D&D 5E Hoplite warrior concept

[Braxwulf]

Hey all... My gaming group is finishing up a short campaign and we are starting another that we plan to take from 1st level to 20th. My concept is a hoplite warrior.. I want to brandish a shield and long reach weapon (preferably); a highly defensive tank that can take a LOT of punishment and help protect the party.

Here's what I'm thinking: Human Fighter Champion brandishing a shield, spear, chainmail
Protection Fighting Style seems obvious but Defense does as well. Champion would be nice for additional damage and a second style but Battle Master is nice for defending your friends with Maneuvering Attack or Goading Attack and increasing defense with Evasive Footwork. The Shield Master and Tough are nice Feats. Going Champion could yield an AC of 20 with a Dex of 12... while focusing on Strength and Constitution. Not bad at all.

I really like the idea of using a spear, but it really doesn't do much damage. In the past I played GURPS and there was a Heavy Spear that did more damage and was ideal for this case.

Any thoughts or advice? I'm not opposed to going a slightly different route... I've looked a the Paladin but I'm not really interested in the whole righteousness that comes with them.

 

[Morrus]

Hah! I won't be if much help, but I tried to do that in Pathfinder. I didn't do it so well though.

It'll be interesting to see how 5E handles the same task.

 

[Paraxis]

Just wanted to say that all the reach weapons are two-handed.

If I had a player that wanted to do this I would just make a warspear weapon or heavy spear.

War Spear d8 piercing 5 gold (versatile d10)

or could always change how versatile works and make it, d8 piercing 5 gold (versatil = reach).

 

[Braxwulf]

Just wanted to say that all the reach weapons are two-handed.

If I had a player that wanted to do this I would just make a warspear weapon or heavy spear.

War Spear d8 piercing 5 gold (versatile d10)

or could always change how versatile works and make it, d8 piercing 5 gole (versatil = reach).

Nice idea. The GURPS heavy spear was also two handed but if your strength was 50% higher than the minimum, you could weild it one-handed.

 

[Runny]

Hey all... My gaming group is finishing up a short campaign and we are starting another that we plan to take from 1st level to 20th. My concept is a hoplite warrior.. I want to brandish a shield and long reach weapon (preferably); a highly defensive tank that can take a LOT of punishment and help protect the party.

Here's what I'm thinking: Human Fighter Champion brandishing a shield, spear, chainmail
Protection Fighting Style seems obvious but Defense does as well. Champion would be nice for additional damage and a second style but Battle Master is nice for defending your friends with Maneuvering Attack or Goading Attack and increasing defense with Evasive Footwork. The Shield Master and Tough are nice Feats. Going Champion could yield an AC of 20 with a Dex of 12... while focusing on Strength and Constitution. Not bad at all.

I really like the idea of using a spear, but it really doesn't do much damage. In the past I played GURPS and there was a Heavy Spear that did more damage and was ideal for this case.

Any thoughts or advice? I'm not opposed to going a slightly different route... I've looked a the Paladin but I'm not really interested in the whole righteousness that comes with them.

I think you need to focus on the Shield. Shield master at 1st level. Protection Style. Sentinel at 4th level. That is quite a bit of control. FWIW, I would totally let you use a "spear" with the same stats as a Morningstar if I were your DM. The only benefit is flavor, which is a great benefit!

I would also go battle master for more controlling maneuvers. Trip attack is great when you fail the bonus shield prone shove. Menacing attack combos awesome with Sentinel. Riposte is just plain great.

A main component of this build is pronation, which functions as a huge damage boost if you have a Melee rogue or THW user with THM in the party. Or even a monk with tons of blows. Granting adv to allies is great and very in character for a Hoplite.