Help my kids make great PCs

[Greenstone]

I've just started a 3.5 campiagn for my kids (plus two others)... I'm keeping things as simple as possible, but they are taking to the rules quite easily.

I created characters for them based on a chat over what they liked, but would now like to let them pick their future choices (feats / multi-classing / PrC's etc) so that they can make the characters truly theirs. The problem is that I've only ever DM'ed, and my character-maxing skills aren't up to scratch.

Can anyone help out with suggestions that could guide them?

The current character roster is:

JENNA, 12-year old girl player... the story-lover - 1st level NG human fighter (feats are weapon focus longsword, power attack, point blank shot, precise shot)

KRIS, 8-year old boy player... the munchkin min/maxer - 1st level CG human rogue (high dex, feats are improved initiative, two weapon fighting, weapon finesse)

LAYLA, 11-year old girl player... the role-player - 1st level NG human wizard (specialised in Enchantment, feats are scribe scroll, spell foucus (enchantment), combat casting)

MEGAN, 12-year old girl player... the quiet one - 1st level half-elf LG cleric (good and protection domains, feats are combat casting, extra turning)


Note that I gave a bonus feat to each character...

Any takers on where they should go from here?

I use the following books only:

Core Rulebooks
Psionics 3.5
PHB II
DMG II
Unearthed Arcana
Magic of Incarnum
Heroes of Horror
Heroes of Battle
Libris Mortis
Book of Abominations
Rules Compendium

 

[Kat']

You don't use the Complete series at all? Gonna be harsh finding ideas...

 

[Animal]

i don't see why do you want to optimize their characters. are you going to throw them into megachallenging bloodbathes too often?
they're just kids. let them opt what seems most fun, not what brings more power.

 

[Greenstone]

Don't have to optimize them - just didn't want to accidentally 'screw them' with crappy choices...

And if there's something from the Complete series that is a must-have, I'm willing to listen...

 

[Animal]

when it is your very first character you can't screw it! even if it seems totally lame to some min/maxer, its still a very special almost living personality for you. and his every feat, however lame, has a special meaning and flavor too.
mind you, that some of their characters are alrready "screwed" - fighter wants to specialize in melee AND ranged combat simultaneously, enchanter taking a combat casting feat... but that doesn't matter, really.

the thing here is that 12 year old girls will unlikely read through a dozen of books with feats, prestige classes, magic items and other character options. so if you want advanced character for them, you'll have to build them yourself. and would they enjoy predesigned characters (however strong) more than less powerful ones but self-built?

 

[Nifft]

I notice you're allowing some house rules (such as Weapon Finesse without the BAB +1 pre-requisite).

Honestly I'd opt for flexibility rather than power. Nobody wants to hear "no, you can't do that"; and when combat rolls around, they'll act in ridiculous (i.e. sub-optimal) ways anyway.

So IMHO the important things are:
- Survivability
- Utility (out-of-combat) tricks
- Social Skills

This rules out Fighters right from the get-go. They're not fun out of combat, and even in combat they're limited to their few feat-based tricks.

IMHO, Jenna should make a Ranger (feats are Weapon Focus: Longsword, Point Blank Shot, Quickdraw), and take the Archery combat path; or she could make a Psychic Warrior. Either Ranger or PsyWar will remain playable and fun above level 4, where the Fighter kinda stops.

Layla might enjoy playing a Beguiler (PHB-II). More skill points, same Enchantment & Illusion focus as she has right now. What are her current prohibited schools?

I absolutely love the classes in the Tome of Battle (aka Book of Nine Swords). They're a great addition to any campaign, and can (allegedly) model a lot of comic book / cartoon characters better than other 3.5e rules.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Animal]

Layla might enjoy playing a Beguiler (PHB-II). More skill points, same Enchantment & Illusion focus as she has right now.

actually that's a brilliant idea. beguilers have a set pool of spells so she won't have to strain herself choosing the best spells from different books (and to read through the spell compendium which made even my eyes sore) and still have a very good choise of thematic spells plus some great utility spells. plus they are spontaneous spellcasters which is always easier and more fun. also they have A LOT of skillpoints so she can fill in the role of a social PC.

I absolutely love the classes in the Tome of Battle (aka Book of Nine Swords). They're a great addition to any campaign, and can (allegedly) model a lot of comic book / cartoon characters better than other 3.5e rules.

and that's probably not the best idea because bo9s classes are hard to master for novice players.

 

[moritheil]

JENNA, 12-year old girl player... the story-lover - 1st level NG human fighter (feats are weapon focus longsword, power attack, point blank shot, precise shot)

KRIS, 8-year old boy player... the munchkin min/maxer - 1st level CG human rogue (high dex, feats are improved initiative, two weapon fighting, weapon finesse)

Ironically, amongst the powergamers I know, dex-based characters are not considered as min/maxed as strength-based characters. The 2-for-1 power attack is just too good to pass up. Not that it's strictly a problem - roleplayers need excellent character builds too, as those give them the tools to do what they want.

Regarding the human fighter, it sounds like she'd do better deferring her ranged feats to take a level in ranger at some point.

LAYLA, 11-year old girl player... the role-player - 1st level NG human wizard (specialised in Enchantment, feats are scribe scroll, spell foucus (enchantment), combat casting)

Combat casting is widely considered inefficient except where it helps one qualify for a prestige class. I do note that that analysis is more for mid-levels, not low levels.

MEGAN, 12-year old girl player... the quiet one - 1st level half-elf LG cleric (good and protection domains, feats are combat casting, extra turning)

Unless you are allowing Divine Feats, you plan to have lots of undead, or there is a specific prestige class, Extra Turning is not very helpful.

 

[Nifft]

and that's probably not the best idea because bo9s classes are hard to master for novice players.

Swordsage is dead easy. "You can do each of these things once per encounter. Then, take a Full-Round Action and pick new ones." (Yes, I'm assuming you make him take Adaptive Style at 1st level.)

Warblade is only slightly harder than that.

Crusader is very complex.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Darklone]

Warblades are even easier at low levels. They don't have many choices and get their maneuvers back all the time