Esker
Hero
My DM had been running two different tables over the summer, and we recently decided to merge to form one big group. We had our first session together over the weekend and RPed out our characters meeting each other, before happening into a big arena battle where we had to defeat a hill giant and a chimera for the entertainment of some cultists (sorry, "followers") of Beshaba. Good times!
My character was a level 4 Moon Elf Arcane Trickster with mainly a scout/ranged profile (expertise in stealth and perception, proficiency in investigation and arcana, among other things), and will be leveling up to 5 for the next session. Because the two tables started at different levels, and because some people were brand new, we're doing a "six months later..." wipe off screen before the next session during which our characters get the opportunity to reconsider their life choices and reemerge with, potentially, different classes, all be at level 5. Basically we have to keep our race, background, and backstory, but can change up anything else. In addition, the DM just opened up any published sources as fair game, whereas my table was previously PHB-only.
My original plan before the merge was to go something like AT 13 / Divination Wizard 7, whose combat MO would be casting a concentration debuff (focusing on spells with only a single save and either using portent for autofail or hiding to impose disadvantage from magical ambush) then sniping from range with a light crossbow. But now I will have access to SCAG and Xanathar's, which makes it seem like there are more options for a melee build to take advantage of, between Booming Blade, Shadow Blade, and Bladesinger.
The rest of the party is (probably) going to be a Half-Orc Totem Barbarian (with Orcish Fury), a Tempest Cleric (with War Caster), a Sorlock (3/2 Draconic/Celestial, planning go go sorc the rest of the way), a Forest Druid (pumping wisdom), and a Bard of some kind (probably valor, as the player has indicated an interest in archery, not sure what feat/ASI).
I am thinking that for now I will go AT 4 / Wizard 1 and keep my options open and see how the group works for a few sessions before committing to a wizard school and combat style, but I'm interested in feedback from the community on these two paths.
Below I've outlined my thoughts about level split and order, ASI/Feat choice, and a few of the more build-defining spells.
Starting Stats (27 point buy, after racial bonuses): 8 17 13 16 12 8
Ranged/Debuffer Build:
L4/AT4: Elven Accuracy (DEX to 18)
L6/Wiz2: Portent
L9/AT7: +Hold Person, +Phantasmal Force
L10/AT8: Resilient CON (CON to 14), +Levitate
L12/AT10: Skulker, +Suggestion
L14/AT12: +2 DEX (to 20)
L15/AT13: +Hypnotic Pattern, +Enemies Abound
L16/DivWiz3: +Web
L17/DivWiz4: +2 INT (to 18)
L18/AT14: +Fireball
L20/AT16: +2 INT (to 20), +Fear
One change with this plan from my original one is that with a sorcerer and a bard in the party, buffs like haste and invisibility become less of a priority, since I can ask them to cast those on me. That also means that if I never get 4th level spells, I'll be less sad about it than I would have otherwise, freeing me to prioritize keeping all my ASIs and feats instead of feeling forced to go to wizard 7 for greater invisibility.
Melee Magical Striker Build:
L4/AT4: Elven Accuracy (DEX to 18)
L6/Bladesinger2: Bladesong
L7/Bladesinger3: +Mirror Image, +Shadow Blade
L8/Bladesinger4: Resilient CON, +Hold Person, +Invisibility
L9/Bladesinger5: +Haste, +Fear
L10/Bladesinger6: Extra Attack
L14/AT8: +2 DEX (to 20)
L16/AT10: Lucky
L18/AT12: +2 INT (to 18)
L19/Bladesinger7: +Greater Invisibility, +Evard's Black Tentacles
L20/Bladesinger8: +2INT (to 20)
Thoughts?
My character was a level 4 Moon Elf Arcane Trickster with mainly a scout/ranged profile (expertise in stealth and perception, proficiency in investigation and arcana, among other things), and will be leveling up to 5 for the next session. Because the two tables started at different levels, and because some people were brand new, we're doing a "six months later..." wipe off screen before the next session during which our characters get the opportunity to reconsider their life choices and reemerge with, potentially, different classes, all be at level 5. Basically we have to keep our race, background, and backstory, but can change up anything else. In addition, the DM just opened up any published sources as fair game, whereas my table was previously PHB-only.
My original plan before the merge was to go something like AT 13 / Divination Wizard 7, whose combat MO would be casting a concentration debuff (focusing on spells with only a single save and either using portent for autofail or hiding to impose disadvantage from magical ambush) then sniping from range with a light crossbow. But now I will have access to SCAG and Xanathar's, which makes it seem like there are more options for a melee build to take advantage of, between Booming Blade, Shadow Blade, and Bladesinger.
The rest of the party is (probably) going to be a Half-Orc Totem Barbarian (with Orcish Fury), a Tempest Cleric (with War Caster), a Sorlock (3/2 Draconic/Celestial, planning go go sorc the rest of the way), a Forest Druid (pumping wisdom), and a Bard of some kind (probably valor, as the player has indicated an interest in archery, not sure what feat/ASI).
I am thinking that for now I will go AT 4 / Wizard 1 and keep my options open and see how the group works for a few sessions before committing to a wizard school and combat style, but I'm interested in feedback from the community on these two paths.
Below I've outlined my thoughts about level split and order, ASI/Feat choice, and a few of the more build-defining spells.
Starting Stats (27 point buy, after racial bonuses): 8 17 13 16 12 8
Ranged/Debuffer Build:
L4/AT4: Elven Accuracy (DEX to 18)
L6/Wiz2: Portent
L9/AT7: +Hold Person, +Phantasmal Force
L10/AT8: Resilient CON (CON to 14), +Levitate
L12/AT10: Skulker, +Suggestion
L14/AT12: +2 DEX (to 20)
L15/AT13: +Hypnotic Pattern, +Enemies Abound
L16/DivWiz3: +Web
L17/DivWiz4: +2 INT (to 18)
L18/AT14: +Fireball
L20/AT16: +2 INT (to 20), +Fear
One change with this plan from my original one is that with a sorcerer and a bard in the party, buffs like haste and invisibility become less of a priority, since I can ask them to cast those on me. That also means that if I never get 4th level spells, I'll be less sad about it than I would have otherwise, freeing me to prioritize keeping all my ASIs and feats instead of feeling forced to go to wizard 7 for greater invisibility.
Melee Magical Striker Build:
L4/AT4: Elven Accuracy (DEX to 18)
L6/Bladesinger2: Bladesong
L7/Bladesinger3: +Mirror Image, +Shadow Blade
L8/Bladesinger4: Resilient CON, +Hold Person, +Invisibility
L9/Bladesinger5: +Haste, +Fear
L10/Bladesinger6: Extra Attack
L14/AT8: +2 DEX (to 20)
L16/AT10: Lucky
L18/AT12: +2 INT (to 18)
L19/Bladesinger7: +Greater Invisibility, +Evard's Black Tentacles
L20/Bladesinger8: +2INT (to 20)
Thoughts?
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