Krazzman
2012-11-19, 10:12 AM
Hello again Playground,
I have been brooding on some thoughts lately as we probably have found a second group to play with.
Our "normal" group consists of another couple, a buddy of me and a "random" player we contacted via a Forum to stock our group up. We meet up nearly every week with the "random" one being able to come only every second week due to family. Our normal meeting day is Wednesday and well the powerlevel there is quite confusing. On the one hand the DM said that chars that are visibly too powerful tend to have harsh ends (in the sense of it get's more challenging for them if they break out of the powercurve, which I don't have a problem with and which isn't the topic here).
The PC's there:
An old Favoured Soul(low/no OP Istishia focused and not that good spell selection), a Druid of Talos (going for the Stormcaster PrC, took fortsave-feats and uses blasting spells), a Bardlock (Bard 1/Warlock 3 going for arcane archer [allowed to stack EB on her arrows later]), a Rogue2/Ranger2 (newbie player, wanted to do Dungeondelving [treasureseeker/trapdisabler]) and me a Warblade/Fighter Spiked Chain PA-Trip build.
We or better said I came to the conclusion that Knockdown as a feat would be too much for this group and the DM agreed on that point (since I do about 17+ damage per attack). Here I know my limits and what I shouldn't exceed but since I maxed out Balance, Climb, Tumble and Concentration my Defense and non-combat usability is often better than that of my teammates at the moment (we are in a mountain passage and we were climbing the last 2 sessions and still this session). I needed some time to realise this and had some doubts... this is what I want to advert with our next group.
We (my GF and I) have the following information for the new group (for weekends): every other week (or at least 2 times a month), probably 6 to 8 players (50:50 male:female ratio), we would be the youngest, 2 probably quitting if it is too many people/too much work to get to play (as they moved away from aachen).
The game itself is Pathfinder, Core and APG free, everything else goes by the DM, level 6, adventure path (I haven't heard of it, something with tears but I won't search for it) meeting probably on second weekend in december, party has a LG Paladin and a Sorcerer (can't remember the rest, believe a druid was there).
Now as you can see this is some information but nothing in particular. No mention of how to roll up a character, what limitations despite UM and UC as ask the dm source. No information on builds or gamestyle. I am confused... what can I bring to this table? Is the Paladin going to slay a Tiefling on sight or not? Would a Critfisher(Butterfly sting)/scythesmasher combo disrupt this party or not? As I don't want to overshadow those guys and want to start focussing on a certain character I feel like I have to seek just hte right optimization level. I mostly think about gishing at the moment. Elemental Fist Monk1/Silver Dragon Sorcerer 4/Dragon Disciple 1, too good or too bad? Alchemist going for Vivisectionist or something? Bladebound Magus? The before mentioned combination of Butterfly Sting and a Scythewielding monstrosity? How do you decide things like making a strong fluff-focused character or a more mechanical focused character? (this should not mean Optimization cancels out roleplay or fluff but making mechanical less sound decisions based on what seems better IC).
TL;DR: How do you decide how much you optimize for a new group of people you don't really know?
I have been brooding on some thoughts lately as we probably have found a second group to play with.
Our "normal" group consists of another couple, a buddy of me and a "random" player we contacted via a Forum to stock our group up. We meet up nearly every week with the "random" one being able to come only every second week due to family. Our normal meeting day is Wednesday and well the powerlevel there is quite confusing. On the one hand the DM said that chars that are visibly too powerful tend to have harsh ends (in the sense of it get's more challenging for them if they break out of the powercurve, which I don't have a problem with and which isn't the topic here).
The PC's there:
An old Favoured Soul(low/no OP Istishia focused and not that good spell selection), a Druid of Talos (going for the Stormcaster PrC, took fortsave-feats and uses blasting spells), a Bardlock (Bard 1/Warlock 3 going for arcane archer [allowed to stack EB on her arrows later]), a Rogue2/Ranger2 (newbie player, wanted to do Dungeondelving [treasureseeker/trapdisabler]) and me a Warblade/Fighter Spiked Chain PA-Trip build.
We or better said I came to the conclusion that Knockdown as a feat would be too much for this group and the DM agreed on that point (since I do about 17+ damage per attack). Here I know my limits and what I shouldn't exceed but since I maxed out Balance, Climb, Tumble and Concentration my Defense and non-combat usability is often better than that of my teammates at the moment (we are in a mountain passage and we were climbing the last 2 sessions and still this session). I needed some time to realise this and had some doubts... this is what I want to advert with our next group.
We (my GF and I) have the following information for the new group (for weekends): every other week (or at least 2 times a month), probably 6 to 8 players (50:50 male:female ratio), we would be the youngest, 2 probably quitting if it is too many people/too much work to get to play (as they moved away from aachen).
The game itself is Pathfinder, Core and APG free, everything else goes by the DM, level 6, adventure path (I haven't heard of it, something with tears but I won't search for it) meeting probably on second weekend in december, party has a LG Paladin and a Sorcerer (can't remember the rest, believe a druid was there).
Now as you can see this is some information but nothing in particular. No mention of how to roll up a character, what limitations despite UM and UC as ask the dm source. No information on builds or gamestyle. I am confused... what can I bring to this table? Is the Paladin going to slay a Tiefling on sight or not? Would a Critfisher(Butterfly sting)/scythesmasher combo disrupt this party or not? As I don't want to overshadow those guys and want to start focussing on a certain character I feel like I have to seek just hte right optimization level. I mostly think about gishing at the moment. Elemental Fist Monk1/Silver Dragon Sorcerer 4/Dragon Disciple 1, too good or too bad? Alchemist going for Vivisectionist or something? Bladebound Magus? The before mentioned combination of Butterfly Sting and a Scythewielding monstrosity? How do you decide things like making a strong fluff-focused character or a more mechanical focused character? (this should not mean Optimization cancels out roleplay or fluff but making mechanical less sound decisions based on what seems better IC).
TL;DR: How do you decide how much you optimize for a new group of people you don't really know?