The most powerful class?

[Greylock]

Gotta agree with the going favorites, Cleric and/or Druid. Frightening how they can change a game by only level 6 or 7.

 

[Testament]

Rogues are powerful, but in combat they have the problem that there are several types of creature, one of which is quite common (Undead) that just ignore sneak attack. So much for the otherwise impressive damage output of a rogue.

 

[lonesoldier]

I'm with the Druid/Cleric crowd. Their abilities make them quite AWESOME at higher levels.

 

[White Fang]

Definitely a cleric or druid. Excellent spells, good armor class, and decent fighting bonuses, that is until you cast a couple of spells and become the uber fighter.

 

[S'mon]

Overall, definitely Cleric. I agree that twinked Druids can easily dominate, so I'd put them second, although they tend to suffer from poor AC. Wizards third. Definitely not Rogues; they're cool but in battle they can't compete with 2h Fighters, out of battle Wizards can emulate pretty much all their functions. IMC I've weakened Clerics, Druids & Wizards, strengthened Rogues & left Fighters the same.

 

[frankthedm]

Cleric needs reigning in as per monte's cook's suggestions.

Dragonscale Fullplate is rediculously cheap for a druid.

Rogues. When the undead show, UMD is your friend. Staff of fire's cheap, so is a skill bonus item to make sure you have a good chance to use the items.

 

[Testament]

Where can I find Monte's suggestions for reigning in the Cleric, I'm interested.

And the Dragonscale Fullplate might be cheap, but I don't think Dragonscales from a Dragon big enough are just lying around. And that's not the issue, the Wild part is so you aren't AC <20 in combat.

 

[Greylock]

When the undead show, UMD is your friend. Staff of fire's cheap, so is a skill bonus item to make sure you have a good chance to use the items.

I have basic RL and RP problems with this, shopping in game for magic, and maybe you can tell me how to overcome it. Seriously. The RL prob is I hate shopping and that translates to my gaming. The RP problem is, how does the average character know such an item exists and thus to go looking for it?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I have basic RL and RP problems with this, shopping in game for magic, and maybe you can tell me how to overcome it. Seriously. The RL prob is I hate shopping and that translates to my gaming. The RP problem is, how does the average character know such an item exists and thus to go looking for it?

RP for a Wizard to know about staves of fire is sort of like RP for a doctor to know about sphygmomanometers - it is part of his training. For a rogue - again, if he can figure out how to work it he can figure out what it is for. You may want a house rule that he nneds to expend a charge to find out, but I would not bother.

For oddball items there might need to be a roll, that is what Knowledge (Arcane) and Bardic Knowledge are for.

The Auld Grump

 

[Blue]

"Most powerful class" needs a bit of discussion. Best core class if you take it to level 20? Best low level class? Best dip class? Best class to serve as a base for PrCs?

Druid and monk are probably the only classes interesting up to 20th level themselves, though some may also include barbarians and rangers. Other classes, like the cleric, wizard, or sorcerer, get so little that a pure build would be boring and not "the best class". But cleric seems to be a popular option, so is "best" more of a "class-base", even if other PrCs are intended?

I've yet to hear anyoen want ot play a fighter 20, but as a quick dip for extra feats I'll often see a bit of fighter for a non-spellcasters. Same goes for rangers, especially first level for skills.

"Best" is to vague - each has their strengths, depending where and how you use it.

Cheers,
=Blue