your ideal party?

[gnomas]

what would be your ideal party? lets say maximum of 7 people, no minimum.
oh and say why preferably.

mine would be:

knight(phb 2): they can take the damage well 'cause of d12 HD and heavy armor, plus they can force enemies to leave the fragile wizard alone and attack them.
cleric: i dont think anyone can really heal as well as a cleric can, and they can also be useful in melee or offensive caster roles if need be
wizard: obviously wizards are powerful. they can blast away for extra damage or focus on control and support
rogue: besides being an awesome skill-monkey (which is especially important if your DM is like me and likes traps) they can add a pretty nice amount of extra damage
druid: again, druids are obviously powerful, they do very nice in a fifth party slot because they can fill pretty much every role except skill-monkey (and they can always wild shape into a monkey for that:smalltongue: )

[sonofzeal]

Crusader - battlefield control + healing. Significant step up from Knight in most catagories, IMO.

Wizard - obvious

Factotum - I prefer them to Rogues. Less damage output except on Novas, but they're much more flexible and have some fascinating combos.

CoDzilla - healing, buffing, melee, what's not to love?

Artificer - wand pwnage, plus makes all the others far better through beefed up equipment.

[gnomas]

i dont have the books for crusader, factorum, or artificer so you may be right on that.

[Tempest Fennac]

Barbarian: for smashing things.
Crusader: for defence.
Cleric: for healing.
Druid: for frontline fighting (Wildshape), and a bit of everything else.
Conjurer/Transmuter barring Enchantment and Illusion.
Beguiller: skill monkey who can handle Enchantment and Illusion.

[Arbitrarity]

Is this for power?

If so:
Wizard/brokenPRC's here(like incantatrix) (for arcane magic and cheese)
Druid/Planar Shepard (or archivist/dwenomerkeeper, with magical training to qualify. Or cleric/dwenomerkeeper. (for melee, healing, and cheese)
Artificer (for items, and other cheese)
Factotum/chameleon/crusader (FOI, ofc) (for skills, melee, helping the archivist and wizard, and general cheesiness)

Now, we have skills, divine magic, more divine magic, more skills, arcane magic, more arcane magic, items, more items, and melee presence. And more melee presence.

[Solo]

Wizard
Sorcerer
Beguiler
Cleric
Druid
Barbarian
Bard

[Morty]

Four bards. Maybe not very strong, but I can have an adventuring metal band that way.

[Arbitrarity]

Five bards with that elemental damage thingy can be pretty fatal.

*adds 65d6 onto every attack*

[Tempest Fennac]

Which elemental damage thing are you refering to?

[sonofzeal]

i dont have the books for crusader, factorum, or artificer so you may be right on that.
I had a suspicion there.... :smallwink:

Crusader - Tome of Battle: book of 9 swords. They get brutal offense, healing powers, the ability to delay damage until the next turn, and "Thicket of Blades" prevents people from avoiding AoO's within your threatened range. Even 5' Steps and Withdraw actions provoke now! Just add a Spiked Chain, Improved Trip, and Combat Reflexes.

Factotum - Dungeonscape. They get Trapfinding like Rogues, and have every single skill as a "class skill", including Iaijutsu Focus, Truenaming, and Autohypnosis. They also get a number of good Int synergy powers, and a pool of "Inspiration Points" which they can spend in combat to do spiffy things like boost AC or cast some spells or heal people. The ultimate Jack-of-all-trades ("Johannes Factotum", rather) class.

Artificer - Eberron Campaign Setting, but it's probably been reprinted since. The ultimate crafter, who can craft any item in the game, often with no (or reduced) xp cost, usually levels before anyone else can craft it. Oh, and they get to apply metamagic to wands, and get a nice variety of buff spells. Anything anyone can do, an Artificer can do better with a bit of free time and some disposable income. Widely considered one of the most powerful classes in the game just by itself, let alone what it can do to make everyone else unstoppable too.

[AmberVael]

Well, just because I'm different, I'm going to assume I'm playing every character in the party. :smalltongue: So lets just see how my choices would end up.

The party skill monkey would be a Factotum. Really, what's not to love? Font of Inspiration is a must, as is a higher intelligence. I'm not sure what skills I would focus on, but I'd likely put a rank in all the skills that you can't use untrained. They're just fun, too.

The arcane caster would probably be a sorcerer. Wizards are good and fine and dandy, but really, I prefer spontaneous casters. It's just nicer and simpler, in my opinion. Plus I like having a few more spells per day.

For a straight combat/meat shield type, I'd honestly go with a fighter. Feats really make me happy... however, I'd probably drop off into a prestige class, or maybe pick up a few levels of barbarian too.

For divine casting and healing, there would be a cloistered spontaneous cleric. Again, I don't like prepared casting. And I like the skills and extra domain that cloistered cleric offers.

Beyond that, I might add in a warlock, or perhaps a psion or ToB character.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Bard, Artificer, Warblade, Druid, Sorcerer, Rogue.

Druid summons, Bard buffs, Warblade abuses White Raven to get massive damage from the summons that now flank with him and the Rogue, and they're all more effective because of the Artificer. Oh, and the Sorcerer goes Batman with scrolls and wands.

[Arbitrarity]

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=816095

The elemental thing is Dragonfire Inspiration, from Dragon Magic. It changes the + on inspire courage into elemental damage, based on your draconic heiritage. It defaults to fire, and needs draconic blood.

[Aquillion]

Factotum - I prefer them to Rogues. Less damage output except on Novas, but they're much more flexible and have some fascinating combos.Factotums can nearly equal rogues in damage using Iajuitsu Focus cheese. If they're heavily-optimized, they can even exceed Rogues at some levels with a high enough skill. The only problem is, of course, you need to be able to draw weapons constantly, which tends to be a limiting factor...

[gnomas]

in answer to the "is this for power?":

if you want it to be, sure. just try and stay away from cheese

these are some good ideas guys! now im going to go write campaign stuff because my players have been calling me for 2 days asking about the next meeting:smallsigh:

[Ascension]

Warblade - primary meatshield
Crusader - secondary meatshield
Rogue/Scout/Swift Ambusher - Skillmonkey, archer... because I like archers, not because they're optimal.
Sorcerer - Because I don't like wizards.
Favored Soul - Because I hate the words "Oh, sorry, I didn't prepare that today."
DMPC who turns out to be a traitor - Do I need a reason?

[sonofzeal]

Factotums can nearly equal rogues in damage using Iajuitsu Focus cheese. If they're heavily-optimized, they can even exceed Rogues at some levels with a high enough skill. The only problem is, of course, you need to be able to draw weapons constantly, which tends to be a limiting factor...
A well-optimized Rogue (maybe with a Swordsage dip for Assassins Stance and other goodies) should be able to throw a whole bucket of d6's when they hit with all their attacks (I've seen lvl12 rogues who couldn't hold all the d6's they needed in both hands cupped). A Factotum using Iaijutsu Focus + Quickdraw + Cunning Surge + Font of Inspiration can rival it, maybe... but it's generally not worth their effort, and will usually reek of cheddar. Their advantages lie elsewhere, like the ability to cast spells, heal, get abnormal skill checks with Brains over Brawn, and generally be classy.

I'd also consider a Beguiler for skillmonkey.

[gnomas]

i like beguillers too, it depends on weather you want to cast spells or do melee. the thing with that factorum thing is the presence of cheese after all, and while delicious some DMs have issues (like me, even though if a player ticked me off i wouldnt hesitate to cheese the hell out of one of their campaigns:smallannoyed::smalltongue: )

[LoneStarNorth]

Seven barbarians. With leadership. And all their cohorts and followers are also barbarians. It is neither optimal nor logical, but it is entertaining.

[Enguhl]

Fighter
Cleric
Wizard
Rogue
Bard for fifth wheel
Yes yes, I know I'm a tool. But it does have a nice feel to it doesn't it?

[gnomas]

yes that would be quite fun.

DM: the npc will ferry you across if you answer his riddle
party: we kill him and use him to paddle across the river!
DM:...the town guard comes after you, then
party: we kill them and sell their stuff!

DM: to defeat the wizard, his complex magical puzzle thingy must be-
part: we dig under it and kill him!
DM:...next time i approve all party concepts first

it'd be fun to watch the towns people flee though :smalltongue:

[Draz74]

Lately I've been dreaming up a party with the following, for simplicity.

Warblade
Factotum
Ardent
Dragonfire Adept

Crusaders, Swordsages, and Swift Hunters sound like fun things to substitute in, possibly, too.

[Chosen_of_Vecna]

Well let's see:

Must have a Wizard, so we'll say Grey Elf Generalist Wizard 5/Mindbender 1/Geometer 2/Earth Dreamer 5/Divine Oracle 3/Archmage 4 and the Spontaneous Divination Substitution feature at level 5.

Has tattoos of most important spells and spells to get his book back (except the Divination ones which he doesn't even need), works at battlefield control and being prepared for every odd situation that comes up. Walks around with a fourth of his slots waiting to be filled. Also keeps the party coordinated.

Notable feats: Mindsight, Alacritous Cognition and a whole lot of Pre-Reqs.

Now for Divine: Either Human or Anthropomorphic Bat (depends on my mood) Cloistered Cleric 3/Church Inquisitor 6/Divine Oracle 1/Contemplative 10 with the Spontaneous Domain casting Variant. Uses DMM to Persist and (with rods mostly) chain a series of buffs across the party. Focuses on Cleric save or X spells in combat and occasionally dispelling.

Notable Feats: DMM Persist, maybe even the Reactive Counterspell chain.

Well we Need some crazy Melee, so: Anthropomorphic Bat Druid 20. Kickass Animal Companion, Kickass Wildshape, oh, and all those buffs. What's not to love.

Notable Feats: Natural Spell and whatever else he wants.

Skill Monkey: Human Factotum 5/Chameleon 10/Factotum 5

Notable Feats: Hard to keep track.

Best 5th Man: Someone with an Int boost Wu-Jen 5/Incantatrix 8/IotSFV 7 Cooperative Spells everyone else's spells, Protects everyone with Veils. Blatantly Stolen from a character made by GrymmHeart (I think).

Notable Feats: Metamagic ones.

Notable Spells: 1) Create Several copies of oneself that can all raise Veils, and can all use Incantatrix abilities. 2) Make them all Tiny and have them sit on the shoulders of everyone else in the party, protecting them and aiding their spells.

Runners up:

For Skill Monkey: Changeling Beguiler 20.
For Tank/Damage: Human/Grey Elf Focused Specialist Conjurer 3/MS 2/Malconvoker 7/MS 8 with various summoning variants/feats.
For Wizard: Grey Elf Specialist Abjurer 3/MS 2/Incantatrix 10/Archmage 5
Best 5th Man: Spellscale Bard 5/Mindbender 1/Virtuoso 4/Sublime Chord 2/Virtuoso 6/Whatever else 2.

I'll soon be writing up my all Theurge Party of awesome, but that will come later. I am now tired.

[gnomas]

ooh that brings in some new stuff! what about race everyone? does it matter? or is it the classes that make your ideal party? what about PRCs?

[FlyMolo]

Erm, 7 people max?

Psion.

PsyWar/Warmind, spiked chain(s) and Thri-keen race. Lots of arms. Possible dip into Crusader to nab thicket of blades. Imp. Trip, Sweeping Strike, Great cleave, etc etc.

Warlock, maybe hellfire and some binder levels for cheese.

Artificer and a wizard, just for kicks.

Factotum/Rogue with psionic race/feats. Sneak attacked from the ceiling, :smallbiggrin: !

And as a 7th member, a hired bard with perform(pair of coconuts), in homage to monty python. Also, morale bonuses are hard to come by.

[Narmoth]

A party with 3 or 4 players, all playing different variants of paladins would be very fun

[gnomas]

hmm you know, i might throw warlock into mine because i like them so much...i might take a full new look at it later.

edit: i was also considering bard...
oh and i just made halfling itp!:smallsmile:

[Draz74]

ooh that brings in some new stuff! what about race everyone? does it matter? or is it the classes that make your ideal party? what about PRCs?

For the party I posted earlier:

Warblade - Raptoran. Not only is it handy if your melee tank can fly, but it's really handy to have +10 racial Jump checks when you like to abuse Jump-based Tiger Claw maneuvers. :smallbiggrin:

Factotum - it would probably be more optimal to make it a human Factotum/Chameleon. But again, I'm trying to make this a party that is simple in its elegance, so I'm avoiding PrCs. This is actually the character that I wrote about in a different thread. It's a Whisper Gnome Factotum, to optimize stealth and scouting capability.

Ardent - Elan. No real dependence on Charisma, more PP than a PsyWar, and less Powers Known than a Psion mean that the Elan's racial uses for PP are very nice.

Dragonfire Adept - Human. Couldn't think of anything else. :smalltongue:

The factotum is the only one that's really tempting to even think about a PrC.

[Bag_of_Holding]

Heh, mine would be:

4 characters (classes irrelevant) played by people I get along with. I'd be the fifth one playing druid for sure :smallwink: .

In terms of player characters, that would consist of:

Duskblade as the melee tanker (I always wanted to see it in action)

Beguiler as the expert (my very favourite expert class)

Sorcerer as the arcane caster (wizards are too snobbish, IMO)

Favoured Soul as the divine caster (cleric? Nah, more balanced this way)

and

Druid as... the fifth supporting character, played by me (meaning taking Track feat and most likely to have Shortbow proficiency.)

[Illiterate Scribe]

Four warforged artificers. Two wand/stafficers, a bufficer, and a golemficer (ficer.). :smallamused:


Seven barbarians. With leadership. And all their cohorts and followers are also barbarians. It is neither optimal nor logical, but it is entertaining.

I believe that there is indeed a feat tree for what you describe. Could you make them psionic barbarians, to get the infinite psicrystal cascade, too?

[Chosen_of_Vecna]

I believe that there is indeed a feat tree for what you describe. Could you make them psionic barbarians, to get the infinite psicrystal cascade, too?

They might do better as Warblades. All specializing in White Raven.

PC: Okay, my turn, Warmasters Charge.
DM: Okay the Tarrasque is at -500HP, but the Wizard is still flying.
PCs: Okay, each of our followers use a fullround action to double move directly underneath him, then use swift actions to give out more climbing actions to the farthest away. Then they cascade all their swift actions into standard actions so that I can climb on top of them and grapple the Wizard.
DM: DAMN YOU WHITE RAVEN + LEADERSHIP.

[Squash Monster]

5 person parties:

Overall effectiveness:
Archivist - buffer, battlefield controller, and provider blanket counter spells like Death Ward and Freedom of Movement
Wizard - battlefield controller, becomes a buffer when battlefield control stops working
Druid - melee monster
Druid - aberrant wildshape and assume supernatural ability
Bard - social skill master, tertiary melee character

Overall effectiveness, high cheese tolerance:
Artificer - blasting style
Artificer - buffing style
Druid - planar shepherd style
Ruby Knight Vindicator - staff of celerity + stun immune action-spam style
Bard - diplomancer style

Fun playing dynamic:
Crusader - tank + healer
Fighter - bullrush specialist transitions into lockdown at later levels
Rogue - twf sneak attack + skill monkey
Bard - buffer + party face
Dragon Shaman - buffer + healer

[Indon]

I can't say I have any kind of 'ideal' party, but I do like themed parties.

For example, I'm about to start a campaign where the party consists of a Cleric, a Paladin, a Crusader, and a Scout.

[Xefas]

For power, I'd probably go with...

Artificer
Wizard/Initiate of the Sevenfold Veil/Incantrix
Druid/Planar Shepherd
Druid/Planar Shepherd
Druid/Planar Shepherd
Druid/Planar Shepherd
Druid/Planar Shepherd

For a fun dynamic I'd like to see played...
Crusader (Lawful Good)
Crusader (Chaotic Evil)
Crusader (Lawful Neutral)
Cleric (Chaotic Neutral)
Cleric (Lawful Evil)
Cleric (Chaotic Good)
Wizard (True Neutral)

The Wizard is a misotheist who thinks all gods are just powerful bastards who assert their misguided will over others out of selfishness and arrogance.

All seven of them are childhood friends who won't hurt each other and none of which are Chaotic Stupid, Lawful Stupid, Neutral Stupid, Stupid Evil, Stupid Good, or Stupid Neutral. However, none of them are willing to give up their ideals.

Just imagine the hour long multi-tiered graces that would have to be said before every meal...

"Oh great Heironeous, thank you for this wonderful bounty-..."
"Oh terrible Nerull, thank you for not shanking us in our sleep this previous night-..."
"Ummm...Thanks for the grub, Olidammara?"

[streakster]

Warlock/Eldritch Disciple. -healer
Warlock/Unseen Seer - race: pixie. - Sneaky guy
Warlock/Hellfire Warlock - blaster
Dragonfire Adept/Chameleon - wild card
Warlock, focusing on Eldritch Glaive - melee
Dragonfire adept, with Tiamat's Breath - nuker
Warlock/Factotum/Exemplar - face

That would be so much fun.

[gnomas]

themed parties sound fun

i remember a couple weeks ago i was in a campaign with mostly new players. we had been ambushed by some rangers, and the negotiations could go either way. looking around the table, i saw that we had me (warlock), a knight, a bard, and two fighters (one of whom had fallen into the trap and was a bit of an idiot). so of course i introduced the knight and his herald and me, his advisor. aswell as the two ruffians we had found. gotta love classes that work together

[sonofzeal]

Themed group..... hmmm.... how about "making the best of terrible classes" group?

Healer, with Augment Healing and a ring of invisibility. Ludicrous amounts of healing potential here... which is good because Team Suck is probably going to need it.

CW Samurai with Leadership and Crescent Moon style - can nail DC 50 Perform: Weapon Drill checks to make all friendlies "Fanatics", which gives a number of nice bonuses, and the Cha required synergizes with his class powers. Offense... mediocre, but present.

Monk with Meteor Hammer, Martial Study: Whatever, Martial Stance: Thicket of Blades, Combat Reflexes, Stand Still. The guy can shut down all movement around him to a radius of 15' (or larger, depending on size category), and is practically impossible to kill by virtue of being a monk. VoP is optional, but fits the "Team Suck" theme. Just make sure you can still use Meteor Hammer (I lack the book it's from).

Multiclass Divine.Mind/Marshal/Bard/Dragon.Shaman with Regalia of the Hero and a ring of invisibility. Buff up the other to kingdom come so they can actually pose a threat to everything else. Synergizes well with the CW Samurai's followers and can probably take Leadership as well.


End result - lacking offensive potential except via Leadership abuse, but should be a fairly survivable team capable of outlasting most CR-appropriate encounters. Should perform better than their lackluster classes suggest.

[BardicDuelist]

-Bard as party face/buffmaster
-Knight as meatshield
-Factotum as skill monkey
-Wizard, duh
-Druid for summoning and general power
-Cleric for healing
-Artificer to make stuff

OR

-Artificer to build for cheesyness
-Warlock to help the artificer
-Factotum to be the skill monkey and spam actions
-Archivist to be the cleric/wizard you've always wanted with help of the artificer and warlock

Is perhaps the cheesyist 4-person party around. I would add a druid, wizard, and/or cleric to increase this, and a bard because I love bards.

[Thane of Fife]

How about

Human Paladin
Half-Elf Cleric

We'll make them half-sisters, just for fun.

And later on we'll add a Dwarf Fighter. Because everything's better with dwarves.

I think that that would make for a fun party to play as and/or DM. I'm just not sure which specific mythos I'd pick for the cleric.

[BardicDuelist]

Themed group..... hmmm.... how about "making the best of terrible classes" group?

Healer, with Augment Healing and a ring of invisibility. Ludicrous amounts of healing potential here... which is good because Team Suck is probably going to need it.

CW Samurai with Leadership and Crescent Moon style - can nail DC 50 Perform: Weapon Drill checks to make all friendlies "Fanatics", which gives a number of nice bonuses, and the Cha required synergizes with his class powers. Offense... mediocre, but present.

Monk with Meteor Hammer, Martial Study: Whatever, Martial Stance: Thicket of Blades, Combat Reflexes, Stand Still. The guy can shut down all movement around him to a radius of 15' (or larger, depending on size category), and is practically impossible to kill by virtue of being a monk. VoP is optional, but fits the "Team Suck" theme. Just make sure you can still use Meteor Hammer (I lack the book it's from).

Multiclass Divine.Mind/Marshal/Bard/Dragon.Shaman with Regalia of the Hero and a ring of invisibility. Buff up the other to kingdom come so they can actually pose a threat to everything else. Synergizes well with the CW Samurai's followers and can probably take Leadership as well.


End result - lacking offensive potential except via Leadership abuse, but should be a fairly survivable team capable of outlasting most CR-appropriate encounters. Should perform better than their lackluster classes suggest.

Dragon Shamen, Bard, and Marshal aren't nearly as bad as healer (who isn't aweful, just so much wose the than cleric or druid and not much fun to play), monk and samurai. All of the characters can probably take leadership.

How about adding a soulknife and favored soul? Maybe a ninja?

[TSGames]

5 Wizards, a Cleric, and Warlock? I think all the bases are probably covered to an unhealthy degree. (I'd DM that party over my dead body).


what would be your ideal party? lets say maximum of 7 people, no minimum.
Anyway. who has a party with a max of seven people? Fine, forget your party, I'm gonna build my own party. But with blackjack and hookers! In fact, forget the party.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

I suddenly want to DM a group of 4 Warlocks through the World's Largest Dungeon. As long as one of them has infinite healing, I would even be able to say it all happens in one day. :smallcool:

[sonofzeal]

Dragon Shamen, Bard, and Marshal aren't nearly as bad as healer (who isn't aweful, just so much wose the than cleric or druid and not much fun to play), monk and samurai. All of the characters can probably take leadership.

How about adding a soulknife and favored soul? Maybe a ninja?
I'm going by this (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=968062) for my numbers, where Divine Mind and Marshal both scored below Fighter in the grand scheme of things. You could easily drop Dragon Shaman from the build though, and limit it to only a single level of Bard (like the Auramaster (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=857021)). How does that sound?

I'd add a Ninja if I could think of a use for him in this party, but I really can't. Favoured Soul is way too powerful too (it's only ever bad when compared with Clerizilla). Soulknife.... well, going into Soulbow would work, hang at the back and peg off anyone with True Seeing. Any other ways to pump it and make it viable?

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

For Power:
Wizard/Iot7V/Archmage
Druid/Planar Shepherd
Warblade/Bloodstorm Blade, specializing in Stone Dragon and Iron Heart.
Beguiler

For Fun:
Sorcerer (little girl necromancer FTW)
Barbarian/Frenzied Berserker (I've always wanted to play one)
Knight/Crusader (Adopts necromancer as little sister)
Edit: And a Favoured Soul

And that's the party. The necromancer is named Naomi, and she spams fear effects mostly. The barbarian charges and kills stuff recklessly, while the knight is the epitome of caution, and Naomi is really naive. Actually, I was thinking of naming her naive. As for trapmonkey's and scouts, the barbarians a scout, and who needs a trapmonkey when you have a barbarian and a knight?

[streakster]

I suddenly want to DM a group of 4 Warlocks through the World's Largest Dungeon. As long as one of them has infinite healing, I would even be able to say it all happens in one day. :smallcool:

Tomb-Tainted Soul, Utterdark blast. Enjoy!

[Chronos]

Quoth Enguhl:
Fighter
Cleric
Wizard
Rogue
Bard for fifth wheel
Yes yes, I know I'm a tool. But it does have a nice feel to it doesn't it?I would like this, but unfortunately, Cleric and Wizard are just too overpowered in the current rules.

Now, for classes that I'd like to play, to fill all the roles, and ruling out anything that I wouldn't allow were I DMing...

Rogue (my personal favorite class) for, of course, skillmonkey.
Ranger for primary warrior. I've nothing against fighters or barbarians, but I like rangers better.
Warlock for arcane (provided that the UMD cheese was kept in check)
And maybe paladin and/or bard (Devoted Performer), for another warrior-type and healer. He's also the party face.

[Overlard]

what would be your ideal party? lets say maximum of 7 people, no minimum.
oh and say why preferably.
My ideal party? Well 7 people is a little low, but I guess:

1) Bartender (Expert). Someone needs to keep the drinks flowing.
2) Bouncer (Fighter). May not be necessary considering the small party size, but better to be safe than sorry.
3) DJ (Bard). Obviously no social skills other than Perform, but serves a definite purpose.
4) Me (Rogue). Seems like an obvious choice, but I need to be at a party to fully enjoy it.
5) Girlfriend (Psion - Telepath). For obvious reasons. Expect trouble if this individual is not invited. If Leadership is allowed without affecting the party size, then may bring her cohort - Female Guest (Beguiler).
6) Best Friend (Barbarian). Bringing a familiar chaotic presence to the party, this character works best when tempered with his own cohort - Best Friend's Hippy Girlfriend (Druid).
7) Stripper (Bard). Two bards in a party may seem weird, but this one will cover the social aspects. May only be present for one-two encounters though, and may cause in-party conflict.

[JamesHowlett]

For a fun dynamic I'd like to see played...
Crusader (Lawful Good)
Crusader (Chaotic Evil)
Crusader (Lawful Neutral)
Cleric (Chaotic Neutral)
Cleric (Lawful Evil)
Cleric (Chaotic Good)
Wizard (True Neutral)

"Oh great Heironeous, thank you for this wonderful bounty-..."
"Oh terrible Nerull, thank you for not shanking us in our sleep this previous night-..."
"Ummm...Thanks for the grub, Olidammara?"

HA! And I think my group would take to this...which terrifies and entertains me at the same time.

How about four Warforged Artificers? They'd never die, and they'd have the best equipment for their level. I'd be like a party of Iron Men! Without the drinking...

[Half-blood]

Any one who actually role plays there part well.
Crunch wise:

9999+Fighters
9999+Wizards
9999+Clerics
9999+Rogues
9999+ (Every other class)
Ideal party. Several thousand armies of adventurers.

[Chronicled]

For fun in a higher level one-shot:

Mounted Knight (tank)
Factotum (skillmonkey/trapfinder)
Wizard PrCed-up (Batman)
Cleric/Radiant Servent of Pelor (Turn Undead machine, buffs, healing)
2 Warblades abusing White Raven Tactics and White Raven Hammer (Lockdown and killing)
Druid (everything, and everything else)

The knight will focus on his Charisma. At the start of a fight, he draws aggro, and rides around with enemies following him (see Person_Man's suggestion about halfling knights).

An enemy who resists his taunting is pounced on by the warblades. With WRT and WRH, they can keep the enemy stun-locked while killing it.

The cleric will have maxxed out Turn Undead and other anti-undead methods, and can handle that large block of stun immune creatures.

Batman and druid jump in when necessary, helping to keep unattended monsters down to one at a time. Batman should especially have spells for enemies immune to the knight and warblades' effects. Ideally, the only monster not chasing the knight is being continually stunned and pulverized by the warblades.


Not the most optimal, but fun in most situations.

[Kompera]

what would be your ideal party? lets say maximum of 7 people, no minimum.
oh and say why preferably.

Mine would be 4-5 players plus a GM, who are available to meet on a bi-weekly or monthly basis with regularity. The GM should be running a mostly RAW game with few house rules, but can limit the environment to any set of RAW + a few splat books as s/he sees fit. All players need to be non-optimization focused but still knowing how to play the game from both a role play and a mechanics point of view.

Why? Because we'd have a lot of fun. And that's what it's all about, right?

After the above conditions are met, race/class/multi-class/LA race/Other LA specials/etc just don't matter. But my preference, as a long time D&D player, is to stick pretty close to the basics. I wouldn't balk at a non-core race or class being in the mix, but a whole group of misfits just doesn't feel right to me.

[Paragon Badger]

All fighters...

All tremendous roleplayers who manage to make the game interesting. :smallwink:

[_Zoot_]

Mine would be 4-5 players plus a GM, who are available to meet on a bi-weekly or monthly basis with regularity. The GM should be running a mostly RAW game with few house rules, but can limit the environment to any set of RAW + a few splat books as s/he sees fit. All players need to be non-optimization focused but still knowing how to play the game from both a role play and a mechanics point of view.

Why? Because we'd have a lot of fun. And that's what it's all about, right?



I agree...

My party would be;

Wizard(Generalist)
Sorcerer(Blaster)
Sorcerer(Blaster)
Cleric(secondary Fighter+medic)
Fighter(Durrrr....)
Paladin(Primary/secondary Fighter, situation dependent)
Rogue(sniper/skill monkey)

Unleash The Spells:smallbiggrin:

[Tempest Fennac]

Thanks for mentioning Dragonfire Inspiration (ironically, it's similar to a Bard Song I thought up a few weeks back called Are "Friends" Electric: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74027). Overlard, wouldn't Barbarian or Knight (or at least Fighter) be a better choie for the Bouncer?

[SadisticFishing]

My ideal party is one that's quite competent in combat, but has a lot of chemistry and works well out of combat.

Combat is easy - it's not a game of beating the opponent, really, just of being awesome. RP on the other hand, is hard to have good.

[Toliudar]

For a group that's playable and has a modicum of balance levels 1-20, I try to eliminate the suckiest and the best of classes:

Human Sorcerer - one of two party "faces", plus blasting and scheming. Has some kind of Dark Shady Past that acts as a plot hook to get the group into all sorts of trouble. Eventually, party transporter to keep the game moving. The Bad Boy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AllGirlsWantBadBoys) or Dark Magical Girl (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DarkMagicalGirl).

Rogue - skillmonkey, sneaky guy. Perhaps an exotic race (drow, pixie, gnoll), just to add to the RP mix. The one who slips away to do the deeds most of the others wouldn't stomach. Often, The Quiet One (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheQuietOne).

Bard - second party "face". Chaotic and as likely to get the group INTO trouble as out of it. Comic relief. Team Pet (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TeamPet).

Dwarf or Orc Crusader or Warblade - stalwart who throws his/her muscle into situations to help the others out. Destined to die heroically several times while saving at least one other party member. Potentially, The Hero. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheHero)

Barbarian - tenuously tethered murderous rage, whom the rest of the group have more or less taken responsibility for. Plot points focus around keeping this one content. Also good comic relief, since the figure can either have flashes of fabulous insight that take the rest of the group off guard, or so completely misunderstand any remotely complex plans that they are bungled with equal brilliance. Potentially, The Toblerone (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheToblerone) or The Berserker (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheBerserker?from=Main.Berserker).

Druid - without Natural Spell. Summoner of temporary allies, caster of battlefield control spells. An older, mentor figure whose past associates keep cropping up. The Witch Doctor (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WitchDoctor).

Cloistered cleric - without DMM-anything. Buffer, healer, secondary lore-source. The starry-eyed idealist whose sensibilities the others occasionally have to tiptoe around. Perhaps The Chick, (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheChick) or TheSmartGuy (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheSmartGuy).

Not optimal, but a group where everyone has a role, both in crisis/combat situations and in advancing a story.

[Tam_OConnor]

Let's see...

For fun (i.e. the first Faerunian Rock Band):
Fire Gensai Bard: guitarist and secondary vocals; face and buffer.
Gold Elf Soulknife (Only in name and theme; class is a reflavored warlock): lead vocalist; blaster and flanker.
Aasimar Cloistered Cleric of Gond: Gondian keyboard; healer and buffer.
Air Gensai Warblade: Drums, and looking pretty; primary melee.

For breaking me, as a DM (if I went insane and allowed it):
Crusader (Honestly, the book-keeping is maddening if you don't let your PCs know their hp totals).
Some unholy combination of Wizard, Ur-Priest and Mystic Theurge. Miracle at 15th level...*whimper* Maybe two of them...
A Spellthief. I know it isn't all that spectacular, but it's the one class in the Completes + Core that I didn't bother reading, on account of the darn thing going on forever...

[Jack_Simth]

Let's see...
Some unholy combination of Wizard, Ur-Priest and Mystic Theurge. Miracle at 15th level...*whimper* Maybe two of them...
Miracle at 14th with the fastest possible build if you can arrange a +9 Wis bonus by then - Wizard-4/Fighter-1/Ur-Priest-2/Mystic Theurge-7 will get there.

[Telonius]

Ideal party:

Fighter
Thief
Monk
Red Mage
Black Mage
White Mage

:smallbiggrin:

For D&D.

Fighter/Barbarian - Thwack stuff with pointy stick. Rrr!
Cloistered Cleric - Healing, Know (everything).
Bard - Party face, getting information, group buffs.
Rogue - Sneaking, thieving, backstabbing, serving as the Bard's wingman in the tavern, making sure the Bard doesn't get cheated by the unsavory merchant.
Wizard - Batman. Prepared for every situation.
Druid - Summoning allies, backup healing, making sure the party doesn't get eaten by giant plants or drown in quicksand three days into the adventure.
Sorcerer- Arcane blasting, backup to Wizard. (Would be replaced by Warlock, if Warlock were a more powerful class).

[Swooper]

Without going into specific builds:

Warblade or Crusader
Beguiler (I'm not too fond of Factotum)
Cleric
Wizard
Psychic Warrior or Swordsage
Druid
Dragonfire Adept or Warlock

with the last 3 being rather optional.

[gnomas]

Mine would be 4-5 players plus a GM, who are available to meet on a bi-weekly or monthly basis with regularity. The GM should be running a mostly RAW game with few house rules, but can limit the environment to any set of RAW + a few splat books as s/he sees fit. All players need to be non-optimization focused but still knowing how to play the game from both a role play and a mechanics point of view.

that sounds..wonderful! *sigh*

[Keld Denar]

2 melees, mutted out Fighter/Barb/XX/YY/ZZ using 2handed weapons to dish out hurt and be warm bodies in direct line of effect. Ideally would be able to shore up a few of the common weaknesses of melee, such as will saves and lack of flight. One would have 3-4 strategically placed rogue levels to cover the search/disable aspect.

1 Wizard/DOracle/Loremaster provides daily buffs to the fighters, uses battlefield control with a focus on SR:No spells. Lots of knowledge skills to ID monsters and direct fighters and cleric to counter

1 Cleric/ex-ChurchInquistor/RSoP/Contemplative/SacredExorcist focusing on day long buffs, combat powerup, and counterspelling with 2x Rings of Greater Counterspelling, Battlemagic Perception, and uberpimped out Dispel Magic check.

1 Bard/Marshall to grant +cha init checks, assist wizard in control, give strong bardsong to the 2 melees and wizard for attack rolls.

That would be about all I would need to take on just about anything with an EL up to 4 higher than the average party level, especially later in life. With proper prep though Communes and other divinations, the party

This is actually pretty much the group I roll with playing LG at high levels. Core special 2rounder cakewalked in about 4-5 hours at max APL.

[Ganurath]

Assuming the traditional 4 man party...

Beguiler (PHBII): A batman wizard, a trap monkey, and a UMD junky all in one package? Sold.

Spirit Shaman (CoDi): A healer who loses the ability to turn undead that are easily smashed in favor of fey and elementals.

Archery Ranger: The party scout, and a secondary healer. Nevermind the BAB and capacity for raw violence.

Hexblade (CoWa): It debuffs, it has crazy saves against spellcasters, Diplomacy is a class skill, and it provides the basis for the Masked Avenger: Hexblade 5 / Avenging Executioner 5 / Ghost-Faced Killer +

[Hell V]

Right now I would like to try a party of redneck childhood friends:

Barbarian twohander for meelee
Ranger/scout/swift tracker for skill, long-range combat and using divine wands and scrolls
Druid for more meelee and awesome divine magic
Warlock/sorcerer Not-intentional arcane magic
Savage Bard as party face

[JellyPooga]

Ideal party?

One, singular Rogue, preferably Tiefling and/or Shadow Walker and/or Necropolitan, PrC'd at whim (depending on mood...Telflammar Shadowlord is always an option, as is Gatecrasher).

Why?

- He doesn't need healing, 'cos he's rarely detected and when he is detected his opponent can't hit him.
- He doesn't need magic, 'cos he's far too competent to have to rely on such a fickle power.
- He may not be a combat monster, he may not wield supreme arcane or divine power, but he can infiltrate practically any stronghold (including extraplanar ones) and steal/slay/investigate any given target you care to name and get out before anyone realises the deed is done.
- If he had anyone else in his 'party', they would only be a liability or a hindrance...if he really needs extra hands, he can just hire it, 'cos he's so fabulously wealthy from being so damned good at his job.

[Hell V]

Ideal party?

One, singular Rogue, preferably Tiefling and/or Shadow Walker and/or Necropolitan, PrC'd at whim (depending on mood...Telflammar Shadowlord is always an option, as is Gatecrasher).

Why?

- He doesn't need healing, 'cos he's rarely detected and when he is detected his opponent can't hit him.
- He doesn't need magic, 'cos he's far too competent to have to rely on such a fickle power.
- He may not be a combat monster, he may not wield supreme arcane or divine power, but he can infiltrate practically any stronghold (including extraplanar ones) and steal/slay/investigate any given target you care to name and get out before anyone realises the deed is done.
- If he had anyone else in his 'party', they would only be a liability or a hindrance...if he really needs extra hands, he can just hire it, 'cos he's so fabulously wealthy from being so damned good at his job.

And his name would be... Hitman? Bond? Goodkat?

[JellyPooga]

And his name would be... Hitman? Bond? Goodkat?

Any of the above, amongst others, would suffice :smallwink:

[Draz74]

Two more parties that would be fun to play:

A "triple-Gestalt" Human Factotum//Psion//Warblade, or

A Gestalt Kobold Cloistered Cleric//Swordsage/War Mind.

[RandomNPC]

Pally for tanking
Druid for heal and wildshape crazyness
Sorcerer for casting
Rogue for finding traps the easy way
Bard to boost everyones um.... someting
Monk so when the group has to run away, someone gets away.


what i thoguht of when i saw the title of the thread before reading it.

Gary Gygax - it would be an honor
Jim Carey - amusement
Vin Diesel - he would know what to do
Robin Williams - its a reason to meet him
Bill Clinton - slick Willy always gets an invite
Obama - he just seems to be a gamer to me

each playing as they wanted.

[Chosen_of_Vecna]

Cleric/ex-ChurchInquistor/RSoP/Contemplative/SacredExorcist focusing on day long buffs, combat powerup, and counterspelling with 2x Rings of Greater Counterspelling, Battlemagic Perception, and uberpimped out Dispel Magic check.

If you are going to dip far enough into out of place splat books to get Battlemagic Perception why don't you look at the magic item section of Complete Arcane. Specifically the Ring slot. There is absolutely no excuse for ever buying a Ring of Greater Counterspells in any game in which you use that book.

[Squash Monster]

Another set:

Binder
Totemist
Incarnate
Factotum

I don't think that would ever get old.

[Keld Denar]

If you are going to dip far enough into out of place splat books to get Battlemagic Perception why don't you look at the magic item section of Complete Arcane. Specifically the Ring slot. There is absolutely no excuse for ever buying a Ring of Greater Counterspells in any game in which you use that book.

Why? Because Battlemagic Perception only hits the 1st spell you want to take down. A pair of Rings of Greater Countspells get the 2nd and 3rd spells you want to counterspell as well. Combine that with the fact that you don't want to lock down every spell cast by an opponent, and thats enough to survive one encounter. Enemy casts Finger of Death on your high fort save barb with deathward armor? Let it slide. Enemy casts PW:Kill on your party wizard who just ate a breathweapon attack or a firestorm? Counter it. I'd rather ALWAYS have that option open than not, and one from Battlemagic Perception is not enough.

[Chosen_of_Vecna]

Why? Because Battlemagic Perception only hits the 1st spell you want to take down. A pair of Rings of Greater Countspells get the 2nd and 3rd spells you want to counterspell as well. Combine that with the fact that you don't want to lock down every spell cast by an opponent, and thats enough to survive one encounter. Enemy casts Finger of Death on your high fort save barb with deathward armor? Let it slide. Enemy casts PW:Kill on your party wizard who just ate a breathweapon attack or a firestorm? Counter it. I'd rather ALWAYS have that option open than not, and one from Battlemagic Perception is not enough.

Did you actually look at the rings in Complete Arcane? Ring of Spell-Battle. Much better. Though to be fair, I was remembering the one in MIC.

So where is Ring of Greater Counterspells from? Because in the MIC you can get a 12,000gp ring that once a day allows you to counter a spell (auto-success), or redirect that spell at any valid target This option is in every way superior to Ring of Greater Counterspells. Finger of Death at your Deathwarded Barbarian, let it past. Power Word Kill at your squishy Mage, by their Squishy Mage? Redirect it onto him. A free dispel attempt is a free action. A redirection is two free actions, and for a cheaper price. Cleric casts Mass Heal? Switch the targets over to your party. Maw of Chaos? Center it over your opponents.

In every way, Ring of Spell-battle is superior to Rings of Greater Counterspelling, including Price.

[SilverClawShift]

Another set:

Binder
Totemist
Incarnate
Factotum

I don't think that would ever get old.

You beat me to it. Ideal party would probably be:

Binder
Factotum
Artificer
Duskblade
Archivist

Just a fun flavorfull group.