D&D 5E Open Hand Monk or Bear Totem Barbarian?

Vitor Bastos · Dec 11, 2019

Paul Farquhar said:
Paladin is miles ahead of either monk or barbarian by those measures. Some might even call it overpowered.

Gotcha. Vengeance Paladin or any Paladin Subclass fits that role?

ad_hoc said:
Try to get some inspiration for characterization though. At the very least put some good effort into your traits/ideal/bond/flaw.

Yeah, I'll create a good story for it.. but this time I was kinda forced to pick the Class first. =/

Zardnaar · Dec 11, 2019

Paladin or sword and board fighter.

I liked my Monk and I'm not a fan of monks in general but it doesn't really fit your criteria.

mortwatcher · Dec 11, 2019

Paul Farquhar said:
Or, more likely, someone else nabs the +3 breastplate because you "don't need it".

from my experience, +3 items are rarer than 4-elements monk at level 14

OP:
from the 2 classes, I would go for barbarian, it's pretty simple, almost zero management, not much decision making and it does what it's supposed to pretty well

paladin has quite some management and decision making, but it is mechanically more powerful

Coroc · Dec 11, 2019

Paul Farquhar said:
Intimidation in 5e does not force an enemy to attack you (although swashbucklers do get a special ability that allows it to be used in that way) - indeed it's more likely to cause them not to attack you.

You get an ability at level 14 that can encourage the enemy to attack you, but since you won't reach level 14 that's not very helpful.

So: no.

Err, no again. Only the Berserker subclass gets that ability.

Or, more likely, someone else nabs the +3 breastplate because you "don't need it".

Intimidate may force all sort of things that is up to the dm I guess, I would rule it could be used on convincing the enemy to give up / flee / attack another "easier" target or also to provoke. The fact it is not hard coded like in 3e is meaningless, it still can be used to taunt and I do not think there are many people disagreeing.

Sorry was wrong intermixed this with the berserk barb in the campaign where I am a player.
In fact, psychic damage is the only damage which a bear totem does not get dr on, so it should be logic also a charm could hit him.

+3 breastplates are gamebreakers

just do not give them to your players. Really just do not. I made the mistake to give a +1 elven mithril chain (AC+6) to a dex 18 dude with a rapier parry dagger (ruled by me to be +1 on AC) wielder who now got a whopping 21 AC. He really is hard to hit now with physical attack.
He got a rogue swashbuckler subclass, but he can tank with his build (he also invested in Con/HP) and equip.

Paul Farquhar · Dec 11, 2019

Coroc said:
it still can be used to taunt and I do not think there are many people disagreeing.

Well, I very much disagree, and I would say WotC disagree too, since the Swashbuckler gets that ability at level 9. And it keys of Persuade, not Intimidate, since you are persuading someone to do something (attack you).

Intimidate is "do you feel lucky, punk?" not "your mother smells of elderberries".

Coroc · Dec 11, 2019

Paul Farquhar said:
Well, I very much disagree, and I would say WotC disagree too, since the Swashbuckler gets that ability at level 9. And it keys of Persuade, not Intimidate, since you are persuading someone to do something (attack you).

Intimidate is "do you feel lucky, punk?" not "your mother smells of elderberries".

How about (flexing your muscles): "Do you really think you can take on me?" That is provoking in my point of view and intimidating - unless my non native understanding of the English language is off.

Silly side thought: How would our Barbarian know how the Bugbears mother smells like?

Paul Farquhar · Dec 11, 2019

Coroc said:
How about (flexing your muscles): "Do you really think you can take on me?"

No - attacks the wizard.

Coroc · Dec 11, 2019

Paul Farquhar said:
No - attacks the wizard.

Yea sure, a stupid bugbear who thinks: "I am the strongest bugbear around except my elderberry-stinking- mother and I can easy take on the barbarian" suddenly gets Angst and starts to think: "Hm, maybe I better take on the frail guy in the robes, while this bigmouth (who principally needs a more urgent lesson in respect than the frail guy who seems to be afraid of me anyway) whacks me from behind"