D&D 5E Help with a pc

[Lanliss]

As the DM of my group of friends, I was asked by someone to help them build a pair of PC's, as they will be playing with a different DM. DM2 has already accepted the concept of having two characters, so that is not the issue. I pretty much went with my gut on this, but would like a second/third/however many I can get opinion.

The concept was an imp wizard with a dire wolf barbarian. For the wolf I went with this

Hit die is d10 for barb class, AC is unarmored defense, with special armor to fit him costing 1.5 times standard armor. He has pack tactics, and bite(without the ability to prone). To wield his weapon it must be wieldable by a single handle(so no shield, no bow or crossbow) and cannot be a two handed weapon. He cannot speak anything but beast, but he understands common and infernal. He requires double rations, assuming they bother with rations, and has disadvantage on stealth checks. Finally, his racial traits are +2 to constitution, +1 to strength, and -2 to intelligence. I do not have it written down, but I think I gave him 30 for his speed.

The imp has 1d4 hit die, and his racial traits are -1 strength, +2 dexterity, +1 charisma. He has shapechanger, devil sight, and magic resistance. He speaks common and infernal, but understands beast (making him the translator for the wolf) He has sting for 1d4, and invisibility. His speed is 20 ft, with a fly speed of 40. Lastly, as a small bonus, he can wear doll clothing.

So, assuming you have experience with monsters as PCs, what would you change, or remove entirely? Typing this, I feel the invisibility on imp may be a bit much, though I do not have his stat block in front of me. I also think a 20 walking speed might be too much, and it should be 15 or even down to 10. Also, apologies if this is all a bit jumbled, I am writing from a list I made, which consists of the changes I made to the creatures. Anything not listed should be assumed to be the same as normal. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Sunseeker]

Typically, I don't covert monsters into races, it just doesn't come out quite right IME. I usually just stack class abilities right on top of the monster, using the monster's CR as a rough LA.

Some thoughts on what you've done though: I wouldn't allow a creature without hands to wield a weapon at all unless it was specially designed for them costing some amount more of course. Otherwise it seems reasonable.

Technically, armor can be made to fit any size, but even as a Wizard he wouldn't want to wear heavy armor and it's not really that difficult to fashion clothes for dolls. I'd just say that anything aside from "basic clothing" costs more since it's special. I doubt he'll wear anything besides basic clothes anyway. As far as speed goes, since there's no limitations on maneuvering distances in 5E and the natural ability to "fly" allows one to fly in place (previous editions required a "hover" ability), if his fly speed is better than his land speed, there's really no incentive for him to walk at all, I guess unless its windy....and someone might want to tie a rope on to him at that point anyway.

Invisibility is a good makeup for the 1d4 HD and the generally low HP pool. A good AOE will take him out either way. Plus, invisibility only grants disadvantage to attackers, so it's not huge. Throw something that can see invisible once in a while at him.

There's no real good conversion ratio for monsters into PCs, and if it were my game I'd tell the player I reserve the right to adjust your character on the fly.

 

[Lanliss]

Typically, I don't covert monsters into races, it just doesn't come out quite right IME. I usually just stack class abilities right on top of the monster, using the monster's CR as a rough LA.

Some thoughts on what you've done though: I wouldn't allow a creature without hands to wield a weapon at all unless it was specially designed for them costing some amount more of course. Otherwise it seems reasonable.

Technically, armor can be made to fit any size, but even as a Wizard he wouldn't want to wear heavy armor and it's not really that difficult to fashion clothes for dolls. I'd just say that anything aside from "basic clothing" costs more since it's special. I doubt he'll wear anything besides basic clothes anyway. As far as speed goes, since there's no limitations on maneuvering distances in 5E and the natural ability to "fly" allows one to fly in place (previous editions required a "hover" ability), if his fly speed is better than his land speed, there's really no incentive for him to walk at all, I guess unless its windy....and someone might want to tie a rope on to him at that point anyway.

Invisibility is a good makeup for the 1d4 HD and the generally low HP pool. A good AOE will take him out either way. Plus, invisibility only grants disadvantage to attackers, so it's not huge. Throw something that can see invisible once in a while at him.

There's no real good conversion ratio for monsters into PCs, and if it were my game I'd tell the player I reserve the right to adjust your character on the fly.

All good tips, thanks. As for the weapon, he intends to wield it with his mouth, which is why I specified no bows or two handed weapon.

 

[Sunseeker]

All good tips, thanks. As for the weapon, he intends to wield it with his mouth, which is why I specified no bows or two handed weapon.

You should advise him that the Dire Wolf's bite is 2d6, which is equal to a greatsword. He's better off not wielding a weapon.

 

[Lanliss]

You should advise him that the Dire Wolf's bite is 2d6, which is equal to a greatsword. He's better off not wielding a weapon.

It's a concept thing. He basically wanted to build Syph from dark souls, with an imp buddy to ride on his back, providing support.

 

[Sunseeker]

It's a concept thing. He basically wanted to build Syph from dark souls, with an imp buddy to ride on his back, providing support.

Fair enough, I know how concepts can be cooler than optimized stuff.

 

[bid]

You could refluff a half-orc barbarian and a lightfoot halfling warlock to match that concept. Customizing from that base might be easier.

 

[ccs]

Why did you drop the wolfs ability to trip if it succeeds on a bite attack?

 

[Lanliss]

Why did you drop the wolfs ability to trip if it succeeds on a bite attack?

I thought the ability to prone just about any enemy on command would be a bit powerful, especially since the barb gets an ability to do so later, if you choose the totem path.

 

[Fimbria]

Invisibility is wildly powerful. You haven't seen obnoxious until you've seen a room full of people trying to swat an invisible, flying, high AC target while it pelts them with ranged attacks. Real TPK material.