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Finish my party!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
tygell
May 16, 2009 2:09:58 My group is starting H3, the pyramid of whatever. It's a group of 5 characters, all level 7, consisting of the following so far:

Warden (either longtooth wildblood, or goliath earthstrength)
Gnome Cunning Bard
Deva Preservation Invoker, with Cleric MC
Half-Orc Two-weapon Ranger(Fairly optimized as I built it for the guy)

What would be best for the 5th member(me)? Race can be anything from PHB or PHB2. Class can be anything but sword mage. Dragon magazine is also out of the question for now.

I'm leaning towards a second leader, or defender. I'd be ok with a striker as well, but controllers are my least favorite style to play.
#2
nachtsieger
May 16, 2009 2:27:05 Bravura Warlord.
#3
Kalnaur
May 16, 2009 4:58:16 Go Shaman. :D
#4
tiornys
May 16, 2009 7:29:11 With the freedom to pick basically anything, and nothing that stands out as amazingly synergistic, one thing to look at is skill coverage. Your party has a Wis/Int controller, a Cha/Int leader, a Str/Wis striker, and a Str+Con or Wis defender. What you lack, therefore, is someone with strong Dex-based skills, primarily Stealth and Thievery. If you decide to fill that hole, you're likely playing a striker; none of the leaders or defenders has Dex primary or secondary.

In your party, I think you need to be able to hold your own in melee, but you should also have a decent ranged presence, so I'd go Rogue or Avenger (Rogues have better damage output, Avengers make better scouts). Human, Half-Orc, Halfling, Razorclaw Shifter, and Elf seem like the best races.

t~
#5
Kensan_Oni
May 16, 2009 11:34:01 I'm going to say Dark Pact Warlock... simply because I want to play one so badly.
#6
tygell
May 16, 2009 12:28:23 I considered a Str/Dex Eladrin tempest Fighter, that multiclasses Rogue specifically to cover thievery and stealth. It would eventually take all the fun charging feats for Eladrin, but none of that will matter until paragon.

I'd be a decent defender and a decent striker. The teleport will let me get closer to ranged enemies pretty easily.
#7
Alter_Boy
May 16, 2009 12:34:37 Someone with Ritual Training and the Brew Potion Ritual. You'll find out why soon enough...
#8
tygell
May 16, 2009 13:31:22 I believe Invokers are ritual casters, right? Please don't spoil anything specific about H3, but should I assume we need to bring our own Item Enchanter with us?
#9
Alter_Boy
May 21, 2009 16:21:58 Maybe...
#10
ace_of_time
May 22, 2009 22:47:42 They have the new monk class on inside for play testing. It might fit.
#11
jack_of_all_trades_02
May 22, 2009 23:52:11 Check out McSmashin's new Rogue/Bard/Daggermaster. build, it's actually pretty damn good. It's all about Charisma, Dexterity, and Twin Strike. It leaps all over the battlefield can go invisible and stay invisible, it can throw daggers and dual wield them. It should be all kinds of fun.

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1193567
#12
zerotwo
May 23, 2009 0:09:43 Get another Warden, a Warforged Warden... activate invulnerability mode.

It works in RP, just say he is made of magical wood. :P
#13
LordOfWeasels
May 23, 2009 14:44:16 I see three Melee characters and one Ranged.

So I'd go for Ranged.

You've got Defender, Controller, Leader, Controller, Striker, so that's all covered already. The *traditional* thing to do at this point is a second Striker, and we've already established that you're short on range. That means that a Warlock (Striker/Controller) or BowRanger (Pure-damage Striker, also adds Dex skills) are obvious choices - and a blasty-Wizard (Controller/Striker) or a Sorceror could fit as well. Just focus your Wizard on pure damage output, and, if Arcane Power and AV are allowed, you should be throwing AMAZING (like, +13 or so) damage on your at-will powers. Add in Shadowfell Gloves and suddenly "Necrotic (Stinking) Cloud" is a fightwinner all on it's own.

Thinking a little outside the "standard" model, Fighters are *awesome* and no party has ever suffered from having two Defenders who can trade off Marks and share the pain. I'd definitely go Two-Handed Weapon because you've got the spare Defender in the Warden, so you can afford to increase your damage output by forgoing a shield.

A little further out, and add a second Leader, with a LaserCleric. Fights may take longer, but you're tossing healing and saving throws around like it's going out of style. You can make up for almost *any* series of bad rolls, simply by being there and adding bonuses. Everyone loves a LaserCleric.

The only thing I'd really want to avoid is a melee striker. A second two-weap Ranger or a Barbarian or a melee Rogue would just crowd things and get in the way.
#14
kirjotusvihe
May 23, 2009 15:07:16
(Rogues have better damage output, Avengers make better scouts).

t~

Just by curiosity, but wouldn't a rogue make a better scout with all the stealth increasing utilities they have?
#15
excession_dup
May 24, 2009 2:58:20 I think that what Tiornys is referring to is that Avengers have the Wisdom to back up their perception checks.
#16
tiornys
May 24, 2009 4:42:44
I think that what Tiornys is referring to is that Avengers have the Wisdom to back up their perception checks.

Exactly. Rogues are less likely to get caught, but Avengers are (typically) much better at finding out useful information.

A Rogue makes a better infiltrator. An Avenger (or Ranger) makes a better scout.

t~
#17
kirjotusvihe
May 24, 2009 5:28:15 Well I can see the logic in that.
#18
leif_birchwood
May 24, 2009 10:25:45 you can always just go with the warlock those seem to kill the crap out of everything in our games!:D
#19
fey_feline
May 24, 2009 13:53:28 Rogue or Wizard.
Rougues are always good.
You need a controller.
#20
abraham
May 24, 2009 17:00:26 if you want cannon fodder,use the crocodiles from pearls before swine comic strip.
they are VERY stupid after all.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tygell May 16, 2009 2:09:58	My group is starting H3, the pyramid of whatever. It's a group of 5 characters, all level 7, consisting of the following so far: Warden (either longtooth wildblood, or goliath earthstrength) Gnome Cunning Bard Deva Preservation Invoker, with Cleric MC Half-Orc Two-weapon Ranger(Fairly optimized as I built it for the guy) What would be best for the 5th member(me)? Race can be anything from PHB or PHB2. Class can be anything but sword mage. Dragon magazine is also out of the question for now. I'm leaning towards a second leader, or defender. I'd be ok with a striker as well, but controllers are my least favorite style to play.
#2 nachtsieger May 16, 2009 2:27:05	Bravura Warlord.
#3 Kalnaur May 16, 2009 4:58:16	Go Shaman. :D
#4 tiornys May 16, 2009 7:29:11	With the freedom to pick basically anything, and nothing that stands out as amazingly synergistic, one thing to look at is skill coverage. Your party has a Wis/Int controller, a Cha/Int leader, a Str/Wis striker, and a Str+Con or Wis defender. What you lack, therefore, is someone with strong Dex-based skills, primarily Stealth and Thievery. If you decide to fill that hole, you're likely playing a striker; none of the leaders or defenders has Dex primary or secondary. In your party, I think you need to be able to hold your own in melee, but you should also have a decent ranged presence, so I'd go Rogue or Avenger (Rogues have better damage output, Avengers make better scouts). Human, Half-Orc, Halfling, Razorclaw Shifter, and Elf seem like the best races. t~
#5 Kensan_Oni May 16, 2009 11:34:01	I'm going to say Dark Pact Warlock... simply because I want to play one so badly.
#6 tygell May 16, 2009 12:28:23	I considered a Str/Dex Eladrin tempest Fighter, that multiclasses Rogue specifically to cover thievery and stealth. It would eventually take all the fun charging feats for Eladrin, but none of that will matter until paragon. I'd be a decent defender and a decent striker. The teleport will let me get closer to ranged enemies pretty easily.
#7 Alter_Boy May 16, 2009 12:34:37	Someone with Ritual Training and the Brew Potion Ritual. You'll find out why soon enough...
#8 tygell May 16, 2009 13:31:22	I believe Invokers are ritual casters, right? Please don't spoil anything specific about H3, but should I assume we need to bring our own Item Enchanter with us?
#9 Alter_Boy May 21, 2009 16:21:58	Maybe...
#10 ace_of_time May 22, 2009 22:47:42	They have the new monk class on inside for play testing. It might fit.
#11 jack_of_all_trades_02 May 22, 2009 23:52:11	Check out McSmashin's new Rogue/Bard/Daggermaster. build, it's actually pretty damn good. It's all about Charisma, Dexterity, and Twin Strike. It leaps all over the battlefield can go invisible and stay invisible, it can throw daggers and dual wield them. It should be all kinds of fun. http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1193567
#12 zerotwo May 23, 2009 0:09:43	Get another Warden, a Warforged Warden... activate invulnerability mode. It works in RP, just say he is made of magical wood. :P
#13 LordOfWeasels May 23, 2009 14:44:16	I see three Melee characters and one Ranged. So I'd go for Ranged. You've got Defender, Controller, Leader, Controller, Striker, so that's all covered already. The traditional thing to do at this point is a second Striker, and we've already established that you're short on range. That means that a Warlock (Striker/Controller) or BowRanger (Pure-damage Striker, also adds Dex skills) are obvious choices - and a blasty-Wizard (Controller/Striker) or a Sorceror could fit as well. Just focus your Wizard on pure damage output, and, if Arcane Power and AV are allowed, you should be throwing AMAZING (like, +13 or so) damage on your at-will powers. Add in Shadowfell Gloves and suddenly "Necrotic (Stinking) Cloud" is a fightwinner all on it's own. Thinking a little outside the "standard" model, Fighters are awesome and no party has ever suffered from having two Defenders who can trade off Marks and share the pain. I'd definitely go Two-Handed Weapon because you've got the spare Defender in the Warden, so you can afford to increase your damage output by forgoing a shield. A little further out, and add a second Leader, with a LaserCleric. Fights may take longer, but you're tossing healing and saving throws around like it's going out of style. You can make up for almost any series of bad rolls, simply by being there and adding bonuses. Everyone loves a LaserCleric. The only thing I'd really want to avoid is a melee striker. A second two-weap Ranger or a Barbarian or a melee Rogue would just crowd things and get in the way.
#14 kirjotusvihe May 23, 2009 15:07:16	(Rogues have better damage output, Avengers make better scouts). t~ Just by curiosity, but wouldn't a rogue make a better scout with all the stealth increasing utilities they have?
#15 excession_dup May 24, 2009 2:58:20	I think that what Tiornys is referring to is that Avengers have the Wisdom to back up their perception checks.
#16 tiornys May 24, 2009 4:42:44	I think that what Tiornys is referring to is that Avengers have the Wisdom to back up their perception checks. Exactly. Rogues are less likely to get caught, but Avengers are (typically) much better at finding out useful information. A Rogue makes a better infiltrator. An Avenger (or Ranger) makes a better scout. t~
#17 kirjotusvihe May 24, 2009 5:28:15	Well I can see the logic in that.
#18 leif_birchwood May 24, 2009 10:25:45	you can always just go with the warlock those seem to kill the crap out of everything in our games!:D
#19 fey_feline May 24, 2009 13:53:28	Rogue or Wizard. Rougues are always good. You need a controller.
#20 abraham May 24, 2009 17:00:26	if you want cannon fodder,use the crocodiles from pearls before swine comic strip. they are VERY stupid after all.