Is an "all caster" party feasible?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

In the new year, I plan on running an all-caster Ptolus game (set on Dweomer Street) as a pbp game here on ENWorld. My gut says the first few levels will be a lot harder than later levels, but that it won't be impossible.

 

[takyris]

And of course, this all depends upon the game.

If your DM is running a module by the book, yeah, your wizard, sorcerer, cleric, and druid party might have some trouble. If your DM is running a campaign set in a magical university, then the party of wizards and clerics is gonna do just fine.

In a basic game, party of four, by the core book, I'd say that you'd be fine with:

Cleric: War and Trickery domains, serves as Tank and occasional scout
Cleric: Healing and Protection domains, serves as Buffer and healer
Wizard: Generalist, takes care of default magical needs all across the board
Sorcerer: Evoker-cannon

The Bard is only barely a core spellcasting class given its spell progression, so if the intent is "All-caster campaign," it's a stretch. If the goal is "magic-heavy campaign", though, a bard is a fine choice either as a fifth PC or as a replacement for the Generalist Wizard as a utility player. (He takes over the sneaking role from the War cleric and the buffing role from the Healing cleric.)

 

[Klaus]

People are saying it's hard at low-levels? A Fighter 4 has BAB +4 and 4d10 hp. A Cleric 4 has BAB +3 and 4d8 hp. That's only 1 less BAB and (on average) 4 less hp.

For a Core all-caster party, you could go with:

Tank - Cleric with War and Destruction domains.
Expert - Bard
Arcane caster - Wizard or Sorceror
Divine caster - Cleric with Healing and Protection domains.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

In the new year, I plan on running an all-caster Ptolus game (set on Dweomer Street) as a pbp game here on ENWorld. My gut says the first few levels will be a lot harder than later levels, but that it won't be impossible.

I'd like to play in that.

 

[Whimsical]

4 divine casters?

Yes, certainly. 4 clerics or druids can pretty much cover all the bases.

4 arcane casters? Bit more tricky.

I dunno. Harry Potter and his crew seem to do OK.

 

[Nifft]

If you were okay with a mostly caster party, the traditional roles could easily be filled.

Dwarf Fighter 1 / Cleric 19 (Strength, Travel)
Human Scout 1 / Diviner 4 / Unseen Seer 10 / Arcane Trickster 5 (wants Able Learner)
Halfling Druid 20
Elf Cloistered Cleric 6 (Knowledge, Trickery, Luck) / Divine Oracle 10 / Seeker of the Misty Isle 4


The roles will switch around a bit -- the Human won't have many spare skill points until level 6, and the Elf will have far too many until that same level -- but all in all, a balanced group, who are all MOSTLY casters and can handle pretty much anything. And survive from 1st level.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Gort]

Yeah, going to throw my hat in the ring on the side of "entirely possible".

In my opinion, the adventuring D&D party needs 3 things to be successful. Hand-to-hand fighting, trap/lock defeating, and healing. (not just HP, but effects as well)

Clerics handle hand-to-hand very well indeed. Domains like war and strength and a god that lets you use a two-handed weapon will make good damage dealers and tanks.

Traps and locks can be defeated by a beguiler (new specialised mage class similar to the warmage, but uses enchantment/illusion spells and gets lots of skillpoints and the all important "trapfinding" ability) or, since they rarely do enough damage to kill in one shot, enough divine casters can simply heal someone after they spring the trap.

And bards, clerics and druids can cover the healing.

I might go as far as saying that an "all caster" party might be not only feasible, but optimal. Especially at higher levels.

 

[JRR_Talking]

we recently ran a campaign from 1st to 9th level

everybody played a wizard (they all got 1 extra spell per level per day, by only picking from 5 schools). worked very well.

Alter self becomes a big friend (whole party would walk round looking like lizardfolk!!)
half were elves so sword and bows in use.

With so many spells available 4 encounters per day was not a problem. Solo monsters they were especially good against as within a round it would be enfeebled, etc

they didnt, but if everyone had magic missile it would mean the first monster they met would be in lots trouble even at level 1.

Just need lots thought, they had plenty of skill points between them and loads scrolls.

 

[Thurbane]

For the sake of this argument, I wouldn't count "delayed level" cater's like Rangers or Paladins as casters...I would count Bards, since they can cast right up at 1st level...

 

[Slife]

People are saying it's hard at low-levels? A Fighter 4 has BAB +4 and 4d10 hp. A Cleric 4 has BAB +3 and 4d8 hp. That's only 1 less BAB and (on average) 4 less hp.

For a Core all-caster party, you could go with:

Tank - Cleric with War and Destruction domains.
Expert - Bard
Arcane caster - Wizard or Sorceror
Divine caster - Cleric with Healing and Protection domains.

A riding dog animal companion is just as good as or better than a fighter 1,2, or 3.