D&D 5E Halfling Fighter + Mobile Feat Combo

[james.paten]

Curious. Why do you keep mentioning "sub-optimal"? Wouldn't that just be a typical party? Most people don't play with optimization as their man goal, but play the archytype that sounds the most fun. So specifically calling out "sub optimal" in your posts seems odd to me, because that's the most common style of play anyway.

When asking questions on boards, I've seen responses in the past that veer towards "you shouldn't do X, it's inferior to Y" as replies instead of addressing the topic at hand. More of a precaution than anything..

 

[Sacrosanct]

When asking questions on boards, I've seen responses in the past that veer towards "you shouldn't do X, it's inferior to Y" as replies instead of addressing the topic at hand. More of a precaution than anything..

I believe you. I've had people do that to me and I find it irritating. And my response would be, "If I wanted to talk about optimized characters, I would have posted this in the subforum that is specifically about optimized characters."

 

[Chocolategravy]

I believe you. I've had people do that to me and I find it irritating. And my response would be, "If I wanted to talk about optimized characters, I would have posted this in the subforum that is specifically about optimized characters."

We are talking about a game where you are role playing heroes *doing their best* to live through 6-8 fights per day and save the world. Emphasis on "doing their best." Sure, not all games are like that, you could be playing a farce where your character is Zapp Brannigan, but in general when threatened with imminent death, heroes tend to do spectacular things rather than bumble through sub-optimally.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

I have visions of your Halfling making like the Rohirrim v the Olyphaunts in Return of the King. Except against orcs. Dual wielding it up, he'd be merrily giving it Left leg slash! Right leg slash! And out the other side.
Or the dreaded Testicular Uppercut with a Shortsword, of course.
Sounds fun!

 

[Sacrosanct]

We are talking about a game where you are role playing heroes *doing their best* to live through 6-8 fights per day and save the world. Emphasis on "doing their best." Sure, not all games are like that, you could be playing a farce where your character is Zapp Brannigan, but in general when threatened with imminent death, heroes tend to do spectacular things rather than bumble through sub-optimally.

Few things.

First, not optimizing =/= bumbling
Secondly, "doing your best" =/= having the highest +'s
Thirdly, most gamers don't give two craps about optimization, as evidenced by the survey results. Only a small group of players are optimizers, so you shouldn't assume that style is the default.
Fourthly, you don't even play 5e, so technically you aren't playing the game at all

 

[Mephista]

We are talking about a game where you are role playing heroes *doing their best* to live through 6-8 fights per day and save the world. Emphasis on "doing their best." Sure, not all games are like that, you could be playing a farce where your character is Zapp Brannigan, but in general when threatened with imminent death, heroes tend to do spectacular things rather than bumble through sub-optimally.

Common excuse given for power gaming - this is simply doesn't apply to everyone, just certain kinds of people. And, no, not every adventurer is like that. Bilbo and the 13 dwarves are hardly shining examples of optimized characters. Drizz't, for all his popularity and success, is a sub-optimal Ranger. The Weaslies from Harry Potter aren't "optimized" wizards. The companions from the Neverwinter Nights, Balder Gate, etc games aren't optimized.

This is simply not universally true. Stories about adventurers aren't about people in the top physical or mystical conditions. They're about people with the right character willing to stand up to darkness, overcoming flaws and challenges to rise up and become a hero/ine in spite of their drawbacks.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

Yeah. It's the "Friday Night Lights" effect. The perennially underachieving backup QB suddenly adjusting to the starter's role is a more engaging story than the one where Mr Perfect gets yet another victory party blowjob from a grateful fan.

In D&D terms, I like playing interesting characters rather than perfect ones. My first ever character, a Basic D&D Fighter, actually rolled three 18s, a 16, and two 14s for his stats (4d6 drop lowest). No word of a lie. He was cool, but a bit bland.

I had waaaaay more fun with my massively suboptimal dwarf assassin with a permanent cold and BO (CON and CHA both 8). He made it to level 6 before flaming out in fine style.

But, each to their own.

 

[sithramir]

Why is a fighter hiding? You can have good AC and s fighters HPs? I could see the rogue but seems like a few levels in the question of why a durable character hides in the first place might seem odd? A

 

[james.paten]

Why is a fighter hiding? You can have good AC and s fighters HPs? I could see the rogue but seems like a few levels in the question of why a durable character hides in the first place might seem odd? A

Because I can? I'm a halfling, so I can't use any heavy armor due to size. I've got studded leather armor, the best basic medium armor from what I can tell, along with a shield... but I'm not a meat shield, either. 14 Con and 17 AC currently. Not bad, but three or four baddies start swinging at me and I won't hold up nearly as well as the Minotaur Barbarian in my party I'd be ducking in-between.

 

[transtemporal]

Just to be clear, you can always move through allies spaces, you just can't stop there so Nimbleness doesn't apply. Also, the no-AoO feature of Mobility only applies after you make a melee attack, so you need to close and make a melee attack against all enemies that can hit you, in order to avoid AoO on the way back out. So maybe a bit complicated but certainly possible.

Why Dex though? Theres no part of this that requires dex.