, go with what you think would be the most fun. But if you are like me and will enjoy almost any character (I spent about a decade in the DM's chair almost exclusively, so I definitely understand having fun with anything), then I would say go for a rogue, barbarian or avenger (assuming you want to play a striker). My main reason for saying this is that your party already has 2 range focused members, and adding a third could potentially make things tricky when you come up against skirmishers and lurkers. It might just balance your party out a little better. But as I said, anything will work with this group, so take what looks fun. Yeah, that's some good thinking about the range thing as well. We already have two people mixing it up in melee, so a melee striker would be good to take full advantage of the Warlord's presence. I lean more towards Rogue than Avenger or Barbarian. Which leaves me the choice: I was thinking of playing this Garrote specialist. Would probably be best as Brutal Scoundrel. Now, the question remaining: Surprisingly vicious (actually good-aligned, but vicious) fop of a deposed Drow noble, or more optimized Half-Ork for whom I have no backstory yet?
#9 Vilnias_Nastavnik Jul 14, 2009 16:14:06	Did you see the Shadar-Kai write up in Feb Dragon? I used it to make a Shadar-Kai rouge and added the Devious Jaunt, making my Shadow Jaunt 6 squares, more than enough to gain combat advantage and use sneak attack. Just sayin'...
#10 ViolenceJack Jul 14, 2009 17:10:26	Did you see the Shadar-Kai write up in Feb Dragon? I used it to make a Shadar-Kai rouge and added the Devious Jaunt, making my Shadow Jaunt 6 squares, more than enough to gain combat advantage and use sneak attack. Just sayin'... Yeah, they're pretty cool all right. I have that stuff, for sure. I toyed with the idea of Shadar-Kai, but ultimately I like the Drow more. Which is odd for me; I despise the Forgotten Realms take on them, but if I think of them as powerful families in the Italian Renaissance, I'm all over that action. The darkness abilities of the Drow would serve a similar purpose, although delicious teleporting action is tempting. I mean, it's all about combat advantage, right? Whether the opponent comes to me and I turn the lights out, or I teleport to a flank, it's all the same. Garrote time. I think that pretty much solves the issue, although more suggestions are always welcome. just because I don't use it now doesn't mean I won't use it later. I love thinking about different character ideas/histories/builds. I don't have the patience for the math in the character optimization forums, but it's fun to go over those kinds of things with slightly less gusto.
#11 auspex7 Jul 14, 2009 22:50:20	My suggestion: Avenger. Why: 1. Oath of Enmity. It makes you hit a LOT, it makes you crit a bunch, and it's flat out fun rolling two d20s for attacks. You'll be addicted to OoE before the end of the first encounter. Add Elven Accuracy or Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes for even more ridiculousness. 2. Extreme mobility = good times, and Avengers get Telep- 3. Who doesn't like melee goodness? Avengers have that. The awesome news is that their one ranged At-Will is also awesome. If you're human, take Radiant Vengance as 1/3 of your options. Ranged 10, radiant keyword, (Wis mod) Temp HPs... good times. 4. Fullblade. Executioner Axe. Mordenkrad. Pick one. Profit. 5. -ortation. See how fun it was when the second half of this word teleported down here from point 2? You'll have even more fun teleporting around the grid. 6. Perception, Religion, Thievery, Stealth. What a skill set! 7. Ritual Caster, if you want it. 8. Paragon goodness! Pit Fighter... Warpriest... Radiant Servant... Student of Caiphon... 9. Teleportation. It deserves 3 mentions. 10. Oath of Enmity. It does, too. So... 11. Oath of Enmity. 12. And again... OoE. Two. d20s.