D&D 5E Race/Class combinations that were cool but you avoided due to mechanics?

Sacrosanct

Legend

• Aug 27, 2020

• #1

Another side thought based on the changes in TCoA and the decoupling of several racial features from races. Has anyone thought of a cool concept of a PC they wanted, but when creating the character, saw that the mechanics of how racial features didn't really support it well from a mechanical standpoint? I'm not just talking about optimization, but in general. With bounded accuracy, every modifier counts, so have you ever been swayed to avoid a particular concept that you would do if features were decoupled?

 

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GlassJaw

Hero

• Aug 27, 2020

• #2

Half-orc casters. I really like the dichotomy of the combination but the racial features push towards stereotypes. I don't powergame but so many of their features go unused or are devalued with non-melee characters.

 

TwoSix

Dirty, realism-hating munchkin powergamer

• Aug 27, 2020

• #3

I was really thinking about running a changeling artificer, but wasting the changeling's charisma bonus was just too painful.

Several of the Dragonmark races I would love to play without their attribute bonuses. Kundarak dwarf cleric, or Jorasco warlock would be fun.

 

Warpiglet-7

Cry havoc! And let slip the pigs of war!

• Aug 27, 2020

• #4

Here is my take which is not popular nowadays...

playing against type and playing things that do not ‘fit’ makes for cool characters.

that’s all going away with choose your own bonus.

that said, there are some combinations I have become interested in and struggle with due to modifiers. I think a firbolg Paladin would be cool. Oath of Ancients would be a nice thematic fit.

Mechanically, not so much...

 

Sacrosanct

Legend

• Aug 27, 2020

• #5

I've always been one to place flavor over mechanics, but I'm not immune to realizing the importance of mechanical benefits either. I don't think anyone is. I actually did create this character, but was a bit...disappointed...that the synergy wasn't there. A halfling barbarian. A wild and violent little man, but the barbarian's rage is centered around strength--something I did not have as a halfling.

 

Undrave

Legend

• Aug 27, 2020

• #6

Hmm... I was thinking about building a Dwarf Rogue, but it's more that I just haven't had the chance to try rather than actually being discouraged outright... It would be cooler if you could sneak attack with throwing hammers...

 

C

commandercrud

Hero

• Aug 27, 2020

• #7

I create what I want, I don't care if the resulting mechanics make it "suboptimal," that term most often just means "super fun."

 

GlassJaw

Hero

• Aug 27, 2020

• #8

Sacrosanct said:

I've always been one to place flavor over mechanics, but I'm not immune to realizing the importance of mechanical benefits either. I don't think anyone is. I actually did create this character, but was a bit...disappointed...that the synergy wasn't there. A halfling barbarian. A wild and violent little man, but the barbarian's rage is centered around strength--something I did not have as a halfling.

Click to expand...

I actually LOVED my halfling barbarian. Certainly not the best damage dealer (still decent) but he was an amazing tank. He had a 16 Dex and I went sword & board with no armor. Picked up Shield Master at level 4. Resistance to lots of damage, advantage on a lot of saves, plus halfling luck. He was unkillable!

 

billd91

Not your screen monkey (he/him)

• Aug 27, 2020

• #9

I like a bonus as much as the next guy, but I've never let a penalty get in my way of playing a character I wanted to play. Half-orc paladin despite previous edition charisma penalties? Yep.
Admittedly, there have been times where I find some weaknesses irritating - small weapons in 3.5/PF1 have been annoying me, for example. But that's far less of a problem in 5e as far as I'm concerned. There's enough tolerance to let a couple of -1s slide and I don't feel I'm racing to keep pace with advancing monster defenses.

 

Charlaquin

Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)

• Aug 27, 2020

• #10

Warpiglet-7 said:

Here is my take which is not popular nowadays...

playing against type and playing things that do not ‘fit’ makes for cool characters.

that’s all going away with choose your own bonus.

Click to expand...

I agree that playing against type is cool. I disagree that removing the mechanical disincentive towards playing against type makes it less cool. The type still exists, now you can just play against it without being at a disadvantage compared to those who play to type.