If you join a group with 4 players alread?

[Maliki]

If the alignments were compatable I would go with a paladin as the 5th character, you get another tank and a backup for the cleric at higher levels.

 

[Buttercup]

Bard. A little fighting, a little healing, a little schmoozing.

 

[Nifft]

I voted Druid, because that's probably what I'd want to play. This is both a mechanical recommendation and what I'd do for RP reasons, and "flavor".

So, my real recommendation is: Play what you will enjoy playing! It's a game first.

-- N

 

[Henry]

Tough choice between Bard and Cleric. Neither are a bad choice.

I went with Cleric because

1) You never can have TOO much healing in a party'

2) Cleric is a good source of enhancing and protective magics

3) A Cleric can double as a second tank, especially with the right spells.

4) Diplomacy is a class skill, so a cleric could if needed focus in diplomacy for NPC interaction.

A bard is a great choice, but the thing that dissuades me is (A) multiple ability dependency (you need a good DEX AND a good INT and CHA) and (B)lack of hit points to tough it out in front if the fighter ever fell. With a Cleric you get the enhancing magics, the healing, and the toughness to be a secondary front liner.

 

[Oscar carramiñana]

I vote for the druid because a Druid can be a melee type, healer, spellcasting support and his animal companion would be a killing machine

 

[just__al]

I voted druid, mostly because I've never played one. However, it would depend on the players I was playing with and what classes they were playing.

I could see myself playing a sorceror so the wizard could focus on some more esoteric spells, a fighter with a totally different fighting style from the existing fighter, a paladin of the cleric's god, or a cleric just because I love playing clerics.

The best choice from a metagaming standpoint would probably be Bard but I'm not a big fan of playing the class.

Actually, I think I'd play a spirit shaman from Complete Divine because the class looks really cool from a roleplaying standpoint.

 

[diaglo]

I vote for the druid because a Druid can be a melee type, healer, spellcasting support and his animal companion would be a killing machine

read page 31 of the story hour in my sig. you will understand our DMs woes.

 

[Sarigar]

Ranger or bard, but I like Rangers better so that would be my choice. The party needs more firepower.

 

[Skyfire]

5th lvl party with the core classes already covered? Monk. Even if the Vow of Poverty feat from the BoED isn't available, they make a great 'tie up' for enemies. Defensive fighting throws their AC thru the roof and keeps whatever foe busy and off the main tank long enough for him to finish what he's doing and get over to start laying waste to the poor souls that thought they could make monk gibbs.

I've seen this combo used VERY well in the game I'm running with the rogue setting up flanks for/with the fighter, the monk tieing up the parties open flank, the cleric buffing and healing whoever he can reach, and the wizard keeping their foes heads down.

 

[blackshirt5]

I'd play either a Ranger(and try to convince the DM to let me play the Monte Cook Ranger, I prefer that to either the 3.0 or 3.5 Rangers) or a Monk; my two favorite classes.