D&D 5E Tankiest 5th-level PC

[Satyrn]

Thanks for the suggestions, all. I'm slammed at the moment at work and will be reviewing and making a choice on Friday night. (Saturday morning is the game!)

Where is booming blade found? Is that SCAG? If it's outside PHB, I'm not sure I can use it, would have to clear with DM.

Yes, SCAG.

Also, I'm changing my vote. My gnome battlemaster is already tanky, but the paladin in his plate is too. What he's got, though, the battle master can get.

I would vote for a battlemaster loaded up on superiority Dice, the parry maneuver and Protection fighting style. And take variant human so you can get Heavy armor mastery and Martial Adept.

 

[mellored]

I might suggest swapping Inspiring Leader for Warcaster. What's better than Booming Blade? Booming Blade as an OA.

I find inspiring leader does more to protect allies than warcaster does, just because a 5 damage punch is still enough damage to prevent most opponents from running at level 5. Not to mention adding more THP to yourself.

Warcaster would be my next choice though. As punching won't hold back people for too much longer.
Or possibly rogue 1 for athletics expertise and grappling.

 

[gyor]

I'd add Stone Sorceror from the UA article if not one else did already (skimmed the thread).

I'd go with Oath of the Ancients, Ensnaring Strike keeps an enemy in place, and all the usually advtanges of the Paladins.

Ranger Beastmaster with giant crab companion two hanky meat shields for the price of 1!

Lore Bard, I know it's like wtf? But cutting words can really mess up and enemies attack as can Vicious Mockery which grants disadvantage to those it hits, so use spells to lock an enemy into focusing on you and not attacking anyone else, and keep using cutting words and vicious mockery to make sure they keep missing.

 

[iserith]

Alright, time to narrow down my picks. I'll post the contenders once I've done a thorough review...

 

[dco]

Yes?

I'm open to anybody's definition of tank. I've never really played in that role before in 5e, so I'd like to see some options.

Sticky: Eldritch Knight with booming blade, blade ward, shield... and the sentinel feat.
HP bag: Barbarian bear totem and sentinel feat.
Protector: Paladin Oath of ancient or devotion, fighting style protection.
Battlemaster leader: Maneuvers like Rally, Maneuvering attack, trip attack, Disarming attack, Pushing attack ... the inspiring leader feat, dragonborn is a good option.

 

[iserith]

Strongly considering @Barolo 's warlock as featured in post #21.

Bogg Rumble, an old man lusty for wandering and blood, hailing from the Slush Marshes of Cursed Malbolge and serving the interests of Wise Focalor. Joined by his slithering constrictor companion, Chokehold.

I'll build him in Roll20 and see how it looks on paper. Still requires DM approval on the SCAG material which means it might not fly. More later.

DM approved! Character is locked and loaded. Thanks for the assist and all the great ideas. I will report back how he did.

Question on Armor of Agathys: It ends when the hit points created by the SPELL ends, right?

 

[Barolo]

(...)

Question on Armor of Agathys: It ends when the hit points created by the SPELL ends, right?

In short, that's correct.

You will be getting temporary HPs from different sources, so there is some strategic management you should be doing. The armor will give bulky protection, but it is costly and has a duration, whereas the fiendish temporary HPs don't consume any resource, but you cannot easily control their influx.

What most often often happens is that you cast your armor in the beginning of the battle (or even before actually, as the armor's duration is one hour) and as the fight progresses, it will eventually go down. If it has very feel HPs or is already over by the end of the encounter, you will probably be able to claim temporary HPs by felling an opponent, and will keep these until you find more trouble. Anytime you take the temporary HPs from fiend will end the armor if it is still running, but you can always reject it and keep the armor if you feel it is the better option for the circumstance.

 

[FrogReaver]

In short, that's correct.

You will be getting temporary HPs from different sources, so there is some strategic management you should be doing. The armor will give bulky protection, but it is costly and has a duration, whereas the fiendish temporary HPs don't consume any resource, but you cannot easily control their influx.

What most often often happens is that you cast your armor in the beginning of the battle (or even before actually, as the armor's duration is one hour) and as the fight progresses, it will eventually go down. If it has very feel HPs or is already over by the end of the encounter, you will probably be able to claim temporary HPs by felling an opponent, and will keep these until you find more trouble. Anytime you take the temporary HPs from fiend will end the armor if it is still running, but you can always reject it and keep the armor if you feel it is the better option for the circumstance.

I've always wondered about that. What rule says a player can reject temp hps from any source?

 

[Barolo]

I've always wondered about that. What rule says a player can reject temp hps from any source?

You can if you already are benefiting from temporary hit points. From the "Temporary hit points" section of the Player's Handbook combat chapter (also in SRD V5.1, page 98):

"If you have temporary hit points and receive more of them, you decide whether to keep the ones you have or to gain the new ones. For example, if a spell grants you 12 temporary hit points when you already have 10, you can have 12 or 10, not 22."

 

[FrogReaver]

You can if you already are benefiting from temporary hit points. From the "Temporary hit points" section of the Player's Handbook combat chapter (also in SRD V5.1, page 98):

"If you have temporary hit points and receive more of them, you decide whether to keep the ones you have or to gain the new ones. For example, if a spell grants you 12 temporary hit points when you already have 10, you can have 12 or 10, not 22."

Well how about that! Thanks. I always thought I had to take the new ones if they were higher. Guess it helps to read the rules instead of just assume things sometimes.. lol