Playing experiences with Complete Adventurer

[shilsen]

I just got my copy of CAdv today and have got halfway through the book. I like what I've seen thus far and was wondering what parts of it people have already used and are planning to. Any good, bad or ugly experiences you'd care to share?

 

[Corsair]

Let me just say not to jump to conclusions on any of it. Much of it is a lot less powerful than it first appears, unless combined with many other things. For example, at first glance the scout seems better than a rogue at just about everything until you realize how difficult it is to get a full attack and still use your skirmish ability. So far, our group has used the scout, a couple feats, and one PrC with no problems.

 

[shilsen]

Let me just say not to jump to conclusions on any of it. Much of it is a lot less powerful than it first appears, unless combined with many other things. For example, at first glance the scout seems better than a rogue at just about everything until you realize how difficult it is to get a full attack and still use your skirmish ability. So far, our group has used the scout, a couple feats, and one PrC with no problems.

Thanks for the advice. I took one look at the scout and figured that it looks more powerful than it will be in play. Which feats and PrC has your group used?

 

[MerricB]

I've seen both a 9th level Scout and a 9th level Ninja in operation in our Greyhawk Ruins campaign.

The Scout was effective in making Spring Attacks with a very high AC (Dodge + Mobility aiding) - although he couldn't make Full Attacks, neither could his opponents; bowfire was also employed in such a manner.

The Ninja made much effective use of his ki invisibility power and Sudden Strike. Like the Scout, the bonus damage - although not as high as the rogues - was aided by the Ninja not having to remain in combat.

Conversely, neither had the full skill set of the rogue, so worked in a different role.

Cheers!

 

[Red Ranger]

Our last session I took a level of Beastmaster, but haven't had the opportunity to summon my new animal companion yet. I'm LV5 Druid, LV1 Beastmaster, so I get to choose from the 7th LV druid list. I'm thinking Dire Ape with the three attacks and the Rend. I'm planning on taking one more level of Beastmaster to get the Alertness bonus feat and then I'll have the pre-reqs for the Master of Many Forms and can progress in that from there. This is all dependent on whether or not I die in the next session, when last we left we were tied up by a group of cultist halflings about to be sacrificed.

 

[Remathilis]

I'm playing a rogue12/thief-acrobat5/shadowdancer1 and love T-A. The class is simple, but it adds so much depth to those who like characters able to move, jump, tumble, and other flashy stunts. Alot of the feats are great too. I haven't tried any of the base classes, but spell-thief is calling to me....

Probably my favorite Complete book, but I like rogues so I'm biased...

 

[shilsen]

Our last session I took a level of Beastmaster, but haven't had the opportunity to summon my new animal companion yet. I'm LV5 Druid, LV1 Beastmaster, so I get to choose from the 7th LV druid list. I'm thinking Dire Ape with the three attacks and the Rend. I'm planning on taking one more level of Beastmaster to get the Alertness bonus feat and then I'll have the pre-reqs for the Master of Many Forms and can progress in that from there. This is all dependent on whether or not I die in the next session, when last we left we were tied up by a group of cultist halflings about to be sacrificed.

PCs about to be sacrificed by halfling cultists? My compliments to your DM. I like the way he thinks. No offense to you, of course

 

[ivocaliban]

I've used the Scout class for a mongrelman NPC living on the fringes of the Empire of Iuz in my recent campaign. Of course, everyone thinks he's a half-orc, but I've a fondness for the mongrelman race that goes back to my early days with D&D.

The lead PC in my game is a Dread Pirate. So far he's found the updated version of this PrC to be far more useful than the 3.0 version. Glad it worked out this way because he really wanted that class even when it was fairly dull.

I have a player who wants to try a city campaign after this one's over. He gives me every indication that he's going to play a Ranger/Urban Soul/Vigilante utilizing material from both Complete Adventurer and Races of Destiny. This frigtens me somewhat...

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I haven't played a scout, but a new, high-level campaign was supposed to start up, for which I had made an archer (a ranger). When I got CAdv, I read the scout, and told myself "I gots to get me some of that", but when I actually tried to build an effective archer, my ranger (I admit I used the CW spell-less variant) outclassed the scout as a ranged combattant.

Of course, my ranger didn't have as much skills, but that's not what I was aiming for anyways.

AR

 

[Red Ranger]

PCs about to be sacrificed by halfling cultists? My compliments to your DM. I like the way he thinks. No offense to you, of course

None taken I think he's using an old module of some sort for this encounter. I'll get the name of it for you tomorrow if you're interested.

Ok, the collection of adventures was called "Secrets of the Ancients"
and it is part of the Eden Odyssey series. www.edenstudios.net/odyssey

Got out just in time and ended up getting to summon my Dire Ape.