D&D 5E (5e) Sneaky sword fighting monster hunting animal shifter character... help :-)

[Crimlock]

Hi! Last weekI bought the player handbook and I thought I'd try to create a character. I amnot looking to create the most optimal character, but just a really funcharacter

Like the title says, I want a lot of different things and therefor I have sometrouble in deciding about the best class or classes. My conclusion so far isthat I want to play a wood elf moon druid with a minimal of 5 levels... but howdo I build this character to be a decent long sword fighter and good atsneaking?

I concluded this because i was thinking the following:
I like to have the option to change into animals, mainly forstealth/scouting/roleplaying purpose... so I thought I should take a minimal of2 levels of (moon) druid. I also would like to use some magic. I want to beable to cast dispel magic and detect magic and some fire spells. This issomething that the druid does at level 5... So there for I want 5 levels ofdruid..
I think my race will be a wood elf, some nice weapon proficiencies (really liketo have a long sword) and +2 dex and +1 wisdom is nice.
To keep my build simple I prefer not to multiclass, so if I build a full druidwill he also be a decent sword fighting and a sneaky character? I know strengthis a dump stat on many druid builds... so sword fighting with a long swordisn't really a good idea... I like, for flavor reasons, a longsword and likethe versatile option. I could go with finesse weapons (scimitar or rapier)...but I hope that somehow I overlooked an option that will give me a longsword.

Anybody has some good suggestions about what feats to take or some goodmulticlass options?

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

I build a full druidwill he also be a decent sword fighting and a sneaky character?

If you are truly not looking to build an optimized character and would prefer to focus on the concept, then pump your strength and swing a long sword - you'll have proficiency in them by being an elf. Getting access to a rapier proficiency without multi-classing? Not that I know of. But hey, you have your long sword, you can swing it and do damage.

Decent damage? Well, that's subjective - but most would probably say 'no', at least compared with the other classes that might choose to swing a long sword. You won't be nearly as good as fighter in a straight up sword fight, nor will you do as much damage as a sneak attacking rogue (but you can sure be sneaky, see below).

And that's ok - you're a Moon Druid, you bring a whole bag of tricks to the group, through your animal forms and spells.

Just remember - one common mistake a lot of folks new to the game make is trying to make a character that can 'do it all'. D&D is a team game - your character doesn't have to be as good as a fighter at fightning nor as sneaky as a rogue (though, being able to cast Pass Without Trace and turn into small creatures will arguable make you at least as good, if not better at sneaking than a rogue, at least while you have the resources).

We had a player a long while ago who'd multi class left right and centre, insisting in doing everything themselves - sneaking, damage, spells. As a result, they ended up with really weak characters (who also felt utterly scattered, with no underlying theme). So if I was you, I'd prioritise - what do you want to bring to the party? What's the thing you'll be great at? Then, have the other stuff as a bonus, part of your character's style.

 

[Crimlock]

Thanks! That was helpfull. I am going to look into multiclassing and building a str, dex and wis druid... see how good that will be. And then I will see what I'll go with But first I am going to think about what I want my character to be good at... sounds valid to do so

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

Good hunting!

 

[BookBarbarian]

If you're DM allows UA the Stealthy Feat can help anybody that is proficient at Stealth to be very sneaky. Moon druid favors fighting in Beast form as much as possible, so how good you are with a longsword is kind of irrelevant, but since the Beasts stats will replace your stat's when wildhsaped, you can feel free to make your strength, Dex, and Con whatever you want.