Best party composition if I'm a Rogue?

[Vanch]

I know "best" is subjective, so I should really say "highly optimal" instead. I've just started the game and reached Emerald Grove. I now have Withers, so I can change characters classes, etc.

I'm curious what a really optimal party composition is, if I myself am a dual wielding melee Rogue.

I figured I'd need a healer, so I'm currently using Shadowheart. Whilst tanks don't seem to be utilised in the same way as other RPGs in this game, I'm still considering using what I'd class as a "tank" so that if all my other party members are dead, I at least still have one party member standing to revive or help the dead/unconscious ones back to their feet.

So what I've got right now is: Rogue (Me) / Healer (Shadowheart) / Mage (Gale) / Tank (Lae'zel)

Doesn't really feel that optimal though, and I'm thinking of using Withers to change classes on some of the party members. For example, are Fighters good as highly survivable characters? Or would I be better off using something like a Paladin instead? In terms of healing, is a Cleric gonna be the best or are there more optimal healer classes? Also, could I potentially use a Paladin as a tank AND healer, to free up some space for another party member?


Thanks guys.

[Kappa]

I'd go with the standard Healer, DPS, Tank, Blaster.

Shadowheart as life cleric can provide both healings a warding link.
Lae'zel can be an excellent fighter ( even a tank if you play an eldritch knight ).
Your rogue will be the one with thievery/stealth ( I suggest you to also pick persuasion, in order not to need a dedicated diplomatic ).
Finally you can go with Gale as blaster.

[alanc9]

It's not really useful to have a character you think of as a dedicated healer. The vast majority of actions ought to be spent doing something else, with healing typically done as a bonus action. It is nice to have the capability for when things screw up, though. Trickery is generally considered to be an inferior domain.

A paladin wouldn't be a bad idea. Oath of the Ancients gives a healing use for Channel Oath, which is probably all you'd need besides Lay on Hands and maybe an occasional spell.

The setup you have should be capable of doing plenty of damage, assuming you're getting Advantage with your rogue. Are you having trouble with defense?

[Jarsonne]

Originally posted by alanc9:

It's not really useful to have a character you think of as a dedicated healer. The vast majority of actions ought to be spent doing something else, with healing typically done as a bonus action. It is nice to have the capability for when things screw up, though. Trickery is generally considered to be an inferior domain.

Trickery allows Shadowheart to be the fine fair enough rogue utility along a play.

With MC being a Rogue it clearly calls for a respec for Shadowheart.

Originally posted by alanc9:

A paladin wouldn't be a bad idea. Oath of the Ancients gives a healing use for Channel Oath, which is probably all you'd need besides Lay on Hands and maybe an occasional spell.

Oath are a burden and an extra difficulty I would suggest avoid Paladin for a first play when not knowing the stuff, perhaps it's different for a veteran D&D player but at end it's game who choose when an oath is break or not, and D&D knowledge won't change it.

[Jarsonne]

Really an out of the box post, alanc9 asks you what are your problems with your party. Right it's not the optimal party, but why you need an optimal party, what's the problems?

But I go further, why you need restrict yourself to a party?

You have a roster, many companions quests will push you change your party, there's no point to stick to a party, or you want play ironman, I unadvise it. Or you want win 99% of combats at first try, ok but is it really the best?

I would suggest to think more with a Roster perspective and admit that sometimes you'll need change a bit your party, there's no need of any optimal party when you have a roster.

In that perspective, just respec:
- Shadowheart so she fits better a PC Rogue, but even if no Healer is needed I agree with alanc9, it's still a very cool option to have. Just change the domain when you respec her and find the one appealing you.
- Astarion, but wait when you'll really need more options.
- Karlash you seem not have find yet, she is fine as solid front by choosing her Wild and Bear during level up, you'll see.

[♂Warrior of Gachi♂]

There are no tanks and the best healer is a healing potion. Everyone can have a lot of AC, including your dual wielding rogue, so everybody can and will be tanky.

I wouldn't worry about party composition too much, the game is very easy. Your proposed party is very good already, just don't focus Shadowheart on healing too much, clerics can do good damage with Spirit Guardians and Guiding Bolt.

[Anna]

Can anything be optimal in your first playthrough? :) I think you have a decent composition already, in fact it is like my classic party:

- Laezel as a pure fighter was always my strongest companion.
- For Gale I always chose Evocation school.
- I liked changing Shadoweart's Cleric domain to War Domain, it gives her Heavy Armor and Martial weapons proficiency from the start and some interesting War Priest features.

[Vanch]

Thanks so much guys, it's really great to hear that dedicated healers aren't necessary, as I was bringing Shadowheart along and just filling all her spell splots with heals, and she was really boring to play. I'll now focus on support/dps builds instead for my characters, and use the healing potions for heals instead (which I had actually been ignoring, stupidly).

[Anna]

Originally posted by Vanch:

Thanks so much guys, it's really great to hear that dedicated healers aren't necessary, as I was bringing Shadowheart along and just filling all her spell splots with heals, and she was really boring to play. I'll now focus on support/dps builds instead for my characters, and use the healing potions for heals instead (which I had actually been ignoring, stupidly).

Dont forget you can also throw healing potions to heal other companions, anyone can throw.

[SpaceWombat]

As a rogue it's important to have party members who can tank damage and keep enemies distracted to mitigate them targeting you. Tbh any party composition can work though as long as you have a way to consistently gain advantage.

For actual build recommendations I'd make sure to take Lae'Zel and Wyl:

-Lae'Zel with battlemaster can learn "distracting strike" and "goading strike" the later of which grants advantage on enemies who target anyone other than her.

-Wyl as a fiend warlock can learn "counterspell" to negate enemies attempting to cast spells which could prove valuable in saving you since you'll be wide open to anything requiring INT/WSD/CHA saves. He can also learn mind altering spells like "confusion" , "slow" and area control spells like "darkness" which all benefit a rogue landing hits from far away.

[alanc9]

Originally posted by Jarsonne:

Originally posted by alanc9:

A paladin wouldn't be a bad idea. Oath of the Ancients gives a healing use for Channel Oath, which is probably all you'd need besides Lay on Hands and maybe an occasional spell.

Oath are a burden and an extra difficulty I would suggest avoid Paladin for a first play when not knowing the stuff, perhaps it's different for a veteran D&D player but at end it's game who choose when an oath is break or not, and D&D knowledge won't change it.

Fair point. Although an Oathbreaker does synergize with a PC rogue since Spiteful Suffering gives everyone attack Advantage. Probably doesn't come up too often since the paladin will be moving to melee range anyway, though.

[alanc9]

Don't forget to give Gale a shield. With that and Mage Armor, his AC is fine. Later on maybe have him holding two staffs for the bonuses, although this still looks silly to me.

[Popsicles]

My first run on tactician I went Rogue, Laezel, Shadowheart and Gale. The classic OG party. It worked great.