Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 creeperjr Feb 29, 2012 22:42:44	I am in a new group of 4 players starting from scratch.  I am the only player with any RPG experience (I played a bunch of 2nd Edition about 20 years ago and have been playing at Encounters for the last few months).   The DM has been working with the other players and so far we have a Paladin, a Rogue, and a Guardian Druid with some Sentinel healing powers.  I am trying to figure out what type of characterto play.  I am pretty open to anything, but I'm not sure what the party really needs.  I was thinking maybe a Bard or Shaman that can help in multiple roles.  Or maybe a melee Cleric.  Any advice from more experienced players would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.  [I apologize if this is better suited to another forum - I was not sure where to post]
#2 Unahim Mar 01, 2012 1:28:44	(this is 3.5, right?) Well, you have a skill monkey/trapfinder(rogue), a front-line melee(Paladin) who can also heal a bit and stuff, and then a divine caster(the Druid). You don't have an arcane caster though, so how does a wizard sound? That way you'll end up with the pretty archtypical party who should be able to handle everything. You'll likely find the rogue and the paladin being the most effective the first few levels, but the druid and wizard's magical prowess will start kicking in pretty fast. If this is 4th edition I think I'd go the same way, since you have a defender, striker and (what I think is) a leader in that group, but no controller, a wizard is a controller from what I know ^^
#3 GelatinousOctahedron Mar 01, 2012 10:45:38	This is the right forum.  Unahim, he is describing a 4E group. I think any of those leaders (bard, cleric or shaman) would be fine.  Pick whichever looks the most fun.  Bard is good for control and skills.   Shaman is usually good for some more control and party buffing and I would go with a panther build for your group.  Melee cleric can off defend or off striker while providing good party buffing/enemy debuffing and potentially more healing than any other class.  All of them can go both melee and ranged types attacks as well if you want. The one thing it looks like your group is missing is int skills.  Cunning bard, animist or panther shaman, or an oghma warpriest (it uses wisdom for int skills) could handle that.  Shaman will be the trickiest to play, but easiest to build with cleric probably the trickiest to build, but simplest to play if that matters.
#4 creeperjr Mar 01, 2012 11:04:47	Thanks for the advice!  Really good food for thought. Yes this is a 4e game.
#5 w00f Mar 01, 2012 22:38:31	Well let's see. You guys have two PCs with healing powers already so it isn't really mandatory to play a Leader class, and if you did I'd suggest one that is less about healing and more about supporting their allies (like the Shaman or Artificer). You guys may be able to use a little extra meat to protect the squishy melee striker and sometimes melee druid. Maybe a Fighter or Swordmage? That might clog up your melee a bit, but I'm sure the rogue won't mind since it'l be easier to flank. Honestly though it seems like you could pretty much be anything with that party. You guys have a striker, a defender/leader, and a controller/striker with some leadery abilities.
#6 GelatinousOctahedron Mar 02, 2012 9:29:24	Not all paladins heal.  A lot of them can, but there is not guarantee that his is built with healing.  If it is, then a traditional cleric would be less useful than a bard or shaman.  The oghma warpriest I mentioned above isn't much of a healer by default, its an enemy debuffer with a bunch of attack enabling starting at level 16, and doesn't need any healing other than his healing word to be effective.
#7 creeperjr Mar 04, 2012 14:12:19	Thank you all for the advice.  I decided to go with a stalker shaman.