Commentary Thread: Elemental Truths

[Ben Zwycky]

Well, we no longer have a wizard, but wizards can be tricky to manage if you're not familiar with 3.5...

[MrManNo1]

I actually built Melchior in such a way to somewhat account for the damage slack of no wizard, so you wouldn't need to go a particularly offensive wizard, or you could go a bard or something akin to that.

[Ben Zwycky]

We already have a bard, barbarian, rogue, druid (but with the track feat, so that sort of covers the ranger aspect) and cleric with some damaging magic, so to avoid duplication, options include a paladin, ranger, monk, wizard/sorcerer (but wizards are better than sorcs once you get above 4th level IMO, though perhaps more cumbersome to use than a sorc). IIRC, we don't have anyone that great at archery, so maybe a ranger following the archery track, or if you want to be unconventional, go for a prestige class like dragon disciple or mystic theurge, or an elven ranger with one level of wizard to go for arcane archer at level 8.

[Chaotic Void]

From what I've read, the Arcane Archer sounds appealing (except for the fact they don't gain spells from either their Ranger or Arcane class is a bummer, but as long as they retain the ability to cast from either school it's fine). I'll tinker with it for a bit (as well as the Mystic Theurge) and see what I can come up with.

[Ben Zwycky]

Well, we're at level 7, and you can't actually become an arcane archer until level 8 at the earliest, but you could have everything set up and ready for it if you join at level 7.

[Chaotic Void]

Well, we're at level 7, and you can't actually become an arcane archer until level 8 at the earliest, but you could have everything set up and ready for it if you join at level 7.

Truth be told, I'm not planning to join till Part 2 of the Campaign (which will be a higher level, IIRC). Tough choice which path to go... Arcane Archer gets magical arrows and some rather nice abilities (like Seeker Arrow), wheras Mystic Thurge gets to use Divine and Arcane spells.

[Tanakh Keeper]

It's the most basic choice: spell caster or warrior. Being equally good at both, also means you're equally bad at both.

[MrManNo1]

I was considering making Melchior a Mystic Theurge, but, in all honesty, Mystic Theurge's suck. Your spells are never quite strong enough either offensively or defensively, and you can't cast the max level spells in either class by level 20. It's a nice class in theory, but the diversity you gain really isn't worth being really weak in both divine and arcane spells. Better to choose one and stick with it if you want to be helpful.

Arcane Archer, on the other hand, can end up being extremely strong, because you're not so much focusing on the arcane part as using it to supplement your archery damage. The Enhance Arrow ability is particularly useful in a low-magic setting.

[Chaotic Void]

I was considering making Melchior a Mystic Theurge, but, in all honesty, Mystic Theurge's suck. Your spells are never quite strong enough either offensively or defensively, and you can't cast the max level spells in either class by level 20. It's a nice class in theory, but the diversity you gain really isn't worth being really weak in both divine and arcane spells. Better to choose one and stick with it if you want to be helpful.

Arcane Archer, on the other hand, can end up being extremely strong, because you're not so much focusing on the arcane part as using it to supplement your archery damage. The Enhance Arrow ability is particularly useful in a low-magic setting.

That's one of the reasons I was thinking Arcane Archer. It would help provide some Ranged offense (especially against enemies that can fly and are resistant to Physical Damage) to the party.

[Carrikature]

I have mixed opinions about knowledge checks. From the player's perspective, it can be really annoying to make a dozen different knowledge checks while you attempt to figure out what creature you're facing. Bad rolls just make it worse, since you can't always tell if you've the wrong knowledge type or just rolled poorly. On the other hand, I don't want to just tell you "hey make this knowledge check". Also, actually guessing is a lot more realistic.

I think I'd prefer to do a compromise. The simplest way would be to have one of the players ask in character "Does anyone know what this is?" Then I can give the appropriate knowledge category. Whoever wants to can then roll to see what they know.

My thinking is that someone trained in a knowledge category should probably be able to recognize something they might should know, especially when it comes to creatures.

[Ben Zwycky]

Sounds fair to me. Tasse and Melchior have knowledge arcana as class skills, so hopefully they have at least 1 rank in it?

[Ben Zwycky]

I'm going away for a week today.

[Tanakh Keeper]

You went away for a week, but the thread went away for a month! (and counting)...

[Carrikature]

Are people still interested in playing?

[Thersites]

Classes are in full swing. It's probably not a good idea to divide my attention further.