D&D General Name your favorite 4 person party composition.

[cbwjm]

I'm going to go with 2e because it is still probably my favourite edition. I normally have something like the following when I play the Icewind dale CRPG, though I also generally play with 6 heroes instead of 4.
Human Fighter
Dwarf Fighter/Cleric
Elven Fighter/Mage/Thief
Any race which can be a Mage (perhaps a specialist for additional spells/level)

 

[Minigiant]

Now it's

Horizon Walker Ranger
Oath of Watcher Paladin
Conjurer Wizard
Twilight Cleric

 

[Lycurgon]

I generally like people to play what they will enjoy the most and figure out how to make it work by working together and overcoming weaknesses in the party by leaning into the parties strengths. Strange party composition can add a lot of fun to the dynamics of a game.

Having said that, I do think parties work better if they have at least 1 frobtliner/tank and generally most adventures need some thieves skills to overcome traps and/or locks. Healing is important but can be accomplished with potions if need be. And it is generally good to have at least someone with good charisma and skills to back it up for social situations. There are lots of charisma classes though so most of the time there is at least 1 PC that fills that role.

If I had to pick an ideal party it would include:
A Paladin for their aura goodness.
A Grave Cleric for canceling crits and keeping people alive.
A Diviner Wizard for portenty goodness and utility Rituals. Ideally a halfling with Bountiful Luck to further ward of bad luck.
A Bard skill monkey and face, as well as party support and more healing.

The party has a lot of synergy in supporting each other and limiting the worst outcomes. Very potent when they work together.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I generally like people to play what they will enjoy the most and figure out how to make it work by working together and overcoming weaknesses in the party by leaning into the parties strengths. Strange party composition can add a lot of fun to the dynamics of a game.

Having said that, I do think parties work better if they have at least 1 frobtliner/tank ...

Put it another way: if you don't pick a front liner, the enemy will.

But given how many good frontliner option there are, you rarely see a situation where no one wants to play one (kind of like how you pretty much never see a party where everyone dumped Charisma), so it's not often an issue.

 

[clearstream]

Put it another way: if you don't pick a front liner, the enemy will.

But given how many good frontliner option there are, you rarely see a situation where no one wants to play one (kind of like how you pretty much never see a party where everyone dumped Charisma), so it's not often an issue.

Absence of a front line creates interesting opportunities for closer interaction with other creatures

 

[collin]

I chose to be broad with this question and not limit it to a character's race:
1. Tank (barbarian, fighter, or paladin)
2. Stealthy expert (rogue, ranger, monk, or possibly bard)
3. Arcane spell caster (wizard, sorcerer, warlock, or possibly bard)
4. Divine spell caster (cleric or druid)

I think if you keep these 4 broad categories in mind, with certain choices made with race and subclasses, you can count on having a well-rounded party.

 

[Ashrym]

I chose to be broad with this question and not limit it to a character's race:
1. Tank (barbarian, fighter, or paladin)
2. Stealthy expert (rogue, ranger, monk, or possibly bard)
3. Arcane spell caster (wizard, sorcerer, warlock, or possibly bard)
4. Divine spell caster (cleric or druid)

I think if you keep these 4 broad categories in mind, with certain choices made with race and subclasses, you can count on having a well-rounded party.

This looks like tradition bias to me. The arcane / divine difference is pretty marginal in 5e, and skills are easy enough to pick up regardless of class.

It's pretty easy to apply a druid to the traditional arcane role, bards are arcane casters but fit the support role of the divine casters, and divine soul sorcerers are a good choice.

I can easily make a stealthy fighter.

The classics style makes a good party, but don't lock your outlook into it. ;-)

 

[Raith5]

I was tempted to say 4 Clerics with different domains, but:

Paladin
Cleric
Rogue
Wizard

 

[Al'Kelhar]

Chalk me up as another fan of the "Classic Four":

War Cleric
Magic Cleric
Life Cleric
Trickster Cleric

Cheers, Al'kelhar