Henry
Autoexreginated
Only two games in, and I'm beginning to think Binders are in need of a makeover. 
I'm currently playing a Binder (Tome of Magic) in a Planescape game, and am finding myself somewhat useless, even in a support role. I've enjoyed the idea of a binder thus far -- the flavor, the capabilities, and the versatility of being something a little bit different each day as needed, the ability to fill a different role. However, the time it takes for binding, and the fact that it's not easily cancellable for 24 hours, means that you have to plan much as a sorcerer does, but you don't have nearly the flexability on your choices of powers.
In both games, I've been largely ineffective in combat, even when prepped for a combat role in one instance. In ALL instances, I've had plenty of abilities to GET AWAY and run (which I've joked about!) but not a lot of offensive punch. Now, part of my problem was crappy dice rolls (my majority of die rolls were between 2 and 8 the whole night, even with die changes and rolling in a box!) but the other part was a lack of abilities which hurt the enemy more than my allies (many of the vestige abilities, like Focalor's and Geryon's and Balam's, affect everyone in range, not just the bad guys). I've contributed in other ways to the group, but even when supposedly geared for combat (with Andras the Grey Knight, for instance) I actually felt like a bard would have been better than me in the fight. In two occasions, there were vestiges that COULD have helped, but I didn't have them bound currently (in one case, rapid diplomacy was needed, and Naberius could have helped), and in another we were unexpectedly ambushed by Shadows (I could have bound Tenebrous, but had Dantalion instead).
One thing I've determined is that the Expel Vestige and Rapid Pact making feats are next on my list to get; I neglected those, but for a desire of flexibility they are becoming indispensible! It's a great class if you can plan for the opposition you'll face that day (and in my case, having Andras and Savnok bound might have helped somewhat, instead of Andras and Buer).
I'm comfortable with the class being a "support" class, like bards, but the problem I have is: Is it too dependent on picking the right vestige that day? It's like a wizard, but instead of a half-dozen or a dozen picks for spells that day, he only gets ONE pick, "and it had better count!"?
I'm currently playing a Binder (Tome of Magic) in a Planescape game, and am finding myself somewhat useless, even in a support role. I've enjoyed the idea of a binder thus far -- the flavor, the capabilities, and the versatility of being something a little bit different each day as needed, the ability to fill a different role. However, the time it takes for binding, and the fact that it's not easily cancellable for 24 hours, means that you have to plan much as a sorcerer does, but you don't have nearly the flexability on your choices of powers.
In both games, I've been largely ineffective in combat, even when prepped for a combat role in one instance. In ALL instances, I've had plenty of abilities to GET AWAY and run (which I've joked about!)
but not a lot of offensive punch. Now, part of my problem was crappy dice rolls (my majority of die rolls were between 2 and 8 the whole night, even with die changes and rolling in a box!) but the other part was a lack of abilities which hurt the enemy more than my allies (many of the vestige abilities, like Focalor's and Geryon's and Balam's, affect everyone in range, not just the bad guys). I've contributed in other ways to the group, but even when supposedly geared for combat (with Andras the Grey Knight, for instance) I actually felt like a bard would have been better than me in the fight. In two occasions, there were vestiges that COULD have helped, but I didn't have them bound currently (in one case, rapid diplomacy was needed, and Naberius could have helped), and in another we were unexpectedly ambushed by Shadows (I could have bound Tenebrous, but had Dantalion instead). One thing I've determined is that the Expel Vestige and Rapid Pact making feats are next on my list to get; I neglected those, but for a desire of flexibility they are becoming indispensible! It's a great class if you can plan for the opposition you'll face that day (and in my case, having Andras and Savnok bound might have helped somewhat, instead of Andras and Buer).
I'm comfortable with the class being a "support" class, like bards, but the problem I have is: Is it too dependent on picking the right vestige that day? It's like a wizard, but instead of a half-dozen or a dozen picks for spells that day, he only gets ONE pick, "and it had better count!"?
