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Selecting a new Character (3.5)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
wystenv2
Dec 25, 2011 8:41:53 For those who read the dragon thread, one may remember that I was a wizard. However, the group is being cut by 3 people and 3 others lost their characters, either through self imposed blunders (party bezerker actually jumped over a 10 foot fortress wall, before being double critted after taking down a number of guards) It was also at this point that my elf wizard mentally broke after Fireballing 7 innoccent lumber jacks and figuring that these so called bandits, as told by the wood elves, could actually be part of the Kingdom he was serving. Mentally broke and bolted, largely figuring that it wasnt' worth dying for these low birth inbreds. After all, he had seen the party dwarf bezerker kill most of the orignal party in priour sessions, nearly got killed twice (Once by a pair of zombies, again by a earlier confrontion with the dragon)and hence ran out of reasons to remain with the party since most had been replaced and his subject of study was captured.

So yes, I am essencally rolling up again to gain a fresh start. However, I got a few curious questions about the validity of some classes, the DM creates combat situations that are really balls hard so picking a bad class could really make future sessions much harder.

The Options? Considering I will be intially asigned with a Sorcier to resolve both the dragon issue and the bandit issue;

Roll another Elf Wizard. I was quite getting into the roll by the time I had to leave the party and since elves are by far one of the most educated races in the fluff, another wizard would be plasible and immensely useful and that I am experienced in the role.

A Elven Swordsage as it is very flexable, can produce high AC (Wisdom and Dex influcencing AC, plus Light Armour) while producing a variety of abilitys I can use to emulate striker or tanking functions. However, I fear that I may be allowing the Shiny items idea to take hold of me and blind me of true effectiveness.

Or a Dwarf Cerlic/Elven Druid, the party currently has no healer and I noticed that the former clas has huge potencial to be a beater and interesting roleplaying applications, easpically since the former could be tracking down the party bezerker, reasoning that since he's been spontaniously murdering everything in frenzy that the only way to save his soul now is to destory him. Since the Sorricer is also a drawf, I imagine the two would pair up pretty nicely. Again, I don't really have any idea on Cerlics and I wouldn't want to be merely the parties battry either, as I will be as eager to go to battle as the rest of them.

Could someone just give me a quick summery on the validity of the Swordsage and Cerlic and give me a quick rundown on an effective build? I will be starting at level 7 and once I get a feeling for the character I should be able to advance from there. I am a solid roleplayer, just I need that little help to make sure that I am not the weak kink in the party.
#2
vampire_bat
Dec 26, 2011 0:53:30 Cleric is a teir 1 class, I believe mage is too (once out of those first 5 levels), but the biggest question is: what would be the most fun for you to play? If its a class or character you aren't excited about, then you won't have fun.

As far as effectiveness, there are others more in practice of making very precise and powerful characters. Myself, I focus less on 'how much damage' and more on 'would flames or lightning from my hands look cooler?'
#3
wystenv2
Dec 26, 2011 7:31:48 Largely due to having to compensaite for the rest of the party really. I know there is one character who won't be doing any fighting at all and is largely there just to be the talker. By no fighting, I mean no real supportive abilitys of the party in a fight either so essencally we will be fighting a four man rather then a five man party. Since the DM has been extremely hard and unforgiving in his combat encounters thus far, I really need to step up to ensure we don't enter every battle one man down.

Well, perhaps the unforgiving part came from the party bezerker turning around and attacking us all at our weakest and no one being able/willing to strike him back, but that nightmares over now. XD

That being said, I'm not looking to merely powergame either as I am very interested in playing any of the classes mentioned (I did a fairly cracking elven wizard, whom's main reason for being with the group is to study the Frenzied one and see whether duplicating his rage into a spell would be helpful towards his own people, plus I had gigantic fun buffing everyone and the DM actually got up and shook my hand when I chose to leave the party civally. XD) just I wouldn't mind playing a more marial class at some point again.

#4
vampire_bat
Dec 26, 2011 13:04:26 If you want to be able to fight and buff, you can't go wrong with the cleric. Both mage and cleric could do spell casting (mage a little more aggressively towards enemies) but the cleric allows you the choice of buff party, heal party, or even wade into battle yourself on the front lines. Sure weapons are more limited than a fighters, but who uses every single weapon they are capable of? Hit dice are a d8 vs a fighters d10 and mages d4, but by the time the fighters hps eclipse yours, you'll have more than enough buffs and spells to compensate. You could even take a god with sphere of access that helps you show your own flare.

If the party was a little more combat worthy, the mage would probably be on equal footing, but from what you've said I would shy from it.

On a side note: Druid is just as good as cleric.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 wystenv2 Dec 25, 2011 8:41:53	For those who read the dragon thread, one may remember that I was a wizard. However, the group is being cut by 3 people and 3 others lost their characters, either through self imposed blunders (party bezerker actually jumped over a 10 foot fortress wall, before being double critted after taking down a number of guards) It was also at this point that my elf wizard mentally broke after Fireballing 7 innoccent lumber jacks and figuring that these so called bandits, as told by the wood elves, could actually be part of the Kingdom he was serving. Mentally broke and bolted, largely figuring that it wasnt' worth dying for these low birth inbreds. After all, he had seen the party dwarf bezerker kill most of the orignal party in priour sessions, nearly got killed twice (Once by a pair of zombies, again by a earlier confrontion with the dragon)and hence ran out of reasons to remain with the party since most had been replaced and his subject of study was captured. So yes, I am essencally rolling up again to gain a fresh start. However, I got a few curious questions about the validity of some classes, the DM creates combat situations that are really balls hard so picking a bad class could really make future sessions much harder. The Options? Considering I will be intially asigned with a Sorcier to resolve both the dragon issue and the bandit issue; Roll another Elf Wizard. I was quite getting into the roll by the time I had to leave the party and since elves are by far one of the most educated races in the fluff, another wizard would be plasible and immensely useful and that I am experienced in the role. A Elven Swordsage as it is very flexable, can produce high AC (Wisdom and Dex influcencing AC, plus Light Armour) while producing a variety of abilitys I can use to emulate striker or tanking functions. However, I fear that I may be allowing the Shiny items idea to take hold of me and blind me of true effectiveness. Or a Dwarf Cerlic/Elven Druid, the party currently has no healer and I noticed that the former clas has huge potencial to be a beater and interesting roleplaying applications, easpically since the former could be tracking down the party bezerker, reasoning that since he's been spontaniously murdering everything in frenzy that the only way to save his soul now is to destory him. Since the Sorricer is also a drawf, I imagine the two would pair up pretty nicely. Again, I don't really have any idea on Cerlics and I wouldn't want to be merely the parties battry either, as I will be as eager to go to battle as the rest of them. Could someone just give me a quick summery on the validity of the Swordsage and Cerlic and give me a quick rundown on an effective build? I will be starting at level 7 and once I get a feeling for the character I should be able to advance from there. I am a solid roleplayer, just I need that little help to make sure that I am not the weak kink in the party.
#2 vampire_bat Dec 26, 2011 0:53:30	Cleric is a teir 1 class, I believe mage is too (once out of those first 5 levels), but the biggest question is: what would be the most fun for you to play? If its a class or character you aren't excited about, then you won't have fun. As far as effectiveness, there are others more in practice of making very precise and powerful characters. Myself, I focus less on 'how much damage' and more on 'would flames or lightning from my hands look cooler?'
#3 wystenv2 Dec 26, 2011 7:31:48	Largely due to having to compensaite for the rest of the party really. I know there is one character who won't be doing any fighting at all and is largely there just to be the talker. By no fighting, I mean no real supportive abilitys of the party in a fight either so essencally we will be fighting a four man rather then a five man party. Since the DM has been extremely hard and unforgiving in his combat encounters thus far, I really need to step up to ensure we don't enter every battle one man down. Well, perhaps the unforgiving part came from the party bezerker turning around and attacking us all at our weakest and no one being able/willing to strike him back, but that nightmares over now. XD That being said, I'm not looking to merely powergame either as I am very interested in playing any of the classes mentioned (I did a fairly cracking elven wizard, whom's main reason for being with the group is to study the Frenzied one and see whether duplicating his rage into a spell would be helpful towards his own people, plus I had gigantic fun buffing everyone and the DM actually got up and shook my hand when I chose to leave the party civally. XD) just I wouldn't mind playing a more marial class at some point again.
#4 vampire_bat Dec 26, 2011 13:04:26	If you want to be able to fight and buff, you can't go wrong with the cleric. Both mage and cleric could do spell casting (mage a little more aggressively towards enemies) but the cleric allows you the choice of buff party, heal party, or even wade into battle yourself on the front lines. Sure weapons are more limited than a fighters, but who uses every single weapon they are capable of? Hit dice are a d8 vs a fighters d10 and mages d4, but by the time the fighters hps eclipse yours, you'll have more than enough buffs and spells to compensate. You could even take a god with sphere of access that helps you show your own flare. If the party was a little more combat worthy, the mage would probably be on equal footing, but from what you've said I would shy from it. On a side note: Druid is just as good as cleric.