Finally Started Age of Worms

[Wolfwood2]

Advance very slowly and carefully. Several segments of this campaign are murderous meat-grinders; including encounters where the PC's are outnumbered, outgunned and at a tactical disadvantage due to terrain all at the same time.

If it remotely looks like a trap, it's a trap.

Always leave yourself room for a fighting withdrawl. (or out-and-out retreat)

Yeouch! I am thinking we will let the Beguiler play social scout and attempt to get as much advance warning as possible.

 

[Wolfwood2]

"Careful use of spells" will only get a beguiler so far when your enemies are completely immune to [Mind Affecting] spells.

Well, there is always party buffing. Not sexy, but Mind Blanking everybody in the party, every day, would be a worthy contribution.

 

[Pyrex]

Yeouch! I am thinking we will let the Beguiler play social scout and attempt to get as much advance warning as possible.

Don't get me wrong, we're having a great time, but as another poster above mentioned you definately have to bring your A game.

Beguiler-as-scout is an interesting idea though...

 

[BlackMoria]

I have heard Age of Worms is, or eventually becomes, undead heavy. The player's other choices were bard or rogue, both of which would seem to have similiar difficulties. (I had to talk him out of a bard/wizard Ultimate Magus.)

Well, you still need a trap monkey, so that player could go rogue with max ranks in Use Magic Device so that he can use wands, etc.

Or, Arcane Trickster, for a good rogue/mage progression.

 

[Wolfwood2]

Well, you still need a trap monkey, so that player could go rogue with max ranks in Use Magic Device so that he can use wands, etc.

Or, Arcane Trickster, for a good rogue/mage progression.

Beguilers also get Use Magic Device as a class skill, and I believe he's taking advantage of it.

Really, I think it's a toss-up. Pretty much anything immune to mind-affecting is also immune to sneak attack, and vice versa. The trap springer is going to lose out either way. Beguilers get lots of skill points, will rule the social portion of the game, and have access to their divination spells at a snap of a finger, which has already proven to be very handy. (Comprehend Languages just when needed.)

From a personal level, I've never seen anybody play a Beguiler before and am interested to see it in action. The way I figure it, no class that gets 9th level spells can really be weak.

 

[PwrMnky]

classes/AoW

I just finished AoW two weeks ago.

My advice;

1) you need an arcane spell caster. I would say a generalist wizard, or maybe someone that specializes in Transmutation or Divination.

2) don't be afraid to run away from encounters.

3) unless your DM imbalances the game somewhat ... I would almost recommend getting an additional player. (unless you play with cohorts you should be fine.)

4) I played a straight up fighter and I found at the later levels he was very overshadowed. We found our Druid to be such a huge asset the entire game.

5) I love beguilers ... but I also agree, that at later levels he's going to be overshadowed.

MY LAST PIECE OF ADVICE:
Protection from Evil Spells and good battle plans

 

[jasin]

We're about halfway through AoW now and it's been one of the most enjoyable campaigns I've played. But I must agree with the A game comment, and with the skepticism towards the beguiler's usefulness at high levels. I was thinking of playing a beguiler in AoW, but I ended up as a (mostly) wizard because I figured we couldn't get by without one. Filling the role of the skillguy (rather than the arcanist) the beguiler just might work: social skills might make some key encounters significantly easier and/or more interesting, and using UMD to its utmost will probably help a lot.

 

[jasin]

1) you need an arcane spell caster. I would say a generalist wizard, or maybe someone that specializes in Transmutation or Divination.

Shouldn't the psion be a workable substitute?

 

[Nightfall]

Jasin,

Well it's better than believing a Wilder can do it, that's for sure.

 

[PwrMnky]

Shouldn't the psion be a workable substitute?

I'll be honest.

I don't have a lot of experience with psions. But my gut tells me that you would need the versatility of a spell caster and the ability to schmooze the spellcaster you will come across in the campaign.

The AoW I was in, was also partially homebrew. So, some of the RPing benefits may not come across. But there's something good in being able to say;
"Oh fellow wizard? What are your specialties?"