TOPIC: Token Quartermaster

Hello TD Forum
I am not sure where to put this post so I am starting here.
I am part of the group of that will be trying for their own full run next year and I am the guy with all the tokens. I am sorting through them from GenCon and am at a crossroads. As the guy with all the tokens I am asking what you think the best way to equip a full group is. There are a handful of URs and a bunch of rares and uncommons from this year and last. The hope would be that we have enough good tokens across the group to go hardcore but I am not sure when that threshold is met. So the two questions are:
1. Best way to equip a group.
2. How to know if the group is ready for hardcore.

Did you try hardcore with other people this year?

Yes. There were only 3 of us and the other party members were gearing DOWN to hardcore and adding tokens to our builds. So it was a successful run.

James Clausen wrote: Hello TD Forum
I am not sure where to put this post so I am starting here.
I am part of the group of that will be trying for their own full run next year and I am the guy with all the tokens. I am sorting through them from GenCon and am at a crossroads. As the guy with all the tokens I am asking what you think the best way to equip a full group is. There are a handful of URs and a bunch of rares and uncommons from this year and last. The hope would be that we have enough good tokens across the group to go hardcore but I am not sure when that threshold is met. So the two questions are:
1. Best way to equip a group.
2. How to know if the group is ready for hardcore.

First off, welcome!

I don’t quartermaster for a whole group, but I did manage 5 loaner builds this year to run nightmare. From a token perspective, full rare builds should be plenty to successfully complete hardcore. If anyone is leveling up or using ultra Rares, my recommendation is to give those to the bard and then the cleric - the whole group benefits from those classes. See some sample builds here:
truedungeon.com/forum?view=topic&catid=571&id=257406#455699

Now, for the logistics part of the question. I ended up settling on optima F binders ( www.trenttokens.com/products/token-binder-optima-f-ringbinder?_pos=1&_sid=78ba4f9da&_ss=r ) for the builds, and stored 2 characters per binder. 6-7 binder sheets per binder is a comfortable fit, and 2x hardcore characters should fit in 6 sheets. In coaching, I had the players pair up and sit with their binders. I can fit 2 binders (4 builds) in a battle foam C4 case, which is my general purpose case I bring to conventions for both miniature games and true dungeon. It’s slightly bulky to bring into the dungeon, but less likely to crash into things than a big backpack.

If you need to fly with it all, that adds some extra complications, but we can certainly discuss that too.

Thank you.
The builds are a great starting place.

If you aren’t already, definitely use one of the character creators to set up builds for all the members of your party. (So, either the website, IOS/Android app, or Excel sheet.) Using a creator can be a good way to easily find out how swapping tokens changes a build.

In terms of making the jump from Normal to Hardcore, the biggest things are having enough HP to survive harder monster hits, better saves, and decent buffs for to-hit and damage. That said, you don’t need “all rares.” Rares are great, don’t get me wrong. But good rares in important slots and decent uncommon or even common tokens in other slots can help. For example, if you don’t have anything better, the common +1 HP charms and ioun stones are great for the extra slots.

Things like a good Bard instrument and tokens that let a Cleric do prayer/bless more often help a lot with to-hit and damage. A solid red weapon is good for any of your physical damage dealers. Heavy armor for paladins, dwarf fighter, fighter, and cleric. If there isn’t something specific that is better, +2 Dex feet items for everyone.

Also, pay attention to whether any of the characters have uneven stats. If a barbarian has 16 Str, for example, something that is +1 Str isn’t going to help, because it only gets the character to 17 instead of 18. If, on the other hand, you have a Fighter sitting on 19 Str, giving them the +1 Str item (assuming they can equip it) gets them to an even 20, and therefore +1 to melee to-hit and +1 to melee damage.

If an UltraRare is in your budget, suggest that your priority be getting the Bard to 5th level, then equip your entire party with the inexpensive Uncommon Linked Shirt of Healing. Not only will Bardsong be stronger, buffing the entire party, but the Bard will be able to heal all members of the party 6 points - that's 60 points of healing - and do that 3 times (twice from the card, once after the Cleric Restores Spell).
Next, get the Elf the cheap Uncommon Medallion of Energy. This lets the Elf cast Alertness every room, giving the party+10 initiative.
These are probably your biggest bang for the buck.

I'll second the linked shirts of healing. Also consider Triton Rings if you're taking the bard to 5th level.

For ~65 you can pickup Lenses of Divine Sight for the Cleric as well, so they can split their healing across 2 players. If everyone is wearing a linked shirt of healing and a triton ring, that split healing spell will heal both targets +6hp.

If you're managing all 10 characters, you can coordinate all the builds and have a very easy time with hardcore. If you're feeling motivated, NM isn't out of reach to be honest.

1. Treasure enhancers.
2. If everyone knows slide and move you're ready for hardcore.

Another Bard item: Necklace of the Songbird. For less than a buck the whole party gets +1 saves and the bard can check Monster Lore while doing Bardsong at the same time.

Also, a tactical recommendation (originally from Endgame): With the 5th level Bard and Linked Shirts/Tritons, the Bard becomes the mass-healing linchpin while the Cleric and Paladin focus on healing targeted individuals.