Party through 4 levels

[Gimli]

Well here is my party a little ways into the game, all the non-ECL
characters have hit 4th level, the 2 ECLs are at 3rd. They have
just finished up the area where Emma Moonblade is (killed Torak, killed
the Troll too) and are ready to finish up the Shanedale bridge quest.
So far no one has died (a couple of close calls), and as a team I would
grade them an A as they work together really well.

Gordon -> Aasimar Paladin(2)/Fighter(1)
eventually Paladin(X)/Fighter(8)
St:18 Dx:10 Co:16 In:8 Wi:10 Ch:18
Feats: WF:Large Swords; Power Attack; Cleave
Skills: Diplomacy
Notable equipment: Emma's Moonblade
Comments: So far I think I'm happy with the choices I made for him;
he's a great tank + leader. He's #2 in kills. I reccomend
in general taking a weapon focus at 1st level as it seems like
the most effective early fighting feat and you need it anyway
as a precursor to weapon specialization. Also seems like
the Pally is best suited for an ECL class as the stat
requirements are pretty tough.
Grade: A

Dixie -> 1/2 Orc Barbarian(1)/Fighter(3)
eventually Barbarian(X)/Fighter(4)
St:20(+1) Dx:18 Co:18 In:1 Wi:16 Ch:1
Feats: WF:Great Axe; Power Attack; Cleave; Dirty Fighting
Skills: Wilderness Lore
Notable equipment: Executioner's Wife; Haft over Head
Comments: By far the best fighter in the group, she is just a terror with
a great axe. The high Wis seems to really help her with Will
saves. Also she's the lone Wilderness Lore member so it helps
there. Int/Cha are basically worthless for her and it's fun
having one really dumb/ugly character anyways She's #1 in kills.
Grade: A+

Leo -> Gold Dwarf Cleric (Morninglord of Lathander)
(will only level as a Cleric)
St:14 Dx:10 Co:18 In:4 Wi:1+1) Ch:10
Feats: WF:Mace; SF:Evocation
Skills: Concentration
Notable Equipment: Clenched Fist; Tabard's Shield
Comments: His Bull's Strength spells are extremely useful, as is his
ability to spontaneously cast healing spells. Lathander really
has some sweet/useful domain spells. Looks like he can be both
a backup tank with a mace/shield and also deal some nice damage
spells courtesy of Lathander, so I am going for SF/GSF in
Evocation. Hasn't wowed me like the Barbarian but is rock
solid and helps everyone else. #3 in kills.
Grade: B+

Taelen -> Tiefling Rogue(2)/Ranger(1)
eventually Rogue(X)/Fighter(2)/Ranger(1)
St:14 Dx:20 Co:16 In:12 Wi:10 Ch:6
Feats: Dash; Weapon Finesse; Ranger dual-wield
Skills: Search; Open Lock; Disable Device; Use Magic Device; Hide; Move Silently
Notable equipment: Sorrow's Tear; Treadlightly Boots; Dead Cat [img]smile.gif[/img]
Comments: Have split points between Hide/Move Silently as it doesn't seem
as useful as the other skills (and my Wizard can always just make
him invisible anyway). Waited for 3rd level to take the Ranger level
along with weapon finesse, then started dual wielding short blades.
He's a good scout and very good at sneaking behind enemy spell casters
before a battle starts and then back stabbing them when the fur flies.
Dash is great for making hasty retreats from scouting excursions
where he gets isolated from the rest of the group, and he can lead
the monsters into ambushes with it as well. Very useful overall, a
little less effective back-stabbing than I would have imagined so
far, but still is only level 2 as a Rogue so it should improve.
#5 in kills.
Grade: B+

Geddy -> Moon Elf Bard(4)
(will only level as a Bard)
St:10 Dx:16 Co:12 In:12 Wi:10 Ch:16(+1)
Feats: WF:Bow; SF:Enchantment
Skills: Concentration; Bluff; Pick Pocket
Notable equipment: Ring of Mage Armor
Comments: Made one very big mistake with him and that was not taking Lingering
Song sooner, didn't realize bard songs stop once he takes any action
other than moving. So he gets caught in the trap of either keep the
song going and stay out of harm's way, or use a spell or archery and
give up the bard song (at least with lingering song the song would
last 2 more rounds if he switched gears). So he's not as useful as
he can be, but that being said he's still not a total failure. Charm
and Sleep with SF:Enchantment have come in handy, and he's pretty good
with a bow when needed. Also his Bluff skill has been very handy
when the Pally is too goody-goody as a leader. Still haven't tried
out Pick Pocket, need to see if he can succeed with it yet. He's last
in kills.
Grade: C+ (would be much higher but for messing up and not taking Lingering Song).

Ralphie -> Strongheart Halfling Wizard(4)
(will only level as a Wizard)
St:8 Dx:20 Co:16 In:1+1) Wi:10 Ch:4
Feats: GSF:Evocation; GSF:Enchantment
Skills: Concentration, Alchemy, Spellcraft, Hide; Move Silently
Notable equipment: Left Hand of Darkness, Phaen's Robes of Rags
Comments: He's basically been a sleep and zap machine, also is pretty good with
his sling. He's been exactly what I imagined he'd be so far and I'm
really happy with him. The only weird experience he had (needed to
reload after this) was casting an Aganazzar's scorcher at an orc in
the battle with Emma Moonblade - she walked into the flame and then
after the fight called my Paladin a "pig" for attacking her and
attacked my party (and fled with word of recall when she was getting
her rear end handed to her). Not my fault she didn't watch her step
Still have to work on getting larger area effect spells under control
(he's webbed a few friends for example by mistake). #4 in kills.
Grade: A-

[Nanobyte]

Originally posted by Gimli: Notable equipment: Left Hand of Darkness, Phaen's Robes of Rags

Is there really something in this game called that? OMG! I just finished reading that book by Ursula K. Le Guin..!! [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

[Gimli]

Yep, it's a sling that is supposedly a piece of a mummy's wrappings.

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

mistakes i sense

) don't use a sling with u wizards
check maunal or to hit log - slings are based on STR! use crossbows and spend a second feat there (rocking!!!)

sling should go to e.g. gordon!

) fighter levels for u thief (why?)
the ranger level is a nice idea *cong* but the fighter levels will cost him 20% exp and a 1D6 backstab attack

[ 09-24-2002, 05:32 AM: Message edited by: Meriadoc Brandybuck ]

[Gimli]

"don't use a sling with u wizards
check maunal or to hit log - slings
are based on STR! use crossbows and
spend a second feat there (rocking!!!)"

Hmm, my question is is the sling considered
a "thrown" weapon?? I am under the impresion
they are, that's why I took it for the halfling
as they basically get a free weapon focus with
thrown weapons. But if slings add your str bonus
to damage, well then I will probably be giving
one to my paladin and barbarian. So do slings
use Dex for their "to hit" and Str for damage??

"fighter levels for u thief (why?)
the ranger level is a nice idea *cong*
but the fighter levels will cost him 20%
exp and a 1D6 backstab attack"

Basically it's a trade-off of the 1d6 damage
from the backstabbing vs. 2 extra feats. Since
the fighter gets 2 free feats at 1st and second
level, that is why I did it, also it will help
out his BAB. But there won't be any Exp penalty
with that build. He's a tiefling, so Rogue is
his favored class, so ignore that in the equation.
The ranger and fighter levels will be withing one
of each other (will end up ranger(1)/fighter(2))
so he won't get penalized. Also when I looked at
the feats I wanted, he had to be 10th level as a
Rogue by 12th level overall, and I wanted him to
dual wield fairly early. So I had planned something
like this for feats:

Level Rogue Ranger Fighter Feats
----- ----- ------ ------- -------------------
1 1 0 0 Dash
2 2 0 0
3 2 1 0 Weapon Finesse; Ranger dual-wield
4 3 1 0
5 3 1 1 Hamstring
6 4 1 1 Arterial Strike
...
9 7 1 1 Lightning Reflexes
...
12 10 1 1 Improved Evasion
13 10 1 2 Improved Critical
15 12 1 2 Crippling Strike

At 3rd I go for dual-wielding, hold off until I get weapon
finesse to offset the -2/-2 to hit. At 5th I have 3 levels
of rogue so I can take Hamstring. At 6th I have the +4 BAB
required for Arterial Strike. At 12th he's eligible to take
the special rogue feats (they require 10 levels of rogue) and
go for improved evasion. At 13th he's over +8 BAB so he can
take improved critical, an added fighter feat. Then he gets
one more special rogue feat at 15th. I'm not counting on him
hitting 18th as he's a tiefling, if he does I won't complain
about getting another feat though Basically I wanted him
to be a really effective short blade type.

[Meriadoc Brandybuck]

just to know

the BAB is one of the 2and1/2 edition feature they do not stack !

i'll have a halfing rogue he's a master of the bow but lack with slings
sorry to say it

and u should boost his willpower *iron will* is a must for all and also the others should be choosen - just a tip

[ 09-24-2002, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Meriadoc Brandybuck ]

[Magness]

Gimli, Gimli, Gimli.

Gordon -> Aasimar Paladin(2)/Fighter(1) Notable equipment: Emma's Moonblade

A paladin not returning Emma moonblade? How horrifying!

I'm going to report you to the local Radiant Heart HQ for a disciplinary hearing.

[Gimli]

Hey he told Emma he didn't want it but she gave it to him anyway, lol [img]smile.gif[/img]
Not like he didn't try to return it..

"the BAB is one of the 2and1/2 edition feature they do not stack!"

??? what does this mean?

"i'll have a halfing rogue he's a master of the bow but lack with slings
sorry to say it"

My question is basically, does a sling count as a thrown weapon? If so
halflings get +1 to hit as a racial bonus. I didn't want to waste a weapon
feat with the Wizard, and if he uses the sling he gets a free weapon focus
with it (if it counts as a thrown weapon).

"and u should boost his willpower *iron will* is a must for all and also the others should be choosen - just a tip"

Well magic-using characters get great will saves, so I'll pass on iron will with the Wizard; for the rogue/bard/barbarian it would definitely be useful, the barbarian is definitely taking it; the paladin already gets great save bonuses from his Charisma and being a pally, so I think it's not worth it there either.