The Unseen Servant forums

This thread is dedicated to the players to discuss group strategy, combat strategy and general campaign discussion.

Greetings, folks. I figured that some of you might want to be mutually aware of character generation intentions, to try to cover the bases. As for me, I will likely be rolling up a single-classed fighter.

I actually have no idea, and am open to suggestions. My rolls will almost certainly make it an interesting character:

17, 12, 8, 12, 4, 12

Ironically, I envy you; to call my rolls "mediocre" would be generous.

Some thoughts:

- Tossing a 17 into intelligence would make for a versatile magic-user. However, you don't have the secondary support stat required to be a specialist. I tend to discourage folks from playing generic magic-users in 2nd Edition unless they're multi-classed (and even then I strongly suggest gnome illusionists). (EDIT: see below)

- A 17 in wisdom is most excellent, as it would result in many bonus spells. Cleric is always a solid class. Generally, with stats like yours -- one great, the others bleh -- I go with a cleric. You can put the 4 in charisma and be a horribly scarred figure, turning to religion for sanctuary from the rotten cabbage the commoners throw at you. Or you can be *really* brazen, put the 4 in constitution, and be a crippled, wheezing wretch. 4 con is only -1 on hit points in 2nd Edition, ironically.

- A 17 in dexterity, as an elf, would modify you to 18. 18 dexterity is an *amazing* statistic: +2 to-hit with missile weapons; +2 reaction adjustment; -4 (!!!) on armor class. Throw on some splint mail and a shield, and you have a -1 AC! That's a formidable battlefield presence in and of itself. As a single-classed elven fighter, you could specialize in long sword, and be +2 to-hit, +2 damage, 3 attacks per 2 rounds. Pretty spiffy, alongside a monstrous armor class. Again here, you could put the 4 in charisma and create an entertaining back story about how your mother dropped you a lot as a child. Or you could put it in wisdom and be a silly, gullible goofball. (Take it from someone who's played a character with 4 wisdom; it can be a hoot.)

- For a thief, that same 17 in dexterity, as an elf or halfling, would modify you to 18. That yields some very nice thief ability bonsuses, as well as reliable non-weapon proficiencies for various thief-related activities -- tumbling, rope use, and the like. The armor class bonuses doesn't hurt either in a pinch; that's AC 4 wearing just leather. You could also go multi-classed fighter/thief as either race, though I'd of course recommend elf. You wouldn't be able to specialize that way, though.

EDIT: On second thought, you may indeed want to consider being a gnome illusionist of some sort. You'd end up with a 13 intelligence, which while isn't terrific, isn't terrible either. 55% chance to learn spell, 9 spells per spell level; and a bonus Illusion to memorize at each spell level, so as a 1st level character you could start with two spells memorized. A few Color Sprays is certainly nothing to sneeze at. With still a high dex, you could then also consider multi-classing, as an illusionist/thief or illusionist/fighter.

Xaxyx wrote:...you could put the 4 in charisma and create an entertaining back story about how your mother dropped you a lot as a child.

This was too funny!

I do enjoy clerics... and fighters... and thieves... so I'm sure I'll be able to come up with a character I'll have fun playing. Your proposed fighter build is very intriguing. I actually had a pretty good idea what I wanted to create, but after I took my first brief look at the 2E PHB last night, I was surprised at the omission of half orcs. I was thinking a (very!) low charisma half orc fighter would be a lot of fun to play.

I'll give this some more thought, but I, too, am leaning towards playing a fighter. My hesitation about creating an elven fighter with a high dexterity is that I'm afraid I'll have two active characters that are too closely related (see: Caelvanna).

Decisions, decisions.

Whoops, I made an edit just after you posted; please refer to above wherein I mention the potential for you to play a gnome illusionist of some sort.

Xaxyx wrote:...the potential for you to play a gnome illusionist of some sort.

Believe it or not, I have played an illusionist exactly one time in my life. I struggle with arcane spell casters for whatever reason, but I will consider it.

I would like to at least read through the 2E chapters on races and classes before ultimately deciding. That said, when I read "Role playing heavy/combat and dice rolling," an illusionist doesn't exactly spring to mind.

Hi all - got some very good rolls - think I can make a ranger but happy to go elf mu/thief if we need it...
Sam

My suggestion, as always, is that you should play what you would enjoy. Would you like to play a ranger? Note that rangers in 2nd Edition can't specialize, and differ from 1st Edition rangers in many other significant ways.

Always happy to be a team player
As am playing a fighter on another PbP and fancing a bit of skulking I'll go MU / T...

Very well then. As I did with dmw71, and assuming you have the stats for it (it sounds like you do), I would also suggest giving due consideration to playing a gnome illusionist/thief. +1 to int, a bonus spell per spell level, and a -1 to enemy saving throws vs. illusions which can be quite handy.

It seems I was mistaken about Color Spray; in 2nd Edition, it's an Alteration, not an Illusion. Phantasmal Force, on the other hand, can always be terrific fun, especially in a PbP environment where you can really get creative.

Xaxyx wrote:My suggestion, as always, is that you should play what you would enjoy.

Agreed!

saalaria wrote:Always happy to be a team player
As am playing a fighter on another PbP and fancing a bit of skulking I'll go MU / T...

A nice combination.

I can be fully rounded artillery - missiles & magic!

ROLL CALL! If you know pretty much what you are playing PM me as I will post a list in this thread and update it as players decide. You arent held to it in stone until your player is done. I think this comprehensive list on one post will help the rest decide or give everyone an idea of what this rag tag group is shaping up to be. If you have a PC name too include that.

Saalaria - Thief/Magic User
Xaxyx - Fighter

Okay, I've been thinking and I believe I've narrowed down my choices to the following four characters:

Human Magic-User
I've actually convinced myself that I'd be willing to to try a straight magic user.

Xaxyx wrote:- Tossing a 17 into intelligence would make for a versatile magic-user. However, you don't have the secondary support stat required to be a specialist.

As Xaxyx pointed out, I won't be able to become a specialist (whatever that means), but I have an idea of how I would build a magic user character if I did go that direction.

Human Cleric
I typically enjoy playing clerics so, if no one else creates one, I will almost certainly go this direction (which also means that, unless someone specifically indicates that they want to play a cleric, my choice of character will be last by default).

Human Fighter
You can never have too many fighters, right?

Elven Fighter
I think Xaxyx illustrates the benefits of this combination pretty nicely:

Xaxyx wrote:- A 17 in dexterity, as an elf, would modify you to 18. 18 dexterity is an *amazing* statistic: +2 to-hit with missile weapons; +2 reaction adjustment; -4 (!!!) on armor class.... As a single-classed elven fighter, you could specialize in long sword, and be +2 to-hit, +2 damage, 3 attacks per 2 rounds. Pretty spiffy, alongside a monstrous armor class.

If I had to rank the above characters in order of perference, I would probably do so as follows:
Elven Fighter
Human Magic User <-- amazingly enough
Human Cleric
Human Fighter

That said, again, I will be more than happy to play any of these so whatever will most benefit the party is what I'll play.


Thanks,
- Dave

dmw71 wrote:As Xaxyx pointed out, I won't be able to become a specialist (whatever that means), but I have an idea of how I would build a magic user character if I did go that direction.

I corrected myself after the fact; if you put the 17 into the secondary requisite, you can be a specialist wizard. You could for example play a gnome illusionist, with a 13 intelligence and a 17 dexterity.

well, I'll chime in, 15, 14, 12, 12, 10, 10

not many bonuses, but that is before ay racial modifiers.

almost certainly not gonna be multi-classed, nor any 'special' class either.

I am a team player as well, I can fill a void. So, consider me 'non-commited' at this point. please continue discussions.

Well my 2cp would be one of you be a fighter and one a cleric but ultimately I think its up to you guys....

saalaria wrote:Well my 2cp would be one of you be a fighter and one a cleric but ultimately I think its up to you guys....

You have a preference, Nuke? I would be happy to run either.

O shit Dave, I'll do a single class fighter, I don't thinks I've ever done that