D&D 5E (2014) what would you play?

[pukunui]

Cool. Thanks guys. I'm hoping the DM might let me have a few other goodies, like a sentinel shield and a cloak of protection (both uncommon items) and maybe even some mithril plate. That might be asking too much along with the moonblade, though, so we'll see what he says. My previous character had quite the arsenal of magic items, though, and the others have got some pretty sweet stuff (the cleric has dwarven plate and the wizard has a staff of power, among other things).

Anyway, my main issue with MCing into either bard or warlock is the somatic/material components. You practically have to have War Caster; however, I think I've managed to come up with probable spell lists that should work without it (by mostly picking stuff that I either won't be using in combat or can use at the start of combat so long as I haven't drawn my sword yet), as I'd prefer to start with Dex +2, Sentinel, and Inspiring Leader. I also want Shield Master, and that'll be it, as I'll only be able to get four ASI/feat slots by 20th level. Check 'em out here.

By the way, warlock is in case I can't get decent armor, so I can pick up Armor of Shadows instead. I'd take Beguiling Influence for the social skills, and Great Old One as my patron - with the idea being that she's a defender of the light who is haunted by voices in her head that tell her to do strange things ... This could possibly be a bit more fun than going bard, but I really want Cutting Words.

 

[Bayonet]

Cool. So maybe I'm on the right track then. The problem is that I'm not sure I'd enjoy a straight tank, which is why I was thinking of MCing into bard or warlock to get some more skills and stuff. Plus, the lore bard's Cutting Words ability is great for a defender. I just wish there was some way to get the bard's extra skills, Bardic Inspiration, and Cutting Words without having to get all the spells too.

Straight-up Tank is surprisingly fun to play. Straight-up Tank Battlemaster, with Sentinel and Shield Master as feats, though, is the most fun you can have wearing pants. I regularly post up in narrow spaces, blocking and absorbing attacks from swarms of Mobs. Riposte any scrub that misses his attack, Menacing attack to put the fear of god into the buggers, shield bash enemies onto their backs, opportunity attack anyone who tries to flee or get around me... Plus, I've got a raging Half-Orc barb piking people in the face from behind me, and the party spell casters raining down magicy death from above.

Trust me, you won't miss spells.

 

[Tormyr]

I know, right? He quite likes the fluff about it being a family heirloom thing, as do I. I could totally see it being similar to a 3e legacy weapon, where it grows in power as you level up - like maybe it has 5 runes on it or whatever, and as you go up in levels, you figure out how to activate them. Anyway, I don't know the exact configuration of the moonblade yet as the DM is on vacation, although I've indicated that I'd love for it to have the finesse property and that the elfshadow summoning property is pretty awesome too. The burst of light property would totally fit the Ancients paladin theme, since they're all about kindling and preserving the light. Right?

They will have to unlearn to spread out to ward against fireballs and lightning bolts and such first.

Yeah. Ancients paladin gets some cool stuff too, including misty step. How does the guy playing the paladin in your group juggle hunter's mark vs smite spells? They're all concentration, so if you've got hunter's mark up, you can't cast any of the smite spells (or any other concentration spell, for that matter, like crusader's mantle) without ending it.

The Half-Gnoll Oath of the Ancients Paladin at our table uses a lot of this to great effect. The party found themselves in a tight corridor and were in one battle nailed by lightning bolt, flame strike, and maybe one other AoE spell that hit 5 members of the party. The damage to the party was 1/4 of what it should have been. Earlier, he had used moonbeam to disrupt a swarm of mimics that attacked, knocking many of them into their less dangerous amorphous forms. Misty has been used several times. Once to flank some enemies, once to climb a small cliff, and once to instantly doff his plate armor (much to the chagrin of his companions as he stood there in all his glory).

Because he is a half-gnoll, he decided to have an 8 Charisma. This means that at level 8 he can prepare 3 spells, and his save DC is 10. Most of his spell slots get used on spells like Bless that don't have a spell attack roll or save DC and as smites.

 

[Mallus]

The other PCs are:
1) Wood elf shadow monk
2) Human evoker wizard
3) Dragonborn moon druid
4) Hill dwarf tempest cleric

As the fifth member of the above party, what would you play?

Given the party is a little light in the social/intrigue/skill monkey space...

... I'd play a multiclass half-elven College of Lore Bard with 3 levels of Chain Pact Warlock (Archfey Patron -- though GOO would work, too). Because a character like this would really benefit from a Special Little Friend.

A spy or scoundrel or diplomatic peace-maker with a ton of skills, wide spell access, two different spell-recovery schedules, and probably more that I'm forgetting. A lot of fun abilities which don't overlap with the rest of the PCs, easy thematic coherence, all you'd need is a stupid-clever pun name and you're all set.

(I have one, if you want it)

 

[pukunui]

Straight-up Tank is surprisingly fun to play.

What does your half-orc barbarian do outside of combat? That's where I struggle to enjoy playing that kind of character.

The damage to the party was 1/4 of what it should have been.

Right! With the Ancients Aura of Warding, I can tell the other players it's OK for them to cluster close to me because even if we get hit by a fireball, they'll still only take 1/2 damage from it (or 1/4 if they make their save). I'm sure they'll love that!

Because he is a half-gnoll, he decided to have an 8 Charisma. This means that at level 8 he can prepare 3 spells, and his save DC is 10. Most of his spell slots get used on spells like Bless that don't have a spell attack roll or save DC and as smites.

Ha!

Given the party is a little light in the social/intrigue/skill monkey space...

The skill monkey role is normally the one I take, and I think I can still manage it with a paladin/bard or, to a slightly lesser extent, a paladin/warlock.

 

[Bayonet]

What does your half-orc barbarian do outside of combat? That's where I struggle to enjoy playing that kind of character..

The half-orc barb isn't my character, he's my characters back-up. Out of combat, he's the wilderness dude.

My character is a Human Fighter, with Noble background. Proficiencies in Persuasion and Intimidation, so he's often the back up 'face' of the party. Also acts like an arrogant dick, for comic relief.

 

[pukunui]

Oh OK.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

It's all relative. Against a reasonable opponent, which can hit you on a 16 or better, pushing that back to a 17 will turn 20% of all hits into misses. If the opponent needs a 17, then pushing it to 18 will reduce the number of hits by 25%.

If you can only count on not being hit around 50% of the time, then something has gone horribly wrong, and you should not engage.

I agree with the mentality here, but not with the specific statement as phrased. Cases where it might still make sense to engage:

1.) There are plenty of other targets available to the enemy besides you, none of whom is significantly better-armored than you are.
2.) It is essential to take down the target now, regardless of HP loss ratios. (E.g. target is busy Fireballing or Dominating your allies.)
3.) You have other defenses like Mirror Image/Blink which don't rely on AC.
4.) You can engage without exposing yourself to that 50% risk of attack (e.g. ranged attacks vs. an Iron Golem). I know, I know, that's not how you were using the word "engage."
5.) You are buying time for your even-squishier ranged allies to take down the opponent. In this case, you engage but only Dodge, do not attack, and get hit 25% of the time instead of 50%.

There's a subcase of #2 called "your stupid ideals get in the way." This can involve doing suicidal things like stepping between the princess and a charging Fire Giant, all the while muttering to yourself about getting too old for this kind of idiocy and this is not the right way to engage a giant and Princess Mirella had better not get me killed or I will make her pay for this whole stupid outing...

Still, I like the way you think. It's a good way to live longer.

 

[Tormyr]

What does your half-orc barbarian do outside of combat? That's where I struggle to enjoy playing that kind of character.

While I realize the question was specifically asked to someone, the answer is: whatever you want to do outside of combat. Half-orcs have just as much role play potential as an elf. They can run the spectrum between their orc side and their other side. A barbarian can be just as skilled with the skilled feat. The half-orc barbarian can be the Hulk, the grizzled mercenary, the fish out of water, or the cultured savage. Every barbarian has its nonviolent side. The Hulk has Banner. The cultured savage has the arts or politics. The grizzled mercenary tires of war but draws on the rage from loss of a hundred friends and comrades over the years. The fish out of water is constantly try to fit in and suppress its rage. A half orc barbarian would also be awesome (for laughs) for what is coming up next in your campaign if your DM is following the script.

The key part that answers what happens out of combat is your character's background. So I guess my questions would include what is important for your character to do out of combat and what skills are important to you?

 

[pukunui]

I enjoy playing characters the skill monkey with a wide range of abilities. I usually favor Dex and Acrobatics over Str and Athletics - possibly because of some deep-steated personal bias against jocks. I also find it difficult to play unintelligent/uneducated characters, so all of mine tend to have a decent Intelligence and as many knowledge skills as I can squeeze in. I also tend to play rogues (or characters with rogue levels), so I've always got Stealth trained, although not always Sleight of Hand, as I prefer not to play actual thieves. I usually don't go for the party face role, so I tend not to invest heavily in social skills. I think I'd like to try that out this time, though.

That all might be why I find the "big dumb tank" concept unappealing.