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senrath
2008-03-18, 09:06 PM
Well, I need some help creating a level 1 character for a campaign I'm in. My current character, while not dead yet, is most likely going to die in the near future. My DM, and most of the players as well, after our last campaign's fiasco with epic levels, wants what is essentially a permanent low level campaign. From what the DM has described, I honestly don't expect most characters to live past level 6 or so.

To the point, I'd like some recommendations of classes that excel (or are at least decent) at low levels, but not necessarily at mid to higher levels.

Oh, and the challenges these characters will be facing will most likely be incredibly stupid and/or pointless. That's how this DM currently works, and although most of the campaign makes no sense, things are quite fun to play.

Edit: I want the most obscure and/or random classes people can find. I have access to pretty much every 3.5 book (either I own it or know someone who does), but I don't really have the time to go looking through all of them.

Hal
2008-03-18, 09:10 PM
Duskblades hit their stride ~level 5. Granted, they're nothing spectacular until level 3, but the channel spell ability is nifty.

Otherwise, Fighters and Barbarians rule the day in the low-level campaign.

senrath
2008-03-18, 09:11 PM
Ah, I knew there was something I forgot to put into my post. I want the most obscure and/or random classes people can find. I have access to pretty much every 3.5 book (either I own it or know someone who does), but I don't really have the time to go looking through all of them.

Reel On, Love
2008-03-18, 09:17 PM
Make a Crusader, from Tome of Battle. Take the Martial Spirit Stance, Extra Granted Maneuver as a feat, and Crusader's Strike as a maneuver. That should help you survive level 1.

Alternatively, a Beguiler from the PHB II. Light armor, d6 HP, spontaneous INT-based casting from a list that includes things like Color Spray, Sleep, and Silent Image, a crapload of skills...

Nebo_
2008-03-18, 09:19 PM
Are you just looking for a list of classes that aren't used much? Try Tome of Magic and Magic of Incarnum classes.

Frosty
2008-03-18, 09:19 PM
Beguiler or Factotum al the way.

senrath
2008-03-18, 09:19 PM
Hmm, I might make a crusader. Who knows, if I survive long enough, maybe I can even make it a 1d2er XD

Keep the suggestions coming, people, I'm probably gonna need more than one spare :P

Chronos
2008-03-18, 09:23 PM
Of the PHB classes, druids are the best at level 1, thanks to their animal companion. A level 1 animal companion isn't as good as a fully-optimized fighter or barbarian, but it's pretty close, and you're still standing right next to it swinging your club or casting what few spells you have. And you don't even need to optimize: A wolf or other animal is decent right out of the box.

If you want something other than the standard, a warlock is very powerful at level 1, if you pick the right invocation. Summon Swarm, for instance, basically lets you auto-hit four enemies at once for 1d6 damage, as well as forcing them to make two saving throws (one versus spider poison or other type-specific effect, and once versus nausea for having a swarm in their square). And you can do that every single round, without ever running out. It does make you a literal one-trick pony, though.

Nohwl
2008-03-18, 09:26 PM
if youre going to be a low level character, see if you can get flaws just so you can have a few more feats to work with.

Nebo_
2008-03-18, 09:29 PM
Of the PHB classes, druids are the best at level 1, thanks to their animal companion. A level 1 animal companion isn't as good as a fully-optimized fighter or barbarian, but it's pretty close, and you're still standing right next to it swinging your club or casting what few spells you have. And you don't even need to optimize: A wolf or other animal is decent right out of the box.

If you want something other than the standard, a warlock is very powerful at level 1, if you pick the right invocation. Summon Swarm, for instance, basically lets you auto-hit four enemies at once for 1d6 damage, as well as forcing them to make two saving throws (one versus spider poison or other type-specific effect, and once versus nausea for having a swarm in their square). And you can do that every single round, without ever running out. It does make you a literal one-trick pony, though.

I fail to see how casting summon swarm turns you into a horse.

Hal
2008-03-18, 09:32 PM
Well, if you want off the wall, infrequently used classes:

There's Favored Soul or Healer (Miniatures Handbook)
Ninja (Complete Adventurer)
Wu Jen (Complete Arcane)

Those are just some off the top of my head. I don't see those used or discussed with any sort of frequency.

FlyMolo
2008-03-18, 09:44 PM
Hah. You want obscure? Use a couple classes from magic of incarnum. NOBODY uses those. Even better, be a lurk or divine mind.(comPsi, I think) Nobody uses those either. Erm... Spellthief?

bugsysservant
2008-03-18, 09:48 PM
For melee: fighters. Especially with flaws and humans (or strongheart halflings, IIRC) you have enough feats (5) to make a very decent build right there. Even if you put them all in toughness, which is decent at VERY low levels, you should have high survivability.

For Divine casting: Druids. Stick behind your animal companion. Or cower, whatever. The important thing, is that druids are ALWAYS a good choice. Clerics aren't bad, but at low levels... not as much.

For arcane casting: Either Battle Sorcerer or Beguiler. One has more emphasis on skills, the other on standard casting. While a battle sorcerer suffers later due to the lack of spells, a few points of AC at level one can make the difference between life and death.

Otherwise, hmm, well you should be pretty solid with barbarian, warblade/crusader, or knight. Or go focused specialist wizard if you don't like sorcerers, it's not such a big deal at low levels having fewer schools. Other people have mentioned binders or factotums. Both are decent, but probably not high powered enough to be what you're looking for.

If you want to stay alive as long as possible go human fighter 1, take combat reflexes, EWP:Spiked chain, Aberrant Blood, Aberrant reach (IIRC), and combat expertise. At level two pick up improved trip. Congratulations, your reach is now twenty feet, and more if enlarged. Oh, and enemies provoke multiple attacks by running at you. Alternatively, drop combat expertise, and go for power attack/cleave, because at low levels, if you hit with your attack, you tend to kill, so getting an extra attack is REALLY good, especially considering how many opponents you can hit.

Or just go sword and board. When you want to survive at low levels, the rule of thumb is: ignore all advice about power. At level one, most samurais will kick the ass of most wizards, batman be damned. AC, melee, and even high hitpoints are much better at level one than they are at every other level. So, if you've always wanted to play that one suboptimal character, now is the time to do so.

ShneekeyTheLost
2008-03-18, 09:54 PM
Here's some ideas:

Warlock (Complete Arcane). Eldrich Blast is consistant ranged touch attack damage. You can find some interesting combos (like Devil's Sight + Darkness, or Eldrich Spear for insane range + Baleful Utterance for infinite Shatters). Plus UMD is class skill, and at level 4, you get to Take 10 on every UMD check.

Beguiler. Like a Rogue, without the Sneak Attack dice, but gets sorcerer-like spell progression for Enchantment and Illusion colleges.

Dragon Shaman. It can do a little healing, and it can do a little of this, a little of that... yea, he's kinda wierd. Should fit right in for the campaign.

Xefas
2008-03-18, 09:54 PM
Commoner 1, and then take the Survivor prestige class. Sure, you're character will be close to worthless, but you'll be in the prestige class at level 2. That has to count for something.

Seriously, I'd go with Crusader. They're good through the entire game, but at levels 1-5, heh, good luck killing one. If you're a human, I suggest starting with Extra Granted Maneuver, and Vital Recovery. Then, at level three, go for Stone Power. Vital Recovery might not seem like much, but automatically regaining even a small amount of hit points once per encounter at no action cost to you is a good boost to the guy who never wants to come even remotely close to dieing.

As "Reel On, Love" stated, Martial Spirit stance and Crusader's strike are both great for this. Stone Bones is also nifty for survival at low levels.

Paul H
2008-03-18, 09:58 PM
Hi

Two of my favourite classes have already been listed - Beguiler & Warlock (summoning bat swarms).

DIfficult to to define Beguilers - one moment they're clearing traps - the next enchantments & illusions are flying round by the dozen. Warlocks, though limited in scope, can summon bat swarms at will. (Bats best because of 'wounding' effect).

Druids (also mentioned) are extremely powerful at low levels - the choice of race, stats, feats & spells decide which role they play - summoner, support healer, support fighter etc.

Dwarf Cleric with Magic Domain can use scrolls, wands. Even ID items for free with 2nd lvl Domain spell.
Clerics with fire domain can surprise with Burning Hands, etc.

Cheers
Paul H

Squash Monster
2008-03-18, 09:59 PM
Truenamer.

They suck lategame so nobody ever plays them. But you'll never get to lategame so give it a shot.

Chronos
2008-03-18, 10:58 PM
I fail to see how casting summon swarm turns you into a horse.The one trick was the literal part, not the pony part. I share your pain, on the mis-use of "literally" to mean "figuratively", but that wasn't the problem, here, just a problem of scope.


Beguiler. Like a Rogue, without the Sneak Attack dice, but gets sorcerer-like spell progression for Enchantment and Illusion colleges.Except it's not sorcerer-like; it's significantly better, since Beguilers automatically know all of the spells on their list. Still, both skills and spells take a few levels to really come into their own.

Sstoopidtallkid
2008-03-18, 11:03 PM
Scout. The lack of damage is bad, but the d6 is killer the first few levels, especially if you are archery-focused, or if you boost tumble.

Also, consider introducing your group to E6. It's essentially D&D, but after level 6, you gain nothing but feats at level up. It's supposed to be good for balance.

Crow
2008-03-18, 11:12 PM
What is the Survivor prestige class?

Person_Man
2008-03-18, 11:16 PM
Crusader with the Stone Power feat and Devoted Spirit healing maneuvers and stances. You're pretty much the ultimate low level Tank.

CASTLEMIKE
2008-03-18, 11:47 PM
Obscure classes:

Changeling Rogue -1 with a Changeling gets 10 skill points a level.

Psychic Rogue -1 gets some psioncs and 6 skill points a level.

Marshal -1 Diplomancer.

Spirit Shaman -1.

Educated Wilder variant -1 with the Hidden Talent feat.

Dread Necromancer -1.

Eidolon or Eidoloncer. Death Warden Chanter.

Ninjalitude
2008-03-19, 08:51 AM
well if you think you will die very quickly, Id recommend making a character that can avoid dying at ALL COSTS. Possibly a Psion focussed on psycoportation, or a gish of said Psion and monk or rouge for evasion (monk for saves, rouge for skills, pick one) and i would stock up on potions for the time being. or you could just be a charm person bot who charms all the NPC's or a Diplomancer. Any class combination that excels in staying alive.

Miraqariftsky
2008-03-19, 10:19 AM
Going for the human/strongheart fighter... or barbarian... or paladin is highly recommended. Why? Well, ye get good BAB, good HP and with Power Attack and Cleave are more likely to be able to take down most anything that crosses your path.

You want something with more power, more flavour? Go for a TWFing character--- either a rogue or a ranger. Go with Combat Expertise and Improved Trip--- that way, ye'll get something like four attacks on the foe that yer able to take down. Grab a coupla flaws and ye might just combine that with Power Attack and Cleave.

Casters? Yes, yes, the druid's good for its sheer versatility--- can even use Cure spells on undead as a backup... The sorcerer's better in the short term, methinks, because of the spontaneous casting.

The J Pizzel
2008-03-20, 10:32 AM
While not optimized at all, the Warmage is a fun as hell kill a lot of stuff class. Especially at lower levels, your just constantly throw "orb or" spells and such. If you do run out of spells, grab a crossbow and go to town. It's not the best class, but it's fun as hell (for about 5-6 levels, then it's gets repetitious).

jP

Duke of URL
2008-03-20, 10:56 AM
If you are just going obscure, you can try Half-Elf Adept 1 / Half-Elf Paragon 2 / Human Paragon 3.

A near-useless "paragon" with an Adept caster level of 4. What's not to love?

Telonius
2008-03-20, 01:36 PM
For just one or two levels? Confuse the heck out of everybody and take Samurai. It's practically identical to a Fighter with the same feats (minus shield proficiency).

Saph
2008-03-20, 01:44 PM
Both Warblades and Crusaders are insanely good at level 1.

I'll put in another vote for Druids, as well - spell sharing healing on you and your riding dog!

- Saph

senrath
2008-03-20, 03:16 PM
Thanks everyone, I've decided to make a Crusader and a Beguiler.