D&D 5E [OOC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

[Zansy]

I was kinda concerned about not having much AC or save DC, so offense or buffs were my natural decision.
I could build for Lore Bard instead and change my role to a buffer/debuffer/healing?. But I was a little bit disappointed there weren't many support spells at early level.
Should I go for it even though my DCs are pretty low?

 

[Herobizkit]

5e has this lovely built-in math fix (which has a fancy name I can't remember atm) which basically makes your AC relevant for your entire career. 20 (or 21) is the absolute non-magical maximum a PC can ever have - and if your DM doesn't use magic items (and the game assumes they don't), you'll be okay. By comparison, Great Wyrm Dragons have somewhere around 25-30 AC and I believe only one or two deity-level creatures has over 30.

By that same math fix, your DC's aren't "low". They're where they are expected to be. Assuming a 16 Charisma, your spell DC will be 15(ish - IDHTBIFOM). Many of the Bard's charm/debuff spells are (I think?) Will-based, and most creatures proficient in Will saves will likely be rolling at +3 or +4 to save... but most others will be rolling at -1 to +1. If you're that worried about spell saves, don't cast spells that require them - Buffs, Healing, Information spells and your Inspiration ability do not require saves.

Really, try not to focus too much on your numbers. Stressing about them causes... well, stress. Our party has four warriors on it, two of them Paladins (I'm going dual-wield and will likely huck daggers/darts as my ranged jam). You could easily do an Archer/spell-build and have zero issues. In fact, you're the only Arcane caster on the party, so go for it. We'll cover your Half-Orcish arse.

 

[Zansy]

5e has this lovely built-in math fix (which has a fancy name I can't remember atm) which basically makes your AC relevant for your entire career. 20 (or 21) is the absolute non-magical maximum a PC can ever have - and if your DM doesn't use magic items (and the game assumes they don't), you'll be okay. By comparison, Great Wyrm Dragons have somewhere around 25-30 AC and I believe only one or two deity-level creatures has over 30.

By that same math fix, your DC's aren't "low". They're where they are expected to be. Assuming a 16 Charisma, your spell DC will be 15(ish - IDHTBIFOM). Many of the Bard's charm/debuff spells are (I think?) Will-based, and most creatures proficient in Will saves will likely be rolling at +3 or +4 to save... but most others will be rolling at -1 to +1. If you're that worried about spell saves, don't cast spells that require them - Buffs, Healing, Information spells and your Inspiration ability do not require saves.

Really, try not to focus too much on your numbers. Stressing about them causes... well, stress. Our party has four warriors on it, two of them Paladins (I'm going dual-wield and will likely huck daggers/darts as my ranged jam). You could easily do an Archer/spell-build and have zero issues. In fact, you're the only Arcane caster on the party, so go for it. We'll cover your Half-Orcish arse.

I even so, I feel kinda wimpy when my toughest DCs are under 13 :$ until level 4 that's how they'll likely be, since I'm very much considering upping both DEX and CHA to 16 with my first ability score improvement.

But you have come solid points. I'll change my spells to have more ranged options.

 

[Herobizkit]

DC 12 with a +0 to save is still harder to hit than you think.

I just checked and save DC's are calculated as 8 + prof bonus + Spellcasting stat, so my above-listed DC was wrong. But even with an 18 Charisma, your best save DC is 14. 12 suddenly isn't so bad.

 

[Uller]

Fixed the table (I hope). Here it is again.

Player	Character	Race	Class	d6	d20
DMAesh	Ezraen	Half-elf (drow)	Paladin	3	5
Herobizkit	Bertrum "Tunner Rat" Thornberry	Halfling	Ranger	3	13
Marcelus	Evandur Raulson	Human	Paladin	4	15
itcomeswithamap	Surana Blackrock	Human	Barbarian	1	19
Zansy	Klep	Half-orc	Bard	2	7

 

[Uller]

I don't think I've ever been in a party with so many warrior-types. I'm scared. :3

I think my son is leaning toward a light cleric. I played one in a weekend game of HotDQ and we liked how it seemed to be a mix of healer and blaster wizard. Should be good.

I think we have enough characters to get started. The d6 roll is to see when you arrive in Velkenvelve. So [MENTION=6801671]itcomeswithamap[/MENTION]/Surana is up first (if Justincase or my son end up rolling a 1, we can just insert them at 2 with Zansy/Klep). I'll get the first narration up for Surana in a bit and we'll add folks as time passes. This way each of you should get a bit of spot light before we get to the excitement...
[MENTION=6789784]Marcel[/MENTION]us and [MENTION=6801331]DMAesh[/MENTION], do you want to be inserted together and/or already knowing eachother? I think it's fine either way...maybe you were captured by the same raid...maybe Lathander guided you to both end up here by separate paths...just let me know.

 

[SunGold]

20 (or 21) is the absolute non-magical maximum a PC can ever have

The rest of the post is spot on, but this number is at least 24. I know because it's what Surana would have if she survived to level 20 (hah!).

Unarmored Defense: AC = 10 + dex mod + con mod. Shields can still be used.
Primal Champion: At level 20, barbarians get +4 to str and con, for maximums of 24.

So base of 10 DC plus...
20 dex: +5
24 con: +7
Shield: +2

=24.

I do believe that's the highest possible AC in the game, though.

Not that I've thought about thiiiiisssss

ETA: This is also why I had to come up with a ridiculous backstory that would give a barbarian a very good reason to be carrying a rapier around. High dex/low str means finesse weapons.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

I am fine with knowing one another!

 

[Zansy]

Not to mention shield Proficiency....

 

[Uller]

BTW, as I said, I'm new to PbP so maybe I'm off on the etiquette here but I have no problem with OOC discussion in the OOC thread about what is happening in the IC thread, even if your character is not yet present. I look at it as typical table talk...at my table, if one or two PCs are participating in something I have no problem with all the players participating...just as long as no one is dominating the discussion and trying to control what other PCs do.

I don't want people feeling like that since so far only one PC is in the game that everyone else has to be completely silent about it. As long as when it comes time the player whose PC has the spot light is the one calling the shots...

I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread...