• The VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX is LIVE! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!

Character Creation Now Supported: Let's Make Some Characters!

BASHMAN

Basic Action Games
Now that we have the tools to make characters for D&D Next, let's start making some characters.

I'm envisioning a halfling archer. What are you going to build?
 

log in or register to remove this ad

mlund

First Post
I have to say I'm leaning towards a Wood Elf Rogue (Thug) with the Archer Theme. He's got too many ways to hit with Advantage every other turn and loves when two melee-types gang up on an enemy. Advancing the Short Bow damage die is nice too.

Other than that, the Unkillable Dwarf sounds good. Hill Dwarves love getting d10 Hit Dice with Toughness. An Ax + Shield Slayer sounds like an awesome fit.

- Marty Lund
 

MoonSong

Rules-lawyering drama queen but not a munchkin
I want to build a Dwarf thief wizard Acolyte or Dwarf Thief Cleric Magic User, just because it's possible.
 
Last edited:

I go for odd ideas and the first idea I had may not be legal... but - it says under spells and spellbooks that arcane spells cannot be cast in armor - but cantrips seem to be under a different umbrella - so if cantrips can be cast in armor... (GM house-ruling)

A Hill Dwarf with Bounty Hunter Background, Fighter with Duelist combat style, Magic user specialty (Magic Missle and Ray of Frost) using a great axe.

Idea - bounty hunter has come up short before, and has been interested in magic - the cantrips cover for ranged attacks instead of having ranged weapons. Duelist not as a dancing duelist - but as a "nothing stops me from getting where I want" dwarf. He just plows through opponents to get to his target. High HP, and High Damage with his weapon. The spell choices are because he is a bounty hunter - the auto hit for fleeing targets, and the attack that slows down the guy he is chasing.

Edit - the fact I could take playtest documents, and in 10 minutes have a character that hangs together well background and story-wise, with mechanics to back it - in one of my patented odd combat - is really impressive. The potential of what I could do with the full rules has me really excited.
 
Last edited:



Stormonu

Legend
For some reason, I want to build a human fighter necromancer. I'd have loved to see Aura of Souls working with a weapon instead of spells.

Are folks planning to use the ability arrays (15,14,13,12,10,8) or just random rolls?
 


jrowland

First Post
Odd little fiddly bit: Hill Dwarves get "Dwarven Toughness" - Hit Dice go up by one step, add 1hp at 1st level and either use new HD at each new level or add 1 to avg hp each level. Looking at starting HP, I think it should be +2 hp at 1st level. I know it's only 1 hp, but that seems right.

I made a Dwarven Wizard Sage Necromancer (the character sheet reads Race-Class-Background-Specialty so I think we should list as such for now). I second the HP is too low, this Dwarven wizard has 7 hp (14 con) and if the above "fix" is used it makes it 8...not bad for a wizard I suppose, but awfully low I think. 2 hits to unconscious feels about right for a wizard (in the pre 4E sense). This guy has a good con and a higher HD, and I think just barely meets a 2 hit criteria against kobolds/goblins. Against orcs, forget it. Shocking Grasp against another wizard means insta-kill. That said, about 10hp is probably good for this dwarf, 8hp for a "normal" wizard. I am wondering if there should be a lil more complicated starting HP formula:

Simply add avg HD to each characters starting pool. I would write it as:

1.5 Avg HD + Con Mod (obviously they would simply give some number X + con mod)

But, we'll try with low HP...perhaps they are shooting for even more "gritty" in this test...we'll see if it is bloody instead of gritty.

With Ray of Enfeeblement and Cause Fear as memorized dailies, necro gives a way to gain adv/dis, but thats seems easy enough anyway. If the Animate Servant could deliver spells like a familiar it would be very good. It does act "independently" and the description mentions "on its turn", So I read that as:
Round 1: Command to Attack
Round 2: Animate Servant attacks and Necro still has action this round
I suppose from a balance perspective its not much different than the rogue needing to hide before backstab. In addition, it can wield "simple weapons". If we assume the equipment lists should read "simple weapons" instead of "basic weapons", greatclub and scythe (cool!) become possibilities.

I think it would be fine if it can use any weapon. Animating an Orc you just killed and sending it after other orcs with a greataxe has fun written all over it. If that seems unbalanced, I might just say that happens anyway, but its damage is always equal to its slam attack since its just a dumb skeleton.

I like the "layering" feel of character creation: race-class-background-specialty. I think making them pre-packaged skill/feat vehicles is a lil' silly, and I am wondering if a DIY skill/feat option is also in the works...calling them "optional" is vague: is it use it or lose it? or is it use it, or customize like previous editions?

I feel like there is a layer missing...not in terms of power and goodies so much, but some final customizing garnish. Culture? Something like adding an oriental, middle eastern, nordic, etc vibe to the character...perhaps even savage (barbaric), civilized, etc. One more skill perhaps, and one more trait that reflects that culture. Maybe that's too much. I guess we'll have to see what they offer for wizards. Perhaps its that missing piece I am (vaguely) noticing.

Character creation was quick, so thats good. I made a wizard since spell selection is usually a bit more that non-spellcasters don't have to worry about.
 

For some reason, I want to build a human fighter necromancer. I'd have loved to see Aura of Souls working with a weapon instead of spells.

Are folks planning to use the ability arrays (15,14,13,12,10,8) or just random rolls?


Pathfinder point buy, with 15 points (same as array but flexible)
 
Last edited:

Voidrunner's Codex

Remove ads

Top