D&D 5E AC....5th level

[trentonjoe]

I am trying to make an NPC with a high AC in light or no armor.

In a nut shell, the guy is a professional explorer/problem solver (think MacGyver or Indiana Jones).

I am thinking human monk, 16 wis (+3) 16 dex (+3), Defensive Duelist feat (+3 as a reaction) Magic Iniate Feat [Shield of Faith] (+2) for a total of:

16 Base
18 for one battle per day
19/21 with a reaction


I kinda want to use the point buy system thinking 15,15,12,11,10,8 .

Any ideas are welcome.

 

[trentonjoe]

...

 

[abirdcall]

I picture Indiana Jones as high int and low wis.

Are you sure a rogue or lore bard is not more appropriate to start with?

Uncanny Dodge and bonus Disengage/Hide both go a long way to increasing survivability.

Expertise is great for athletics and acrobatics as well as investigation, etc.

Cutting Words can be used to decrease an opponent's attack against you. In effect raising your AC for that attack.

At 6th level you can select any 2 spells of 3rd level or lower letting you grab some defensive spells.

 

[trentonjoe]

I picture Indiana Jones as high int and low wis.

Are you sure a rogue or lore bard is not more appropriate to start with?

Uncanny Dodge and bonus Disengage/Hide both go a long way to increasing survivability.

Expertise is great for athletics and acrobatics as well as investigation, etc.

Cutting Words can be used to decrease an opponent's attack against you. In effect raising your AC for that attack.

At 6th level you can select any 2 spells of 3rd level or lower letting you grab some defensive spells.

Thanks, I want him to appear confident in battle. I want him to have the "nothing can hit me attititude". I also don't want to fudge the mechanics.....

IS cutting words a reaction?

 

[Pvt. Winslow]

I'd second the Rogue idea with Uncanny Dodge. If you go with a Rogue with 18 Dex (if you can get it that high, but if its an NPC you can honestly make it whatever you need to, it isn't really fudging per se) and strap on a Buckler (describe the shield as a small buckler on his forearm) and take a single level of Sorcerer for Draconic Resilience (AC 13 + Dex as long as you aren't wearing armor, but you can just wear clothes over it and keep the Indiana Jones look) you get a base AC of 19. That single level of Sorc gets you 2 1st level slots, so there's two Shield spells a day to help if someone does beat AC 19, and Uncanny Dodge can halve the damage he takes as a Reaction, which you can describe as him confidently avoiding attacks that should have hit. Coupled with Cunning Action so he can dart in and out of combat, he'll be hard to hit, hard to catch, and hard to put down.

Draconic Resilience also gets you 1 extra HP (yay?)

Ack, 5th level total, not for a 5th level party. Missed that.

 

[trentonjoe]

Hill Dwarf Barbarian(4)/Sorcerer (1)

18 Con (15 +2 race +1 @ 4th level)
16 DeX (15 +1 @ 4th level)
Shield
Shield Spell x2

19
with
24 twice per day/

 

[abirdcall]

Thanks, I want him to appear confident in battle. I want him to have the "nothing can hit me attititude". I also don't want to fudge the mechanics.....

IS cutting words a reaction?

Yes, it is. And you get to see the roll before deciding to expend your inspiration.

If you want a character that has a lot of bravado in combat but is lightly armoured then Lore Bard was made specifically for you.

 

[SirAntoine]

I'd make him a wizard (transmuter)/ paladin of devotion. Str16, Dex16, Con16, Int28, Wis26, Cha20.

 

[Pvt. Winslow]

I'd make him a wizard (transmuter)/ paladin of devotion. Str16, Dex16, Con16, Int28, Wis26, Cha20.

Uh...are those stats typo's, or are you seriously suggesting a 28 Int and 26 Wis?

 

[SirAntoine]

Uh...are those stats typo's, or are you seriously suggesting a 28 Int and 26 Wis?

Why not? It's an NPC who will use those stats to make all the intelligence and wisdom rolls they need. I don't see it being a problem.