Survivabiliy

[Sorrowdusk]

Somewhat inspired by the 1-20th lvl thread, I am curious: what class(es) do you think have the most survivabiliy? Which ones are the least likely to die? (Or the most?) Personally with my limited experience I would think it would firstly be some sort of spellcaster. They are squishy at first level, but as they rise in power they have a vast array of options and dont often chance melee since they can fight at a distance. More specifically, I would pick a cleric because at low levels they (unless cloistered) can have heavy armor and a moderate BAB if forced into melee.

A cleric is not simply a CRPG White Mage, they have some offense (although not as much as wizard or a fighter unless you CoDZilla), they can buff themselves and the party (a great many of the Cleric spells are buffs. If you ignore them you're missing out); and lastly-they ARE the cleric. No one in the party actually wants them to die-that is to say, if someone HAD to die, the party would not pick the cleric, they would sacrifice themselves before they thought to let the cleric die. They would probably never think "Okay, if they start to catch up with us, I'll trip the cleric and maybe they'll slow down to devour him giving us time to escape."

 

[haakon1]

In AD&D through 3.5, I think the Cleric has the most survivability, and the Magic User/Wizard/Sorcerer has the least -- though their vulnerability falls off sharply after 5th level. My "I'm tired of getting killed" character in "The World's Biggest Dungeon" in 3.5 was a Dwarf Cleric -- and he never did buy the farm!

In 4e, I have no idea . . . I haven't seen a PC die in 4e, but I've only been in about 5 sessions of it . . .

 

[The Shaman]

A cleric is not simply a CRPG White Mage, they have some offense (although not as much as wizard or a fighter unless you CoDZilla)

What is "CoDZilla?"

 

[Jhaelen]

In AD&D through 3.5, I think the Cleric has the most survivability, and the Magic User/Wizard/Sorcerer has the least -- though their vulnerability falls off sharply after 5th level.

Pre-3e highest survivability were human change class fighters, or dual (or triple)-classed fighters until about name level, then magic users are all but impossible to kill. Lowest survivability: rogue/thief.

In 3e I have no idea. As a DM I've managed to kill all classes equally without many problems

In 4e I also have no idea. As a DM I've been equally unable to kill any class (so far)

 

[Dice4Hire]

In 4E, I would have to put Rogues at the top of the death list as they usually have to get too close to too many enemies. As for other high ones, I am not sure, 4E classes really survive well

 

[thejc]

At 3rd level facing an Ogre with a great axe....there may be no surviving unless you run/bargain/do anything but fight it lol


I have often found in previous editions(to 4e) that the other branches of fighters do quite well(ranger/paladin) the Paladins high saves high HP and ability to wear heavy armor gives him major points. The ranger has high hp and has the advantage of being a long range fighter add his high hp and it's a recipe for success. My own experience I have never had either of those classes die on me. Other than to be sacrificed to the "lets play something else" demons

 

[pemerton]

What is "CoDZilla?"

I'm not much of a 3E player, but I understand CoDzilla to refer to an optimised Cleric or Druid, which can more-or-less emulate the functions of any other PC (Clerics using buffs, Druids using shapechange) and thereby more-or-less dominate play.

 

[ffy]

isolating avenger who is in a group with a controller that wont let him isolate (he will deal more damage if he gets wailed on!) is most likely to die in a blaze of glory.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

IME, 3.x, rogues were the easiest to kill aroud mid-level. They had low hit points and poor Fort and Will saves, plus they did enough damage to warrant "attention".

In 4e it's probably the wizard. While Int boosts their AC, they don't start with armor and so usually have the lowest AC in the party.

 

[Sorrowdusk]

What is "CoDZilla?"

I dont think DMM is broken. Rather instead I think Persist is broken, and that Nightsticks if allowed should be limited to 1/day. I have myselh been using, albeit I matched mine to Wounding Spell so I could use it on my highest lvl spells. Persist is IMC, and everyone knos CoDzilla, but no one has built one.

@The Shaman