Need help deciding what to play...

[wayne62682]

Greetings all,

I've recently found a new gaming group after moving back home, and I'm having some trouble figuring out what to play in their campaign... I've been out of the loop for about five months so I'm rather excited to get to play again. The group is currently playing Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, and I think they are about 75% done of it (I'm not really sure; they mentioned that they've destroyed all four elemental temples, but that means nothing to me).

My character would be created at 9th level (the rest of the group is pretty much at 10th). Allowed books are:

• Core (PHB races only are allowed)
• Complete XXX (excluding Mage and Scoundrel)
• Races of XXX (I don't own these)
• PHB II

No Psionics or "weird" magic systems (i.e. Incarnum, Tome of Magic, Tome of Battle)

The rest of the party is:

• Rogue/Paladin/Shadowbane Inquisitor
• Ranger/Wizard/Eldritch Knight (Specializes in ranged attacks rather than melee)
• Rogue/Fighter (Finesse-type fighter)
• Fighter/Order of the Bow Initiate
• Cleric/Battlesmith

They seem to have pretty much all of their bases covered, hence why I'm at such a loss as for what to play. I'm also not very familiar with the background of the ToEE, apart from the little bit I've read (never played the original). I know very little about Greyhawk but I do own the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer.

Just tossing around ideas the other night, I was thinking of a Spellthief (Complete Adventurer) since the group lacks a real skillmonkey type, or a Favored Soul (Divine), but my old group always gave me a look like I kicked someone's dog whenever I brought up a character with a Prestige Class, so now that I've found a group that doesn't mind I was hoping to find a good class/PrC combo and finally get to play one.

That said, however, I am open to all suggestions... as I stated above I really haven't played at all for a couple of months so my Build-Fu is a bit rusty. For the record, I'd like to keep the power level at a decent amount.. not so weak that I'd be useless (deathly afraid of that happening.. it's happened a lot in my old group) but no uber-builds or the like (I don't want to be without a group again so soon )

Thanks so much for any advice given!

 

[starwed]

It seems like the party is pretty combat intensive, and they don't have a full fledged arcane spellcaster. If you started with a pure wizard, perhaps with a focus on divination or abjuration, you might add a lot to the group. You'd be starting off with 5th level wizard spells, something the Eldritch Knight currently lacks, which might take the sting out of being a level behind.

And of course, it's pretty easy to find full caster PrCs for wizards.

 

[Thanee]

The group is currently playing Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, and I think they are about 75% done of it (I'm not really sure; they mentioned that they've destroyed all four elemental temples, but that means nothing to me).

They are quite far into the adventure then... about 75% could be right.

The rest of the party is:

• Rogue/Paladin/Shadowbane Inquisitor
• Ranger/Wizard/Eldritch Knight (Specializes in ranged attacks rather than melee)
• Rogue/Fighter (Finesse-type fighter)
• Fighter/Order of the Bow Initiate
• Cleric/Battlesmith

They seem to have pretty much all of their bases covered, hence why I'm at such a loss as for what to play.

This party is very fighter-heavy, pretty much everyone there is a fighter-type (even the Cleric... 'Battlesmith' surely sounds like a more martially oriented Cleric) it seems.

To add something to the above list, I would go with a pure Sorcerer and get a decent repertoire of offensive and some battlefield control spells (Web, Evard's Black Tentacles, etc). The Eldritch Knight will likely use more buff and utility spells than using spells to engage the opposition directly. Some party buffs (i.e. Haste) might also be a good idea, maybe you could ask what the Eldritch Knight player uses primarly, so there is not a big overlap. Party buffs and other non-selfish spells are always nice to make a good impression.

Of course, you could also make your life easy and take either a Warlock or a Warmage.

...but my old group always gave me a look like I kicked someone's dog whenever I brought up a character with a Prestige Class...

Bye
Thanee

 

[wayne62682]

In the game I watched (to get a feel for the group and see if they were a good fit), he used Haste on the party, then threw a few Orbs of Acid, used Grease on some.. weird turtle thing that was about to eat the Rogue/Fighter, and then later he Fireballed a group of goons. Oh, and he summoned a Celestial Bear or something. I think he specializes in being the ranged artillery type, but with more flexibility... basically a Warmage with more than just damage.

I will certainly consider your suggestions.. thanks! And yes, my old group was rather strange.. I got very tired of being called a powergamer and/or munchkin because I *gasp* used a class from a book other than the PHB!

 

[Wraith-Hunter]

I give a second vote for either a Sorcerer or Wizard. Find a full caster PrC you like. Too bad they won't allow Complete Mage I like the Abjurant Champion. I usually play wizards but just started playing a Wild Elf Sorcerer (No con penalty Sorc. favored class) And I have found it is pretty fun, a lot less prep time, but lots of agonizing choices when it comes to choosing your spells known. And I am enjoying the flexibility of spontanuous csating. And frankly any PrC you can take at 5th or 6th will give you some class abilities.

I would chat with the Gish character and find out what spells he has and what he typically does so that you don't overlap and fill a different nich. He may also fill some roles that he doesn't LIKE to fill in. Say he only does battlefield control because he is the only one who can and would rather self buff and buff others. You could take over this nich and he would be more happy and you would have a vital spot. Or maybe he doesn't want to be the utility guy, if you can save him from having to memorize spells he doesn't wnat to both you and him will be more effective.

The full arcane caster seems to be the big hole in the party. I'd pop your highest or second highest stat in CON for more survivability, as you will be high enough level to have some decent AC protections.

 

[Wraith-Hunter]

In the game I watched (to get a feel for the group and see if they were a good fit), he used Haste on the party, then threw a few Orbs of Acid, used Grease on some.. weird turtle thing that was about to eat the Rogue/Fighter, and then later he Fireballed a group of goons. Oh, and he summoned a Celestial Bear or something. I think he specializes in being the ranged artillery type, but with more flexibility... basically a Warmage with more than just damage.

I will certainly consider your suggestions.. thanks! And yes, my old group was rather strange.. I got very tired of being called a powergamer and/or munchkin because I *gasp* used a class from a book other than the PHB!

I feel for you man! I would rather not play than with a group like that. I think that is more of a hold over from earlier editions (you cant do that mentality) compared to 3.x where multi-classing and PrC's is more of the norm and you pretty much have to min max to have a 1/2 way effective character. Especially as new books come out. But to each his own. Sounds like the new group will be more fun for you.

 

[Darklone]

I will certainly consider your suggestions.. thanks! And yes, my old group was rather strange.. I got very tired of being called a powergamer and/or munchkin because I *gasp* used a class from a book other than the PHB!

That's great. I even had a PHB class character, a bbn2/rog1/brd4 in a group of level 10 chars and my old group called my powergamer

Looks like the bard class is simply overpowered.

 

[blargney the second]

With that many PCs, you'd get a lot of leverage out of buffing classes like bard, marshall, or dragon shaman.

 

[Thanee]

I would chat with the Gish character...

Do you think he would talk back?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Wraith-Hunter]

Do you think he would talk back?

Bye
Thanee

Ok Ok Ok, Talk with the PLAYER of the Gish character Is that better