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What's MY role?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
arkhail
Jan 26, 2009 1:42:33 I normally am the DM but after we finish going through the Scepter Tower of Saharelgard I will get to be a player (for an adventure or two) for the first time in years and for the first time ever with 4e.

So, there are only 4 people in the party.

A drow beastmaster ranger - likely to be reasonably optimized.
A human barbarian - level of optimization unknown, perhaps moderately so.
A human fighter - likely not very optimized.
me…

I had originally planned on playing a drow rogue (fairly optimized), but I am willing to fill whatever roles are necessary of it comes to it. So what'll it be? I would say that they leader classes are my least favorites unfortunately but I am willing to go there if I need to.

Second defender?
Leader?
A third striker??

BTW, I just realized that by the time this happens it'll be after the PHB II comes out. Well, at least I'll be ready!
#2
Keiichi_m
Jan 26, 2009 1:50:12 I'd say your group needs a leader, but if you dislike them then I'd recommend a Pally, you can fill the defender roll with a little healing tacked on, maybe even multiclassing into cleric to supplement your healing potential. from my experience it's not imposable without healing it just becomes several times more difficult.
#3
arkhail
Jan 26, 2009 2:20:23 I thought about a pally/initiate of the faith. I'm not against playing a leader but I would rather play a pally. I definitely would not be too much of a goody goody. Probably worship Tempus or Kelemvor…

Two defenders wouldn't be overkill?

I forgot to mention that we are starting at 4th level (since that's near where we they be at the end of this adventure I guess).
#4
Keiichi_m
Jan 26, 2009 2:54:59 The two defenders and the Barbarian will give you a nice chunk of hit points and healing surges to play with which should balance out the lack of a solid healer nicely, pretty much your group will be focused around being hit less or being able to take it in stride with a large pool of hit points and some self regenerative powers (Barbarians recuperating strike, fighters comeback strike, Pallys Layon hands) as opposed to having less HP but being able to gain back more of it more often with say a cleric and his healing powers and healing lore class ability.
#5
etarnon
Jan 26, 2009 7:14:43 The heretical response is, of course, play whatever strikes your fancy, and don't worry about party balance, nor optimization.

Have fun.
#6
arkhail
Jan 26, 2009 12:59:20
The heretical response is, of course, play whatever strikes your fancy, and don't worry about party balance, nor optimization.

Have fun.

That's kinda funny because that is often what I think of when I see a thread like this. I had already decided to play a rogue no matter what the party consisted of.

The reason why I am leery to do that is that our only defender is going to be my wife. You know, I love her and all but she is just not that great a player. She very much just picks whatever powers and feats sound good to her (regardless of how crappy), and she doesn't make very good use of her abilities/powers etc.. All that is fine but as I said, she would be that only defender in a party of strikers.

Plus the guy playing the barbarian has a rolling problem. I swear you could paint all 20's and a d20 and he's still somehow manage to roll a 5.

Either way I like paladins well enough so it's all good.
#7
kouk
Jan 26, 2009 18:43:08 You might also consider a Strength Cleric to be more of a traditional paladin. They can do a fair darn amount of melee work while healing the heck out of everybody.
#8
ian0311
Jan 27, 2009 14:55:58 Warlord's can be sort of like Martial Paladins (Zealot leaders come to mind).

That being said, do what you want.

The party (including you) will make it work, or they will die.
#9
arkhail
Jan 27, 2009 15:13:20 I think the thing is, I don't get to play much and I am trying to get the most out of it. So I guess I gotta play what I wanna play.

And I guess I'm gonna have to help my wife optimize her fighter. If she lets me.

Thanks everyone.
#10
Novacat
Jan 27, 2009 15:53:53 From a pure optimization viewpoint, I would say Warlord would be your best bet, considering the heavy melée focus of your group.
#11
innuit
Jan 30, 2009 8:42:19 I would also go with earth genasi taclord.

Listen to me when I tell you, your class and role only effect your combat mechanics. Those are the most important for living.

RP-wise, you have no rules or restrictions. Play whatever persona you want. Play whatever class or role your party needs. If you play a rogue, and your group has no healing, someone will die. Then they will make the leader. If you want to try and have it be someone else, go for it. Trust me, no leader = dead PC. I'd hate to see you sink a lot of time into making a character who will last 2 sessions.
#12
legdiwena
Jan 30, 2009 11:55:29 Go Druid
#13
arkhail
Feb 02, 2009 20:31:00 Sweet, the one playing the Beastmaster Ranger decided to go with either Druid or Artificer.

I'd bet I can convince her to play a Shaman now that it is out.

That helps.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 arkhail Jan 26, 2009 1:42:33	I normally am the DM but after we finish going through the Scepter Tower of Saharelgard I will get to be a player (for an adventure or two) for the first time in years and for the first time ever with 4e. So, there are only 4 people in the party. A drow beastmaster ranger - likely to be reasonably optimized. A human barbarian - level of optimization unknown, perhaps moderately so. A human fighter - likely not very optimized. me… I had originally planned on playing a drow rogue (fairly optimized), but I am willing to fill whatever roles are necessary of it comes to it. So what'll it be? I would say that they leader classes are my least favorites unfortunately but I am willing to go there if I need to. Second defender? Leader? A third striker?? BTW, I just realized that by the time this happens it'll be after the PHB II comes out. Well, at least I'll be ready!
#2 Keiichi_m Jan 26, 2009 1:50:12	I'd say your group needs a leader, but if you dislike them then I'd recommend a Pally, you can fill the defender roll with a little healing tacked on, maybe even multiclassing into cleric to supplement your healing potential. from my experience it's not imposable without healing it just becomes several times more difficult.
#3 arkhail Jan 26, 2009 2:20:23	I thought about a pally/initiate of the faith. I'm not against playing a leader but I would rather play a pally. I definitely would not be too much of a goody goody. Probably worship Tempus or Kelemvor… Two defenders wouldn't be overkill? I forgot to mention that we are starting at 4th level (since that's near where we they be at the end of this adventure I guess).
#4 Keiichi_m Jan 26, 2009 2:54:59	The two defenders and the Barbarian will give you a nice chunk of hit points and healing surges to play with which should balance out the lack of a solid healer nicely, pretty much your group will be focused around being hit less or being able to take it in stride with a large pool of hit points and some self regenerative powers (Barbarians recuperating strike, fighters comeback strike, Pallys Layon hands) as opposed to having less HP but being able to gain back more of it more often with say a cleric and his healing powers and healing lore class ability.
#5 etarnon Jan 26, 2009 7:14:43	The heretical response is, of course, play whatever strikes your fancy, and don't worry about party balance, nor optimization. Have fun.
#6 arkhail Jan 26, 2009 12:59:20	The heretical response is, of course, play whatever strikes your fancy, and don't worry about party balance, nor optimization. Have fun. That's kinda funny because that is often what I think of when I see a thread like this. I had already decided to play a rogue no matter what the party consisted of. The reason why I am leery to do that is that our only defender is going to be my wife. You know, I love her and all but she is just not that great a player. She very much just picks whatever powers and feats sound good to her (regardless of how crappy), and she doesn't make very good use of her abilities/powers etc.. All that is fine but as I said, she would be that only defender in a party of strikers. Plus the guy playing the barbarian has a rolling problem. I swear you could paint all 20's and a d20 and he's still somehow manage to roll a 5. Either way I like paladins well enough so it's all good.
#7 kouk Jan 26, 2009 18:43:08	You might also consider a Strength Cleric to be more of a traditional paladin. They can do a fair darn amount of melee work while healing the heck out of everybody.
#8 ian0311 Jan 27, 2009 14:55:58	Warlord's can be sort of like Martial Paladins (Zealot leaders come to mind). That being said, do what you want. The party (including you) will make it work, or they will die.
#9 arkhail Jan 27, 2009 15:13:20	I think the thing is, I don't get to play much and I am trying to get the most out of it. So I guess I gotta play what I wanna play. And I guess I'm gonna have to help my wife optimize her fighter. If she lets me. Thanks everyone.
#10 Novacat Jan 27, 2009 15:53:53	From a pure optimization viewpoint, I would say Warlord would be your best bet, considering the heavy melée focus of your group.
#11 innuit Jan 30, 2009 8:42:19	I would also go with earth genasi taclord. Listen to me when I tell you, your class and role only effect your combat mechanics. Those are the most important for living. RP-wise, you have no rules or restrictions. Play whatever persona you want. Play whatever class or role your party needs. If you play a rogue, and your group has no healing, someone will die. Then they will make the leader. If you want to try and have it be someone else, go for it. Trust me, no leader = dead PC. I'd hate to see you sink a lot of time into making a character who will last 2 sessions.
#12 legdiwena Jan 30, 2009 11:55:29	Go Druid
#13 arkhail Feb 02, 2009 20:31:00	Sweet, the one playing the Beastmaster Ranger decided to go with either Druid or Artificer. I'd bet I can convince her to play a Shaman now that it is out. That helps.