LEB Discussion Thread '09

[ScorpiusRisk]

If it helps make your decision, my character will be submitted for review later today. She's a half-el storm sorcerer, but because of her mark, and choice of powers, I'd call her a controlled instead of striker.

 

[Velmont]

I was planning to play a Cold Dragonborn Cosmic Sorcerer who is studying the prophecy, but it seems sorcerer are the most popular class... I might think about it. Anyway, I need to see River have a level to submit a new character, I have plenty of time.

 

[Theroc]

Is that census up to date with the changes now, Renau?

Just wondering, as part of my decision process is picking classes/races that aren't particularly common(rather than adding to the piles of the more popular choices).

 

[renau1g]

It's up to date (excluding Scorpius' PC).

Like I mentioned before, there are 2 barbarians on there that aren't active (1 half-orc, 1 warforged). Taking those 2 out, the # of leaders is nearly equal to strikers (which is a surprise to me)

 

[Velmont]

I see two Sorcerer in you Census, but 3 in the character Name Wiki page. You have taken only the active one in your Census?

 

[renau1g]

I've only seen 2, myself (Tamarand) and Karinsdad's (Sheeva).

Scorpius' PC - Shava was created after I did my list. The list was based on approved PC's and those in an active game under the Awaiting Approval category.

 

[Theroc]

Hm... I tried looking for a "Druid handbook" for 4e Druids, since I've already peeked at the Invoker one, but found there is no such handbook for druids, I did find a 'guide' which warns new players away from the class by saying:

I want to state up front that Druids, like Shamans and Avengers are not a very friendly class for new players to take on. Their abilities require a lot of strategy to use effectively, and finding the balance between your standard and beast forms can be very difficult. They also are heavily dependent on their teammates not getting in the way of their abilities and making use of any advantage the Druid gives to them.

Is this accurate? I ask as I'm relatively new to 4th edition (I played a Shaman briefly, but the party was rather large and I think I made a total of 3 attacks the entire time I played) but am familiar with a few games involving miniatures(Such as Mageknight), some play by post 3.5 edition, and with computer games, such as Icewind Dale II(Didn't get too far), and WoW.

So, I'm not necessarily a new gamer, but new to this exact system. Would the druid be a problematic class for me to use effectively during combat? [Trying to find a race/class that is only done once or twice on LEB, to diversify even further]

 

[renau1g]

Hmm...I have personally struggled with the druid myself and I'm fairly comfortable with the 4e system, but that's me. I don't find avengers that difficult, get next to the bad guy, keep him isolated, kill him....not too hard.

Here's the handbook:
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[ryryguy]

I don't have any actual experience with playing a druid or seeing one played. That being said, it does make sense that they might be a little more difficult to play, because they have basically two sets of powers, one for beast form and one for regular form. You have to switch forms effectively to use all your powers to their utmost.

In general I have the feeling that controllers may be the most difficult to play, since their powers tend to have lots of follow-on effects and riders and such.

All that being said, I don't think it's too hard to play any 4e class, really... It's up to you of course, but I wouldn't stress out too much about picking a race and class that aren't in use already. Just play what seems like it would be fun and suit your play style.

As for druids and the gatekeeper thing, there are certainly druids in Eberron that don't come from that tradition. I don't know if there's all that much to know about it really. The capsule summary is that aberrant fiends called daelkyr once ruled a lot of the world. Gatekeepers arose primarily among orcs to seal up the gates to the aberrant realms and seal off the daelkyr. Some of the daelkyr's old henchmen are still around and are seeking to release them. There aren't too many Gatekeepers left. They are mostly orcs, half-orcs, and humans living in primitive areas.

 

[Theroc]

I don't have any actual experience with playing a druid or seeing one played. That being said, it does make sense that they might be a little more difficult to play, because they have basically two sets of powers, one for beast form and one for regular form. You have to switch forms effectively to use all your powers to their utmost.

In general I have the feeling that controllers may be the most difficult to play, since their powers tend to have lots of follow-on effects and riders and such.

Yeah, I see the point, though in any given round you can use any power you want. It's just AoO's are likely better in beast form, from what I can see. But yes, in my experience in MMO's and such, Crowd Control and Tanking (Controllers and Defenders, respectively) are the two more difficult roles to master.

All that being said, I don't think it's too hard to play any 4e class, really... It's up to you of course, but I wouldn't stress out too much about picking a race and class that aren't in use already. Just play what seems like it would be fun and suit your play style.

I'm not particularly stressed, I just like doing something different than others and fitting a niche no one else does. Helps ease my insecurity about being unable to find a group. ~horrible flashback to WoW~ And apologies if any of my WoW references make people cringe, I wanted to play D&D long before WoW even hit my ears, just never found a group.

As for druids and the gatekeeper thing, there are certainly druids in Eberron that don't come from that tradition. I don't know if there's all that much to know about it really. The capsule summary is that aberrant fiends called daelkyr once ruled a lot of the world. Gatekeepers arose primarily among orcs to seal up the gates to the aberrant realms and seal off the daelkyr. Some of the daelkyr's old henchmen are still around and are seeking to release them. There aren't too many Gatekeepers left. They are mostly orcs, half-orcs, and humans living in primitive areas.

Right, I figure if I DO go druid, I do some character off in a wooded, jungle area(Probably not Xen'drik though, since Drow and Giants aren't PHB or PHB2 races ) and that my character lived alone mostly, selling hides or something for any money he(or she) needed and the requisite human interaction, then something happens and either demons(or some other malicious thing) overruns his forest or alternatively something poisons it, and he/she ges adventuring to gain strength to repel the invaders or learn to cure the sickness.

Invoker would have a suitably different twist, but I figuring I'd try my hand at controller, and I only know of the Druid, Wizard and Invoker (One for each power source, right?)

Edit:
By the way, thanks for all the advice guys. I appreciate being able to get this kind of help and bounce ideas around, really helps me formulate what I want to do and be sure it fits.