D&D 4E New to 4e and joining a Monsterous Campaign

[Veltrin]

So title says all. I am new to 4e but jumping into a group with a friend of mine. I have watched one session and see that they are lacking in heals horrible. So come the cleric. Good so far. raising the level is not an issue to the group level of 13, but they as a group are playing a unaligned group, with an anti-paladin, and are monsters for the most part. I've never really done a monster PC before, so hence my question. Any suggestions as to what to play? Race wise.

Or build wise, feel free to shoot me any suggestions that you have.

 

[Dausuul]

So title says all. I am new to 4e but jumping into a group with a friend of mine. I have watched one session and see that they are lacking in heals horrible. So come the cleric. Good so far. raising the level is not an issue to the group level of 13, but they as a group are playing a unaligned group, with an anti-paladin, and are monsters for the most part. I've never really done a monster PC before, so hence my question. Any suggestions as to what to play? Race wise.

Or build wise, feel free to shoot me any suggestions that you have.

What sort of monsters have you got in the group already?

 

[GameDoc]

Although not mechanically optimal, what popped into mind for me is a doppleganger - a totally unhinged cleric that assumes a different race and (on the surface) deity everyday. You'd have to get DM permission that the character's actually deity permits the facade for some reason. I could see Vecna allowing that, or perhaps the Raven Queen. Your companions bed down for the night and you are a drow priestess of Lolth. When they get up the next morning, you're a lizard folk who worships Tiamat. The next day, you might be a hobgoblin devoted to Bane or a duergar priest of Asmodeus.

 

[On Puget Sound]

There is a lot of rules support for minotaurs; a STR-based cowleric could be fun.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Keep in mind that in 4e, there are other options for healers:
Warlords, Bards, & Artificers all work well for a person new to 4e.
ardent (psions) druids, shaman and rune priests are a little harder to play well.

If the party is mostly humanoid - Orcs, Gnolls, Bugbears are all good for strength clerics or Warlords.
Drow and dopplegangers (also called changelings) and all would make great bards.

- monster PCs will actually be weaker than standard races, because they lack specialized feats.

Half-orcs, tieflings and dragonborn are kinda monstrous races with better options. including feats, and paragon paths.

If you want to play something truly monstrous have the DM create an approximation of a Yuanti priest, an angel of an evil or unaligned god (no longer restricted to good). Give them some protective powers and a cleric's Healing Word usable 2-3 times an encounter, and call it good.

-although really jumping into a level 13 game is not ideal.

 

[aco175]

There is no reason you could not play a more normal race. A dwarf cleric of the Raven Queen may fit in fine. You could play up one of the domains like fate or winter and have him dour or morbid, hanging on wth this bunch only for reasons his god knows.

 

[Cyronax]

Goblins are a pretty effective race. They have a lot of character and have a lot of options for classes.

A skirmisher character, who shines with both melee and ranged, is a fun concept to me. I think a goblin ranger -- either standard ranger or the scout and/or hunter from Essentials would be a lot of fun.

Also, another monstrous race includes shifters. I have played and observed shifters in several campaigns. They are always a top notch option, IMO.

C.I.D.

 

[GameDoc]

Also, another monstrous race includes shifters. I have played and observed shifters in several campaigns. They are always a top notch option, IMO.

C.I.D.

Shifters get a Wisdom bonus, so cleric is a good fit. The Essentials build for Druid is a healer type, much more in the vein of older editions, and would be a good fit for shifters or any other race that dwells in the wild.

 

[Destil]

How about a character who's mechanically a Deva (use all the diva rules) but re-flavored as a Raksha?