New group, new campaign, and only one role left - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

New group, new campaign, and only one role left

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
greyer
Feb 25, 2011 21:30:38 I'm a new player and I've recently joined a second group with some cool people I know. The party consists of a Fighter, Knight, Bard, a ranged Thief, and some sort of Controller (me). Problem is, the party lacks any sort of magical talent/knowledge (read: Arcana training). That leaves everything except Hunters.

My issue is thus: I'm having a very tough time getting interested in any of the classes except Hunter, the one that lacks what the party needs. The simplicity of the Hunter is very appealing and the flavor of it is interesting and adaptable. With the other controllers I feel I have to metagame it to be useful and the RP aspect isn't appealing.

So what's a guy to do? If I stick with a Hunter, someone else has to switch. Most likely it would require two other people to switch things around. If I roll a different type of controller, how does one deal with playing a class they're disinterested in? Suck it up and play?

Naturally I'm discussing this with the group and the DM but would appreciate an outside pespective.
#2
Vorne
Feb 25, 2011 22:08:30 If the most important things to you are playing a Hunter, and having Arcana as a skill, then either take a background that allows Arcana as a class skill, or take a feat (MC Wizard, Invoker, Artificer, Swordmage, Sorcerer).
#3
greyer
Feb 25, 2011 22:32:00 D'oh. One of the most obvious solutions and I missed it. Thanks.
#4
CCS
Feb 25, 2011 23:57:55
I'm a new player and I've recently joined a second group with some cool people I know. The party consists of a Fighter, Knight, Bard, a ranged Thief, and some sort of Controller (me). Problem is, the party lacks any sort of magical talent/knowledge (read: Arcana training).

You know what? I don't see an issue, or even a problem, here. 4 other people have chosen not to play a controller/someone with Arcane training.
Why is that?
Because they don't want to.

So what makes them, or you, think that you should be the guy who plays something undesirable?

My issue is thus: I'm having a very tough time getting interested in any of the classes except Hunter, the one that lacks what the party needs. The simplicity of the Hunter is very appealing and the flavor of it is interesting and adaptable. With the other controllers I feel I have to metagame it to be useful and the RP aspect isn't appealing.

So play a hunter.

So what's a guy to do? If I stick with a Hunter, someone else has to switch. Most likely it would require two other people to switch things around. If I roll a different type of controller, how does one deal with playing a class they're disinterested in? Suck it up and play?

Why's anyone have to switch. They already made their choices involving this (lack of) skill/role. It wasn't important to any of them. And if you weren't playing? They'd still not have such a character.
So why don't you get to make the same choice?

As for how I deal with playing classes/roles I'm diinterested in as a player? I don't play them. Afterall, I'm playing this game to have fun. But if I were to play something I didn't like I wouldn't be having fun....
And if anyone has an issue with that? Well, that's their problem.
#5
Samrin
Feb 26, 2011 0:15:59 Play what you want. You don't have to have one of every role, and controller is generally the easiest to live without.

I'd say a melee striker would be a good choice. Monk would actually fit in well, as he could spread around damage and give you some measure of control. Plus, they're quite fun to play. The mobility is obscene.
#6
tiornys
Feb 26, 2011 8:31:32 An Eladrin offers several benefits to being a Hunter with a decent Arcana skill. Eladrin boost Dex, the Hunter's primary ability. Eladrin boost Int, the stat that underlies Arcana. Eladrin get to pick up an off-class skill training, which lets you start with Arcana trained. Eladrin have a +2 racial bonus to Arcana. Use a background to give you another +2 to Arcana, and you can have a very good starting Arcana score with no investment in Intelligence: 12 Int post racial, trained, +2 racial, +2 background = 10 Arcana at first level, which equals the arcana score of a Human with training and a 20 Int. You'll lose 3 comparative points over the course of 30 levels, as you'll presumably not be increasing your Int. If desired, you can compensate at the cost of a feat by taking Skill Focus.

t~
#7
magniloquent
Feb 26, 2011 13:47:10 Wait... why are you forced to take Arcana when it is already a trained skill for the bard?

Unless you are suggesting that there isn't an Int based, Arcana skill having, character yet. Because that seems like a lot of effort to go to when someone already has a +5 on the skillcheck.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 greyer Feb 25, 2011 21:30:38	I'm a new player and I've recently joined a second group with some cool people I know. The party consists of a Fighter, Knight, Bard, a ranged Thief, and some sort of Controller (me). Problem is, the party lacks any sort of magical talent/knowledge (read: Arcana training). That leaves everything except Hunters. My issue is thus: I'm having a very tough time getting interested in any of the classes except Hunter, the one that lacks what the party needs. The simplicity of the Hunter is very appealing and the flavor of it is interesting and adaptable. With the other controllers I feel I have to metagame it to be useful and the RP aspect isn't appealing. So what's a guy to do? If I stick with a Hunter, someone else has to switch. Most likely it would require two other people to switch things around. If I roll a different type of controller, how does one deal with playing a class they're disinterested in? Suck it up and play? Naturally I'm discussing this with the group and the DM but would appreciate an outside pespective.
#2 Vorne Feb 25, 2011 22:08:30	If the most important things to you are playing a Hunter, and having Arcana as a skill, then either take a background that allows Arcana as a class skill, or take a feat (MC Wizard, Invoker, Artificer, Swordmage, Sorcerer).
#3 greyer Feb 25, 2011 22:32:00	D'oh. One of the most obvious solutions and I missed it. Thanks.
#4 CCS Feb 25, 2011 23:57:55	I'm a new player and I've recently joined a second group with some cool people I know. The party consists of a Fighter, Knight, Bard, a ranged Thief, and some sort of Controller (me). Problem is, the party lacks any sort of magical talent/knowledge (read: Arcana training). You know what? I don't see an issue, or even a problem, here. 4 other people have chosen not to play a controller/someone with Arcane training. Why is that? Because they don't want to. So what makes them, or you, think that you should be the guy who plays something undesirable? My issue is thus: I'm having a very tough time getting interested in any of the classes except Hunter, the one that lacks what the party needs. The simplicity of the Hunter is very appealing and the flavor of it is interesting and adaptable. With the other controllers I feel I have to metagame it to be useful and the RP aspect isn't appealing. So play a hunter. So what's a guy to do? If I stick with a Hunter, someone else has to switch. Most likely it would require two other people to switch things around. If I roll a different type of controller, how does one deal with playing a class they're disinterested in? Suck it up and play? Why's anyone have to switch. They already made their choices involving this (lack of) skill/role. It wasn't important to any of them. And if you weren't playing? They'd still not have such a character. So why don't you get to make the same choice? As for how I deal with playing classes/roles I'm diinterested in as a player? I don't play them. Afterall, I'm playing this game to have fun. But if I were to play something I didn't like I wouldn't be having fun.... And if anyone has an issue with that? Well, that's their problem.
#5 Samrin Feb 26, 2011 0:15:59	Play what you want. You don't have to have one of every role, and controller is generally the easiest to live without. I'd say a melee striker would be a good choice. Monk would actually fit in well, as he could spread around damage and give you some measure of control. Plus, they're quite fun to play. The mobility is obscene.
#6 tiornys Feb 26, 2011 8:31:32	An Eladrin offers several benefits to being a Hunter with a decent Arcana skill. Eladrin boost Dex, the Hunter's primary ability. Eladrin boost Int, the stat that underlies Arcana. Eladrin get to pick up an off-class skill training, which lets you start with Arcana trained. Eladrin have a +2 racial bonus to Arcana. Use a background to give you another +2 to Arcana, and you can have a very good starting Arcana score with no investment in Intelligence: 12 Int post racial, trained, +2 racial, +2 background = 10 Arcana at first level, which equals the arcana score of a Human with training and a 20 Int. You'll lose 3 comparative points over the course of 30 levels, as you'll presumably not be increasing your Int. If desired, you can compensate at the cost of a feat by taking Skill Focus. t~
#7 magniloquent Feb 26, 2011 13:47:10	Wait... why are you forced to take Arcana when it is already a trained skill for the bard? Unless you are suggesting that there isn't an Int based, Arcana skill having, character yet. Because that seems like a lot of effort to go to when someone already has a +5 on the skillcheck.