Party of 3: Striker or Controller?

[shamsael]

The books say to go with a controller in this situation, but I can't see how that's right.

We've got a human paladin and a dragonborn warlord. The third player was a warlock but changed last minute to a wizard.

It seems to me that a smaller group of players will likely mean smaller groups of monsters, therefore less need for the wizard's area effects and, in fighter where minions do pose a threat, there's the warlord's breath weapon.

Thoughts?

 

[James McMurray]

Which one sounds like more fun?

 

[Torg Smith]

You should consider having you players play two characters each as this will give you more flexibility with the encounters. With a three party mix you will want a defender, leader, and striker. In MMO terms you want tank, healer, and DPS.

 

[Oompa]

Let them play what they want, just adjust the monsters to them..

 

[Thanee]

The books say to go with a controller in this situation, but I can't see how that's right.

From a pure effectiveness angle, a Striker or even another Defender or Leader (Cleric!) is probably the better choice.

But as others have said... don't just look at it from that angle. If he wants to play a Wizard, that's exactly what he should do!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Danceofmasks]

IMO, how well characters do together has less to do with their supposed class roles than the actual character builds.
If powers are chosen to work well as a team, just about any combination can work ..

Going on vague info, though .. I'd say the current party weakness is being ambushed: noisy + weak in perception.
Having a character plug that hole (even if it's the Pally picking up perception) is a bigger concern than any role mix formula.

 

[Oompa]

Well an striker does damage to one person, an controller to several.. so an striker is handy when you are going to use 1 or 2 enemies.. if you use more.. then controller is handy dandy

 

[Torg Smith]

There is nothing stopping you from giving bonuses to the players to shore up some of their weaknesses either. Make wizards able to wear armor without penalty or some such thing.

 

[Danceofmasks]

And here I thought leather proficiency is a standard feat choice for wizards!
With their high Int adding to AC, as well as a staff if they're so inclined, wizards can be quite difficult to hit.

 

[Minigiant]

Since you have a paladin(defender/leader) and warlord(leader/striker), you need a ranged attacker and some control.

A blaster wizard(single target attacks) or a fey warlock is your best bet.

I typically say a fighter wants a controller(to keep from being swarmed) and a paladin wants a striker (to kill flanking foes).