D&D 5E Starting to Hate Hexblades

[Don Durito]

In my experience the solution to those characters is to throw npc's that are optimized the same way at them. Those players tend to think its unfair when thier enemies start copying thier successful strategies. Then they they either leave or get a lot more reasonabke i. What they want to play

This solution takes too much time.

 

[Zardnaar]

I need to write up a basic prospective/rules to hand out first.

The rolled stats+feats+multiclassing is the broken part of the game. Only doing that again with smaller parties.

Kind of a fan of pick one. You can roll for stats, multiclass or take feats pick one option only.

 

[cbwjm]

I pretty much just let players do whatever they want with multiclassing. So far none have though one is considering adding a level of wizard to his artificer for a greater range of spells. I'd even allow the 4 class monstrosities mentioned in the opening post if that's what the player really wanted, though I'd also have to mention that level 20 probably ain't gonna be a thing so feel free to plan for it, but don't expect to reach it.

 

[Zardnaar]

A hexblade with a fighter dip works really well without being crazy OP, IMO, but it definitely takes some time to come online.

I just don't like cheese builds in general, and caster/caster multiclass rub me the wrong way as a GM.

I don't mind the wizard/cleric combo. Apart from that though.

 

[Nefermandias]

That's why I don't allow multiclassing or feats in any of my serious campaigns.

 

[Zardnaar]

I pretty much just let players do whatever they want with multiclassing. So far none have though one is considering adding a level of wizard to his artificer for a greater range of spells. I'd even allow the 4 class monstrosities mentioned in the opening post if that's what the player really wanted, though I'd also have to mention that level 20 probably ain't gonna be a thing so feel free to plan for it, but don't expect to reach it.

I told the others I can gurantee level 9 and no higher than 12.

We might go over 12 but don't expect it.

 

[Kurotowa]

The rolled stats+feats+multiclassing is the broken part of the game. Only doing that again with smaller parties.

Group size definitely matters. When the stress of the last year and trying to play via video chat brought my group down to only three players, we actually broke out a 5e version of the old gestalt rules to power up the remaining PCs a little and help cover the lost skillsets.

 

[Zardnaar]

Group size definitely matters. When the stress of the last year and trying to play via video chat brought my group down to only three players, we actually broke out a 5e version of the old gestalt rules to power up the remaining PCs a little and help cover the lost skillsets.

Yeah that's a good example.

 

[Weiley31]

Honestly, I'm not fond of multi-classing in 5E. The Multi-Class feats that WoTC have come up with so far, and ENWORLD's Multi-Class feats, are probably the best way of 5E to do any kind of "Multiclassing" since there is a bigger focus on Single Class and Capstones. (regardless of how crappy some of said Capstones can be.) I do hope we get more (and more) multiclass feats from WoTC or wherever.

But, the buff to CHA casters that happened this edition aside, I think the Hexblade is a nice choice for em due to the dip. MAD sucks, even if its supposed to be a kind of "balance" that is intended. And even if I wanted to play as a Paladin, that SAD is incredibly tempting.

Course, I blame that more on the fact that a Paladin/Warlock or Paladin/Sorc combo strangely seems to make a better Paladin than................the actual Paladin itself.

 

[ECMO3]

The real issues are GWF and Sharpshooter, which are well outside the usual power range for feats. Outside of those they're nothing special.

These two feats are great, probably the best martial combat feats there are, but they are not really OP.

a 4th level sharpshooter with 16 dexterity is going to average 5.47DPR with a longbow against an AC 15 foe if he takes +10 dmg or 4.35DPR if he shoots normal. A 4th level character who took the ASI to get an 18 Dex will average 5.34 DPR with a longbow against the same 15 AC foe. Those numbers include crits.

The sharpshooter does have other advantages, he can shoot to long range without disadvantage and ignores cover and he can choose when to use +10 and when not to use +10 so he can take the better option, but the character also has a lower AC all the time, lower dex save and lower acrobatics, stealth and SOH.

Bottom line is GWM and SS dramatically increase maximum damage and give some other minor buffs, but the increase in average damage is small.