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10 months ago  ::  Sep 25, 2012 - 11:29PM #1
Napolean_Warlord
Napolean_Warlord
Date Joined: Oct 27, 2009
Posts: 159
I'm going to start attending a weekly pickup game at the friendly local gaming shop.  I'm going to put together some characters but would appreciate some advice.  I asked the person who runs the event for suggestions - he said I could show up 30 minutes early and make up a character after chatting with the DM. 

....

Making a character in 30 minutes? 

Madness.

So I'm thinking about trying to optimize the following (in order)  
1: Optimize DM user friendliness: avoid a build that could confuse / annoy a DM who isn't familiar with charop
2: Optimize fun: minimize chance that a character is ineffective due to lack of party coordination (see defender and some controllers)
3: Optimize character effectiveness in role.   

Seems like running a defender or controller with a pickup group could be very frustrating, with no prior knowledge of other builds or desire to integrate tactics.

I was thinking of building out RenZhe's nice Warlord|Warlock/Avenger build from 5th-12th level.  Striker|Leader seems like you can't go wrong, not knowing what the rest of the party would look like.  I'm inclined to draft a little farther from the PH, if there are any other builds that occur to folks. 

I'm guessing that pickup games open to new players would typically be heroic through low-paragon, but I really have no clue.  I expect after the first month I'll have a clue, but why waste the opportunity to obsess about building a character now?

thanks! 
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10 months ago  ::  Sep 25, 2012 - 11:31PM #2
erachima
erachima
Date Joined: Sep 4, 2010
Posts: 7,679
Build an Invoker. They can be highly effective while remaining incredibly straightforward and rather independent of the party to work.
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9 months ago  ::  Sep 26, 2012 - 8:53AM #3
GelatinousOctahedron
GelatinousOctahedron
Date Joined: Jun 30, 2008
Posts: 5,740
Invoker is a good choice and probably the best option if you want to go controller.  If you did want to do a defender I would go lay on hands chaladin or baladin, maybe with dragonborn as your race.

There are a good number of 5th man classes and builds that work well in most parties.  Most monks and warlocks fit in well in any party.   Domination domain warpriest fits in well as it has a little control, some striker potential, and is a leader.  Cunning Bard is another good choice since it can cover a lot of skills and bring both leading and control.   Hybrid cleric/striker (ranger/barbarian/avenger) or controller (wizard/invoker/druid) would be my choice if you wanted to hybrid since they can be fairly straightforward for a hybrid and helps in any party.
my handbooks & builds Show
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9 months ago  ::  Sep 26, 2012 - 9:34AM #4
Napolean_Warlord
Napolean_Warlord
Date Joined: Oct 27, 2009
Posts: 159
Thank you both very much.  I made an invoker and I'll probably try a cunning bard and then a cleric|striker.


FWIW - level 10 invoker focused on handing out dazes and turn 1 party friendly effects, then switching to lightning focused divine bolts for battlefield repositioning


====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ====== Tirah, level 10 Deva, Invoker Divine Covenant Option: Covenant of Preservation


Nelanther Isles (Nelanther Isles Benefit)


Theme: Seer  


FINAL ABILITY SCORES


STR 10, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 20, WIS 20, CHA 8  


STARTING ABILITY SCORES


STR 10, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 16, WIS 16, CHA 8    


AC: 24 Fort: 19 Ref: 23 Will: 25


HP: 59 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 14  


TRAINED SKILLS


Acrobatics +11, Arcana +16, Insight +18, Religion +18  


UNTRAINED SKILLS Athletics +5, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +10, Endurance +5, Heal +10, History +12, Intimidate +4, Nature +10, Perception +10, Stealth +4, Streetwise +4, Thievery +4  


POWERS


Seer Utility: Cast Fortune


Deva Racial Power: Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes


Invoker Feature: Rebuke Undead


Covenant of Preservation  Power: Preserver's Rebuke


Invoker Attack 1: Divine Bolts


Invoker Attack 1: Grasping Shards


Invoker Attack 1: Blades of Astral Fire


Invoker Attack 1: Silent Malediction


Invoker Utility 2: Wall of Light


Invoker Attack 3: Word of Ruin


Invoker Attack 5: Searing Orb


Invoker Utility 6: Symbol of Hope


Invoker Attack 7: Written in Fire


Invoker Attack 9: Fourfold Invocation of Doom


Invoker Utility 10: Covenant of Endurance  


FEATS


Level 1: Ritual Caster


Level 1: Superior Will


Level 2: Battle Intuition


Level 4: Staff Expertise


Level 6: Superior Implement Training (Quickbeam staff)


Level 8: Power of Skill


Level 10: Mark of Storm  


ITEMS


Ritual Book , Hand of Fate , Brew Potion , Tactician's Finemail +2 x1, Lucky Charm +2 x1, Adventurer's Kit, Disenchant Magic Item, Magic Quickbeam staff +3 x1


Eagle Eye Goggles (heroic tier), Bracers of the Perfect Shot (heroic tier), Gauntlets of Blood (heroic tier), Eberron Shard of Lightning (heroic tier) , Avandra's Blessing of Confidence (heroic tier)


====== End ======
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9 months ago  ::  Sep 26, 2012 - 4:14PM #5
Zhara
Zhara
Date Joined: Nov 9, 2010
Posts: 196
Something leadery? Every party needs a healer. Having too much leader can be bad, but not having enough is worse. I'de suggest one who'se got good party synergy potential without being dependant. Battlefront or Bowverlord are okay choices. Also melee based clerics.
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9 months ago  ::  Sep 28, 2012 - 11:46AM #6
Black_Knight999
Black_Knight999
Date Joined: Aug 1, 2008
Posts: 1,107
Invoker|Cleric would be a great option. You get terrific AC and healing from the cleric side as well as an awesome at-will (hand of radiance) and great encounter and daily options from the invoker side.

Morninglord is an excellent leader PP for this sort of build with the right party op. Just tell your friends to pick up Pervasive Light in paragon and everyone gets +10 damage against targets you hit. With all the cleric + invoker bursts and blasts, you can make the whole board vulnerable.
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