Leaders, which is the most interesting?

[Alikar]

When our new campaign started I had no idea what kind of character I wanted to make and at the end of the day the leader role seems to be left vacant. So I'm trying to figure out what leader would best fit into the following party:

Party Member 1: Fire Wizard.
Party Member 2: Melee Ranger Eladrin
Party Member 3: Fey? Warlock
Party Member 4: Defender

The issue is, I personally find the "healer" role to be rather bland. So I guess I'm asking what is the most interesting up to level 3. I can make a Bard given that PHB 2 should be out in time for me to not fall behind in levels.

 

[AntiStateQuixote]

If you're into teamwork, not being the star and making everyone else better, Warlord ROCKS! He can dish out damage in his own right if built correctly, but he really shines at giving other people incredible bonuses to hit and damage that make the whole party far more successful. Healing and saving throws are really just icing on the cake of what a good Warlord can do.

From an RP perspective the role of the grizzled veteran or charismatic young upstart or the brilliant strategist are all appealing archetypes that the Warlord fits perfectly.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Warlord is definitely the most interesting to me, but then, it's also an archetype I've played in a lot of other systems. Clearly it's a character type I enjoy, and 4e implements it in several neat ways. (Commander's Strike is the best at will EVAR.)

I don't think you need a leader, though. If you're leaderless AND light on defenders, then you'll probably have trouble.

 

[RefinedBean]

So here's the deal. I hate Clerics, and I love Warlords. So I'm gonna tell you to play a Warlord.

Ultimately, though, I've found that the choice of Leader is influenced quite a bit by the Defender(s) found in the party. A Fighter benefits from a Warlord quite a bit, because Commander's Strike can let the Fighter mark at least one more enemy in a round, usually.

Might want to talk to the player who's making a Defender, and see if you can work something out that way.

By the way, don't forget the good ol' Artificer and, if you have a DDI subscription, the Bard. Since you're just starting up, the Bard is doable since it'll be released by March and I assume you have some sort of life that gets in the way of gaming 24/7.

 

[Starglim]

Warlord probably rounds out this party better, but a bard plays to (heh) the fey/arcane theme that seems to be emerging. It depends whether the "defender" is, say, a lone human fighter or an eladrin swordmage. You could split the difference and play an eladrin warlord.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

I feel bards and warlords have a lot going for them, in terms of the variety of things they do on the battlefield, the fluff, and the general principles of their design.

 

[Alikar]

I'm surprised at the number of people suggesting the Warlord, maybe that has to do with years of only having a cleric to run around with. I also forgot about the artificer, I'll have to check into that one as well.

 

[Shroomy]

I play an artificer and I'm having a lot of fun with the class; I'm wasn't crazy about being a "heal-bot," but the healing powers of the leaders are only minor actions, allowing me to strike out with my area attacks. It also a lot of neat tricks in terms of utility powers.

 

[Starglim]

I'm surprised at the number of people suggesting the Warlord, maybe that has to do with years of only having a cleric to run around with.

I mostly wanted to get another martial melee character into this party. It's an interesting new option, though, and as Brent mentioned, after playing with a warlord in the party I really miss the bonuses to attacks and extra actions they provide when we don't have one.

 

[Rechan]

I am playing the Bard in a game right now, and it is rocking excessively.

The only problem I have with the bard is that it doesn't offer a lot of buffing effects. But it is very good at enemy debuffs, and shifting people in and out of danger. (I would also like a melee option or two, but that is the build they haven't released).

One of the problems I have with the Warlord is that all of his powers are 'affect adjacent ally as you hit the enemy'; he has no ranged options. A ranged warlord would be rather nice. This is one reason I like the bard.