What class for a fifth player?

[Firebeetle]

You've already got a fighter, a rogue, a cleric, and a wizard. A fifth player is coming who says, "I'm fresh out of ideas, what do you guys want me to play?" Your DM does not allow two PCs to have the same class, nor anything but the core PHB classes. Which class would you tell him to choose?

 

[Jack Simth]

Depends on the campaign, and the player. In a generic campaign, a bard makes a half-decent backup everything and makes the others better at what they do (force multiplier); also, bards almost always have something useful to do, even though they aren't usually as good at it as the other classes (main exception being the "party face" role, where a Bard can specialize quite easily).

In a higher-level campaign (and sometimes lower levels, but not as often), a Druid or a Sorceror makes a good fifth player - mostly for the full spellcasting that permits the party to slam BBEG's harder and faster.

In a combat-heavy campaign, the Paladin and Ranger are good choices (full BAB, backup healing).

Mostly, though, with an already balanced party, the response would be "What do you think you'd have the most fun with?"

 

[LogicsFate]

If you have all bases covered why not cover them alittle better.
My first choice would be a bard

Followed by a druid and then maybe a paladin

 

[SteelDraco]

My first inclination would be either a ranger or a bard, depending on the focus of the other PCs, and the nature of the campaign.

A ranger can cover the wilderness stuff, and dabble in both ranged and melee combat, which is useful for a fifth man. They get a wide selection of skills, most notably Spot/Listen and the ability to track. If there's much wilderness stuff to the campaign, I'd probably go with a ranger.

If, on the other hand, it's a primarily city-based or social game, I'd probably go with a bard. I've found them to be a lot of fun, and I have a really fun bard idea kicking around in my head that I want to play. Bards don't do well in every campaign, though - people have to realize that they're backup and support characters. If the DM and the player aren't on the same page with that, and the use of social skills in the campaign, then a bard is going to make the player very unhappy. But they can be very powerful and very fun in the right situation.

 

[Ysblandir]

I think a sorcerer makes a good fifth wheel. He can play the spell slinger, and the Wizard can concentrate on the more utilitarian needs of the party.

 

[Crothian]

I'd go Bard. But I'd also go withthe first 4 characters being Bard too.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Druid here. Enough magic to cover for the wizard or cleric if they're disabled or need specialized spells for a particular challenge, plus wild shape and animal companion provide backup smackdown if the cleric and fighter need some extra support bashing skulls. Druids are surprisingly versatile.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Paladin (as my vastly outnumbered vote indicates). They're useful, and the 'roleplaying potential' (oh how I hate that term) straight out of the RAW is a bonus for a standard D&D party, I think.

A second fighter never goes astray (except when they fall ) too. And healing? Yep, they got some o' that. Buffs n' stuff. . . actually - they're pretty cool now I think about it!

 

[Talgian]

If you have the core four, and only one additional character, that character should be purely support. Bards are meant to support the four core, so it makes sense to choose the bard, since it supports all the classes. The following list is what makes sense to me, YMMV.

Barbarian: Can Replace Fighter
Bard: Supports All
Druid: Supports Cleric/Wizard
Monk: Supports Fighter/Rogue
Paladin: Supports Fighter/Cleric
Ranger: Supports Fighter/Rogue (Minorly)
Sorceror: Can replace Wizard

If you had a 6th character, I'd say to get a Druid and then either Monk, Pally, or Ranger. With only 5, bard is the clear choice.

-Talgian

 

[Sravoff]

I vote commoner, brilliant roleplaying possibilities!