Non-Core Class Survivor

[Mercule]

Isnt the Scout missing?

Good catch.

While I don't bear malice toward the scout, I'll vote it out well before some others.

 

[Glyfair]

Isnt the Scout missing?

Hmmm...I was using the list of the WotC site of classes to make my list. Either it's missing, or I missed it in transferring over. I'll add it next list (I doubt it would have been gone this round, anyway).

 

[Agent Oracle]

yeah, the scout is actually pretty fine. I mean, it's better than the ninja at least.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I can't believe you guys are so eager to get rid of the spellthief... the COOLEST CLASS EVER. Seriously, man, play one for a bit, and then tell me it's a crappy class. Once you steal a spell, you'll be hooked, I promise you. It's the funnest class I've ever played.

The problem lies in if you're not facing spellcasters or critters with a lot of SLA's.

The spellthief either only works in some campaigns, or forces the DM to change their challenge selection so that the spellthief has something to do. It's way too narrow of a focus.

I have no malice for the Wu Jen, mostly because it looks redundant on paper, but the real versatility is if you keep their spell list and the wizard's spell list seperate. And the crazy old hermit is a fun archetype to play that the standard wizard doesn't pander to that well. Still, I wouldn't miss it.

 

[Agent Oracle]

coming down to the wire! it's Wu-jen, spellthief, and samurai!

Wu-jen and Healer competing for the very useless 3rd least liked!

 

[Sejs]

Voted samurai. Easy choice right out of the gate, particularly when the PHBII knight comes along and basically does the whole warrior-aristocrat thing more elegantly.

Looks like spellthief will be up on the chopping block soon. Darn. I like the spellthief. *sniff*

 

[Agent Oracle]

I agree with Sejs, the Knight is much better designed than the samurai.

 

[Jedi_Solo]

I voted for the healer, so I'm curious: what makes it a better cohort than a cleric or a bard?

No one in my group is playing a Cleric. I'm not entirely sure why but even if I did that reason isn't the point. I chose the Healer (and even had my DM's blessing for the choice) to pick up the curing aspect that the group was short on.

I'm currently playing a Bard so that choice as a cohort was right out. Even if it wasn't, since I was looking for a walking medkit the Cleric or the Healer would be better choices in that respect.

-The Healer picks up many of the healing spells a level before the cleric (such as the entire school of Mass Cure spells) so even though the Healer would be a couple levels behind the spell selection wouldn't be as far behind as a regular cleric.

-The Healer adds their CHA bonus to Conjuration [Healing] spells. This doesn't sound like much but it is a great benefit for the Mass spells so everyone benefits from that minor boost. A decent CHA or even a decent CHA boosting item will make up for the difference in levels between a cohort Healer and a PC Cleric. Since this is added to the final total this allows the Healer to ... well ... heal better than a cleric after the level of a spell has been maxed out. It is also fun when you have Augment Healing, Magic of the Land and then cast Cure Minor Wounds for 5hp or better.

-Effortless Healing is a great ability for a field medic. 7th or 8th level (I think) the Healer doesn't even need to cast defensively to cast Conjuration [Healing] spells next to an opponent. Usually this isn't an issue, I'll grant, but it is a great feeling to cast a spell next to someone with Mage Slayer. They don't block the spellcasting because the Healer isn't casting defensively.

Now 100% medkit 100% of the time isn't going to be a big draw for players. Heck, no one in our group was playing a Cleric so why would they want to be a Healer? The metal restriction is only for armor and shields so I gave my cohort a good bow (and bracers of archery) so she would have something to do for the first couple of rounds before people got hurt. Once they got hurt my cohort was bouncing around the combat map making sure the PCs could stay in the fight.

This class used to be called the "Girlfriend Class" by our group. Mostly due to the unicorn I'm sure. After my cohort appeared, it lost that name very quickly. The group was surprised after the first 5hp

Boring class (mechanically) for a player. Great as a cohort (also meshes spectacularly well with the Combat Medic PrC from Heroes of Battle).

 

[Glyfair]

Well, Round 1 is over and the big "winner" was the samurai. The next group was pretty bunched up with the Spellthief being next, followed by a tie for the Healer & Wu Jen.

Rather than running an arcane tie-breaker system at this point, I'm just going to remove them all at this point (and adding the missed scout).

 

[airwalkrr]

It's too bad the healer went down so quickly. I think it gets an undeserved bad rap. I have played a healer before and I also have a healer in my Age of Worms campaign. The class is immensely powerful AND fun to play. When there is a healer in the party, your party stays alive, period, and that makes the game as fun as anything. Plus, the unicorn is a great handy way for the healer to contribute to combat plus add more healing at the same time. And if the unicorn isn't good enough for you, get a lammasu at higher level! The style of relegated support might not be for everyone, but there is more to the game than rolling to hit and damage. The healer serves a crucial role in the party (medic) far better than the cleric does. While she trades the ability to wade into melee like the cleric, she keeps the fighter up a helluva lot longer meaning those brief forays are less than necessary.