Hey everyone! I would love your help. I’m putting some ideas together based on this simple poll question on the front page of Leonine Roar: What Role in Your Parties is Least Common or Missing?
For my friends and I, it’s usually Controllers though up until this very morning I thought we might be playing in our brand new Shadowfell campaign tonight without a Defender, and that we’d be on the lookout for an NPC party ally Fighter, Paladin or someone else, depending how things went. Fortunately, one of my friends is going with a Raven Queen-worshiping human Paladin named Vrakas, so guess what? Missing Controller, yet again, it is!
Also, and this is so important to me, in the games I DM, I enjoy roleplaying NPC party allies or companion characters while the players switch off running them in combat. Win-win!
As for controllers not being as well represented in our playgroups’ parties, I guess my friends and I assume hordes of minions won’t be a problem! But that’s not always true, is it?
What about you guys? Which role and why? Please share your thoughts and stories and vote on my poll. Thanks!
Kilsek
I agree with you 100%. We always seem to have a void with regard to Controllers. i tried to play one, just to try it out… yeah that didn’t last.
Also, high-five on giving NPC allies to players so they can play them in combat. That’s another great trick that 4e has spoiled us with.
Thanks for commenting Tourq! Controllers definitely have a very different feel to them. Although players who really love the tactical part of the game seem to gravitate to them. Have you noticed that? And yes, I love me some NPC party allies or companion characters like DMG2 mentions. They’re great for roleplaying within the party (making jokes or scathing comments is fun!), and of course beefing up the party, giving the players another cool character to run in combat alongside them.