"Best" non-core 4 character party?

[Nifft]

@dog45 - I'm saying Scout over Spellthief because having played Scouts at varying levels, a properly built and played Scout can whip a Spellthief at the end of the day - I've seen it and done it.

I gotta agree with this. The Spelltheif is double-screwed in a skill role. He's got fewer skill points to spend, yet he also has to buy Concentration and Spellcraft to do his job right.

However, there is a place where the Spellthief shines bright: in a party with spellcasters who have a surplus of self-buffs. If a Spellthief is in the company of a Warlock and a Dragonfire Adept, he can steal all kinds of great self-buffs. "Sorcerer, old pal, would you mind if I borrow your False Life and Alter Self? I'll tank for you... thanks!" Let alone what he can do with a Favored Soul's buff list. Divine Favor? Divine Power? Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha! *ahem*

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nail]

For the warrior/tank role: Warblade (ToB:Bo9S), bar none.
For the arcanist: Psion (XPH), the easy overpowered choice!
For the skills monkey, Scout (CV)
For the healer, gotta be Favored Soul (CD)...there's really no other choice.

 

[Paradigm]

I'd suggest a Dragon Shaman instead of a Marshal, because the latter is on the weak side and the former is similar in role, but cool.

I could see that, but we are using Heroes of Battle, and the Marshal aura / commander aura goodness gets pretty thick. My current character in one of the two games I am involved with is a Marshal / Legendary Leader / Dragon Lord and I am putting out 6 auras at a time.

 

[dog45]

meh...I could go either way I suppose. I guess I'm biased towards spellthiefs, because I've played one at high levels (18), and not only was it a blast to play but he more than held his own.

 

[Particle_Man]

For sheer cool:

Warlock
Hexblade
Ninja
Beguiler

Not powerful, and healing is a problem, but they are the ones that make me think: Cooooooooooooool! Mind you, Ninja gets in merely because of the name, and could be dropped for Dragon Shaman or Spirit Shaman (something with the word Shaman in it!).

Oh, and Bards are definitely Core so don't count on this one.

 

[Paradigm]

Oh, and Bards are definitely Core so don't count on this one.

Which is why I followed up with:

Duskblade
Marshal
Archivist
Savant

 

[Nyaricus]

Priest - Cloistered Cleric (cus nothing replaces the many uses for Turn Undead)

BUT this is a variant of a base class, so it don't count mang.

cheers,
--N

 

[dog45]

BUT this is a variant of a base class, so it don't count mang.

cheers,
--N

bah humbug. OP didn't say no variants - but that's nitpicking. Instead of the CC I guess I'd go with Archivist. Best single class divine caster outside core.


Oh, and I would never have a Warmage be the sole arcanist in a party. They are fine for secondary mages, but their lack of versatility is death. At higher levels it's not just blasting the enemy for X points of damage - there's a lot more that mages have to do.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Warblade (Bo9S)
Wu Jen (CA)
Favoured Soul (CD)
Ninja (CV)

An interesting character party - heavily asian-themed, for starters. I think it could work, strength-wise.


Mind you, using material other than WotC's, there would be some better combinations (IMO).

 

[dog45]

Warblade (Bo9S)
Wu Jen (CA)
Favoured Soul (CD)
Ninja (CV)

An interesting character party - heavily asian-themed, for starters. I think it could work, strength-wise.


Mind you, using material other than WotC's, there would be some better combinations (IMO).

I like that setup. My only beef is with the Ninja. Sudden Strike is subpar compared to Sneak Attack. What combos would you use with non-wotc?