Also I'm a little confused on Bard Spells. I know that for the most part they all have verbal componants but I really don't know a whole ton and my party keeps telling me to try and be "As spell based as possible" What kind of Bard should I try for? A sneaky ranged spellcaster? A lot of the spells my bard can know aren't entirely combat useful or rather I'd just rather take one or two that aren't combat based but then I only have maybe 2 combat spells that I can't use often.
Any ideas/suggestions? Fairly new to D&D and currently playing 3.5
Well before I was playing a monk and that didn't work out well. I'm the only one doing arcane spells so I'm wondering which would be better a druid or wizard?
Monk is another nearly useless class, yeah.
Druid is more powerful than wizard; it's easily the most powerful class in the game. Just remember to take Natural Spell as soon as possible (probably L6).
Long long debate as to which is stronger.
Friendly to a new player? Druid by a mile.
Also I'm a little confused on Bard Spells. I know that for the most part they all have verbal componants but I really don't know a whole ton and my party keeps telling me to try and be "As spell based as possible"
Bards aren't "spellcasters". Well, technically, they are. But really, they're light-skirmish skill monkeys with a bit of spellcasting on the side. Bards can be pretty decent if played to their strengths, but being the party's primary spellcaster is not one of those strengths.
If you want to support your party with spells, you want to go with a primary spellcasting class; one that gets up to 9th level spells. Wizards, Clerics, and Druids are kings here, no contest. Honorable mentions go to the Sorcerer and Psion.
Wizards have the most versatile spellcasting, but they don't get any healing, they're squishier and managing their spellbooks can be a bit complicated. Druids are very powerful, adaptable, and get a decent skill selection, but their wildshape and summoning features can be a bit complicated. Clerics are pretty straight forward and durable and make the best healers, but aren't as flexible with their spells and skill selection. Though they do get access to some good spells the other classes don't, like Heal, Harm, and Raise Dead. And they can buff themselves into powerful warriors.
If you've never played a spellcaster before, I suggest going with either Cleric or Druid. Probably Druid. You'll always have fun and diverse options to choose from.
I'm wondering what race I should go with when making this character? We are currently doing just base races and classes. I was thinking of a halfling so that I could weild a crossbow and get the +2 dex bonus. But I'm hearing something about Gnomes being much better because of the +1 to illusion difficulty.
You can't go wrong with humans. The bonus skill points, and especially the bonus feat, are always useful. Though gnomes and halflings aren't bad either. Both races are small, which translates into a bump to your AC. And both races get a bonus to stats that you do care about (Con for HP and Fort, and Dex for AC and Init, respectively), while taking a penalty to a stat you'll likely won't care about as a spellcaster (Str). The gnome's bonus to illusions won't get much traction unless you play an Wizard or Bard. The other spellcasting class don't get many illusion spells. The races' other bonuses are situational, but can still be useful.
Though really, any race can work well. Though I would avoid playing a race that takes a penalty to your chosen class's primary spellcasting stat.
TLDR: Play a druid. Human, gnome, or halfling all work.
My main question: is the campaign going to be combat-focused enough to merit Which Class is "Strongest" discussions, or is the DM going to give the PC's other things to do in the world?
Doesn't matter. The Druid, Cleric, and Wizard will still do it better than everybody else.
So with the change shape once per day I can change into anything of my choosing within the list of animals I am alloted correct?
When I change do I roll my HD again to see how much HP I have or does it stack on with my current HP?
Is there any kind of combat oriented animal that someone could recommend? Not exactly for hitting but maybe something that gives me good AC or something?
Since we are all really pretty new to the game (except the DM he is just a little bit more knowledgable than us) the DM said he basically just needed an arcane spellcaster at the moment for things like detecting magic and such. We generally play games that are fairly combat oriented with few moral choices thrown into the game and it's not that he is being a bad DM it's just that a good chunk of us are still learning as we go along.
A google search for 'druid handbook' will get you a fair number of hits; there's one here (community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...) that looks good on a cursory glance.
Detect Magic is on the Druid list as well.
My main question: is the campaign going to be combat-focused enough to merit Which Class is "Strongest" discussions, or is the DM going to give the PC's other things to do in the world?
Doesn't matter. The Druid, Cleric, and Wizard will still do it better than everybody else.
Even in a world were not everything is about surviving combat?
If the DM says that the game is going to have a lot of different things to do, where combat is one of those things that happens sometimes, why shouldn't Zobon be allowed to come up with a Bard character that can handle combat kind-of well, and the other (more?) important things really well?
Again sorry for the noobly questions I ask.
NEVER apologize for noobly questions!
Pros - 6 + Int modifier skill points, quite a few skill choices, can cast spells in light armor, simple weapon proficiency plus some extras, spellcasting (up to 6th-level), bardic knowledge, bardic music (most notably inspire courage, inspire greatness, and inspire heroics).
Cons - d6 hit die, restricted spell lists (no overt displays of power, slightly lacking battlefield control), prestige class options tend toward mediocrity.
Cleric
Pros - better armor selection, can obtain extra feats and class skills (depends on domain choices), spellcasting (divine, up to 9th-level), turn/rebuke undead, bonus language options, spontaneous casting of cure/inflict spells, d8 hit die, can cast spells in all armor.
Cons - 2 + Int modifier skill points, few skill choices, generally pigeonholed into the 'healer' role (even though it's not really needed if you kit your party out correctly).
Druid
Pros - d8 hit die, spellcasting (divine, up to 9th-level) that is more suited to controlling the battlefield, bonus language option, animal companion (depending on your choice, this can be exceedingly useful), wild shape (this can wreck almost any fight, especially in conjunction with Natural Spell), other useful class abilities (Timeless Body, Venom Immunity, etc.), spontaneous casting of summon monster spells, quite a few nice prestige class options.
Cons - can be overly powerful in the hands of a minmaxer, fewer armor and weapon proficiencies (no metal armors, no heavily-metallic weapons, no metal shields), few skill choices.
Doesn't matter. The Druid, Cleric, and Wizard will still do it better than everybody else.
Even in a world were not everything is about surviving combat?
Especially in a world without combat. Some classes, the fighter for example. They can fight stuff sub-parly or go drink in the bar.
The D/C/W can fight stuff awesomely and use magic for other stuff all over the place.
My main question: is the campaign going to be combat-focused enough to merit Which Class is "Strongest" discussions, or is the DM going to give the PC's other things to do in the world?
Doesn't matter. The Druid, Cleric, and Wizard will still do it better than everybody else.
Even in a world were not everything is about surviving combat?
Yes. Especially in a world that's not all about surviving combat.
If the DM says that the game is going to have a lot of different things to do, where combat is one of those things that happens sometimes, why shouldn't Zobon be allowed to come up with a Bard character that can handle combat kind-of well, and the other (more?) important things really well?
Assuming that Zabon truly wants to fulfill the party spellcaster position, as per the OP, there are much effective ways to do that than a bard. And if Zabon wants to handle "other (more?) important things really well", the best advice there would depend on what Zabon would like to do.
While bards are very versatile, the biggest trap to building one is that they don't have the resources to fully realize all of their potential versatility at the same time. And in a game that rewards specialization, its very easy for a bard to spread themselves too thinly in an attempt to do all the things and instead end up being just another spoony bard. Forever alone.
Of course, if Zabon wants to play a bard anyway, more power to him. There are plenty of ways to make a bard shine in a party. While a bard could never fully replace a primary caster, they can heal, buff, and debuff effectively with their spells, and Bardic Music can be raised to a very impressive level of effectiveness with the right build. If push comes to shove, you're competent enough with weapons and armor to swashbuckle your way out of a tight spot. And they can be built to be very effective spies, diplomats, and detectives.
Again sorry for the noobly questions I ask.
NEVER apologize for noobly questions!
Definitely agree with this though. +1