Best Party Combo for Newbies?

[Chainsaw]

Hey everybody. Long time EN lurker (thanks for letting me read all your posts over the years, heh) and old DM (2e) coming out of retirement to run a 4e campaign for some new players. Anyone have any advice on the best class mix for a four person party of all new players with no roleplaying experience? Guessing classic combo of fighter, thief, cleric, wizard?

Apologies if this has been covered.

Thanks in advance.

 

[hong]

Fighter/thief/cleric/wizard will cover the bases, but be aware that the new assumption is a 5-person party. If you're using Keep on the Shadowfell, you might want to trim some of the encounters a little.

 

[Chainsaw]

Ah, OK. Then perhaps bulk up the front line with a Paladin or Warlord if I can find another player?

 

[Mengu]

Defender, Leader, Striker, Controller. It doesn't really matter what class so much. Here are a couple good options:

Fighter (Sword and Board), Cleric (Strength Build), Rogue (Charisma Build), Wizard (any).

Paladin (Protector build), Warlord (Inspirational), Ranger (Archer build), Wizard (any).

 

[Chainsaw]

Very helpful, thanks. These characters will essentially be pregenerated for my players. Once they get the hang of the rules and a taste for the ability differences, we will probably start over so that they can pick roles, classes and races themselves. Odds are that they'll die fast anyway because my DM skills will be so rusty, heh.

 

[Shabe]

Yup a Defender, Leader, Striker and Controller is what is recommended.

So you could end up with, Paladin, Warlord, Warlock and Wizard.

The no roleplaying experience may actually be a benefit as some things don't go quite the way they used to, alignment, powers etc.
None of the classes are particularly harder to roleplay than another, apart from the religous characters automatically have some religious bent to them.
As long as you let them understand what the different roles are meant to be doing when they are in combat you should be fine. Perhaps soften the encounters a bit at the start so that they can get their bearings, but as soon as they start figuring out neat combinations and teaming up, feel free to ramp up the challenge.

 

[Chainsaw]

Good points, thanks. I suppose that apart from showing rules and roles, my real goal this first session will be to help my players have as good a time as possible so that there actualy IS a second session!

 

[Kaffis]

Good points, thanks. I suppose that apart from showing rules and roles, my real goal this first session will be to help my players have as good a time as possible so that there actualy IS a second session!

Don't stop this philosophy just because they break out of their newbieness!

 

[Chainsaw]

No way! Once I get them hooked, I will crush their hopes and dreams again and again! Haha!

 

[Byronic]

If you do get a fifth guy and you have all the four roles covered according to RAW it's best to get a second defender.