The Ubiquitous Party/Character Thread

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Okay, here we go with another one...

Just a few characters I've been thinking about creating, but I was wondering if anyone has an opinion about any of these builds (and I'm sure someone will). Also note that these may/may not be in the same party.

(No stats yet - just in draft mode):
A Deep Gnome Druid(~21)/Illusionist (~9)

Note that I have Improved Shapeshifting installed, and I'm thinking that the high ECL will be a nice balance with the overpoweredness of the shapeshifts.

An Aasimar Paladin(2)/Monk(10)/Painbearer(18)

The ultimate in lawful-goodness.

Bard(11)/Wizard(x)

What I would like opinion on here is whether Human or Elf would be better. I don't want to use a Bard/Sorcerer and thought I'd try something a little different.

These two are similar, and I'm wondering about the Ranger levels:

Half-Orc Fighter(4)/Ranger(3)/Barbarian(x)
Tiefling Fighter(4)/Ranger(3)/Rogue(x)

The Half-Orc will be dual-wielding (axes, natch) so Ranger probably works there, but I might rather use 2 Feats and still be able to wear heavy armor.

The Tiefling will mostly be used for ranged support, so I could probably get rid of the Ranger levels, unless anyone knows of a good reason to keep them.

The ones I'm most interested in getting feedback on are the Deep Gnome and the Aasimar -- has anyone used these builds before? Do they work well or do they sound cooler than they are practical. Thanks for any input/feedback.

 

Are you going to take the party thru HoF mode? In normal your charecters will get to ~20 levels only.

Deep Gnome Druid(~21)/Illusionist (~9)
Frankly, that Improved Shapshifting mod is way overpowered. It makes Druids more unbalanced than Sorcerers.
Also, why the 9 Illusionist levels? They would hardly add any value to the charecter. If you had fighter/barb/ranger levels at the begining of the game for this guy, it would be more useful. Then again the XP penalties ...
Better to make him a pure Druid, specially if shapeshifting is going to be his main fighting style.

Aasimar Paladin(2)/Monk(10)/Painbearer(18)
Why the 10 monk levels? It would be better to increase the Paladin levels and/or add a few Fighter levels to make him a better melee fighter. Keeping the Monk levels low will be advantageous.
A Drow can Paladin[3]/Fighter[4]/Monk[3] and not take any XP penalty.

Bard(11)/Wizard(x)
Any specific reason for making this one a mage. Why not Bard/Cleric. Oghma is the Bard's nearest available parton god afterall. I would prefer to make this guy a Drow (+2 Char) or Human (+1 skill/level) and not a pure elf.

Half-Orc Fighter(4)/Ranger(3)/Barbarian(x)
Tiefling Fighter(4)/Ranger(3)/Rogue(x)
The best weapons for a strong melee fighter are two handed weapons. Dual-weilding axes might turnout not to be a good idea.
Ranger[3]gets nothing. Atleast Ranger[5] gets to choose an additional favoured enemy.

 

Eh...I was just wondering if anyone else had tried any of these. Mostly, I wanted know how viable they are. I agree that Improved Shapeshifting is extremely overpowered. Druids are a class I love "in theory," but usually find them to be too weak without improvements and too strong with them. I thought adding the +3 ECL might help balance some of the overpoweredness. The illusionist levels are more of an afterthought, really. The idea of an invisible shapeshifted druid just sounds appealing.

You're right on fewer monk levels -- and the Drow build sounds interesting too. I might consider that one.

I'm not sure what to do with this Bard. A Bard/something would be good, and I'd like to try something innovative. Maybe a CN Bard/Barbarian/Cleric who worships the forces of chaos...I'll keep thinking about this one.

Again, you're right on the two extra levels of Ranger. I don't know what I was thinking.

 

Why just three classes? Fighter/ranger/barbarian/rogue actually worked for my brother.

 

You want multiple classes, I'll give you multiple classes. Just search for the confused deep gnome:

Rogue[2]/Monk[1]/Dreadmaster[1]/Fighter[2]/Paladin[2]/Ranger[1]/Illusionist[21]
Stats: 8-20-10-15-20-1

This guy is the most useful sheild charecter ever. He has insane AC (even before buffs), max spell resistance, immunity to fear and can use practically every scroll and wand you can get your hands on.

 

That character has too many classes and clashing alignments its impossible isnt it? Or is it something you just thought of and didnt play?

 

The only alignment restrictive classes are the monk and pally, both which can be LG. You'd think this was made up and never used, but it has.

 

Dreadmasters needs to be evil or one of the neutral alignments (can't remember which).

 

Got confused with the two variants. My bad.

Deep Gnome LE
Rogue[2]/Monk[1]/Dreadmaster of Bane[1]/Fighter[2]/Ranger[1]/Illusionist[21] ~
Stats: 8-20-10-15-20-1

Notice that this guy has two levels remaining. Since mages receive no new spells between L21 to L24, taking more Illusionist levels is of no use. Level squatting at the end and taking 2 fighter levels to specialise in weapon(s) of your choice is recommended.

Deep Gnome LG
Rogue[2]/Monk[1]/Painbearer of Ilmater[1]/Fighter[2]/Paladin of Ilmater[2]/Ranger[1]/Illusionist[21] ~
Stats: 8-20-10-15-20-1

The Cleric may worship Helm, Ilmater or Lathander. The cleric level is there so that he can use the cleric spell scrolls. For RP reasons I prefer to make him Paladin & Cleric of Ilmater.

Level progression is as follows:
L1 - Rogue
L2 - Ranger (favoured enemy: Goblin)
L3 - Cleric
L4 - Illusionist (start scribing all mage scrolls )
L5 - Rogue (for evasion)
Concentrate on Illusionist from now on.
Take Fighter levels if you feel he is hitting nothing. Or if you want the free feats. Otherwise leave as late as possible.
If LG, take the Paladin levels before you get to Chult. Yuan-ti are the first to actively use fear on you iirc. Paladin of Ilmater should be able to cleanse the statue in the Kuldahar graveyard.
Take the Monk level only after Kuldahar. Since the level up stat points will go to Int, armoured+sheild AC is better than Wis based AC till now. Or take it if you need to improve his saves.

4 of the first 5 level up stat points go to Int (for 19Int lets you cast 9th level spells). 1 goes to Dex so you can use the 'Potion of Holy Transferance'. The last 2 go to either Dex or Wis to improve your AC.

 

For RP reasons I prefer to make him Paladin & Cleric of Ilmater.

Anyone doing this character is doing nothing for RP reasons... he's doing things for XP reasons.