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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mustrum_Ridcully" data-source="post: 2884776" data-attributes="member: 710">I think Bard is one of the best choices.He doesn't take the other character classes thunder (since he can't outsneak, outdamage, outspell or outheal the other classes), but adds to the power of each of these classes. In addition, he will shine where most of the other characers will usually lack - social "encounters". In addition, he can replace both a Cleric and a Wizard in emergency situations where they aren't available - A dead Cleric? Quick, Use Magic Device on the Scroll of Raise Dead (or the Scroll of Teleport, to get to the next temple). A petrified Wizard? Quick, take his Scroll of Stone to Flesh. Any command-activated or spell-completion can be used to good effect by the Bard, allowing the Wizards and Clerics to focus on their own spells. The fact that he improves especially melee and ranged combat effectiveness of the Party with Bardic Music is very important. A second fighter might seem nice at first glance here, but if you have two fighters that have trouble hitting or damaging their enemies, you just have two ineffective combattants instead of one effective. At medium levels, a +2 (Inspire Courage) to +4 (Inspire Heroics) to attack can make a considerable difference. Power Attack and Combat Expertise become especially useful in this situation. In regards to melee combat the Bard has the slight advantage of not staying in the way while still contributing to it. That said, I think any other character class will probably also very useful. I think it is important to ensure that none of the "extra" characters has the same (cap)abilities as the rest. If you have a trip-expert Fighter, add a Weapon Specialisation with Power Attack and Combat Expertise. If you have a Melee Combat Cleric, add a Healing Expert Cleric. The "non-standard" classes will grant these benefits often automatically, but I see potential for redundancies. A Barbarian can augment the Trip Expert, but the synergy with the Weapon Specialist above is lower. A Combat Cleric will not be able to heal the Barbarian, but the Healing Expert Cleric will be perfect for him. A Druid can easily assist with a Healing Expert, but if he concentrates on wildshape melee combat (possibly augmented by Summoned Animals and the Animal Companion), he quickly gets in the way of the other melee fighters. A Sorceror and a Wizard Evocer will probably easily seem redundant (though "stacking" their spell effects is easier), but a Sorceror and a Wizard Transmuter (Buffer) will prove very useful.</blockquote>

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