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[Remuthra]

Just like XCOM!

[mastahcheese]

You get a character to survive one adventure and he gets a name. If Jimmy survives to level 2 he's probably developed some preferences, loves, hatreds, fears, and hopes for the future. What happens before 5th level is your backstory.

Pretty much, yes, that's how I like to look at it.

Back in 8th grade, I played a mage, and I sucked. I could only magic missile once a day, and then I sat there, soaking up experience until I could hit a level that I became useful.
Normally, when a fight started, I would calmly walk around to the other side of the room, and start examining things to see if they were useful, while fighting was going on 10 feet from me, and if my allies needed help, I would stop, shoot my missiles, then go back to being the useless mage.
I wasn't actually useful until I got a faerie dragon as a familiar, and then I pretty much just played through the familiar, with the actual wizard as a sort of secondary character.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

There's other stuff you can do though. I mean, depending on the edition, you will be more or less useful. In 2E for example Mages can use darts. They're cool because you throw 3 per round, and while the damage is low (1d3) that's still 3 chances to hit. And at 1st level everyone has the same "attack bonus" - although people with high stats will be better and weapon specialization helps a lot. Let's say your Mage has the same chance as the Cleric or the Thief, except he gets 3 shots.

Also, because you can go to -10 HP before dying, it's worthwhile to jump in and whack if the party is really hurting. That could be a hit that drops you to -4 HP, but it's a hit that would have dropped the Fighter, who now has a chance to keep fighting. After the battle's over someone bandages you and it's ok. I forget, does that put you at 1 HP?

Anyway. There's also just being the guy who is holding an extra torch. That way the Fighters and Clerics can hold a weapon and shield. And you can throw Greek Fire oil, though it's expensive. Darts are cheap and you can pick them back up again, you get 3 per round, and you'll probably hit with at least one of them. Go for the monster that has already been hit.

[mastahcheese]

There's other stuff you can do though. I mean, depending on the edition, you will be more or less useful. In 2E for example Mages can use darts.

Anyway. There's also just being the guy who is holding an extra torch. That way the Fighters and Clerics can hold a weapon and shield. And you can throw Greek Fire oil, though it's expensive. Darts are cheap and you can pick them back up again, you get 3 per round, and you'll probably hit with at least one of them. Go for the monster that has already been hit.

You forget that I'm a mage/cleric, I can neither use shields, nor darts.

[LeoLeonardoIII]

I'm sorry, my weak old eyes aren't what they used to be. Could you please use a larger font? ;P

OK so I forgot you're doing C/M. In 2e that means you're not gonna be wearing armor either. The staff-sling is a good choice, but doesn't it have a minimum range of like 3? That's 30' indoors. If you think you'll always be at least 30' away that's not a problem.

At first level then I'd try to get Sleep ASAP, because it's a lot more useful than Magic Missile. I'd worry less about what you're going to do for the rest of the combat, and more about what exactly you will use your one spell on that day. With so few resources you're more interested in the best place to drop that spell. Strangely, that frees you up quite a bit. Everyone else is pressured to get the most done every round. You can afford to be the guy who opens the door to let everyone in, or closes it to keep the monsters out. There could be a lot of combat opportunities that don't involve making attack rolls. Just being there to stop the monsters from flooding around and surrounding the party is meaningful.

Still, at level 1 every little bit really does help. The Mage making a missile attack with a thrown club (1d6 damage) is not just better than nothing, it's a solid contribution.

And once you hit Cleric level 3 and you get Hold Person, combined with your Mage spells, you'll have more magical attacks to make. You'll be Turning Undead whenever it comes up, you might have a magic item to use.

[GreatWyrmGold]

My point was more that he should have to deal with stats he doesn't like if the rest of us do. Not that I'd mind being allowed to reroll some of my stats...

Indeed. That's second edition .

I find it absolute hilarious/slightly disheartening that people are wanting to have such ridiculously high stats. They think that if you have a single stat under 10, you suck and deserve to die.
I have a 5 for strength. I could literally only lift 10 pounds before taking a penalty. Half of my stats are under 10, and I love it. I love having flawed characters because it's more fun.
Losing is fun.

It would be nice if I was flawed in the things that I don't need instead of mildly incompetent in the things I need.
And heck, it's not even like I'm that flawed. I mean, below-average Wisdom and low Charisma, plus above-average physical stats? Alexander is a bit short-sighted*, and sucks at people stuff, and he's kinda mediocre overall, but that's about it. If I'm flawed, can I at least have interesting flaws? I need to write an inferiority complex into him to be as interesting as some of the more extreme characters can get!
TL;DR: It's not the presence of flaws that bugs me, more their location.

*Ironic, because I named him after one of my dad's characters who was even cleverer than most tended to be.

Strangely, that frees you up quite a bit. Everyone else is pressured to get the most done every round. You can afford to be the guy who opens the door to let everyone in, or closes it to keep the monsters out. There could be a lot of combat opportunities that don't involve making attack rolls. Just being there to stop the monsters from flooding around and surrounding the party is meaningful.

I'm giggling a bit inside just imagining how my cantrip could help. Especially since it's evidently a hybrid of 1st ed cantrip and 3.5 ed prestidigitation...

[mastahcheese]

Well, the main problem with a sling staff is that it can only fire every other round.

I'll have to look back through that book and see what all ranged weapons clerics can use.
Hmm, and I'll have to see what that Magic Stone spell does, again.

[Naryar]

Yeah, I'm still used to 3E stats it seems.

I'm fine with the stats I have right now though. Should I go down to 12wis and 15cha ?

[mastahcheese]

Hmm, do you think I could bump myself up to the next age bracket for a slight bonus to my spell casting stats at the cost of my physical stats?
I'm already so decrepit that I don't think I could really do worse, and considering how most peoples' stats are going, I don't think it'd be too unfair.
Particularly since it's really the only rule-abiding way to do a stat adjustment.

I won't if you say no, though. Just wondering.

[Remuthra]

Hmm, do you think I could bump myself up to the next age bracket for a slight bonus to my spell casting stats at the cost of my physical stats?
I'm already so decrepit that I don't think I could really do worse, and considering how most peoples' stats are going, I don't think it'd be too unfair.
Particularly since it's really the only rule-abiding way to do a stat adjustment.

I won't if you say no, though. Just wondering.

Joe Bridger approves of old man adventurers.

Do you think you could get your strength down to zero ?

[mastahcheese]

Hmm, do you think I could bump myself up to the next age bracket for a slight bonus to my spell casting stats at the cost of my physical stats?
I'm already so decrepit that I don't think I could really do worse, and considering how most peoples' stats are going, I don't think it'd be too unfair.
Particularly since it's really the only rule-abiding way to do a stat adjustment.
I won't if you say no, though. Just wondering.

Joe Bridger approves of old man adventurers.
Do you think you could get your strength down to zero ?

Unfortunately, no. Old age can only do a -3 at the oldest, so I could reach 2.
Would you even allow that?

EDIT: Reread it, it can take me down to 1. Apparently the max is actually -4, because it goes down by two at "Old age".

[mastahcheese]

Ok, so if I went to a full 125 years of age, my stats would go from this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Str=5 (LOL) (-2 hit, -1 dam, weight allow 10, max press 25, open doors 3)
Dex=8 (I suck) (no bonus to anything, or penalty, for that matter)
Con=10 (meh) (70% system shock, 75% resurrection survival)
Int=11 (no wizzerds fer me, I guess) (2 languages, Max 5th spells, 45% chance of learning spells, max 7 spells per level, mhh, I could try it.)
Wis=16 (HOLY S---) (+2 magic defence, 2nd bonus spell, 0% spell failure)
Cha=6 (I figured as much) (max 2 henchmen, -3 loyalty base, -2 reaction)

To this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Str=1 (My brain cannot handle this level of derp) (-5 hit prob, -4 dam, weight allow 1, weight max 3, open doors 1)
Dex=5 (I am McNonja) (-1 reaction, -1 missile attack, +2 defense adjustment)
Con=7 (Suffers from Old Man Syndrome) (55% system shock, 60% resurrection survival)
Int=13 (Not shabby, now!) (3 languages, max spell level 6th, 55% chance to learn spells, 9 spells per level max)
Wis=19 (WHO IS YOUR GOD, NOW?) (+4 magical defense, 1st and 3rd bonus spells, 0% spell failure, and immunity to the following: cause fear, charm person, command, friends, hypnotism)
Cha=6 (No change)

So, I'd be way better as a spellcaster, to the point of actually getting some immunities to some weak spells for my wisdom, but I literally couldn't carry a sling without passing out.

So, can I do it?

[GreatWyrmGold]

Yes.

Do it.

[mastahcheese]

Yes.

Do it.

If Remuthra allows my wretchedly flawed character, (I'm guessing he will) then you shall be joined by Old Man Jackson, and I shall ramble about wars that you all are too young to remember.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Which reminds me, where are the half-elf age tables?

EDIT: Found it. Dammit. Why couldn't my Charisma be good enough for full elfishness? Then I could taunt Jackson with being even older than he.