/5eg/ D&D Fifth Edition General

Whats a good book or resource for character backgrounds, bonds, ect. I'm so fucking uncreative I need some help beyond the PHB.

>>49324390
druid the best, ranger the worst

>>49324390
Worst are Bladelock, Beastmaster and Wot4E

>>49324451
How does it feel to be so wrong?

>>49324457
There's literally nothing wrong with bladelock, and the pact doesn't define the class.

Berserker is worse than beastmaster of bladelocks by far.

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Does anyone have a copy of the 5e oriental expansion? I'm buying it this Thursday, but I would like to look and make a character from it, and use it to make an event or two for some players ahead of time.

>>49324459
the ranger 5e sucks hard, it's the worst class ever made.

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This thread is filled with faggots. Between liking the worst aspects of a ranger and shitting on any warlock entering melee ever, I want to get my collective (you) out there early.

>>49324390
So, whats the consensus on the revision? At first glance i dont like that they brought back favored enemy damage and beast master looks like a mess of confusion bjt thats all i e looked at.

>>49324510
The fact that you think Druid is better than Wizard or Bard, and that the Ranger is the worst class ever made just advertises how shitty your games are. I feel bad for you, anon.

Does anyone have a pdf of "Unlikely Heroes for 5th Edition" from Kobold Press? I looked everywhere, but couldn't find one.

>>49324523
tell me something worst than a ranger in 5e?

>>49324515
It has two things that are stupid: favored enemy damage and the animal companion acting on its own initiative.

>>49324532
Berserker Barbarian and Way of Four Elements Monks are both worse by a lot.

>>49324544
kek, they are 2 archetypes, i can always play a good monk and a good barbarian, the ranger sucks. STOP.
Maybe Wizard and Bard are better than a druid, but the ranger is totally shit.

>>49324533
Thats what i thought, ill just stick with my BM house rules and not confuse the two BM rangers i have in my games.

>>49324477
Berserk only problem is frenzy due how exhaustion works, rest are pretty solid features

And yes, bladelock has some mayor problems, for starters the Warlock chasis is pretty awful for melee, so picking bladelock does you no favor

As for beastmaster, the way it's in the PHB, is fucking awful, weak and feeble as fuck animal companion that literally steals your actions

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My players are embarking on a journey across the wide open sea. They count 5 among them, only one of them has seafaring experience. It's for exploration, not war. What kind of ship should I have prepared for them and how big should its crew be?

>>49324569
>berserker
Personally i just let the berserker spend 2 rages to frenzy, i also halved the number of rages he has but gave them back on short rest. Seems to have worked out okay so far, im sure someone could/will say that its broken as fuck.

>>49324597
Not really, Bladesinger and Druid both get their transformations 2/short rest, I think making Barbs having 2/short rest might be an improvement, at least in the games I played it would be.

>>49324610
I should note its half rounded up to make the break points a little smoother. It improvs barb in sessions where you have a lot of travel or opportunities to rest but seems to even out in a dungeon type setting. The former problem is also the case with other classes so i dont find it that big of a deal.

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You know I never understood why people hated variant human until I saw the players who played them, they're most of the time cunts who treat the game as an MMO.

>>49324597
I would prefer berzerkers got 1 frenzied rage/short rest and be done with it. Rages are already extremely limited by being X/long rest and making a barbarian more interested in 1 encounter working days was a bad design choice.

>>49324552
>hunter ranger is shit
Prove it, because you're just spouting memes.

>>49324646
a fighter with a bow is better

>>49324639
>All wizards, druids and clerics are muchkin
>All monks are weebs
>All fighters are unimaginative faggots
>All rogues are lolradum cunts
>All warlocks are edgelords
>All paladins are punisher dicks
>All rangers are drizzt mary sues
>etc

>>49324655
I dunno, our Sharpshooter ranger with volley seems to outdamage our GWM fighter every fucking time, only when we deal with one creature CR is where teh GWM fighter shines.

>>49324655
Not at being a ranger, but thanks for saying fighter is better at fighting as proof a ranger is shit. Next you will try and sell me on barbarians or monks out damaging Paladins and fighters too.

>>49324523
A Druid can summon like 8 charging Elk which deal 111 damage on average and can then polymorph and fight better than a fighter.

Not to mention fucking goodberry. Between that and broken ranger abilities fuck your survival campaign DM you're not allowed to design anything fun.

>>49324686
the ranger doesn't nothing good.
His spells suck, a fighter/barbarian is better in combat, a eldritchblastlock is better in ranged dmg, a bard/rogue are better skilmonkeys.

>>49324708
>Ranger is worse at everything than other classes bar monk
So, shouldn't be the monk the worst then?

>>49324727
monk is better than a ranger in mobility.

>>49324706
Summon spell is subject to GM whim. Noted that the spell doesn't actually let the PC decide which creatures will appear, it only allow them to select creatures CR.

>>49324738
It's a pretty shit GM that dumps 8 Octopuss to die on the forest floor.

Honestly pretty much any creature that spell allows is crazy as it breaks the action economy in half.

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>>49324639
>wow i cant believe x because y

things sheep say

>>49324515
It hasn't been out long enough for a consensus to form. It looks solid and playable to me. What others are calling stupid, like Natural Explorer and the pet having its own initiative, are not stupid to me.

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How multiclassing works?

Is melee ranger any good? Most of ranger spells seem to support archery better than melee.

Hunter's mark with dual-wielding might work but that is getting close to "Drizzt clone" territory.

>>49324795
Well, Ranger doesn't support very well 2hd weapons so TWF seems the next logical step for melee DPR

>>49324795
Dual wielding and Hunter's Mark are anti-synergy because both try to use your bonus action. You'd be better off using a single weapon with a shield for a melee Dex ranger and a two-handed ranger can work with Great Weapon Master if you don't mind picking Defense fighting style.

I thought part of the point of 5e was it wouldn't be overrun by opfags? I've found banning multiclassing cuts these rabid autists out of my group emtirely.

>>49324817
>TWF seems the next logical step for melee DPR

It would seem that way in theory, but when it comes to practicality, a ranger has a fair amount of competing bonus actions because of Hunter's Mark and other spells.

>>49324832
People have different definitions of overpowered. A few multiclass builds are just as good as single classed, and none are better than single-classed, so I'm not sure what you're getting at.

>>49324832
>multiclass
>op
sensible chuckle
Not even Sorlock is op, he's just as good as a vanilla (without counting their archetype features) fighter that isn't using any resource (action surge p.e.) at dealing damage.

>>49324795
>that is getting close to "Drizzt clone" territory
But what if I'm dual-wielding hand axes?

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explain pls

Guys, how do I use the basic dice to roll for a d21, d11 or d25 respectively?
Can't think of something right now.

>>49324912
Short version: u r gay

>>49324706
Conjure animals doesn't work that way, polymorph requires concentration, and ranger/outlander/druid all fuck over wilderness survival based campaigns.

>>49324708
Rangers do fucking rangering "good" you mongloid. You know the most about targets, track them down, and bend environmental rules over your knee. Barbarian does less damage, warlocks only max out damage over bows by multiclassing, and rogues can't match a ranger's ability to track and move through the wilderness or even stealth.

>>49324730
Not in the wilderness where a monk is effected by difficult terrain and has to move slowly to use stealth, only in combat - and not by much.

>>49324917
>d25
D100 divide by 4 round up?

>>49324940
And only if he spends ki

>>49324917
>D20+D1
>D10+D1
>D20+D5

>>49324940
OK RANGER IS BEST CLASS EVER IN 5e, are you happy now? Go play the ranger and suck dicks

>>49324821
>>49324856
TWF DPR is only a problem because the lack of feats boosting damage, just like one-handed damage.

Hunter's Mark is *a* bonus action and landing more weapon attacks maximizes it's effectiveness for the other rounds - and hunters do even more damage on top of that. Rangers and Paladins are the only classes that make sense to use two weapons.

>>49324917

Roll a d20, d10. On a 20 or 10, you roll a d2 (coin flip or d4/2). for a 1 you got the 20, for a 2, you got the the 21

It's not an exact even probability split, but it's the closest you'll get

Don't know how to do a d25 though.

maybe 2d10 and a d6, with a 0 0 6 representing the 1, but your probability split will be way fucked by then

>>49325001

actually this guy
>>49324958

Has the 25 down the best way possible (you know, for an equal probability of any number occuring)

>>49324967
I was counting that and ranger spells in what I said, so I wasn't going to brag about resource consumption because rangers do have to use their spells carefully.

>>49324981
I never said best, I said not the worst. Ranger is specialized, but a solid class. It's biggest issue is Beastmaster being decidedly worse than Hunter in combat.

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>>49324981
>being this salty

>>49324937
I wonder if I am gay sometimes.

Ive sucked like 4 dicks and anal sex with a guy, who cucked me with my girlfriend who doesnt have sex with me, but still feel pretty straight. I like being forced to do things I dont like but enjoy in the moment.

My therapist says im bisexual but scared of men. Im probably just a raging faggot though.

>>49325022

He even got the d11 pretty well (just roll a d12 and reroll on a 12)

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>>49325029
>Ive sucked like 4 dicks and anal sex with a guy, who cucked me with my girlfriend who doesnt have sex with me, but still feel pretty straight.
>still feel pretty straight.
Every d&d ranger ever.

>>49324958
I guess it could work, if I had one. Although I could probably imitate a D100 with the d% and d10.

>>49324978
Wut?

>>49325001
I've been thinking for the d21 I can roll a d6, for 1 and 2 representing the first 7 number, 3 and 4 the next 7 and 5 and 6 the last 7, then roll a d8, with a re-roll if it lands on 8.

>>49325024
Ranger, if he picks the right feature, can move through the battlefield freely imposing disadvantage to those who want to hit him for moving out of combat, no resource.

Monk has to spend ki to disengage.

>>49325029
It's not gay as long as you don't kiss or swallow.

>>49324940
>ranger/outlander/druid all fuck over wilderness survival based campaigns

Divination magic in general screws those campaigns over too. Purify Food and Drink and Leomund's Tiny Hut are rituals available via a feat to also screw over some of the danger of the wilderness.

You need to be a clever DM or being playing Dark Sun for nature to do much to an adventuring party.

>>49324996
You're right, but that's theory vs. practicality. In practical terms, you won't be doing that optimized damage every turn, and on turns you're able to use your bonus action to swing a weapon, the two weapon fighting options are sub-optimal because you're not using them. You still only have one bonus action a turn.

>>49325106
>turns you're able to use your bonus action

Should be NOT able

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>>49325029
>anal sex with a guy, who cucked me with my girlfriend
Did she watch when he fucked you?

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In practice, how well does the limit of three attuned magic items at a time work out throughout the course of a campaign? Does it actually provide some balance and important choices when you have more than three attunement-required items to choose from?

>>49325106
Isn't the same thing also apply to crossbow expert though? you can't use bonus action every round.

>>49325065
>. Although I could probably imitate a D100 with the d% and d10.

that's what the d% is there for sweetie

a 000 for a 1

how many years did it take you guys to realize you only said multiclassing wasnt op to justify your cancer builds? took me like 10 years and looking back im embarrassed by how much of an ass i was

>>49325106
>>49325118
It's only suboptimal because there's no TWF Sharpshooter equivalent, otherwise you are increasing the spell and colossus slayer optimization by holding a second weapon even if you don't always use it versus holding a rapier and shield or using a longbow. Even if 50% of the time you get to deal extra bonus damage you normally wouldn't it's not suboptimal.

>>49325149
That's why Crossbow Expert is better on a fighter than a ranger since there's less competing bonus actions. The issue is Hunter's Mark being a source of ranger damage, not two-weapon fighting itself.

>>49324940
But most players start complaining as soon as the DM asks "how do you plan to survive one week in the wild?" Or "how do you plan on navigating there?" Or even "who will take first watch?" . Therefore all characters should do exactly the same damage / round and be balanced by way of being samey.

>>49325173
Read
>>49325174

>>49325139
It prevents the christmas tree adventurer effect, which is good enough for me.

>>49325128
Obviously. She stripped infront of us. He gagged me with her panties before he fucked me. We still play D&D together.

>>49324895
You're a dual-wielding ranger. You are already a Drizzt clone.

>>49325205
is he also black?

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>>49325206
God fucking dammit.

>>49325187
But they're not competing. What are you filling that bonus action with when you don't cast or switch hinter's mark targets?

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This loot is good for a group of six level 4 characters facing a Mind Flayer? (they'll level after the dungeon)

>>49325227
I think your experience in combats is different from mine. I've played with people who dogpile one target to take it down fast to reduce the amount of incoming attacks they deal with in subsequent rounds. Warlocks/Rangers are moving their Hex/Hunter's Mark constantly because of the focus fire.

>>49324488
H-hello? Anyone have this?

>>49325212
No that's pretty racist bro.

>>49325106
>actually making divination magic more reliable than the oracle of delphi
shiggy
They're not modern telecom, if they're going to be using it, they'd better get good at omen interpretation.

>>49325280
well cuckfag losers tend to have an obsession with niggers so i was curious if you filled the stereotype.

>>49325290
Look at the Locate series of spells and Find the Path some time. There's no interpretation to be made.

>>49325251
If your DM is only throwing mobs then you are right, and if you are not facing high HP targets then you are right. But even if you land 1 extra bonus action Hunter's Mark & Collosus Slayer you otherwise wouldn't, or if you only shine at fighting giants or dragons, you are still not suboptimal. If you don't take Sharpshooter because you are a melee TWF Ranger, then you are suboptimal.

Considering giving my players another way to get feats. Our setting has lots of organizations to interact with (warrior societies, political bodies, merchant houses, magical bureaucrats) and I wanted to provide the opportunity for more direct benefits than simply good standing with an organization.

I had considered awarding them automatically upon achieving certain levels of reputation with different factions, but this resulted in a pretty significant amount of party splitting for sidequests.

To that end, I'm considering allowing a player to purchase a Feat in exchange for XP. The base cost would be something like (100*Character Level)*2^(Character Tier). That math isn't final. If the cost of the Feat would put you below the XP threshold required to reach your current level, you can't buy the Feat.

Feats gained in either of these ways would be limited to those provided by organizations; the PHB feats would remain ASI only.

>strength revised ranger
>dump int
>ape companion
>boost his intelligence every ABS
>monkey is brains, ranger is brawn
>go on crime solving adventures

>>49324529
Guys?
...Please?

>>49325353
We must be playing very different games because in my experience solo encounters or even 2-3 monster encounters are trivially easy. Their high HP rarely matters because action economy of a 4-6 person party owns them and denies them actions. A solo encounter is begging for a Hold Monster/Otto's Irresistible Dance followed by a fighter Action Surging, a paladin dumping smites, etc. Maybe the creature does something but it better have legendary resistance and legendary actions if that high HP is going to mean anything.

>>49325242
Anyone?

Dm reporting in. Combat is by far my weakest area. What are some memorable, fun, and interesting experiences you've had in combat? What made them so?

Is there a trap option for the new ranger's companion?

All of them seem cool enough. Boar might be the weakest one here but it still cool enough.

>>49325472
By 9th-11th levels the DM style has to change dramatically, especially with 6 party members, magic items, and feats. You guys sound like you are a well oiled machine and it's not being pushed very hard.

>>49325746
The harder fights have more creatures than party members to deal with the action economy, and they're not just mooks based on how hard they hit and the attack riders and magical effects they use. Everything is very deadly so far. One player is on his second character and one is on her third. By the time something like the Hunter's Mark-TWF scenario is coming up, we're in mop-up mode after controlling a few targets and bursting a few. It seems like the wrong part of the encounter to optimize for.

>>49324449
The only help you can get wizards wise is the backgrounds they throw out in unearthed arcana but that's it. Just go the best background.

Folk Hero

>>49325656
Big set pieces, even if they're just scribbled on a battlemat. Objectives that aren't just "kill all the monsters" but also aren't escort missions. Nonlinear adventures like trying to figure out the best angle to approach a large fortified compound.

So I'm giving a try at a Sorcerous Origin as Pyromancer, I know these exist as homebrew classes but they are always filled with really powerful stuff, so I'm gonna lowball this stuff and ask where to bump it up.

Level 1: Reroll 1s on damage, resistance to fire and acclimate to hot climates.

Level 6: Can spend 2 Sorc points when casting a damaging spell to overcome resistance to fire. 4 sorcery points to have an immune to fire damage creature take half.

Level 14:Immunity to Fire

Level 18: Reroll 1s 2s and 3s on fire damage.

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What are the best spells for a cleric, if you want to do more offensive/supportive magic that isn't healing focused?

>>49325975
Guiding Bolt Spirit Guardians Guardian of Faith and Flame Strike are pretty neat.

>>49325975
>isn't healing focused?
Stop being a fag and go back to healing, bitch.

>>49322223

stunning strike is pretty crazy cc because the monks damage flat lines ridiculously early and it's one of their only real selling points in combat past that point.

rogues don't need that since they already have a lot of power baked into the rest of the class.

>>49325970
Doesn't feel fun at all.

Consider ripping off wild magic, and the Dm/player interaction it creates, but with igniting things.

>>49325975
1st: Bless, Command, Guiding Bolt
2nd: Blindness/Deafness, Hold Person (campaign dependent), Spiritual Weapon
3rd: Bestow Curse, Spirit Guardians
4th: Banishment, Freedom of Movement

How high of a spell level do you want to go to?

>>49325970
Level 1: Not bad, but I think resistance to fire already means you automatically succeed on all saving throws to resist the effects of high temperature climates. Reroll 1s is alright, but personally, I'd go with something like "+1 per die of damage with fire spells."

Level 6: The Elemental Adept feat allows you to overcome resistance to one element without spending sorcery points, so this definitely needs to be better somehow. Maybe allow overcoming resistance for free, and spending sorcery points to treat fire-immune creatures as resistant? Though, there are better ways to deal with fire-immune creatures than just casting more fire spells at it, so I think maybe bundling the resistance-overcoming part with something else entirely might be a better solution.

Level 14: Useful but boring. Bundle with another feature, perhaps. Maybe allow them to spend sorcery points to regain hit points from fire damage.

Level 18: I'd drop this and allow them to spend sorcery points to maximize damage from fire spells, but I'm the sort of loser who thinks high-level features should have a lot of oomph to them.

>>49325970
I think you should just look at storm sorcerer and copy that, honestly. Don't focus damage, focus control

>level 1, when casting a spell can start a 5 foot magical fire which lasts for one round unless it catches
>>level 6 control fires within 100 feet as an action, expand fires by 5 feet, reduce fires by 5 feet
>level 14 fire immunity
>level 18 polymorph into a fire elemental, continue casting spells as normal

>>49325996
That's what the rogue with the healer feat is for. No one in medium or higher armor should be doing anything besides combat.

>>49326050
I like that. Level 6 on critical strikes or if an enemy fails the save by 5 or more they are ignited for d6 fire damage and must use actions to douse the flames. The level 18 ability can be enemies are always ignited.

>>49326054
That's good enough to start with. Thanks friendo.

>>49326109
>>49326139
I like that even better, but I don't want to do a complete rip off, I just want to make sure that it feels like something different.

I like the chance of igniting, I love the fire elemental idea, I'll get rid of fire immunity for something to do with defense cause that's what they usually seem to be, like attackers catch on fire.

>>49326172
That's the starting package I recommend to every cleric I DM for. In-combat healing is bad unless it gets someone out of death saving throws or you're casting something like Heal that out-paces monster damage.

>>49324821
Doesn't hunters mark only use your bonus action to switch targets when one is dead? You're still getting at least a round where you're dealing bonus damage, nearly doubling it depending on what weapons you're using and if it applies to every attack which I don't remember if it does.

Either way missing out on one attack every once in a while is balanced with the constant extra damage in my eyes. You're not assuming the spell is part of the expected ranger damage output, are you? That's like saying rounds where you aren't hastened or enlarged or under the effect of a potion are wasted.

>>49324595
I would suggest doing a quick read up on different kinds of sailing ships. You say that this expedition is to explore a wide open sea that's been unmapped, so you'll want to have a lot of cargo space available for foodstuffs, as well as a fishing rig set up so that you can catch fish to survive off of (Which can lead to encounters on its own as you dredge up stuff like merfolk npcs and such.)

If the setting supports it and you decide to do some underwater exploration a Diving bell, and accompanying gear could be a neat touch.

But as for the kind of ship I would say something akin to what Columbus or Marco Polo used to get around.

>>49326387
No, I'm not making a "ranger's are bad" argument. I'm saying TWF and Hunter's Mark are conflicting mechanics, and it's worth considering other options even as a melee-focused ranger.

I will be playing sun elf wizard pre-made char on evocation focus. Previously I only played 2.x and 3.5 editions. Tips, thoughts? Also, lvl 1 ofc.

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>>49326431
Ok, thank you. Those were some pretty big ships, carrying a crew of around 40 men (half of them named Juan or Pedro). I'm not sure if I'll run with that, but at least I have starting point. Have another picture of a mermaid.

>>49324390
>best /worst classes
Anycaster/monk

What is a descent way to build a warlock tanky? Currently im the tank but only due to armour of agathys.

>>49326563
Sleep is ridiculous at level 1 and quickly falls off in usefulness.

Shield is useful from level 1 to level 20 and saves lives.

Get the Elemental Evil Player's Companion, a free pdf, to have more elemental diversity in your evocations. Vitriolic Sphere is a nice companion to Fireball. Frostbite is in there too and works with Potent Cantrip and it's an evocation.

Ok Pyromancer Sorcerer Origin back, with 20% more fire.

Level 1: When damaging a creature with fire, add your charisma modifier. You are resitant to fire damage.

Level 6: When you damage enemies with fire from a spell or cantrip, you may spend one sorcery point to give the ignited condition to the enemy, this condition lasts for 1 minute.

(Ignited, at the start of the creature's turn they take d6 fire damage, and shed bright light in a radius of 10 feet, and dim light 10 feet beyond that. They may use their action to douse the flames, or another creature within 5 feet of them may.)

Level 14: When the caster takes damage from a spell they cast, dealing fire damage, they instead heal for half of the total damage dealt. (This is to go along with the ignited feature, spending a sorcery point can heal the sorcerer a lot out of combat for a minute, the total would be half of 10d6, which after a few test rolls is 12-20 health per sorcery point per minute. This is a lot, but it's level 14, and sorcery points don't come back until a short rest and I'm trying to be comparable to at will flying. I love the heal idea but I'm also considering 2d6 for the ignited condition.)

Level 18: The sorcerer can spend (x) sorcery points to ascend to an Ember Lord. They deal 2d6 fire damage in a range of 10 feet, and shine bright light to 30 feet, and dim light 30 feet beyond that. While in this stage, fire damage is maximized.

I have a half orc player that banged a lizard folk female in game in drunken revelry.

30 years later they are about to stumble on this tribe of lizard folk. Ideas on what should happen?

I was thinking of going the Killer Croc (batman) route, and his offspring is some mutated outcast.

>>49326608
>Warlock
>Tanky

>Armor of agathys
>Tanky

Your definition of tanky sounds off

>>49326652

So like Draconic Origin but absurdly better

seems balanced

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Hey guys, looking for DM advice.

So I'm about to start DMing Storm King's Thunder on Roll20, and I've noticed that there are a few situations where players explore an area for which a map is provided.

This leads to my question, should I:

1. Run these instances off of description alone using the gridded map exclusively for combat.

2. Provide the map as a reference tool for the players as they describe where and what their characters do.

3. Or should I incorporate Roll20's Dynamic Lighting System and have them move their player tokens real-time with the narrative?

In previous campaign's I've used method no.3, although I've come to find this somewhat stressful to manage and immersion-breaking.

Any tips from a player's perspective? (Or some kick-ass DMs, either is fine!)

/tg/ how do I get a Lawful Neutral Paladin to kiss an obviously evil whore?
I'm throwing around have her using a scroll, or had cast on her, the spell undetectable alignment. Yet, I don't think he'll take the bait even then.

>>49326608
sadly you have to multiclass to become tanky on a lock

>>49326755
back in my day paladins had to be good aligned

baka desu senpai

>>49326755
This sets off a lot of warning bells, so my answer is no.

>>49326747
Do a mix of 2 and 3. Let them move their pieces, investigating/ foraging what have you, and then the lighting system can block view of possible enemies in the brushes if they're not actively looking for them.

>>49326608
Bladelock, polearm, polearm mastery, sentinel, and war caster. Eldritch blast, repelling blast.

Fiend patron and a bag of starving rats.

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>>49326667
>half orc player that banged a lizard folk female
Sweet mother of god.
Alright, the result should look something like this, I think.

>>49326755
No. Just no.
Go away.

>>49326771
I take it they can be aligned with there deity and even then it's just as long as their pushing their tenants.

>>49326779
Doesn't necessarily help but you tried.

>>49324832
Anti-ops are the most cancerous people to ever plague the tabletop community. The dumbest and most vitriolic manchildren.

>>49326707
The offensive things being added are charisma to spells which is what draconics get. The d6 Fire damage per sorcery point per turn, which becomes awful after level 11 where enemies have 200 health.

Yeah my sorcerer gets resistance for free but they can't pick the resistance like yours can.

The next thing is you get 60 feet of flying which means 120 per turn with dash. Yeah my sorcerer can heal but the healing won't do much if he's getting cornered, it's only better when out of combat.

And finally I'm thinking of making the ember lord 9-10 sorcery points, double what yours takes, and it's a lot of damage but it's for 1 minute. You still have 5 more sorcery points to use while mine is half through his.

I know it's strong but it's not absurdly better, the maximize damage I may lower to just a higher dice size.

>>49326600
I'm curious, are you going to have a bunch of NPCs with the player characters acting as crew for the ship, or are you running it as just the five players?

I have mistakenly assumed the former, but I was also assuming wide open sea to be something like the pacific or somesuch. Are you able to offer any details as to what the campaign will be like, or how large the ocean will be?

>>49325656
I like to
>throw them into combat with dozens of enemies but the enemies often have other objectives- so they shit their pants initially but many of the enemies disengage/kidnap people/run off when they get hurt etc
>throw an above average enemy at them- when it seems like their getting the upper hand, its buddy joins in
>really set the mood beforehand- for example, my party of lvl 6s fought a "tyrannical mouther", a scaled up gibbering mouther. Spent a good ten minutes going through its lair before meeting it, describing the rock walls having been turned into a sponge - like consistency, mild acidic smell, hearing snatches of terrible noises coming from the dark, before they finally meet it- advancing slowly and anybody who gets close is sent running without even thinking about it (due to terrible will saves)

>>49326755
Just have someone cast Dominate on him and make him rape this whore. That's way easier and more effective.

>>49326755
You need to find an article of his code to exploit. If he's one of those Vengeance paladins that are so popular nowadays, the article to exploit is that of restitution. Make it clear that because he failed to stop a villain in time, this woman lost her husband and was left lonely and penniless, with no way to support herself other than whoring. The paladin is compelled to give her back what she lost: a man to love and support her.

Hey there, everyone

I'm running an intro game for some newbs this Friday and I was planning on running one of the AL modules. I've never tried them before and I thought this would be a good chance to try one out. I only plan to let this go on for maybe two sessions, otherwise I would've done Phandelver.

Has anyone ever run any of the short ones before? Are there any that stand out as being fun to play/are good for new players?

So I finally decided to see what it's like using the Chaotic Evil alignment. I'm trying to play the alignment as what your character is willing to do. Lawful means they won't break the law, neutral being they some times may break it, and chaotic being they will break it with no remorse if it fits their goal. And I'm playing evil, which I am considering incredibly selfish, and being driven by his bloodlust for Giants. I know alignment arguments happen in a flash so I will try to get me question quick.

Does a vengeful and selfish elf only wanting to see giant's blood spilt seem like chaotic evil? Nothing will get in his way.

Are mounts always proficient with barding?

I'm creating a non-divination private detective wizard. Any suggestions?

>>49327213
>elf
U r doin it wrong

>>49327214
Their proficiencies are up to the DM.

>>49326755

Paladin's can't detect alignment anyways but you might as well hide it. Why are you trying to make him kiss an evil whore?

>>49327051

This idea is pretty funny.

>>49326918
Not sureyet, I'm just starting working on it. They'll probably get wrecked by a sea monster fairly early on, so I just need to figure this stuff out for the first part, maybe 1 session or something.

I don't want to be bothered by the crew too much, so either I'll size it down considerably, or they'll have little independant thought.

>>49326858

Paladin's dont' even need a deity of any form now.

>>49326810
>20th level character with 15 Str, 13 Dex, 12 Con and 14 Cha

>>49327282
I know but elf is the only way to have 16 Dex and Wis for a monk.

>>49327213

I had a similar idea for a chaotic evil character. A cleric of Talos who just wants to fight, loot, and pillage. He doesn't really care which way he goes, but winds up working with the party because it doesn't matter and this way he can get celebrated for looting and pillaging.

An evil character who can work with non-evil party members basically. I don't know if I'll play it though.

>>49327324
It's a Bruxa, from the Witcher series. She's pretending to be a common whore on occasion to see if she can't charm some nobility or adventurers who might happen in. They have Kiss of Darkness in a homebrew I found that's an almost indefinite charm.

>>49327051
He is vengeance so I'll look into that. The only problem is the encounter is going to be on the fly without much planning on her part, however she's quite charismatic and might learn a bit about him beforehand.

>>49327357

If you're doing point buy variant human can get you both by putting 15s into dex and wis.

>>49327372

As long as you're not making him fall for it, that would be bullshit of the highest calibur.

>>49327335
Might be my older knowledge clashing with newer edition.

>>49327357
>elf
>monk
U r foin it wrong x2

>>49327411
Oh no, definitely not. It's actually the beginning of the campaign and she's not going to make him do anything extreme. She's sort of just forming a posse and he'll have quite a few chances to break the charm.

>>49327430

It is. This is a new thing in 5e; Paladins aren't defined by their loyalty to a deity as opposed to loyalty to their oath. Their word to this oath is so strong it binds their powers. Basically serving the tenants of your oath replaced serving your god.

They can still have one of course, but they don't NEED one.

>>49327446

Most people will give it pause for that reason alone. It should be fine as long as you don't do something dumb with it, like making him fall for kissing an evil creature. Paladins get that type of shit a lot.

>>49327462
Haven't actually played Paladin in 5e and then I moved to forever DM, so that's good to know.
Yeah, I'm not gonna screw him over like that. His thing is more protecting people if anything, so an accidental kiss on an evil vampire won't make him fall.

>>49327462
Does making him fuck a goat count as dumb?

>>49327357
>What's ghostwise halfling?

>>49327556
>>49327411
>>49327444
Alright I wanted to not be a human for once and not short, then the options were limited.

>>49327372
>>49327446
Why does it have to be a trick? She could be an evil person who just happens to also be the widow of a victim of the paladin's sworn enemy. She could be looking to protect her operation from the law, and she's heard that this order of paladins is notorious for bending the law, so she asks for his help by saying that brothels and other illegal rackets are an important source of employment for the poorest of the poor, and isn't poverty a greater evil than breaking the petty laws against the world's oldest profession?

It sounds like you want her to just be evil and seek out evil companions but also tempt a paladin because it's evil. Evil people don't work that way. They have motives beyond evil for its own sake.

>>49327596

halfling is nice for monks but elf is fine too.

>>49325975
Daddy's going to be disappointed if you use your spell slots on something other than healing.

>>49327606
I haven't really explained all the motives and they're slightly tentative. I want to approach with initial evil, charm whoever I see, then have her worm her way into upper echelon of this town. Where she really just wants a quiet place to live with no real conflict, other than the need for blood which she'll get somehow. As this area and world the game is in, is rife with beasts and thus people who hunt them.

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>>49327596
There's birdman, or half-elf if you point buy two 15s.

I'm about to run a game for a bunch of new players and one of them wants to play something like a dark souls pyromancer. Should I just have him roll an EK or is there a better way to do it? I'm starting them at level 1 so I'm worried he might be disappointed if he can't even cast a firebolt til level 3.

>>49327606
I should also mention she knows very little about the paladin, other than that he's walking around with nice armor and might have some pull as he comes off as noble, having the noble background and all.

>>49327691
>like a dark souls pyromancer
Instant fail.
>he might be disappointed
Not your problem, really.

>>49325975
Oddly enough, Healing Word. It means that the cleric never has to waste a combat round shuffling around and healing people. When a party member drops unconscious, all it means is that you have to get them back into positive HP as a bonus action and then still have time to swing your mace around or cast Sacred Flame.

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>>49327689
>Birdman doesn't have Str
I just wanted to play Tizoc

>>49326667
Actually, half-orcs that breed with anything they can breed with ALWAYS produce more half-orcs, just like how orcs that breed with anything they can breed with always produce either an orc or a half-orc, or in the case of ogres and ogrillion.

Lizard folk couldn't breed with half-orcs, they're egg-layers, don't give live birth and don't have sex the same way.

That said, your campaign.
Do what you want.

>>49327230
Abjurer so you can survive the pulpy action a detective is likely to get in the thick of.

>>49325656
Allowing crazy shit. No one will do anything but roll to hit and move 30ft unless you let them bend the rules.

Climbing Dragons and steering it's flight path so it doesn't nuke the ground party. Throwing the magical bomb into the Dragon's mouth to disable it's bite attack/casting. Letting people wombo combo things like getting their normal damage on top of bonus damage for slamming the enemy into the burning oil. Having there be a weak point they can hit for massive damage.

Most of this stems from not using monsters out of the book, and having a homebrew world where something might not work the same way it does in every other setting.

>>49326667
>Half orc
>30 years later
He's ded

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>>49327732
This guy would be a lot easier to make with high Strength however.

Do we know which playable races will appear in Volo's splat?

>>49325896
Third party or system agnostic toolkit would be fine. I just need material to offer options or inspiration

>>49327685
If that's what she wants, and all she knows about the PCs is that they're dressed like prosperous adventurers and this one dwarf is probably a paladin, her most obvious strategy would be to tell him that she wants to find honest work rather than debasing herself on the street, and would they happen to have need of someone to help take care of their guildhouse? From there she can do whatever other evil stuff she wants to under the unwitting protection of an organization of professional murderers (i.e. the PCs)

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>>49327987
A few of these were mentioned under a slightly different name. At least that's what I thought anyway.

>>49327910
But I want to play Tizoc, and your pic is clearly not Tizoc, he's King Dinosaur, completely different guy.

Also, how? is there a lizarfolk PC race?

>>49327653
See>>49326134

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>>49328045
Nah, they're gonna be different.
VGtM is Realms-centric (like everything with any fluff excepting CoS that WotC has put out), and Faerun isn't Golarion.

It'll be the Tabaxi, jaguar-people.

>>49328094
Why can't you let a man dream?

>>49328056
Dragonborn are kinda lizard-like.

>>49328139
Because /pfg/ is right over there and you already have a D&D-based system where you can play catgirls by now?
And because the creators of D&D quite clearly do not even remotely care about what you want.

>>49328165
Pathfinder sucks. 5e is better.
I don't care about what they care about or not. I would just take extreme pleasure in the butthurt that would arise out of you anti-weebs by sheer virtue of WotC releasing something that causes you 20d10 psychic damage.

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Do you expect (or hope) Volo's will have stats for bugbears and hobgoblins?

>>49327774
Not the same anon, but is that really how orc/goblins reproduce?
Is it a curse or something?

>>49328220
Well since we get goblins for sure, it's quite possible we get hobgoblins, bugbears not so sure.

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>>49328094
A cat is fine too.

>>49328220
I'm expecting Hogoblins, but I'm not too sure if Bugbears would also get added.

I'm still scratching my head why it took them this long to release official splat for playing a full-blood Orc character. Isn't that normally one of the first monstrous races to get stats in a fantasy rpg? ffs, we got bird people before we got Orcs.

>>49328219
I wouldn't be butthurt at all though?
I mean, it's not real. I don't have to use it in games if I don't want to and can ignore pretty much anything in these books that I want.

I just have realistic expectations for WotC by now I suppose.
>>49328220
Hobgoblins I bet.
Bugbears maybe?
>>49328237
Goblins, no, orcs, yes.
Goblinoids and orcs have no relation.
Orcs are stupidly fecund (they actually have a deity who's whole thing is "MAKE MORE ORC BABIES"), and just like how a half-elf is more human then elf (living less then a quarter of their lifespan amd lacking their immunities and their inability to sleep) orcs apparently mix so well with other races that you always get an orc or a half-orc. Orcs don't really give a shit about "racial purity".
It's a curse in the sense that even orcs themselves think of their race as a curse on other races in their religious myths, and thus they breed like rodents and spread out and kill damned near everything and breed with the rest to repeat the process.

Incidentally, only 2e info on FR dwarves had them work similarly; any human that mates with a dwarf actuality just creates a full-blooded dwarf who is slightly taller then average.
Dwarves don't like to talk about it since for awhile it was one of the only reliable ways they could increase their numbers. Kinda embarrassing for them I guess.

>>49328325
Most of what people think of as orc-looking looks more like a half-orc does then an actual Orc in D&D anyway.
Most people even think all orcs are green in D&D when that isn't really true either.

>>49328382
I dunno senpai - Mearls is a weeaboo.
I think you're in for an unpleasant surprise one of these days ;)

>>49328325
No one gives a fuck about orcs, that's why.

>>49328382
So the most effective way to get rid of orcs is a genophage?

>>49328420
If it happens it happens, nbd.
Much more interested in the monster content of the book actually; my players are dedicated, show up on time, and contribute well enough, but also are pretty attached to their current characters and so I probably won't be making use of any of the new PC races for some time.

>>49328449
Apparently it's possible to civilize them (it's happened before in Faerun at least), but you kinda got to introduce the ideas that they can live life without war and pillage being their primary goals.

Also got to get them away from their stupid priests, their creato deity is an asswipe.

>>49328420
Mearls is a straight up pole smoking faggot.

>>49328382
I would have preferred mixed offspring to actually be mixed instead of actually an orc or actually a dwarf stuff.
But eh whatever.
Anyone got the breeding chart?

>>49328399
>>49328429
I just care because they are a major-ish race in my home setting, and one of my longtime players has been playing an orc using the half-orc stat block since we made the transition to 5e. It's not like it's been a deal breaker, just one of those little things that irks you. I'm more excited on his behalf that we're getting the stats finally.

>>49328575
I prefer him over Jeremy "no fun for martials" Crawford

>>49328579
>I would have preferred mixed offspring to actually be mixed instead of actually an orc or actually a dwarf stuff.

It is with some races, like dragons, ogres, fiends, celestials.
Come to think of it, orcs and dwarves are more the exception to the rule then the standard.

>>49328575
>Mearls is a straight up pole smoking faggot
...who will usher in the age of cat girls!

>>49328588
I'm guessing that orcs will get a +2 Str and +1 Con thing, like half-orcs.
Their racial abilities might be different.

>>49328621
Could be. Don't think so, but could be.

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So does dual wielding as a ranger still blow ass with the new ranger revision or what's up?

>>49328806
Why be in melee when you can be in not-melee?

>>49328823
The same reason people still want to play bladelocks. It's fun.

>>49328806
Dual wielding is still as so-so as it ever was. I don't think anyone aside from rogues has much reason to bother really

>>49328833
Use spells shaped like weapon swings - boom. Same thing except less shitty.

>>49328806
A halfling beastmastar mounting a wolf can do some crazy dual wielding shit, knocking enemies down and stabbing the crap out of them.

Notice that you don't use your bonus action to anything but spells.

>>49328806
It's fine when you throw Hunter's Mark in the mix (2d6 + Dex x2 at 2nd level), and it's the best damage for a beast conclave ranger outside of crossbow expert and sharpshooter.

>>49328806
I played a dual wielding ranger and had tons of fun. I regularly could hit 30-40 damage as long as I was hitting. Hunters mark and attack three times and there you go. I went Str ranger but Dex is better.

>>49328806
Beastmaster doesn't get Extra Attack, so that makes dual wielding the best damage dealer outside of feat investment.

>>49328823
Compared to a bladelock, you can probably take damage a bit better.

If you don't have any front line at all, you'll have to run and gun. This might be okay, but sometimes it's really good to have someone like a fighter or barbarian or paladin - if no such thing is there - a ranger.

>>49328927
Ranged is better than melee for anyone who doesn't get massive benefits from melee (like barb) ceteris paribus - only point.

>>49327732
Then just put your highest score in STR and put all your build there after?

>>49328638
Yeah, two +2 or one +3 seems out of league for player races. I find the half-orc racials kinda good though... I wonder what they'll be replaced with? :<

>>49329046
2 +2s are what Mountain Dwarfs get Fampai

>>49329066
Huh? Don't remember that at all, I thought +2/+1 was some sort of standard.

>>49329046
That's just it: half-orcs kind of pass for REGULAR orc stats too in the current system and touch all the marks that stereotypical orcs would have; strength, con, anger issues, intimidation, extra damage, etc.

>>49329091
Nope, Mountain Dwarves get +2/+2.
However they also get fewer unique abilities compared to most subraces.

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>>49328877
>Mount your wolf or panther, depending on whether you'd rather have reliable advantage for their attacks or risk it for the biscuit on an extra attack
>Bonus action to cast Ensnaring Strike
>Ready action to attack the creature your companion does
>Companion's turn, it pounces or attacks, hopefully knocking them prone as well
>You attack, hopefully restraining them
This shit's fucking brutal.

>>49329004
>Starting with a 15
>Con is 14 at best
>Dex will be 15 or 14
Turning my AC into 14 and my to hit into +2 (Barbarian, probably Battlerager), yeah, no, already tried that with several Tieflin shadowmonks and they lasted a couple of sessions at best

>>49328968
If you're in melee, enemies will provoke opportunity attacks moving away from you.
Also, enemies generally like to hit easier targets, such as the ones near them.

So, being in melee provides support for your teammates in the form of 'don't hit the party wizard who's concentrating, hit me instead.'

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>>49329116
>winter pixies
:3

>>49329126
The difference is that you'll have 2-3x as much health as a barbarian. Resistance while raging is some shit.

>>49329128
Ceteris paribus. In a vacuum. Raged > melee.

Regarding new orcs, I think something playing into using larger weapons would be nice. Since, as far as I know, there's nothing really working around a medium race using large weapons. Bigga, betta, choppa

>>49329128
This+having a better AC than those glass cannon weenies standing further back

>>49324488
5.0 oriental expansion? Never heard of that.

How ridiculous can a beast companion's AC get?

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>>49325304

well Anon got something filled though

>>49329239
I can see a wolf hitting 22 AC.

>>49329163
Yes. In the right situation. The situation is not always right.

>>49329177
I'll admit though, rangers aren't incredibly tanky. Until about level 15, I'd probably say a rogue is tougher.
If your party doesn't have a paladin, fighter, barbarian, moon druid or some sort of tank or they can't hold the line by themselves (Sometimes having two peopleht be a valid choice for hanging on the front line might be preferrable) then the ranger might be a better choice to hang out front.

Having multiple frontliners also may help to spread the damage between them and discourage enemies from through their AoEs past the frontline and at the frontline instead.

A careful ranged party can work brilliantly though if everybody is on board. However, you often have the one dork who insists on charging into melee even when they shouldn't.

>>49327137
I have heard the Rage of Demons season was good.

>>49329281
In. A. Vacuum. Are you unfamiliar with what that phrase means?

>>49329261
Natural Armor is an alternate calculation to 10 + Dex. It is not a flat bonus.

>>49329239
It's 21 without asking your DM pretty please. 10 + 5 (Dex) + 6 (Prof)

>>49329284
Thanks anon. Never played in AL though I've run some of the campaigns.

>>49329162
>2-3x
Not really, 1d8+1 (assuming monk has 16,16,12 due sinergy race) isn't half or 1/3th 1d12+2, not even at 20th level:

9+19d8+19 = 113.5
14+19d12+38 = 175.5

Resistance will help a little, but not much because with the damage I deal and the to hit bonus combats will last more

>>49329392
21's still pretty damn good, on par with plate+shield.

>>49329341
Are you unfamiliar what 'in the right conditions' means?
In this case, the 'right conditions' is 'in a vacuum'.

Fights do not happen in a vacuum.

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>>49329239
Plate barding: 24 (18 + Prof)
Medium barding: 23 (16 + 2 dex + prof)
Light barding: 23 (12 + 5 Dex + Prof)
No barding: 22 (11 + 5 dex + prof)

>>49329392
Natural armor is 10 + natural armor bonus + dex, so you can derive that for the wolf that they have a +1 natural armor bonus. Add prof on top of that and they can hit 22.

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>>49329439
>fights do not happen in a vacuum
Get a load of this guy!

>>49329453
>Medium armor
>Granting 16+2
What? It's been a long time but I remember it was 15+2 tops

>>49329518
I typoed. The final number (23) is right, though.

>tfw the best way to build a tank barbarian is by being dex based

how gay

>>49329596
All you need is 14 Dex. Buy half-plate when you get the chance and have 17 AC. Grab a shield and you have 19 AC. Combine that with your fuck-off HP and damage resistance and you will never die.

>>49329596
>The best way to be a tank is to focus on a defensive instead of offensive stat
Yes, and?

>>49329596
Or alternatively just get your dex to 14 (or 16 with the feat) and find magic armor of the medium variety. I think that would take less ability score improvements unless you rolled for stats and did absurdly well

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How do you guys go about with planning your campaigns?

>>49329667
You mean adventures or the ENTIRE campaign?

>>49329689
The entire campaign.

>>49329667
Make a vague outline of important shit, write down what I don't think I'll remember, then wing it

>>49329620
>he thinks dex is for defense

>>49329752
Pick two or three words and go from there.

>Winter Wasteland
>Interdimensional Superhero Megadungeon
>Motorcycle Subway Gangs

>>49329752
Realistically I try not to plan campaigns.
Any long-term plan will get derailed by the players or real-life obligations since we're all proper adults and such.
Doesn't mean I don't do long-term stories though, it just means that they don't happen because I planned them.

They tend to grow out of other stories and stuff the group did organically.

With a Half-Elf's ability score increase, instead of giving +1 to two different ability scores, could you give +2 to one ability score?

>>49329898

Nop.

>>49329898
Ask your DM.

>>49329898
I don't believe so, no.
They already get a +2 to their Charisma, the two +1's are deliberately supposed to be for two separate stats.

>>49329667
A mix bag. I start with an idea, similar to >>49329799, and then I look at my players and characters,as I let them throw out character ideas before finalizing plans. Are they commonly evil, then we're doing something evil, if good, then we're doing good. Then I just improv. Get an idea, build off it a bit, and see if the players take the hook.

>>49329898
I'm assuming you're talking about racial qualities, and not ASIs here. It wouldn't be written the way it was if that was the intention. That just sounds like you're trying to be a min-maxy fag. The RAW answer is no, but it's really more of a GM question

>>49329766
For Barbarians it is, since they need to use Strength to get rage damage bonus or use reckless attacks.

So I'm thinking of getting into 5e for the first time and wish to play a Half-Orc Fighter. The idea behind him is that he, beaten and left for dead by an Orc gang for not wanting to embrace his savage roots, vows to live life in order to save lives. His goal is to prove to society that Half-Orcs can be more than those who fall before the influence of Gruumsh, and thus does not wish to use melee weapons. Instead, he dons heavy armor and a shield in order to protect and will use his shield and fists in combat at most in order to beat back those who threaten the innocent.

If I try to bring this concept to a DM or party and they don't like it because of no weapon fighting, then he'll fight with a warhammer and be a bit more agressive, instead his character being more about being tempted by Gruumsh and fighting the temptation when in combat.

But, if people are fine with a character like this, would there be a way to realistically make him useful in combat despite a lack of using weapons? I'm still working my way through the rules and noticed that he could cause enemies to have disadvantage with attacks if hurting an ally, but is there any flexibility with a shield? Like bashing or even using it as deployable cover?

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>>49330048
Take the Tavern Brawler feat at level 4.
Gives you +1 Str or Con, makes you proficient with improvised weapons (like your shield), raises your unarmed damage to 1d4, and lets you use a bonus action to grapple a creature you hit with an improvised weapon or shield.

>>49330067
Oh sweet, sounds like that would be perfect, thanks friend.

>>49330153
You might want to consider barbarian since it's a bit easier to be a no weapon using pacifist when you have natural armor and resistance to weapon attacks, but there's really no shortage of ways to do it

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Have you ever played a character who's insane? Or from the past? Or insane from future-shock?

>>49330048
Go with Battlemaster fighter for some sweet combat tricks. Of note, Maneuvering Attack, Disarming Strike, and Goading Strike are useful for protecting others.

Having a bit of difficulty determining how much gold my players should get. They do things based on contract, and they fight creatures that commonly don't have a hoard of gold.

So, with like a written contract of payment, what would you say is a good straight gold payout for something like a CR 8 monster?
I was thinking of just doing the gold roll for a treasure hoard.

>>49330215
I didn't really make him to be insane but I played a necromancer who thought he'd kill an entire population of a city to then reunite them with his undead he raised from their family graves. He thought it'd be like a big family reunion.

>>49330215
I've done insane. He was basically an exiled druid they drove insane as part of the banishment. I made the character keeping in mind that the heal spell would probably completely change how I played it, but that never really came up

>>49330215
>Have you ever played a character who's insane?
Yes.
>Or from the past?
No, but one fellow with his Mulhorondi paladin has.
>Or insane from future-shock?
No.

>>49326898
That's just not true, and you must only play with opfags to think so. 5e is a D&D edition you don't have to look at with optimization eyes, but y'all have brain damage from 3e and 4e (which did almost nothing to counteract this trend in players) so you can't help it, and you bitch and make things agony for yourself.

>>49330338
>5e is a D&D edition you don't have to look at with optimization eyes
No - I *FULLY REALIZE THIS*. Which is *EXACTLY* the reason why anti-oppers bitching about oppers in 5e is *so hilariously fucking stupid*.

>>49330217
Firstly, since you don't spend too much on gold in this edition, actually have time pass and then subtract the amount necessary for living expenses from their collective monies.
Second, if they find OTHER stuff to spend their cash on, even trivial shit, let and encourage them to do so.

Then treat adventuring almost like a real professional vocation, albeit one with inconsistent (though potentially lucrative) pay where people hire them to do shit.

>>49330364
God forbid we don't have a thread which starts with a bunch of faggots trying to tweak out the most damage of something and calling each other cunts.

>>49324856
>none are better than single-classed
Except warlock. Always multiclass the warlock.

>>49330394
*Why is trying to play a more effective character bad*?

>>49330215
I currently have a character that was the only one not affected by some space and time warping magic wish we cast, and have the burden of roping the lost cast of crazy people back into the story.

>>49330401
Whatever you're multiclassing it with would do the job better, even without the warlock levels.

>>49329596
Dexterity is a better tank than heavy armour all the time.

However, a BETTER way to make a barbarian tank is to drop barbarian at level 5 and multiclass into rogue. Just throw 14 into dex and go up strength.

>>49330406
I have carefully laid out plans, traps, and encounters for several months worth of encounters and I can't have you coming up with things that trivialize any of those things and force me to change the campaign's direction

>>49330406
Optimization is fine at the tactical level and complete cancer at the strategical level. Building a character to optimize them disassociates you from the game.

Like in this very thread
>elf monk ur doin it wrong
>ranger ur doin it wrong
>bladelock ur doin it wrong

And this is like, if not a majority then close to one of the generals.

>>49324515

I don't like it as much as a class but I like it better as a 5e class. I think old-style beastmaster was intended to be the weird rule interaction class involving pets, nets, and a heaping helping of heavy crossbow but that was an inherently un-5e way of building a class to begin with. I think the new ranger does a much better job of being a straightforward option with very in the way of side-alleys.

I could do without adding a damage bonus to favored enemy but in the long run it's not that huge either way. I heartily endorse the new version of Natural Explorer.

Bottom line: I'll allow both the PHB and UA rangers in my game, but I'll be suggesting the UA version.

>>49330457
Thank your for the laugh, friend.

>>49330467
>Building a character to optimize them disassociates you from the game.
But it doesn't. It makes me *even more* involved in a game and my character.

>>49330457
I tend to write up a session the night before, use random gen a lot, like hexcrawls and rarely have a defined campaign story from the start. So that is not my personal reason, no.

>>49325261
What is the name of the book?

>>49330366
I'm doing quality of life and allowing them to own houses and such. So everyday they have to spend an amount to maintain whatever they own. So wear and tear, housing costs, and keeping materials in things like component pouches or "recharges" on kits. I'm also doing longer long rests, where it takes 7 days, a mix of resting 8 hours a night and just avoiding stressful encounters, to regain full health. So that's generally guaranteed 7 days of income loss. I'll just need to play around with numbers, since with the rolls they can easily get 2000+ on something cr 4.

>>49330216
I see, will keep this is mind!

>>49330491
I get really upset though when people solve a problem with abilities I don't think a character like theirs should have.

>>49324832
Some people derive fun out of trying to make a good character.
5e limits how broken you can be compared to the average person.
This means, people who derive fun from character building can have fun without ruining everybody else's fun.
Not to mention, they don't always see it about 'being the most powerful', but sometimes trying weird concepts like warlock2/wizardX abjuration so they can spam mage armour to regenerate their abjuration shield. It's not overpowered, it's just different.

Allowing more options opens up more character ideas and more ways to have fun developing a character.

Having fun developing a character does not mean that you then can't roleplay or play properly.

The sort of people who insist on being more powerful than anyone are probably just as likely to be as powerful as everybody else is, regardless of how cool they think their multiclass build is. It's just that the person themself is obnoxious.

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>>49330552
oh I am a-chucklin'

>>49330491
We can't go any further in this disagreement, I think. For me someone fixated on optimization where it's not necessary is ruining (and possibly running) games for themselves - and so dull! You disagree, or like the games that it leads to.

I absolutely don't think that planning out a mechanically optimal path at game start makes you more involved in anything other than adding up numbers.

>>49325896
>unearthed arcana
Is that some supplement/online content, or what? I've been hearing about it, but i dont know where to look...? Stupid me.

>>49330552
If your player isn't justifying their multiclassing, you shouldn't allow it.

If a player has abilities as part of their class... Tough luck. They should probably actually give a reason they'd have such powers, though.

Generally, it's bad roleplaying if they can't justify their powers. It's not bad roleplaying to obtain those powers.

A sorcerer in plate armour? They could easily have been a former fighter who was cursed by some artefact, and their magical training has completely ruined their martial training beyond the first level but is taking them down the route of gaic.

>>49330594
You're assuming you know what other people enjoy or become engaged with.
Not everyone is you~

>>49330574
Sure, I can agree with "people fixated on optimizing their characters are more likely to be obnoxious"

>>49330634
Anti-oppers, especially in context of 5e where their whining is utterly meaningless, are more obnoxious.

>>49330406
Not him, but it's not at all, but you DO tend to immediately react with intense hostility or negative my when you disagree with someone's methods.

Why is their own optimization so important by the way? I actually don't know and would like some insight.

>>49330626
I'm not, that's why I said
>we can't go any further in this disagreement
>for me
And
>You disagree
Saying we seem like we enjoy different things is the exact opposite of what you're claiming.

>>49330667
No, I don't. You can do what you want. When you bitch about me simply taking time to think out my character I'm going to mock and deride you though.

>>49330634
Only if they completely disregard roleplay and making their character make sense.

>>49326616
>Sleep is ridiculous at level 1

At around which point does Sleep fall from grace?

>>49330684
I don't actually mind. Like I said, I'm not the guy you're arguing with.
My twin is actually the min-maxing build-focused type of player and I get along with him great; he's a regular fixture in my games.

>>49326755

Apply CPR

>>49330715
Around level 3. As a wizard it's not really a loss though since you get so many spells at 1st level and you can just stop preparing it.

>>49330678
>>49330594
>someone fixated on optimization where it's not necessary is ruining (and possibly running) games for themselves
"For me" doesn't mean shit - all you're doing is explicitly denoting as an opinion what was already obviously an opinion (a wrong opinion, given a single person breaks it, and such a single person - and more - exist).

Your opinion is that other people ruin the game *for themselves* by optimizing. But, objectively, that's untrue by virtue of *all the people* who gain *MORE* enjoyment by book-diving and opt'ing their character builds than they would otherwise.

>>49325688
Wolf looks to be the most underwelming when you consider it's base stats.

With the new ranger, do you guys thing the Giant Wolf Spider would make an okay companion if you took away the poison damage?

>>49327137

Curse of Stradh AL got me into d&d.

The problem with power gamers is the need to look at numbers more than anything. This is, at least, my view from what I've seen.
You constantly just pull numbers and stats for your character, explaining why a combination of feats and abilities is so good, instead of telling me a background.
Make a character however you want, no one should tell you otherwise. It's just that it's a roleplaying game so throwing numbers around seems like you'd be better off playing Skyrim.

>>49330723
>>49330667
>but you DO tend to immediately react with intense hostility or negative my when you disagree with someone's methods
No, I don't.

>>49330594
>I absolutely don't think that planning out a mechanically optimal path at game start makes you more involved in anything other than adding up numbers.

This is the point where I turn rollplayers into roleplayers, because I come up with roleplay challenges for them to tell me and everyone else how they acquired those skills. I keep asking questions and get down as much detail as possible for plot hooks and to get them thinking about how their choices affect the way their characters act so they can at least gain Inspiration more often.

>>49330753
Gotta agree with you.
As long as the min-maxing stuff doesn't lead to poor table behavior and isn't constantly disruptive, there's nothing wrong with it at all, especially since any halfway imaginative DM can still present them with a challenge no matter how powerful they are.

>>49330753
Games =/= "the game"

Spell recommendations for an Arcane trickster? Just hit third level and went for AT.
I'm the groups scout/tactician.
Any tips for picking spells to help me sneak/blag my way out of trouble?
I'm leaning towards Find Familiar and Disguise Self. Maybe Friend too?
Is Mage hand any use?
There has been a bit of a gap between sessions and I don't have access to the books so I appreciate the advise.

Also, what familiar would you recommend for a half elf CN female rogue from Waterdeep who's currently stuck with a bunch of bafooks in the backwoods?

>>49327691

Start at level 3, take the chance, Human Variant Magic Initiate feat or play a Spell Singer.

>>49330797
I do this a lot too.
It's easy to turn a player into both; you just need to give them problems that aren't solvable with skill rolls and require more complex thinking then adding bonuses and engaging them in aspects of the game aside from hitting things with weaponry or magic.

>>49330772
>more than anything
That's a strawman. Someone can be a powergamer and still have concern - possibly even *MORE* concern - for fluff, characterization and general roleplay.

>>49330798
Yeah - and to boot in 5e it's not even that much of a thing.

>>49330819
So games plural - so you think they ruin *multiple* games for themselves by liking to optimize their characters. Brilliant!
^_^

>>49330832
Take shield it's good.

>>49330667
Optimization is either:
1. Optimization to make an otherwise sub-optimal choice playable.
2. Making their character actually releveant.
3. Optimizing specific traits to make Mr. McMuscleman REALLY tough. There may be some downsides, but they want Mr. Mcmuscleman to really feel like the character they want.

Those are all good.
Here's the problem:

4. Optimizing for the sake of optimizing, even though you don't want your character to go that way.

Choosing the 'sailor background' just for athletics and perception proficiencies because those proficiencies are good. This is okay, as long as the player makes their character around the sailor concept.

If they don't? They're not playing the character. They don't want to play what they're making.

That's the problem.

>>49330845
I think they exclude themselves from certain types of games or enjoyable ways of playing, yeah.

>>49330845
>Yeah - and to boot in 5e it's not even that much of a thing.
Exactly.
I DO think it's pretty sad though when it's what they do because they don't have an actual group of any kind to play with.
I don't mean "pathetic" sad either, I mean actually saddening. EVERYONE should have a chance to play in a group and it's lame that so many people can't connect to enough folks to really set anything real up.

>>49330845
That's why I mentioned it was my view from what I've seen.
Make the mixmaxed character if you want, just give me an actual backstory and explanation for why some future feat or ability they pick up is so important to them.
Minmaxing is alright, once you get into later encounters it's good to have someone that's well built, just remember to give them character and reason.

>>49330832
Booming Blade/Green-Flame Blade for one of your cantrips since those can still apply Sneak Attack. Both are from a free pdf that is official.

Tasha's Hideous Laughter is a solid choice to disable enemies.

Shield is an insanely good defensive option. Find Familiar can be acquired via Magic Initiate instead of expending a known spell you could conceivable cast multiple times per day.

>>49330885
I think people who refuse to try to achieve even minimal system mastery exclude themselves from certain types of games or enjoyable ways of playing.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

>>49330931
Is that a complete equivalency, anon?

>>49330925
So long as you understand that optimizing and roleplaying aren't somehow mutually exclusive - like many if not most anti-ops *ACTUALLY* believe - then you're fine.

>>49330928
Forgive me but what is magic initiate?

>>49330956
No - I think people who refuse to learn are far worse than people who spend time actually making their characters exactly how they want them to be by matching their concept to the mechanics ^_^

>>49330877
>>49330962
>whole party rolls sailors
what joy

>>49330975
Feat that gives you some free low-level spells from any class. Very useful.

>>49330989
Is that only available at character creation?

The DMG/PHB mention various recurring costs and cost of living. I'm looking into getting my crew a little shack or house, but I don't see any cost outside very expensive things / the section for building strongholds.

It shows the daily cost of a farm, but not the price to buy the farm. Is there anywhere that would say these costs for some general real estate?

>>49330985
So, my argument has been that people who optimize in all situations are bad. I don't feel that that indicates a refusal to learn. Why do you say it does?

>>49330986
Did that once.
Was a weird game.

>>49330832

Cantrips

>Message
>Prestidigitation
>Mage Hand

>>Is Mage hand any use?

I thought you said you were an Arcane Trickster.

Anyway, even if you wanted to be willfully stupid, you're forced to take mage hand.
Spells:

>Find Familiar
>Silent Image
>Disguise Self

Sleep might be good as well for lower levels, dump it quickly after
Level 4 take the ritual spell caster feat, write find familiar down, dump it for the next ritual spell, and so on.


Forest Gnome is the go-to AT. Dex, Intelligence, and free Minor Illusion Cantrip to give you free cover for hide actions

>>49331010
No, you can get Feats whenever you have an Ability Increase from a class, though the Variant Human gets a Feat for free at 1rst level.

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>>49330877
Backgrounds aren't the best example since they're so customizable.
Since it's probably more of what the discussion was sparked by anyways, minmaxing with multiclassing is easier to poke holes in. Why did your paladin strike a deal with a fiend, and from there why did they stop paladin training or continue it? Why do you have both sorcerous latent magic and the blessings of a fey lord or great old one? Why does your wizard know how to use martial weapons and wear heavy armor and shield with a defensive fighting style?
If people fail to answer these questions and play their character as if they had not multiclasses and just use it as a power bump, we encounter the main problem- people who simply want a power bump and don't care about the character associated with their statblock.
Now, this isn't an issue because it makes them egregiously strong. Even the cheesiest multiclass builds have a few nifty tricks and very strong technique or two, but they lack the power that core classes get- good job putting your pallock 2+ levels behind getting their aura and extra attack, or sorlock behind on their spellcasting.
No, the issue here is that these player are disruptive because this is a symptom of not caring about their character or roleplaying. If they actually take care to consider the questions posed above, and work with the DM to make the concept make sense in the game and their character acts as they should being in that situation, they can become a fine contribution.

>>49330877
>>49330667
And to expand on that:

In the case of 1., it's often making a unique character that is rarely seen played, and is a challenge to the player to make something viable.

In the case of 2. it may be the case of two clerics. One cleric wants to be different to the other cleric, so they optimize their cleric to be good at something else that the other cleric isn't good at. This makes them more relevant to the party.

3. The player is making their character feel more like they want them to, so they can really get behind the character and not feel like 'just another barbarian' or 'super muscleman, but somehow only as tough as that monk'

You have to understand, optimization does not always mean 'good at everything'. It often results in being good at something at the expense of something else.

4. Could be any one of 1., 2. or 3., but if it's not done with the character in mind and only the build, that's bad.

>>49330986
There's nothing wrong with that. The main problem is a lack of diversity meaning there isn't any one guy who's particularly good at athletics or perception over the others.

However, it can be fun to do that sort of thing where all the characters have very close ties to each other and a theme to them that encourages a particular roleplay. It's like playing a team-based shooting game and everybody chooses the same class/character. And quite often, even though everyone is playing the same class, they have unique experiences.

>>49330763
It would be fucking shit without the poison damage, and it's already not even good.

It uses Strength for attacks, and has a 12.

>>49331010
Look at chapter 6 of the player's handbook. Ignore this if your DM is not using feats.

>>49330845

As a DM, the most creative role player, will be strongest power gamer at my table as well, because he'll take shitloads of risks with the stories, and once in a while, come up ahead with rewards like Cohorts, leading a faction or creating crazy new magic rituals