Character survey and discusion (DnD)

[cats]

Okay heres a quick survey, since DnD has come up several times and I know enough in it will start there and branch out. Here we'll discuse character arch types and there impacts in games vs. stories.

DnD is currently releasing a four book set based on what they consider the four arch types or roles in a party. They are as fallows:

Warrior: Fighter, barbarian, etc.
Divine (Caster): Druid, cleric, etc.
Arcane (Caster): Wizard, sorcer, etc.
Adventurer: Rouge, Bard, etc.

How ever in broader story terms I would say it's like this.

Combat: Soldier, knight, physicly strong, etc.
Healer: Medic, preist, morally strong, etc.
Blitzer: Sniper, alchemist, powerful given time, etc.
Experts: Combat enginer, scout, adaptable, etc.

So what do you think about these? Which is your favorite in a story or game and what problems and solutions did you encounter?

 

[Arc da Rat]

I am more of a rogue / bard type of a gal ...

Bard has always been my fave class, since playing my 1st pc rpg Bard's Tales ...

A jack of all trade & master of none ...

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I generally like to play warriors, but my two favorite characters both fall into the rogue/stealth classes. I'll never forget my Chaotic Neutral kender Thistleknot. I was in a zone with that character.

 

[Mantra]

I always liked to play the 'underdogs'. Either a cleric or a thief. I also loved to buck the steryotypes, clerics are not just walking first aid kits. Thieves are not just good for disarming locks and traps. Neither of them sucked.

 

[SaphireCameo1]

hmm I need an all of the above option *smiles*

As I have an do play all depending on my mood and the story setting. I guess my favourite would have to be warrior or one who deals in arcane, so now enie meanie minie moe *smiles*

 

[Morgoth]

In the beginning of my DnD adventures, I was really into warriors and paladins, but I've since come to adore all the spell-casting beauty of sorcerors (a bit more than wizards, but the difference isn't huge) Although in the end, I'm still going to have to side with the Psychic Warrior.

 

[SaphireCameo1]

Psychic Warrior.

*chuckles* well who wouldn't strength and incite hmm dangerous *smiles*

 

[TheScarletBlade]

Personally,I think Barbarian is the best becuase you get to be a really really angry guy with a massive axe larger than you that hates society,throw that all togather and you get a BLOODY good time.But aside from Barbarians Rangers would have to be really cool becuase they adapt stealth,tracking skills and combat skills all togather,opposed to the upfront fighting of Palay,Barb or Fighter.

TSB

P.S. Mages are panzies.

 

[SaphireCameo1]

P.S. Mages are panzies.

zaps his cloak with a fire ball setting him ablaze then teleports out of reach *smiling she calls back to him* ye was saying *grins*

 

[Mantra]

*twirling Saphire's coin purse on one finger*

"Me, I didn't say anything."

*Smiles and Hides*

 

[TheScarletBlade]

The Insanely ripped barbarian roared in defiance as he casted his burning fur cloak aside.Bounding foreward,his leg muscles sending him hurling foreward with reckless abandon:fearless,the barbarian quickly lifted the wskinny mage onto his shoulder and held her there "Looky me,I caught me a mage" the babarian bellowed.

 

[SaphireCameo1]

squealing Saphire kicked and wriggled about "put me down you..you " lost for an insult "you lug put me down" she thumped at his back.

In the throws of her tantrum she noticed a petty thief fondling HER coin purse well the nerve she thought and quickly zapped his fingers making him drop the purse.

It was then the idea struck her eyeing the Barbarians bum from over his shoulder she waved her finger and aimed hitting him squarely with a lightening bolt.

The bolt forcing him to drop to his knees in pain and release his grip on her. Running Saphire scooped up her pouch and looked back at the barbarian and thief.

"now to use ones brain is a gift to use strength and strength alone is well .......Barberic" she chuckled softly and smiled at the too consulting there burns and glaring at her.

 

[TheScarletBlade]

"Strength leads to honor,something that mages do no understand,all they understand is big words and their prissy magic,wheres the skill in casting a spell from yards away? Thats right there is known" The barbarian roared as he quickly rose back to his feet.

 

[SaphireCameo1]

"Strength leads to honor,something that mages do no understand,all they understand is big words and their prissy magic,wheres the skill in casting a spell from yards away? Thats right there is known" The barbarian roared as he quickly rose back to his feet.

"I believe good sir I was at rather close range just now" she let her eyes drift down to his rear as she smiled at him smugly.

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hehe we shouldnt hijack the thread (waves to the others) sorry we were just seeing which character was better *grins*

 

[TheScarletBlade]

Like she said,were sorry for stealing your umm posting,we were just proving that Barbarians are obviously better than mages

 

[cats]

I'm fond of the jack of all trades as well, but oddly enough I hate bards. I have no clue why just don't care for them.

Like I said I've read three of the four complete books. I'm really liking the warlock from the complete arcane. Unlimited "spell" casting even if you only know 13 "spells" by level 20. Part of whats nice is that a warlocks spells are unique and a bit more powerful then the normal ones. For example he gets retributive invisibility which allows him to attack people and stay invisible like improved invisibility but also if it's dispelled it attacks the dispeller.

Still my favorite of the base classes is probably the cleric. Good old spells and a mace.

 

[Donsehan]

Originally posted by TheScarletBlade
Personally,I think Barbarian is the best becuase you get to be a really really angry guy with a massive axe larger than you that hates society,throw that all togather and you get a BLOODY good time.But aside from Barbarians Rangers would have to be really cool becuase they adapt stealth,tracking skills and combat skills all togather,opposed to the upfront fighting of Palay,Barb or Fighter.

TSB

P.S. Mages are panzies.

true mages are panzies which is why you have Sorcerers which have more spells/day and are spontaneous casters, which means don't need prep. Also note, Sorcerers/mages can use spells to make themselves stronger/faster than most fighters their level. Bards are also spontaneous casters, which is good, but they tend to become the bitchboys of all parties. You can also get prestige classes which get rid of spellcasting failure to a certain point.

NOTE:I tend to play melee spellcasters.

Clerics actually can be really good, esp. with the strength domain, which will allow them to be bigger, and stronger.

It's also harder to use spellcasters that aren't spontaneous because you have to prepare spells and there are lots of options.

Like for clerics one option I really like is the Contemplative prestige class, it makes them more like monks.

Another really fun class is the Monk, very good class.

Probably my current favorite class would be the Chameleon which is new, and came with the book that talks about Illumians.

 

[Donsehan]

Originally posted by TheScarletBlade
"Strength leads to honor,something that mages do no understand,all they understand is big words and their prissy magic,wheres the skill in casting a spell from yards away? Thats right there is known" The barbarian roared as he quickly rose back to his feet.

there's lots of skill, how about singing your spell from yards away while in a fight with using two longswords? in heavy armor?? lots of skill/honor there.

or how about pickpocketing a guy from 30 ft?? can a normal thief do that??!!!

 

[Donsehan]

Originally posted by cats
I'm fond of the jack of all trades as well, but oddly enough I hate bards. I have no clue why just don't care for them.

Like I said I've read three of the four complete books. I'm really liking the warlock from the complete arcane. Unlimited "spell" casting even if you only know 13 "spells" by level 20. Part of whats nice is that a warlocks spells are unique and a bit more powerful then the normal ones. For example he gets retributive invisibility which allows him to attack people and stay invisible like improved invisibility but also if it's dispelled it attacks the dispeller.

Still my favorite of the base classes is probably the cleric. Good old spells and a mace.

Clerics can be great and it's not always a mace, some dieties like rapiers, longswords, or even bastard swords. It all depends on what you choose.

like I said, Bards get stuck being bitchboys of the whole party, but there is an upside, high charisma, which means lots of fun at night, well if your DM/GM is so willing.

 

[Donsehan]

Originally posted by Morgoth
In the beginning of my DnD adventures, I was really into warriors and paladins, but I've since come to adore all the spell-casting beauty of sorcerors (a bit more than wizards, but the difference isn't huge) Although in the end, I'm still going to have to side with the Psychic Warrior.

true, scions are really really fun. Especially Gish characters probably the most fun, next to Chameleons.

 

[Morgoth]

I ran a campaign where we were villainous monsters turned heroes, and I played a mind flayer(without his normal powers) paladin (I have a tendency to be short of players-so I have to DM and run a PC at the same time), while my other DnD'ers played a Minotaur Gladiator, a Red Slaad Cleric, a drow psychic warrior, and a drow sorceror. That campaign was a ton of fun, but unfortunately, our cleric dropped out, leading the other players to lose interest for a month or two. When we started playing again, we were back to a normal campaign.

 

[Donsehan]

Originally posted by Morgoth
I ran a campaign where we were villainous monsters turned heroes, and I played a mind flayer(without his normal powers) paladin (I have a tendency to be short of players-so I have to DM and run a PC at the same time), while my other DnD'ers played a Minotaur Gladiator, a Red Slaad Cleric, a drow psychic warrior, and a drow sorceror. That campaign was a ton of fun, but unfortunately, our cleric dropped out, leading the other players to lose interest for a month or two. When we started playing again, we were back to a normal campaign.

that actually is pretty cool. Although the way I look at it, if you DM, you play every other character so you can just have someone have a Cohort and have you control the cohort or add an NPC to their party which also works, I guess you still play a major character though. Just my thoughts.

drow are awesome, I don't care what people say +2 lvl adjustment is worth it, just take the feet that doesn't make you go blind and it's awesome.

 

[cats]

I don't have races of fate yet so a can't vouch for the chameleon. I do have races of stone and plan to get races of fate and races of the wild. (Other then that perhaps Vile darkness to go with my exalted deeds book, and then I'm done for a while. Books are to expensive.)

Well if we throw prestige classes into the mix, I like the Order of the Bow Initiate. Any attack with a bow on an opponent with in 30ft does 1d8 damage for every other level you've advanced in the class. At the tenth level it's any attack on an opponent with in 60ft, also if you have sneak attack it is also enhanced to 60 ft.

I'd be tempted to make my cleric a radiant servant of pelor, I don't have much against healing and empowering every heal spell I cast for free is kinda nice, and then it upgrades to maximize healing.

 

[Donsehan]

Originally posted by cats
I don't have races of fate yet so a can't vouch for the chameleon. I do have races of stone and plan to get races of fate and races of the wild. (Other then that perhaps Vile darkness to go with my exalted deeds book, and then I'm done for a while. Books are to expensive.)

Well if we throw prestige classes into the mix, I like the Order of the Bow Initiate. Any attack with a bow on an opponent with in 30ft does 1d8 damage for every other level you've advanced in the class. At the tenth level it's any attack on an opponent with in 60ft, also if you have sneak attack it is also enhanced to 60 ft.

I'd be tempted to make my cleric a radiant servant of pelor, I don't have much against healing and empowering every heal spell I cast for free is kinda nice, and then it upgrades to maximize healing.

I dunno, I mainly play elves, just look at the Races of Fates book, the Chameleon is cool cuz basically you have sucky saves, but your spells/base attack/saving throws depending on what concentration they use that day. They can take like a couple of hours or something to switch, it's awesome.

Order of the Bow I like, Deepwood Sniper also has that kind of thing too doesn't it? I actually dont' remember.

I like the Arcane Archer, but wouldn't use it, because I don't play ranged characters normally.

 

[TheScarletBlade]

Drow suck,they couldnt fight anything on the surface and their darkness and fairy fire are not that strong.Personally you go elf,go Order of the Bow Initate and Deep Wood Sniper...and then you can be completely awesome with a bow.Also though,Frenzied bezerkers are really cool.But as for races,I think Human's are useless,just take a flaw and get a free feat,than be a mountian orc and get +4 strength and only like -2 chrisma and -2 Intellegence. But also,I don't klnow if anyone has looked at the Shade race before,but they would make the best assassins in the world,cept for their +4 level adjustments.