What is the best Tier?

[Skjaldbakka]

At what "Tier" are PCs best matched up with straight from the MM CR appopriate encounters?

When reworking/determining the class list to balance for a specific Tier, what Tier should I be aiming for, if I want to be able to run encounters "straight from the book"?

[Mystic Muse]

That actually depends on the book in question. Which one/s do you plan on using?

[boj0]

Assuming appropriate roles are filled (tank, skill-monkey, healing, spells):
Tier 3 and 4 seem to be a solid benchmark IMHO

[Sir Swindle89]

CR varies widely as far as actual power goes. Tier 1 can deal with all fo them :smallbiggrin:

[Psyren]

T3 tends to hit the sweet spot between "we can't do anything" and "we can do EVERYTHING!"

While you can make a challenging game for T1-2, or a playable game for T4-5, T3 is the best "out of the box" with no modifications at all.

Of course, you still have to deal with the borked CR system at that point :smallsigh:

[Skjaldbakka]

There is a CR system? I thought it was just arbitrary numbers assigned to monsters? :smalltongue:

[HunterOfJello]

Tier 3 with the addition of an occasional Tier 4 or Tier 2.

Also depends on the power level that the DM has set up for the game and the number of players involved, among other things.

[lesser_minion]

The wiki thinks that the game was meant to be balanced around the rogue, in Tier 4.

The general consensus, however, is that Tier 3 classes are the most fun to play and make for the best game overall.

It doesn't matter too much as long as everyone's roughly the same tier, although tier 2 and tier 1 play is a turn-off for quite a few people.

Tier 0 (ridiculous overpowered god-classes that only exist in homebrew) and Tier U (Ungradeable -- e.g. Truenamer) should probably be avoided no matter what, however.

[Eloel]

Tier 0 (ridiculous overpowered god-classes that only exist in homebrew)

I don't think anyone creates classes better than Tier 1 ones.
They even sacrifice their familiar for flavor. Sorry.
Unless I'm missing something. I sure might be. :smallamused:

[Psyren]

Tier 0 (ridiculous overpowered god-classes that only exist in homebrew) and Tier U (Ungradeable -- e.g. Truenamer) should probably be avoided no matter what, however.


I don't think anyone creates classes better than Tier 1 ones.
They even sacrifice their familiar for power. Sorry.
Unless I'm missing something. I sure might be. :smallamused:

Actually, there are three variants that are widely considered to belong to "Tier 0" (for whatever that term is worth.) These are:

- Psionic Artificer
- Spell-to-Power Erudite
- Arcane Swordsage

This ranking is possible because class variants are considered independently for tier-determination - that is what allows Wildshape Rangers to occupy a separate tier from regular Rangers for instance, or Ardents with Dominant Ideal and Mantle Substitution to be higher than base Ardents.

[Sir Swindle89]

I don't think anyone creates classes better than Tier 1 ones.
They even sacrifice their familiar for flavor. Sorry.
Unless I'm missing something. I sure might be. :smallamused:

Lightning Warrior is what they call it if i recall.

[Psyren]

Lightning Warrior is what they call it if i recall.

lesser_minion covered that:


(ridiculous overpowered god-classes that only exist in homebrew)