bad race/class combos?

thatsmrbunny · February 2013

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that my D&D knowledge is a bit out of date (my first experience was Pool of Radiance on the Commodore 64). I'm wondering if choosing a race and class that don't complement each other will greatly hinder me.

This only worries me as this is an MMO and I generally pug group content. I personally would love play an odd combo (I've been thinking about tiefling guardian) but I can already predict the "Sorry, we're looking for a dwarf guardian only" comments when pugging.

So, 4e players, how big an effect will racial stat bonuses have role effectiveness? Should I play it safe and go for synergy?

zagemogga · February 2013

I read about Tieflings a lot in 4e, even those can be devoted clerics as devils spawn.

I mean, my ancestors might have had intercourse and a pact with a devil/demon, putting all 'normal' humans in slavery ruling entire kingdoms. But this doesn't mean I cannot become devoted to some good god -.-

There are no real rules for the available classes/races at launch. I know some ranger classes (some tree-hugger) can only be elves, but those won't be available anyway.

jaelrinya · February 2013

The stat bonuses the races get don't make a big difference in the long run in 4th edition.

Just take the race that you like the most and combine it with the class you want to play

.

denkasaeba · February 2013

jaelrinya wrote: »

The stat bonuses the races get don't make a big difference in the long run in 4th edition.

Just take the race that you like the most and combine it with the class you want to play .

This is true, but people like to play a thematically and statistically fitting race/class combo. Anyway, +2 means constantly a +1 to hit, which, on the long run, makes the difference. Bad combos also have usually bigger ac/defenses issues.

Anyway, some bad (stat based, not fluff based) combos for classes we have in the game. Human works with every class:

Halfling Wizard, Halfling Cleric, Tiefling Cleric, Tiefling Fighter, Dwarf Rogue, 1/2 Orc Wizard, 1/2 Orc Cleric.

Other combos seems more viable at first glance.

thatsmrbunny · February 2013

I know it's possible, I meant will it be viable, given the nature of pugs. When I played DCUO I saw a lot of "need tank" shouts amended to "sorry, need ice tanks, fire need not apply". I'm just wondering if this is what I risk if I have a less than ideal race/class combo.

iamtruthseeker · February 2013

No class combo will make a class unplayable or even "bad" thanks to how 4e works. Glad THAT part of the system was kept....

arkonagade · February 2013

if you choose a dark elf you get +2 dexterity for example.
It's not a life saving bonus

and you revover faster at campfires..

the 3rd racial (darkfire) they didnt show

zagemogga · February 2013

lol dark elves with +2 charisma?!?

denkasaeba · February 2013

zagemogga wrote: »

lol dark elves with +2 charisma?!?

Drows have had +2 to charisma since 3rd edition.

providentt · February 2013

What interests me about those screenshots is the 'ability scores' and 'background' tabs. Ability scores was something I wasn't expecting to be in Neverwinter, what with it being fairly watered down on the D&D stuff. And backgrounds in 4e and Next are just incredible fun.

I like it.

zagemogga · February 2013

denkasaeba wrote: »

Drows have had +2 to charisma since 3rd edition.

Didn't know that! I usually don't play elves...

This description however doesn't sound like a nice person to me or someone I would trust or believe in for that matter:

Dark elves have a fierce, war-like personality. They are ruthless but incredibly loyal to their warband. Females think of males as inferior and males don't think much. Dark elves are somewhat honourable, as there's no honour in stabbing someone in the back. Many value honour over material goods, as it last longer.

http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Dark_Elves,_LoD_%283.5e_Race%29
As male drow, you are worthless anyway and just for reproduction purposes and slavery...

denkasaeba · February 2013

Well, Charisma stat isn't tied to being a "nice person" but exactly to a fierce and strong personality.

(that description is kinda... weird, though. Drow males don't think?

jaffrojones · February 2013

As was stated before, there is no race that actually makes a class unplayable. In the past editions of D&D, races would give you pluses and negatives in stats for certain things. For example, an Elf gave you +2 to Dexterity and -2 to Constitution (if I am remembering correctly), so of course that would make your health lower than other races. So an Elf might not be considered an ideal fighter.

However, since 4th edition they have removed the negatives. So if you are a Dwarf Fighter at 1st level you could have a max Constitution of 20 because of his +2 Constitution modifier An Elf wouldn't get that +2 to his Constitution, so his max at 1st would be 18. Does that mean an Elf couldn't be, or is a bad Fighter? No. It just means the Dwarf has the ability to have more overall hit points.

arkonagade · February 2013

Here races from video for descriptions

arkonagade · February 2013

zagemogga wrote: »

lol dark elves with +2 charisma?!?

it's the trickster rogue's secondary stat

highjusticar · February 2013

denkasaeba wrote: »

Well, Charisma stat isn't tied to being a "nice person" but exactly to a fierce and strong personality.

(that description is kinda... weird, though. Drow males don't think?

I am sure the person who wrote that was female and really wanted to write "All males don't think!"

denkasaeba · February 2013

highjusticar wrote: »

I am sure the person who wrote that was female and really wanted to write "All males don't think!"

Lol that is possible. The author of the page should read the "War of the Spider Queen" serie. The male wizard is really a smart son of a... widow.

morhilane · February 2013

denkasaeba wrote: »

Lol that is possible. The author of the page should read the "War of the Spider Queen" serie. The male wizard is really a smart son of a... widow.

There are always exceptions.

barkyn · February 2013

thatsmrbunny wrote: »

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that my D&D knowledge is a bit out of date (my first experience was Pool of Radiance on the Commodore 64). I'm wondering if choosing a race and class that don't complement each other will greatly hinder me.

This only worries me as this is an MMO and I generally pug group content. I personally would love play an odd combo (I've been thinking about tiefling guardian) but I can already predict the "Sorry, we're looking for a dwarf guardian only" comments when pugging.

So, 4e players, how big an effect will racial stat bonuses have role effectiveness? Should I play it safe and go for synergy?

and if being a tiefling guardian or cleric is your cup of tea, I wont discriminate

id gladly join you for an adventure or two

i say play what you want...if a group is not going to have you because you chose a raceclass combo that isnt "normal" or because or "race stats" then they wernt worth playing with...i cant stand people who think all the races should be titled with only playing certain classes...look at me...Dwarf Rogue all the way, if the said group doesnt like it ill simply move on and find a group who does.

think of it like this...yes race bonuses help a little when it comes to picking a class, but if thats how it really worked id have to be forced to choose to play an elf, and i absolutely hate elves. playing a race just based off stat bonuses for a certain class doesnt scream DnD to me...DnD is supposed to about creating that hero you always wanted to be on a tabletop game...its like your sitting at the table reading the rulebook (oh well guys i really wanted to be a teifling paladin, but these stats just dont look right, so even though i hate the race i GUESS ill play human) dont go that route man, will just make you dislike the game more than enjoy it

geddings12 · February 2013

i doubt it would be a huge problem. i think they want to make the game as easily accessible as they can so it doesn't seem to me there will be any "bad" combinations. It will just depend more on your play-style :-)

kfmc · February 2013

An important question here really is, how significant are the +2 ability scores gonna be? Or rather, around how high do we expect the ability scores to go up to? Is it like actual DnD where mid-high 20s is the top range? Or will it be like other mmos where "Stats" goes up to hundreds/thousands?

-edit-
And just for fun, look at WoW. Some elitist guilds force their members to reroll a race, even if it only means 1% increased dps. Min/Maxers will always be min/maxers.

highjusticar · February 2013

kfmc wrote: »

An important question here really is, how significant are the +2 ability scores gonna be? Or rather, around how high do we expect the ability scores to go up to? Is it like actual DnD where mid-high 20s is the top range? Or will it be like other mmos where "Stats" goes up to hundreds/thousands?

-edit-
And just for fun, look at WoW. Some elitist guilds force their members to reroll a race, even if it only means 1% increased dps. Min/Maxers will always be min/maxers.

I am a min/maxer. What you just described are jackasses.

iamtruthseeker · February 2013

Nothing wrong with min-max'ers if they don't force their ways on others. Then they become the a-holes we all mutter when they say stuff like the WoW example.

bad race/class combos?

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