Make My Character!

[Gruns]

Hey all.
I get to take a break from DMing as my group is starting a new campaign this Friday! That means I actually get to play a character! However, if history is any indicator, I will choose and rechoose a cool new character everyday until Friday afternoon, at which point I will whip up a Dwarven Fighter at the last minute... So pick one for me!
Here's the skinny so far:
4 PCs in the group. The other 3 are as follows:
Elf Druid
Halfling Fighter(Outrider)
Something Barbarian(At least thats what he said as we were leaving last Friday)

Low Magic, High Point Buy: 38 point PB

Forgotten Realms Campaign

NO WEIRD or MIN/MAX CLASSES/RACES!!! (No Half-Dragon, Half Celestial Ninja Paladins)

A few minor houserules that probably wont matter.
-------
Thats about it. Looking at the 3 we have so far, we seem to be geared for outdoor combat, however, most of our adventures will likely be indoors, a la your typical dungeon crawls. We really could use more healing but as long as we score a Wand of Cure Light early, the druid can keep up. Also lacking is a rogue for scouting and traps. The thing we seem to be missing most is some kind of Arcane caster. We should have no trouble against the single baddie, but aside from Entangle, we don't have much vs a handful of orcs. Therefore, I'm kind of settled on either a Wizard(or specialist) or a Bard. Bard more than Wizard, as he can pull off a little scouting and can also use that wand of Cure Light.
Of the 8 zillion PCs I've come up with so far(Is that your Final Answer?!) I kind of like the idea of a militaristic Dwarven Battle Bard. With a drum. Or a tactical Gnome Bard that doesn't melee. Just sits back playing music, shouting orders. I just don't want anything too run of the mill. So throw out some cool ideas for me! No need to go nuts with the details. Oh, is there any way to make the Whip less sucky in 3.5?

Thanks in advance for the ideas! Have fun!
Gruns

 

[Scion]

what sources can be used?

 

[Gruns]

Sources

Oh yeah...
The 3 Core books, the 4 Complete Books and I'd guess the Forgotten Realms book, though I don't have it so don't mention anything from it.
We're all a bunch of non-power gaming, "talk in funny roleplay voices" kind of group so nothing from the overpowered (or too expen$ive) splatbooks allowed.
Thanks again!
Gruns

 

[Scion]

well, psionics 3.5 is in the SRD, so no need to pay any money

But if you arent useing it then that is your choice.......... lol


And here I had a suggestion that uses it, too bad.. its fun to be able to learn a little about everything and everyone and just haveing lots of general use.

 

[werk]

I was going to recommend Psion as well. It would thoroughly compliment the group IMO.

 

[JimAde]

What does "low magic" mean in this case? Can you play a caster? The group is short on arcane casting so I have to think wizard or sorcerer. You also have no rogue, though everyone has the potential to be stealthy.

So to maintain the low magic flavor and cover your bases, I'm thinking a sorcerer/rogue or wizard/rogue multiclass. With that point buy you can certainly cover the necessary stats. I'd probably go for a sorcerer/rogue face-man type.

I don't know anything about the Realms, but that should give you plenty of variety.

 

[Thanee]

Here's an idea:

Strongheart Halfling Rogue/Wizard/Arcane Trickster

Strongheart Halflings are like Halflings, but without the +1 to saves and a free bonus feat instead.

Str 13-2 Dex 16+2 Con 14 Int 17 Wis 8 Cha 12

1st Rogue Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot
2nd Wizard
3rd Wizard Feat: Improved Initiative
4th Wizard
5th Rogue
6th Wizard Feat: Practiced Spellcaster
7th Wizard Feat: Sudden Silent
8th Rogue
9th+ Arcane Trickster Feat: Sudden Maximize

Learn Use Magic Device to use wands.

Not incredibly powerful, but a lot of potential to have fun!

Bye
Thanee

 

[irdeggman]

How about a bard?

The group seems to have the base in-your-face fighters covered - although the halfling outrider will kind of suck if inside, IMO.

A bard allows you to fill a lot of holes that may appear; some healing, some arcane spells (not the really powerful wizard ones but still a good selection), spontaneous casting (which helps a lot), the inpire ability really helps a group when done correctly.

Focus on Dex and use a ranged weapon.

Either be a human (for the extra feat) or be a half-elf for the bonus to diplomacy/gather interaction checks.

Since it appears you have historically focused on the old dwarven fighter type a bard might be a good stretch -also if the group tends towards the speaking in funny voices (i.e., more role-playing than dice rolling) a bard adds a lot to the situation. Besides it is always fun tomake up songs and stories that make fun of theother PCs' actions.

"The story doesn't have to be true it only has to be entertaining."

 

[SBMC]

Are there an alignment issues here? Such as everyone is LG?

In all the games I played in we always played what we wanted to; not worrying about the party composition much. This always worked out as we always had a Fighter type, a divine caster and a sneaky type (at least one each) in the long run. We have always had trouble getting an arcane caster in the mix - the DM (including me at times) always adjusted things to account for that. Such as encounters taht don't require arcane magic to deal with. thwe EL's were always the same but he typs of monsers and such were appropriate.

Thus, Given my experience I would not worry to much about the lack of an arcane caster. Besides Druids do have a good solid number of offensive spells. Addtionally given this is a low magic campaign - that means low magic for everyone not just you guys - thus the need for arcane casting and the benifit of having it decrease and increase respectively.

Anyways; A halfling outrider indoors is fairly useless and really ends up falling back on his fighter levels (inside there is most likely a lo less room to maneuver). I saw this happen before. Which really makes it more difficult to say you ahve a solid fighter in the mix.

A Barbarian is very nice to have, especially at lower levels, but in the long run (noting this is my opinion only) a fighter is better with more options.

Thus your combative expertise may be overrated given the environment you are in.

But if you feel ya need an arcane caster (in a low magic world): I would go sorceror since he gets his spells for free per se' (does not need to go looking to put into a book) and also has the charisma (something that is lacking in the 3 examples you gave). Just my opinion

While I like single classing with maybe one PrC myself (just my preference) a neat ideal, In the spirit of arcane casting - an interesting twist might be a Dwarven sorceror/ranger.

If you want a "rouge" then grab that up. Remember that multiclassing allows you to do more things overall but not necessarily better - a Sorc 6/Ftr 6 is not the same as a 12th level sorceror or a 12th level fighter by a long shot (epecially for the sorceror's DC's and in overcoming SR). He ends up being adept at several things; but master of none (until much later).

Otherwise I would say go with your own gut - the character is yours. if you like Dwaven fighters then get one. If you want a dwarven fighter with a twist take a look at some of the PrC's out here. in the "Hero's of Battle book there are some cool PrC's; especially the "Dread Commando" that you can get the prereqs for by staying a fighter (no rouge or ranger needed as many assume)

Additionally you could always take the leadeship feat and get an arcane casting cohort and/or followers.

But, as a direct answe to your question and request for something colorful: Dwarven Fighter/Cleric perhaps?

 

[Particle_Man]

Are there an alignment issues here? Such as everyone is LG?

They got a Druid and a Barbarian. Whatever else they are, they are not LG.

I would go with Scout. It is "outdoorsy" and with the new errata, they can disable device as a class skill, so can do the Rogue stuff. Arcane magic is overrated.

38 character points? Hmmm...dex, con, int and str are all good. Maybe 16 in dex, con and int, 14 in str, and 10 in wis and 8 in chr. Human is a solid choice, unless you really want low-light vision, in which case half-elf is pretty strong (or elf, if you don't mind the hit to con).

A more extreme character would be 18 in dex and int, 10 in con, str, wis. Super skill monkey! Then you can either go the skills route (human) or the ever higher dex route (elf).