D&D 5E What would your 5 PC party be?

[AtomicPope]

Having only short rests limits a lot of classes. Warlocks, Monks, and Wildshape Druids need their nap time. However, having a Bard, Sorc, or Wizard gives you access to the 3rd level spell "Catnap", which allows up to 3 creatures to take a short rest in only 10 minutes. TBH, the Bard covers so many "what if" situations in these types of tournament style games it's almost criminal not to include one in the party.

Bard College of Eloquence - Silver Tongue, Unfailing Inspiration, and Universal Speech just covered the social encounters.
Druid Wildfire - Wildfire Spirit is extra DPR, esp with Enhanced Bond and Spell List. Nature encounters are covered.
Cleric Twilight Domain - Eyes of Night is just too good, and they have good utility spells/abilities for exploration.
Paladin Oath of Devotion - The Aura of Devotion is an extremely powerful defense. Not to mention, Sacred Weapon is a big boost to melee.
Rogue Thief - Fast Hands, 2nd Story Work, Evasion, Expertise, they have the traps and terrain covered, and do good damage.

Lots of healing, and utility with two good damage dealing classes and a Rogue with Expertise in Stealth and Perception. The Wildfire Druid has some Wizard spells and a nice damage/healing boost with Enhanced Bond. I really wanted Circle of Shepherd but I feel they do better in long campaigns with lots of roleplaying and time to plan.

 

[Baldurs_Underdark]

Ooh, I would take 5 bards, and just recruit an army in the first hours of the game.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Str based goliath fighter(battlemaster)
Dex based (ranged) eladrin bard(valor)
Dex based wood elf monk(way of shadow)
Rock Gnome wizard(transmuter) or forest gnome wizard(illusionist).
Str based Half elf paladin(ancients)

 

[crashtestosi]

1. Peace Cleric that casts Bless, three(/two) allies (paladin, warlock, warlock's quasit or pet undead)) get + 2d4 on attack rolls, else focus on healing and tanking - hill dwarf or warforged
2. Twilight Cleric for ridiculous Temp HP - Mark of Shadow Elf for Pass without Trace
3. Conquest Paladin with Aura of Conquest, GWM because of huge boost to attack roles and athletics proficiency for shoving foes prone (their speed is 0 when frightened so they can't stand up), interception fighting style, greataxe - half-orc
4. Undead Warlock to frighten with EB + Form of Dread, frightened creatures will be locked down by Aura of Conquest + Paladin Shove, with Summon Undead (ghostly) for additional ways to frighten (alternatively putrid's rotten claw can also interact well with the quasite's claw/bite), pact of the chain: quasit (bat form) + investment of the chain master for even more scares - Dragonborn with Dragon Fear Feat for same reason, since breath weapon will only be used for scaring, chromatic green dragonborn (fizban's version of course) for poison resistance/immunity
5. Divination Wizard for utility and blasting - Custom lineage: Telekinetic feat to get foes into Aura of Conquest + 20 Intelligence by Lvl 4

Edit (extra info): Twilight Cleric, Paladin, Pet Undead and Quasit will frontline and Peace Cleric, Warlock and Wizard will stay behind but close enough for Emboldening Bond and Twilight Sanctuary to work. Two Clerics and a Paladin for healing because we only get 1 short rest. Everyone, including the warlock's undead pet and quasit will be especially durable thanks to twilight sanctuary, Paladin interception, Aura of Protection, bless, emboldening/protective bond and investment of the chain master. A cleric can also cast Aid twice at the beginning of the day to give the party of 5 + the quasit a bump to their max hp. Whenever the quasit would take damage, someone can use protective bond to take the damage instead. Also, you can use it in its bat form (or ghostly pet undead) as a flying teleport beacon by throwing a pebble at it and taking the damage instead.

Edit 2: changed warlock's race after discovering how valuable the dragon fear feat now is with Fizban’s update to breath weapon.

 

[ECMO3]

This is just to address curiosities - no wrong answers. Basic question: What 5 PC party would you want to have for a competitive challenge?

Let's say you've been invited to a competition in which you'll run a 5 PC party (7th level) through a short adventure with you running all 5 PCs. You'll make the PCs for the session. The PCs will be made with point buy, and will start with 5000 gps collectively (or 1000 per PC), and can buy a rare item for 2000 gold or an uncommon item for 400 gold (one half that cost if the item is a consumable like a potion or scroll). You may use only Published materials from WotC.

This is what you know about the adventure/challenge:
1.) It will involve the exploration, social and combat pillars.
2.) It'll cover no more than 8 hours of gaming (real time limit), and you will be able to take one short rest (but not a long rest).
3.) You'll face up to 8 combat encounters - 3 deadly, 3 hard and 2 medium. There are ways to bypass some or all of the combat encounters without combat. There are additional challenges outside combat to be overcome.
4.) There will be 2 major goals and 10 minor goals. You'll be eliminated if you do not achieve both major goals, and the parties that complete the most minor goals will advance to the next round. An example of a major goal would be "(Named NPC) must be alive at the end of the adventure." An example of a minor goal would be "Identify the name of the being that murdered (Named NPC)" or "Possess the Sapphire Crown."
5.) The adventure will not be setting specific (not specifically Eberron, FR, Greyhawk, etc...)

With that framework in mind: What 5 PCs would you select? How would you equip them generally (no need for specifics)?

1. Human Bladesinger - PAM, Warcaster, headband of intellect, cloak of protection, staff of whithering, Gauntlets of ogre power
S8(19),D16,C16,I8(19),W14,CH12. Proficiency in Arcana, Acrobatics, Religion, Nature, Performance
Primary Tank running upcast false life.
Full time AC 17, 21 in bladesong and 26 with shield.

2. Human Bladesinger2/Arcane trickster 5 - Fey touched, magic initiate-Artificer, Gauntlets of Ogre Power, headband of intellect, cloak of protection, winged boots
S8(19), D16, C16, I13(19), W14, Ch8, expertise in Athletics, investigation. Proficient in SOH, Perception, Acrobatics, Medicine, Performance

- Striker and Secondary tank. This is also the guy that brings down flying enemies with grapple. Fey touched with hex to impose disadvantage, guidance cantrip and alchemist tools with artificer initiate. 17AC with mage armor, 21 in bladesong, 26 with shield

Typically fights using either booming blade or green flame blade plus mage hand dropping oil

3. Metallic Dragonborn Fey Wanderer Ranger - Dragonfear
S8, D14, C10, I10, W16, Ch16, Expertise in Persuasion, proficient in Animal Handling, Perception, Insight, Intimidation, Deception

Party Face, Fear machine using dragonfear, also uses Long bow, Rapier or magic stone as needed

4. Goblin School of Enchantment Wizard - Fey touched
S8,D14,C14,I18,W12,ch10 proficient in acrobatics, investigation, history, medicine
General spell caster with lots of offensive spells. Eliminates BBEG with charm power (and the Dragonborn twists it if he saves). Goblin lets him disengage.

5. Custom Lineage Life Cleric 2/Gloomstalker Ranger5 - skill expert, wisdom ASI, scroll of heal
S10, D14, C14, I10, W20, CH8, Expertise in stealth and perception, proficient in medicine, survival, investigation, acrobatics
Drudic warrior striker, scout and healer. Life cleric and goodberry means he starts the day with 210hps worth of goodberrys if he did not cast any spells the day prior.

 

[Stormonu]

Noble Dwarf Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) w/ Giant Boar mount and two squires
Guild Artisan Elf Wizard (Enchantment)
Charlatan Gnome Rogue (Arcane Trickster)
Acolyte Human Cleric (Life)
Entertainer Human Bard (College of Lore) or Entertainer Human Monk (Way of the Four Elements)

 

[Scott Christian]

2 half-orc barbarians.
1 variant human paladin.
1 variant human cleric.
1 high elven wizard.

or

5 variant human clerics.

 

[Blue Orange]

Party of 5 was: Breadwinner, caretaker, sensitive, prodigy, baby (Charlie, Bailey, Julia, Claudia, Owen).

Seriously, here's the 'party composition' thread from a while back...

D&D 5E - Here's The Most Common D&D Party Composition

D&D Beyond's latest data-output looks at the composition of the typical adventuring party. The 'traditional' party always used to be Fighter, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard; let's see how that stacks up these days! These screenshots were compiled by SageAdvice.eu. DDB's developer said "I’m going to be...

www.enworld.org

More or less cleric (or paladin), rogue, warlock/sorcerer/wizard, fighter (or barbarian or paladin), something else (often bard)

 

[Charlaquin]

V. Human Life Cleric, Folk Hero
AC 20 (plate armor, shield) HP 60 Speed 30’
Str 14 (+2) Dex 10 (+0) Con 16 (+3)
Int 8 (-1) Wis 18 (+4) Cha 10 (+0)
Saves: Constitution +6, Wisdom +7, Charisma +3
Skills: Animal Handling +7, Insight +7, Medicine +7, Perception +7, Survival +7
Tools: Land vehicles
Feats: Resilient (Constitution)

Life Cleric for Guidance, Bless, and heals. V. Human for Resilient (Con) to shore up concentration saves. Folk Hero for two Wis-based skills and land vehicle proficiency.

Half-elf College of Eloquence Bard, Charlatan
AC 14 (studded leather) HP 52 Speed 30’
Str 8 (-1), Dex 16 (+3), Con 14 (+2)
Int 10 (+0), Wis 12 (+1), Cha 18 (+4)
Saves: Dexterity +6, Charisma +7
Skills: Deception +10, Insight +4, Intimidation +7, Performance +7, Persuasion +10, Sleight of Hand +5, Stealth +5
Tools: Disguise kit, forgery kit

Eloquence Bard for Bardic Inspiration, Song of Rest, epic social skills, and backup heals. Half-elf for the ability score bonuses and additional skills. Charlatan for disguise kit and forgery kit.

V. Human Ancestral Guardian Barbarian, Outlander
AC 15 (unarmored defense) HP 105 Speed 30’
Str 16 (+3), Dex 14 (+2), Con 16 (+3)
Int 8 (-1), Wis 10 (+0) Cha 8 (-1)
Saves: Strength +6, Constitution +6
Skills: Athletics +6, nature +2, perception +3, survival +3
Feats: Polearm Master, Sentinel

Ancestral Guardian Barbarian cause it’s one of the only tanks with any actual aggro-management mechanics. V.Human for Sentinel for additional stickiness, PAM at 4th level for Sentinel synergy. Outlander for free foraging in case that becomes necessary; not very useful skills, but this character is mainly here for combat anyway.

V. Human Scout Rogue, Sailor
AC 14 (studded leather), HP 51 Speed 30’
Str 10 (+0)*, Dex 16 (+3), Con 12 (+1)
Int 14 (+2), Wis 14 (+2), Cha 10 (+0)
Saves: Dexterity +6, Intelligence +5
Skills: Acrobatics +6, Athletics +3, insight +5, investigation +8 nature +8, perception +8, sleight of hand +6, stealth +6, survival +8
Tools: Navigator’s tools, thieves’ tools (expertise), water vehicles
Feats: Dungeon delver, observant

Scout Rogue for DPS and exploration pillar, both in wilderness and dungeon exploration. V. Human for Observant, Dungeon Delver at 4th level (highly underrated Feat in my opinion!) for epic trap removal. Sailor background for maximum skill coverage and to cover the off chance it’s a nautical adventure.

Tortle Divination Wizard, Hermit
AC 17 (natural armor) HP 50 Speed 30’
Str 8 (-1) Dex 10 (+0) Con 14 (+2)
Int 18 (+4) Wis 14 (+2) Cha 14 (+2)
Saves: Intelligence +7, Wisdom +5
Skills: Arcana +7, History +7, Medicine +5, Religion +7
Tools: Herbalism Kit

Divination Wizard for AoE and divination spells. Tortle for AC bonus and so I can dump dex. Hermit for two Int-based skills and Herbalism Kit.

Haven’t decided how to spend the allotted gold yet, apart from plate armor for the cleric.

 

[Fenris-77]

Tortle Divination Wizards. Great googly-moogly. I'm having visions of Kung-Fu Panda. That's not really a bad thing.