How will this party do?

[Tinker Gnome]

In my next game I will be playing A Gnome Rogue and one of my friends will be playing a Gnome Bard, another friend will be playing a Dwarven Barbarian. I dont have any of our stats yet cause we havent rolled them up yet, but how do you all think a party like this would function and overcome challenges.

 

[arwink]

If they're a group that's used to playing larger races, expect a few rough games during the teething period as they adapt their tactics. While I've never done gnomes, I have been in an all halfling group and it took a few games before we adapted to the realities of being three feet tall. Lower average damage for the fighter types due to small weapons, lower jump and movement scores that limited our ability to move around in combat, being very vulnerable to grapple and bull-rushes. We had to unlearn a bunch of habits from previous games, and learn to use our advantages (better hiding and stealth, concentrated missile fire).

Make a point of throwing them against small opponents early to ease them through the transition, and make use of the occasional medium opponent to highlight the issues raised above early enough that they start thinking of them before medium-opponents are a regular occurace.

 

[Kunimatyu]

Sadly, without a Sorc/Wiz or a Druid/Cleric, you're going to have a tough time of it, assuming a fairly standard game of D&D.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

If they're a group that's used to playing larger races, expect a few rough games during the teething period as they adapt their tactics. While I've never done gnomes, I have been in an all halfling group and it took a few games before we adapted to the realities of being three feet tall. Lower average damage for the fighter types due to small weapons, lower jump and movement scores that limited our ability to move around in combat, being very vulnerable to grapple and bull-rushes. We had to unlearn a bunch of habits from previous games, and learn to use our advantages (better hiding and stealth, concentrated missile fire).

Make a point of throwing them against small opponents early to ease them through the transition, and make use of the occasional medium opponent to highlight the issues raised above early enough that they start thinking of them before medium-opponents are a regular occurace.

Heh, I am not DMing, another one of my friends is doing that, his first time too!

Yeah, the slow movement will be an issue for me and the Bard, but the Dwarf will be able to move 30 ft. due to his Fast Movement ability.

I figure our tactics will be based more on stealth than upfront fighting, but we still do have a Barbarian for when we run into that, and we will be a tuogh little bunch because we all get +2 to Con.

 

[arwink]

I figure our tactics will be based more on stealth than upfront fighting, but we still do have a Barbarian for when we run into that, and we will be a tuogh little bunch because we all get +2 to Con.

The dwarf will make up for a vareity of the problems mentioned above (sorry, misread that part initially). Stability and the ability to wield a medium greatsword or greataxe covers a wide range of the circumstances mentoned. The downside of his movement is that he'll often be forming a front-line all on his own, since he can outpace the gnomes and his focus is melee.

Since both the gnomes are skill-monkeys, make sure you sink as many points as possible into Escape Artist. That will keep you clear of the grapple checks, at least.

 

[Tinker Gnome]

The dwarf will make up for a vareity of the problems mentioned above (sorry, misread that part initially). Stability and the ability to wield a medium greatsword or greataxe covers a wide range of the circumstances mentoned. The downside of his movement is that he'll often be forming a front-line all on his own, since he can outpace the gnomes and his focus is melee.

Since both the gnomes are skill-monkeys, make sure you sink as many points as possible into Escape Artist. That will keep you clear of the grapple checks, at least.

Heh good idea. I am also thinking of putting ranks into Use Magic Device too. I am also making a skill called Craft (Tinkering) which will let me make various different inventions, but I still need to OK this with the DM, but I think he will be cool with it.

It would be cool if I could get a Ring of Dimension Door and a Wand of Summon Monster a bit later on. I could use the wand for flanking purposes and the Dim. Door ring to move about the battlefield. And the Bard can sing of course.

 

[was]

You'll do fine. One tip...stock up on healing potions. With no divine caster, you're going to need them.

 

[Nifft]

Your Bard will want a Wand of Cure Light Wounds (... or six). Your Rogue (with UMD) should get use out of those, too.

-- N

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

I figure our tactics will be based more on stealth than upfront fighting, but we still do have a Barbarian for when we run into that, and we will be a tuogh little bunch because we all get +2 to Con.

Good advice thus far, and good to see that you've made some effort to build a party instead of just three individual characters. The fact that everybody gets +2 bonus to Con is nothing to sneeze at. Having A character who can resist physical harm is nice, but having a whole party with hit points to spare and good Fort save is terrific. If you're only running three characters, I think the bard is a good choice. My initial reaction was that it was a very poor choice: I've always been of the opinion that Bards should be the fifth or sixth character in the group, but I can't think of too many characters that will fill in for a wizard and a cleric better than a bard, especially at low levels. Music will let the bard buff the party without squandering his few spells, and a wand of CLW will be essential.

Good luck! sounds like fun.

 

[Lazybones]

Your Bard will want a Wand of Cure Light Wounds (... or six). Your Rogue (with UMD) should get use out of those, too.

-- N

Agreed. And unless it doesn't fit RP-wise for your dwarf, I'd recommend that everyone get elven cloaks and boots ASAP; this group has potential to be an awesome stealth team (the dwarf is the lug nut, but a mithral chain shirt with silent moves can help that greatly).