Who should we hire? What would you recommend for this party of adventurers?

[The Cardinal]

I've been playing in a D&D3e Mystara campaign for some time now - tons of fun, only one PC death, everythings working fine...
...but: one player is leaving us, taking away the group's sorcerer, another player may follow soon... now we have a new player joining the group, and she's asking about the needs of the party - so what new character would you recommend?


original party:

1 human Barbarian 1 / Ranger 1 / Fighter 2 / Cleric of Nyx 1
(will take 2 more levels of cleric, then 10 levels of Ghostwalker PrC and 3 levels of Shadowdancer PrC)

1 half-elf Ranger 5 (hunts magical beasts and abberrations, but may die *soon* - player may leave too)

1 human Rogue 5 (rapier fighter)

1 Githzerai Monk 3 (incredibly high abilities but Charisma 9 and Intelligence 7...)

1 human sorcerer 5



future party:

1 human Barbarian 1 / Ranger 1 / Fighter 2 / Cleric of Nyx 1
(will take 2 more levels of cleric, then 10 levels of Ghostwalker PrC and 3 levels of Shadowdancer PrC)

1 human Rogue 3 / Wizard 2 (a traveling snake-oil salesman and pyrotechnician with a mule familiar [Con 16 because of this], going for Arcane Trickster)

1 Githzerai Monk 3 (incredibly high abilities but Charisma 9 and Intelligence 7...)

and *maybe* we also get to keep the Ranger...

...so what would you recommend for a new position in this party?
(the new player probably won't play a dwarf or paladin)

 

[BiggusGeekus]

A druid might work out nicely.

 

[StalkingBlue]

A pure cleric would fit in just great. So would a pure wizard or sorc, a pure rogue, or just about any non-multiclassing character, IMHO.

If on the other hand you want yet another jack-of-many trades, a bard would be nice - but bard's not a class for everyone.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

In order of priority:
Full spellcasting progression Cleric
Full spellcasting progression Bard
Full spellcasting progression Druid

By the time you reach mid levels, cure light wounds won't cut it in a combat situation. You're going to need cure moderate and cure serious wound spells. I placed the bard above the druid since bards spontaneously cast their healing spells so if they don't need to heal, they're not stuck with healing spells whereas a druid would be. Bards also have a number of abilities and can act as a face for the party. However, your best bet is to get a cleric.

 

[Buttercup]

In order of usefulness:

1. A cleric
2. A wizard or sorcerer
3. A cleric/sorcerer multiclass, with healing and sun as domains.

Although the third choice would be the most fun to play, IMO.

 

[Nifft]

Halfling Bard: she gets to be good healer, assistant snake oil salesperson, archer, summoner, enchanter and pick-pocket. Also, you get to stick with the theme of having everyone stealthy.

I'm introducing a monster NPC into my game which might make a good PC (if you allow monster PCs):

Pseudo Dragon Bard: she is very stealthy, has a cute "sting" attack (sleep poison), starts with 2d12 HP for being a Dragon (+1d8 for each Bard level, of course) and will generally fit well into a 3rd level party even though she's only character level 1. A Pseudo Dragon Rogue, Sorcerer or Cleric would also be cool.

-- Nifft

 

[Xarlen]

Pseudo Dragon Bard: she is very stealthy, has a cute "sting" attack (sleep poison), starts with 2d12 HP for being a Dragon (+1d8 for each Bard level, of course) and will generally fit well into a 3rd level party even though she's only character level 1. A Pseudo Dragon Rogue, Sorcerer or Cleric would also be cool.

And you're allowing a Pseudodragon with the True Seeing, Flight, and SR capabilities, not to mention the fact that it has telepathy, for JUST an ECL +2?

Dude. That's... Dude.

Edit: Woop. Noticed it was an NPC. Sorry.

 

[Glussell]

I would say a Bard, the healing spells mixed with the ability to inspire the Barbarian/everything else and the Monk to be better in combat could fit nicely.

But you can never have too many Clerics that's for sure

 

[Nifft]

Edit: Woop. Noticed it was an NPC. Sorry.

Yeah. She's not the most reliable sort.

Probably not great for a PC... but as someone you "hire", it could work out. It really depends on how you figure you'd pay her, and whether her frolicsome nature gets the party into more trouble than her stengths get them out of.

-- Nifft

 

[The Cardinal]

thanks guys!

The halfling bard looks really good - and it gave me an idea: with her we could expand the snake-oil business into a traveling sideshow - an ultra-acrobatic monk, a bard that looks like the halfing from that Dragon cover, a rogue/wizard snake-oil seller and fireworks expert, plus my character who is good with all kinds of animals & a blacksmith... then all we need will be a cleric with the Travel & Trickery domains...