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Thread: A Knight Without Armor
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2019-06-15, 10:59 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2018
A Knight Without Armor
Has anyone tried creating a Knight style character under 5e rules that doesn’t wear armor?
I am planning on building one for my next PC. Currently I am planning on a Kensei Monk/War Cleric multiclass to get the desired flavor while retaining reasonable effectiveness, but I am interested if anybody has tried something similar with a different build.
Also, is anyone aware of knightly orders in the Forgotten Realms settings with Monk or other unarmored members? I’d like to have him be a member of an official knightly order from the lore.Last edited by Zuras; 2019-10-31 at 10:40 AM.
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2019-06-15, 11:05 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2018
Re: A Knight Without Armor
Barbarian + Fighter seems like your best bet.
Take V.Human for tough and a way you go.
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2019-06-15, 11:06 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2015
Re: A Knight Without Armor
Dexterity-based Eldritch Knight that uses mage armor or a Kensei Monk seems to be the most notable options.
You could also flavor a Barbarian's rage into a cold focus that enhances your killer and survival instincts.
Depending on what you consider armor, Tortles and Warforged would also work.Reality is relative, and there is an exception to every rule.
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2019-06-15, 11:08 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2014
- Location
- Los Angeles
Re: A Knight Without Armor
It's one of my preferred ways of building Eldritch Knights. Dex-based Fighter using Mage Armor to match the AC of plate without the considerable downsides (e.g. being Str-based, having Disadvantage on stealth, needing to sink 1500gp, and not being able to wear it to fancy parties).
The fact that you can summon your weapons also helps with the "attend fancy parties" aspect.Last edited by LudicSavant; 2019-06-15 at 11:11 PM.
Originally Posted by ProsecutorGodot
Nerull | Wee Jas | Olidammara | Erythnul | Hextor | Corellon Larethian | Lolth | The Deep Ones
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2019-06-15, 11:14 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2016
Re: A Knight Without Armor
I haven't. Kensai Monk is probably the closest as it has the rigid training and sense of order I associate with knights. Going Loxodon can also get this done in any build that typically wears armor.
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2019-06-15, 11:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2018
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2019-06-15, 11:34 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2015
Re: A Knight Without Armor
Do you want someone who leads other soldiers into combat? Wolf Totem would fit that.
Do you want someone who through sheer grit can get hit in the face with fire? Bear Totem for that.
Do you want to strike with a righteous fury? Zealot is your option.
Do you want to carry on the ancient traditions of your family and protect your allies? Ancestral Guardian.
Did your Knight simply train his body to be more resilient than a normal man, making armor unnecessary? Just two level of Barbarian works here.
Outside of the final option, I would suggest three levels.Reality is relative, and there is an exception to every rule.
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2019-06-15, 11:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2018
Re: A Knight Without Armor
My initial idea is a holy warrior who considers his unarmored protection a blessing from his god. As this is FR, probably a knight of Ilmater or Torm. Either from a humble background or who focuses on helping the oppressed.
Since he doesn’t need armor, it’s easier to sneak into the slave quarters and knock the guards unconscious, that sort of thing.
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2019-06-15, 11:44 PM (ISO 8601)
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- Dec 2016
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- Back home
- Gender
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2019-06-15, 11:45 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2015
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2019-06-15, 11:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2014
Re: A Knight Without Armor
Ah, plot armor. Yes that would be Monk. If Illmater is your draw, The Broken Ones are your monastic order and they can freely multi-class as clerics. Rather than the traditional knight, they're more like the wandering samurai as they have no real monasteries. The homeless adventuring knight is kind of a trope.
Alternatively, the Order of the Open Hand fits well with the Monk tradition of the same name even though it's a knighthood order of paladins for Torm. Maybe they have monks too, seems like it.Trolls will be blocked. Petrification works far better than fire and acid.
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2019-06-16, 10:48 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2018
Re: A Knight Without Armor
Are you cribbing a Jedi? Even if that wasn't your specific intent, your initial idea sounds fun. I second EK, too.
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2019-06-16, 10:53 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2013
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- Germany
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Re: A Knight Without Armor
With a bit of creativity you do not need to meet a class' specific fluff. Or in other words, you can bend the fluff to fit your character rather than bending the character to match the fluff.
After all, unarmored defense is just inherent toughness (for barbarians) or hand to eye coordination (for monks) or just plain magical ability or willpower (for eldritch knight's mage armor).
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2019-06-16, 10:57 AM (ISO 8601)
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- Jul 2013
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- Somewhere
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Re: A Knight Without Armor
Hexblade warlock. You can get Mage Armor as an invocation, you can still use shields, and you can use weapons with Cha, which means you're free to use longswords or (with Pact of the Blade) even greatswords or lances without being super MAD (you need Dex for AC and Cha for everything else).
Of course, I wouldn't call that a knight, because to me, "knight" is a horse-riding, heavily armored member of nobility.
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2019-06-16, 11:11 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2017
Re: A Knight Without Armor
I ran a lizardfolk dex-based Paladin in ToA that only carried a shield. The natural armor + shield of faith or protection against good and evil when facing appropriate enemies was generally enough.
Producer/Sound Designer for the Clarity podcast on Google Play and iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/...328101423?mt=2
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2019-06-16, 11:28 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2018
Re: A Knight Without Armor
Not specifically, but if a Psychic Warrior type class was available in 5e it would work. Mainly looking for something that would fit the concept of the Knight of the Order background in Forgotten Realms without wearing armor.
The goal, concept wise, is a nondescript PC who goes around in plainclothes, but still gets called Sir Strongheart the Pure (or whatever, alignment is negotiable at this point).
The uninitiated or foolish may react with disbelief: “Really, you are Sir Strongheart the Pure, Sword of Torm, Hammer of the Righteous?” After seeing Sir Strongheart in action, obviously, all sarcastic commentary would cease.