pkmn wrote...
I've noticed there are a ton of sites with databases of builds created to min/max with the optimal spread of classes. Is the game hard enough that these are necessary, or would I be fine just playing blind and picking whatever as I go?
The problem is these builds seem to NEVER have conversation skills...
Yes. That's precisiely how it works. A build that has been optimized for combat is exactly that and pays no tribute to RP skills. Beside that, the Level 40 builds are typically optimized for combat effectiveness AT Level 40 and may be intentionally gimped until the final few levels, especially for a skill dump class.
So, if you prefer a toon that excels in the RP skills, like convos, merchandising, intimidation,etc. , no, you won't find any compilation sites that specialize in those except the few oddballs that may have been posted. You'll need to decide that yourself.
My advice is to start with one of those optimized "power" builds and begin to dilute it to more accurately perform how you would like it to. Though a CHA-based character can add their primary ability modifier to the CHA-based skills there's still nothing like a few levels of rogue for maximizing all the class skills, including UMD which can drastically change the potential and flexibilty of just about any build. That happens to be CHA-based skill, btw. I'd say bard is probably the next most skilled class with access also to spellcraft and discipline instead of traps.
So the bottom line is, when it come to designing an RP toon, the player themselves are the best judge as to what is most important and what is less significant. I suggest going through all the feats and deciding which ones will benefit your PC the most and then make sure you can meet the prereqs before creating. Even race has some impact on RP.
As for difficulty, it depends on the content. Most challenge combat effectiveness because that's the prevailing popularity, I suppose. Fewer RP servers than Action ones, I expect. So you'll need to adjust that combat/RP balance to suit the environment and refinement only comes from experience.
