D&D 5E Party Optimization

[Olaf the Stout]

I totally agree with the others who basically toss party optimization out the window. Nobody should ever feel forced to play any particular class. 5e is versatile enough to have very strange party combinations and still work. I like what others have said about making sure that the PC is tied into one or more of the others by way of background or other non-mechanical hook.

I've never had a bad time DMing a group or playing in a group when everyone played what he/she really wanted to play. Enthusiasm for a character concept far outweighs optimization as a party.

One thing you can do is talk with the other players to to see if any of them want to build their character concept along with your character so that you can decide how you might interact together during the campaign. Even when there are multiple rogues or multiple fighters or multiple spellcasters, often by coordinating backstories and personalities, it opens up lots of ideas for healthy inner party competition or bonding/support in other ways.

That said, there are also many players out there who don't mind choosing what the party needs to make it more well-rounded, and those players like the challenge of creating that piece of the puzzle that seems to fit well. If you are that type of player, I'd think about playing a fighter, barbarian or paladin.

I know that 5E allow for more options when putting together a party as there isn't as big a need to have a Cleric in the party (due to Short and Long Rests).

That said, having a Cleric in the party definitely makes life a lot easier and the group as a whole much more effective in combat. Our party does not currently have a Cleric and we've found the lack of healing to be tough. Once someone goes down in a fight they're now out of the fight and the best you can do is stop them from dying.

We're currently playing LMoP. Last session our party got ambushed coming out of a shop by the Red Brands gang. In the first round of combat 2 out of 5 PCs were taken out before we could even act. Thankfully the 3 remaining PCs took out some Red Brands allowing both groups to end the fight without anyone dying, but had it been a fight against a non-intelligent monster it could easily have been a TPK.

 

[Flamestrike]

Hey guys! I recently started playing in a new 5E party. We currently have 2 rogues, a cleric, and a sorcerer, but I have yet to pick my own class. What class would you advise for this group?

Front liner. Either Paladin, Fighter or Barbarian.

Step 1 (before deciding) chat with your DM. Ask him how many encounters does he hand out in a standard adventuring day? How many short rests does he allow during the same time?

If he sticks to a shorter (1-3) encounter AD, go a Barbarian or Paladin and never look back. With barbarian you'll be able to rage every single encounter (effectively having nearly triple the HP of a fighter when you take into account rounding down damage resistance and your higher HD). If you go Paladin you'll be able to nova smite every encounter into dust.

Better yet, go a Barbarian/ Paladin. Preferably vengance. You cant cast when raging, but you sure as hell can smite.

If OTOH your DM is liberal with short rests, or uses longer AD's or both, go a BM Fighter instead.

 

[Horwath]

If your cleric is stealthy, your sorcerer can be for sure, go for dex fighter. get medium armor mastery on 4th level and you have 20 AC w/o stealth penalty. Paired with +5 stealth modifier(+3 dex, +2 prof) it's great.
Go for battlemaster(DC can be based from dex) to give you battlefield control. Get sentinel feat sometime.

 

[PnPgamer]

Everyone just firstly says "what do you WANT to play?"
What if he wants to play the character that compensates the party and doesn't overlap with the spotlight against other members? Is that so bad?

 

[Flamestrike]

Everyone just firstly says "what do you WANT to play?"
What if he wants to play the character that compensates the party and doesn't overlap with the spotlight against other members? Is that so bad?

He wants synergy with his party and his party lacks a tank.

But yeah, play what you want. I dont think that was his question though.

 

[FrogReaver]

Are the rogues swashbucklers?
Is the cleric meant to be played more in melee or more from range?

My money is on a front line character than can help keep the rogues alive.

Best Options (in no specific order):
Any cleric that gets heavy armor
Paladin
Wild Shape Druid

Good Options (in no specific order)
Fighter
Barbarian
Melee Warlock

 

[jgsugden]

PLAY WHAT YOU WANT TO PLAY.

You don't need to optimize - you just want to be (at least) efficient. The game works best when a D&D party is efficient, but not optimized. That is the sweet spot for party power levels where the PCs are strong enough to take on the challenges before them, but not so strong that the combats get repetitive and boring. With that party, bases are covered (enough) and you can feel free to add whatever you want to the group.

 

[FrogReaver]

PLAY WHAT YOU WANT TO PLAY.

You don't need to optimize - you just want to be (at least) efficient. The game works best when a D&D party is efficient, but not optimized. That is the sweet spot for party power levels where the PCs are strong enough to take on the challenges before them, but not so strong that the combats get repetitive and boring. With that party, bases are covered (enough) and you can feel free to add whatever you want to the group.

Yes take that 10 str 10 dex 8 con fighter and see how well you like the game....

I mean why should anyone ever optimize even in the slightest?

 

[jgsugden]

Yes take that 10 str 10 dex 8 con fighter and see how well you like the game....

I mean why should anyone ever optimize even in the slightest?

Not my comment on efficiency. Further, the assumption that not focusing on optimization will result in 10 Str fighters is... shall we just call it unrealistic? The game works best when run at expected parameters rather than where people min max to find the cracks. It is intended to work without a mmorpg party assembly.

 

[Noctem]

Dex/Con barbarian with shield.

Super tanky, melee to be an "an ally within 5'" and can join in the stealth parade. Possibly dipping battlemaster 3 so you can commander's strike for the rogues.

Or whatever you want.

I like this suggestion the most because it allows you to take part of the stealth missions, you're the ally within 5 for the rogues to sneak attack with, you're tanky which no one else is, you have your own RP etc.. available. Seems like a solid character.