D&D 5E Ideas for Out of the Abyss

[Willie the Duck]

After the holidays, my group is going to be playing Out of the Abyss, and I am looking for suggestions. We are currently running straight from PHB. No UA. Quite possibly Volo since people have it and are somewhat excited about some of the ideas (my understanding is that you start out as prisoners of the drow, and then spend a lot of time in the underdark, so unusual races would be just fine). No one has yet picked up SCAG, so probably not that (unless someone gets it in the meantime and the DM okays it). We're all on our second 5e campaign (currently SKT).

I've thought about half-elven lore bard, valor bard, or cleric (either life, or Arcana if we pick up SCAG). Those seem like really good support characters. However, those are very obvious, tried and true choices. If I want to experiment, I was thinking either cleric/warlock for those short-rest heals, or rogue/warlock for the darkness/sneak attack ambushes. However, I worry that those are builds based around gimmicks, and those usually either get boring or end up being all you are good at. What are other suggestions? What would be fun to try in this adventure? Volo races ideas encouraged. No, anything interesting encouraged.

 

[CapnZapp]

The power play is to pick a 120 ft darkvision race.

My suggestion is actually to not do that. The campaign works much better when the Underdark actually is dark and scary and full of boogeymen.

Besides, the main motivation during the first half of the campaign is "escape back to the surface".

So I'd actually recommend at least half your group chooses human or halfling (or Dragonborn I guess, or any Volo race that lives on the surface and does not have any darkvision at all)

Especially try avoiding having your "best" player (the player(s) most mindful of being effective in combat) choose Svirfneblin or any similarly strong pick.

 

[Willie the Duck]

Well, I'm certainly not trying to 'game' the adventure. I want to be interesting, effective (but not cheesily), and perhaps even try something new.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

The thing about darkvision and sneaky types in OOTA, is that unless everyone's got it, the party is still going to need a light source for those that can't see in the dark. And I'm not sure scouting ahead on your own would always be advisable.

Ranger or barbarian would be a safe option, with their wilderness survival abilities, but it sounds like you’re not looking for that. Personally, I’d go with a bard or cleric, but those are my faves.

Race-wise, I agree, much of the flavor of the adventure comes from being strangers in a strange land.

 

[Willie the Duck]

I would not be opposed to ranger or barbarian. Anything that covers a few bases. If I don't worry about nightvision, maybe lizardman something...