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Thread: Some Build Advice Please
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2017-08-17, 06:54 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2017
Some Build Advice Please
Hi there,
My group has recently just started the Rise of Tiamat campaign. The party consists of the following members:
8th Level Monk (Way of the Open Hand) Melee
8th Level Cleric (Life Domain) Healer
7/1 Level Bard/Rogue (College of Valor) Support/Melee
7/1 Level Ranger/Bard (Hunter) Archer
7/1 Level Fighter/Wizard (Eldritch Knight) Tank
I am playing the fighter of the group and have gone for a mostly tanky build with the following current set up:
Race: Human (Non variant, DM didnt want us using the variant version)
Stats: (Dice Rolled)
Strength: 17
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 15
Charisma: 13
HPs: 87
AC: 21
Fighting Style: Protection
Feats: Warcaster and Lucky
Current Magic Items:
Gauntlets of Ogre Power (19 Str)
Sword of Sharpness (Longsword but DM is allowing me to change this to a Rapier version (Sword of Piercing!) at a cost.
Adamantium Full Plate
Sentinel Shield
Night Goggles
Ring of Protection
Greatsword +1
Spear +1
So my roll in the party is tank. I dont really have much in the way of controlling anything and I do tend to use most of my spell slots on the Shield spell and using my reaction to protect my allies from attack which seems to work out ok.
I was oringinally planning on going 12/8 fighter wizard to help boost my spell casting power but I am thinking of going 12/1/7 Fighter/Rogue/Wizard for the following reasons:
12 Fighter:
Second Wind
Action Surge
4 Feats/stat boosts (spent 2 on Warcaster and Lucky)
3 Attacks per action
1 x Indomitable Will
4 Multiclass Caster Levels
Weapon Bond
War Magic
Eldritch Strike
7 Wizard
1 Feat/stat boost
7 Multiclass Caster Levels
Arcane Recovery - 4 Spell levels on a short rest
Abjuration specialist for the HP shield (since I'm tanky)
1 Rogue
Thieves Tools
1 Skill - Will be Arcana as I dont have it currently
Expertise in 2 skills - Athletics and 1 other
Sneak attack
I am planning on taking the Shield Mastery feat so I am pretty committed to sword and board and the expertise in Athletics should allow me to use my bonus attack to knock enemies prone/back with a +14 bonus (by the time I get it - maybe higher).
Taking the level in Rogue costs me a feat/stat boost slot, but sneak attack and the skills and expertise is also very nice I think. the loss of the Wizard level doesnt seem to cost me much (Arcane Recovery stays the same, I lose so HP's on the shield but I am still able to cast 6th level spells.
I would have 2 feat/stat boosts yet to pick, not sure if I should boost my Int for casting (although most of my spells are likely to be buffs) or using them on something else (Sentinel may be good for me). The DM may also be introducing a feat that allows us to have 2 extra attuned magical items so that may be an option as well. Also, be proficient in Wisdom saves may be nice to have (got dominated by a vampire once and almost killed the monk ... )
If anyone has any other options or advice for things they would do differently on this build it would be much appreciated!
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2017-08-17, 07:19 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2007
Re: Some Build Advice Please
First thing I'd ask is "why Gauntlets of Ogre Power?"
You already have Str 17, and you're using a Rapier anyway, so this item is mostly wasted.
I'd swap Str for Dex if you were married to using a Rapier, though I would personally use the actual longsword- it fits a Str character better, and you're using Full-Plate so your Dex is really only for Init.
I'd then trade the Gauntlets for a Headband of Intellect or Amulet of Health, and raise my Str to 20 naturally.
Actually, the more I look at it the more I feel like the entire concept is trying to do a little too much, and needs a little more focus.
I'd drop the Rogue level entirely. You can get thieves tools without being a rogue.
I'd then ask myself if I'm wanting to be Str based or Dex based, and focus there.
If Dex- Move stats around, change the adamantine full plate to something light/medium. Use a shield. Drop the greatsword.
If Str- Use the standard Sword of Sharpness with a shield, and drop the greatsword.
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If Str- Drop the Sword of Sharpness, use the greatsword, and focus on GWM.Last edited by Mikal; 2017-08-17 at 07:22 AM.
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2017-08-17, 09:50 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2017
Re: Some Build Advice Please
Thanks for taking the time to look at my post.
We had them as a random treasure from an encounter and they were more useful to me than anyone else in the party so I had them. If I increase my strength via other means then they will be passed on to someone else.
I will be staying as a strength based character. I just thought that having a rapier instead of a longsword would be better as it gets me an extra 1d8 damage a round if I have a level in rogue. I can still use it as a strength based weapon I thought?
This is actually a really good idea that I hadn't considered. Will see if I can pull that trade off or somehow get a headband.
Thieves tools was just an extra, plus the bard in the group has that covered anyway. The main point of the rogue dip was for the expertise in athletics to make me really good at knocking people over.
I can see what you mean about trying to do too much. I only really loose 2 things doing it from what I can see, a minor loss in the temporary shield health, but a big loss with a feat/stat point.
I would be staying strength and would like to keep the shield since I have already invested choices into that which I am unable to change at this point in the character. The greatsword is another item that we randomly acquired which nobody else could actually use, so I had it for extra options in combat.
Thanks for the advice though, definitely some things in there to have a think about.
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2017-08-17, 10:27 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2013
Re: Some Build Advice Please
It's d6 for sneak attack, Smites are d8. Unless your version is altered it doesn't go to 20. If you are sticking close to the stock module I'd go Fighter 12/Wizard the rest because I don't recall I going much past lv 15. Just my 2 bits.
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2017-08-17, 10:50 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2015
Re: Some Build Advice Please
I don't think the rogue dip is worth it.
Sneak attack is just 1d6 extra damage per round, unless you get a reaction attack somehow, and it sounds like you already have plenty of reactions. That's not nothing, but it isn't very impressive either.
Shield Master works fine without the expertise. You won't win every contest, but you'll still win plenty. You can cast enlarge to gain advantage if you like.
You can use rapier with strength, yes.
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2017-08-17, 10:55 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- May 2017
- Location
- Louisville
- Gender
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2017-08-17, 11:08 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Feb 2007
Re: Some Build Advice Please
Ah! I thought you had chosen all those! Based on your original post, I thought this was a new character being introduced into the campaign. If these are found treasure, that does make things different. I should have clarified.
I will be staying as a strength based character. I just thought that having a rapier instead of a longsword would be better as it gets me an extra 1d8 damage a round if I have a level in rogue. I can still use it as a strength based weapon I thought?
This is actually a really good idea that I hadn't considered. Will see if I can pull that trade off or somehow get a headband.
I would be staying strength and would like to keep the shield since I have already invested choices into that which I am unable to change at this point in the character. The greatsword is another item that we randomly acquired which nobody else could actually use, so I had it for extra options in combat.
Thanks for the advice though, definitely some things in there to have a think about.Last edited by Mikal; 2017-08-17 at 12:11 PM.