Best Class for a new player

[lukelightning]

I'll add my vote for Warmage as an ideal starting class for players wishing to play a spellcaster.

But a warmage has to be familiar with every spell on the warmage spell list, plus a few others that are added in; that's like a dozen spells/level.

A sorcerer just needs to know about the spells that he has selected.

 

[MarkB]

But a warmage has to be familiar with every spell on the warmage spell list, plus a few others that are added in; that's like a dozen spells/level.

A sorcerer just needs to know about the spells that he has selected.

No, the warmage just has the choice of those spells, he doesn't have to be familiar with them all - if he just sticks to a few favourites whilst he learns, that's fine. This does, of course, work a lot better if you start new players at 1st or 2nd level.

The Sorcerer has to be familiar with all available Sor/Wiz spells in order to make informed choices of which spells to take.

 

[Agback]

you shouldn't start brand new players at anything but first level.

<snip>

In conclusion, let me express my absolute astonishment that so many people actually think the fighter is the best starting class in the game. I wouldn't recommend anyone play a fighter until they have a pretty thorough understanding of the rules.

I can't but agree.

Fighters' dependency on feats and tactics makes them a lot more complex than they were in, say, AD&D, where their only good choices were to hit something or change weapon. They turn out to be surprisingly complicated to play. The complexity has become second nature to us who have crept up on the complexity through levels after level and even rules version after rules version. It really is surprisingly deep water to be dropped into the deep end of.

As for starting at mid levels: that may be where the game is most fun, but I would only start high with experienced players. I think that working a character up from first or second is the best curriculum for learning the rules: things get introduced a few at a time, at a steady pace, and you get a chance to learn teh basics before you have to deal with the complexities.

 

[Agback]

IM(not so)HO, I think its best to let the player pick the class that inspires him the most- its easier to learn something that interests you than something you feel forced to learn.

Good point. In fact I'd say that trump takes the trick. Some classes may be more suitable for beginners than others, but none of them presents difficulties that enthusiasm cannot overcome, and none of them has such advantages that uninterest cannot wipe them away.

 

[Corinth]

Barbarian: The only active ability is Rage. Everything else is passive, and the default feat tree--PA, Cleave, Great Cleave (w/ one other if human)--makes for a dead-simple playing style. Go with that every time for a newbie.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

When initiating n00bs, what I try to do is run a mini-campaign fo 3-5 adventures, with ground level PCs, and hopefully, a few other players with some experience to help guide them. It is completely seperate from everything else.

Those who enjoy the experience get to join the fun of the campaign in progress, with a PC of the appropriate level...which may be a 1st level PC, a PC of power equal to the other players' PCs, or one someone between, depending on a variety of factors.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

In 1e, 2e, and basic D&D I'd have said "Fighter" in an instant. However, in 3.XE the Fighter has the most number of Feats and a new player might be overwhelmed with keeping track of all of their combat options. I chose Barbarian due to the fewer feats and greater number of class abilities that are either "always-on" or always provide the same modifiers so there is less to keep track of. Also, new players hate to see their characters die easily so the d12 helps there too and the Barbarian Rage also helps their character get a fair share of the limelight. One poster mentioned that there is a lot of re-calculation that needs to happen when a Barbarian rages. That is true but the calculation can be done pre-game and the changes can be written down on an index card. When the barbarian rages you just refer to the index card. When he is not, refer to the character sheet.

As far as the "Role-Playing" aspect goes anyone who has ever seen Conan the Barbarian or any of the early 80's sword and sorcery movies can instantly get into character. Limit sentances to 2 or 3 words and you are instantly portraying Ahnold in Conan. "Enough Talk!", "We Go!", etc.

Paladins are also easy because they have fewer feats and nothing changes while they are playing. As far as the morality issue goes just tell the player "What would Superman do?". The DM can also rule that the new player has a Phlactery of Faithfulness from the start so that whenever the player is about to do something wrong the DM can give him/her a little nudge.