Is a +3 good enough to hit stuff?

[Cadfan]

A 16 in your primary stat is just fine.

That being said, if you're playing Keep on the Shadowfell, you might feel like you're behind. This is because you will be starting out fighting kobolds, and kobolds have above average reflex defenses.

 

[mattdm]

not to be an a$$ but doesn't that seem a little against the whole game of DND?
"Hey Mr. DM lets talk for a second. Now, I decided to be a non optimized cleric here, and I want some fun but I need your help. I want the biggest weapon enhancement bonus relative to my level at all times. Now, if you can do that, that would be great. Thanks! O and I want 10 extra hit points too..."

I played in a game where the DM went out of his way to only give us powerful magic items which didn't fit with our character classes. (Why would the NPC bad guy have one of those? You're the only high-level druid for miles.) And we didn't have the downtime to make things, and the stores of course had nothing for sale. It was no fun at all. D&D is very much about getting cool loot for your character. The DM has to have a sense of what the players want and need.

 

[Runestar]

not to be an a$$ but doesn't that seem a little against the whole game of DND?
"Hey Mr. DM lets talk for a second. Now, I decided to be a non optimized cleric here, and I want some fun but I need your help. I want the biggest weapon enhancement bonus relative to my level at all times. Now, if you can do that, that would be great. Thanks! O and I want 10 extra hit points too..."

The game actually assumes that your character will be appropriately equipped for his level. This means that getting the best enchantment weapon bonus for your level is not a luxury. It is expected and necessary. You don't have to feel bad pointing out this fact to the DM, in fact, I would say that it is well within your rights.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

you should be better of with a 16 in your main score than in previous editions. It´s just +1 to hit and +1 damage. having high strength to compensate will do wonders IF an enemy comes too close to you^^

 

[Nifft]

To answer your and Zillah's question, because I am going devoted cleric.

We have a paladin, a swordmage, a rogue and potentially a warlord; melee is pretty much wrapped up.

I just don't want to play an Elf or Dwarf, so I am making sure that a 16 in a stat is sufficient.

Ah. Well, my experience seeing a player using the KotS pre-generated Half-Elf Cleric with a 16 Wisdom was that the PC missed a lot, and the player was frustrated. As soon as our books arrived, that Cleric got totally replaced.

However, that's just one datapoint. Let us know how well your 16 works out.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Staffan]

Ah. Well, my experience seeing a player using the KotS pre-generated Half-Elf Cleric with a 16 Wisdom was that the PC missed a lot, and the player was frustrated. As soon as our books arrived, that Cleric got totally replaced.

KOTS is a bit problematically designed from a fun-ness point of view. Kobolds are a bit frustrating as opponents with their shiftiness, and especially for a cleric it's a bit tough because almost all their attacks are targeted against Reflex, which the kobolds are pretty good at.

And of course, there's the issue of the megafight against Irontooth & Co. as the third or fourth encounter...

 

[LightPhoenix]

KOTS is a bit problematically designed from a fun-ness point of view.

And of course, there's the issue of the megafight against Irontooth & Co. as the third or fourth encounter...

I haven't had problems with my Wizard and an Int of 16, though I am a Wand-wizard.

Slightly off-topic; I can only speak of my experience as a player, but I've honestly found KOTS to be something of a meat-grinder. I don't think it's a bad adventure per se, but I don't think it's really set-up for a healthy balance of fun and challenge either.

My DM remarked to us one time that he couldn't believe a group would (slight spoiler)

Spoiler

be going into the Keep at first level.

Also, with regards to the Irontooth fight (spoiler),

Spoiler

Irontooth himself is kind of a "gotcha" move, and not in the good way. Our fighter focused on keeping him locked down, like Fighters are supposed to do, and it was almost a TPK. The fight is a lot easier if the Fighter actually keeps Irontooth at a distance.

 

[Runestar]

Weren't the PCs in KoTS fairly unoptimized as well? That might account for their less than stellar performance against the enemies...

 

[Nifft]

IMHO KotS is fine in throwing kobolds & goblins at the PCs. They're iconic low-level foes, and I'd expect to see a lot of them in any low-level game.

Weren't the PCs in KoTS fairly unoptimized as well? That might account for their less than stellar performance against the enemies...

Well, yeah... stuff like having a 16 instead of an 18 for primary attack stat.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nail]

The game actually assumes that your character will be appropriately equipped for his level.

Not quite.

The game assumes you will have items of the appropriate levels. It does NOT assume those items are exactly what the PC needs.