The party of five

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Imagine that you're participating in a more-or-less standard low-to-mid level D&D campaign that will run from level 1 to level 9 or 10. Core rules, magic and power levels per standard, mix of town, wilderness, and dungeon adventuring.

If your group tried to put together the most capable team of five PCs, rather than putting together individual characters who might be individually optimized but not work well as a group, what would they be and why for most effective cooperation? And for fun, what would be the most wild set of five PCs that would still be an effective party?

My first take: for optimization, you're best off covering the archetypes -- so the all-purpose fighter, cleric, rogue, and wizard/sorcerer. Number five would be a generalist who can back up the other party members, and perhaps provide some wilderness capability -- either a bard, ranger, or druid.

As for crazy -- how about five halfling bards, each of whom is focused in a different area (ranged attacks, enchantments, summoning, stealth, and social skills)?

 

[Nailom]

A second divine spellcaster either a cleric or a druid. This is a real boost to every party.

Bye Nailom

 

[Mark CMG]

If the Blurst of Froods was not available, I would include a second fighter type, allowing one to focus on melee combat and the other on ranged combat.

 

[UniversalMonster]

Party of Five!! Okay, but who gets to play Neve Campbell, and who gets to play Jennifer Love Hewitt?!!

/haha

Ok, well, anyhow, I think your take is pretty accurate- cleric, wizard (or sorcerer), fighter (or barbarian), and rogue augmented by the fifth- would be good. I think the bard is the ultimate fifth member, but I am biased, since I play one in the home campaign right now.

Another good augment is the ranger or monk or multiclassed guy as a 5th.

Unusual party? I love unusual-ness. My favorite concept right now is the all-undead party.

 

[MonsterMash]

My take:
combat specialist - Fighter or Barbarian
Cleric
Wizard
Rogue

Fifth beatle:
Wilderness campaigns: Druid or maybe Ranger
Urban (dungeon based) campaign: Bard (Bard or mobile combat type - Barbarian/Monk)

Bard is very useful with Inspire Courage, backup spellcaster, good social skills, potentially good combat type depending on build.

 

[diaglo]

warrior, adept, expert, artistocrat, and commoner

edit: without those 5, the economy and all the rest of the world would collapse. they are the only reason adventurers can be layabouts.

 

[sinecure]

The best combo would include a Fighter type (barbarian, ranger, paladin), Cleric, Wizard (maybe Sorceror), Rogue, and Bard. Bards just make the perfect 5th wheel. It's their stick and their personality.

Something off the wall but still workable? 5 nixie monk/psion warriors.

 

[Crothian]

An extra cleric would be great

 

[shilsen]

Cleric w. War & Strength domains
Cleric w. Healing & Sun domains
Cleric w. Animal & Plant domains
Cleric w. Travel & Trickery domains
Cleric w. Magic & Protection domains

 

[JimAde]

I've always wanted to run a game with a traditional mixed party, but everybody has multiclassed one or two levels into the same class. So you could have a bunch of Rogue 2/X 5 or Bard 2/X 5. That would be fun.