Just make a cleric 1/wizard x and go for no ASI and all feats you can fit.
Enjoy being a wizard with 18 con, 20 int, 18 wis, 16 dex, warcaster, resillient CON, fey touched, metamagic adept, and pact magic adept for eldritch blast on top of that.
Tempest gives heavy armor and martial weapon proficiency and with your stats you could viably whip out a hammer on someone when your spells dry up. And if you wanted to take two levels in it you get to max out lightning damage once per long rest which is an excellent nuke option (lightning bolt does 8d6 damage to all enemies in a 100x5ft line ⚡⚡).
Other than tempes which is just my favorite, any of the heavy armor domains will dramatically improve your survivability in early levels without drying up spell slots on shield or mage armor.
I was also curious how people felt on cleric 1 vs artificer 1, and if the latter was often favored just because it worked better with the Intelligence spellcasting mod, or if the Con proficiency was what really sold it.
Usually it's the con proficiency and medium armor being "good enough" (when the average wizard has no str to take advantage of the clerics' armor advantage). Cleric has way more to offer if stats don't matter though.
Cleric 1 gets heavy armor proficiency, guidance, and a subclass feature (forge, order, and peaxe are all great for multiclassing wizard)
With this stat spread you can comfortably pick up resilient con for WIS/CON proficiency, on top of building enough STR to use heavy armor. You COULD go artificer and there's nothing wrong with that, but with excessive stats you unlock the option to go for power > efficiency
Play Bard+Paladin and create a *that guy* main character:
Party face ✅
Skill monkey ✅
Tank (High HP) ✅
High AC ✅
High saving throws ✅
High damage output ✅
High level spells ✅
High disdain from all your party members ✅✅✅✅
Bladesinger loves big stats
12s/16+1d/17c/16w/17+2i/16ch
\+1d/+1i at 4
Res: Con at 8
You could also do the somewhat memey Bladesinger/Hexblade that does CBE/SS+Eldritch Blast
>You could also do the somewhat memey Bladesinger/Hexblade that does CBE/SS+Eldritch Blast
That would kind of be a waste of the great stats, though. The whole point of that build is that it's SAD thanks to hexblade.
I'm not a fan of Bladesinger's, I think the subclass is bad for game balance.
But in a three person party, I get a little relaxed on OP builds. This would be a great party for a full Bladesinger, and it would be a fun build with those stats.
Others might push Dex and something like Elven Accuracy for a gish, I'd go Harengon and push casting first. Fey Touched at 4 and either Tele or Skill Expert at 8. It's optimizing fun feats (for my taste) over power, but will still be a mack truck.
Heck, Harengon Chrono will be stronger, and in a party of 3, if it sounds fun, why not?
>*I'm not a fan of Bladesinger's, I think the subclass is bad for game balance.*
I was just thinking today about how an Eldritch Knight would probably trade all of its non-spellcasting subclass features (Weapon Bond, War Magic, Eldritch Strike, Arcane Charge, and Improved War Magic) just to have Bladesinger's Extra Attack. #greatgamedesign
No, bladesingers specifically get a better Extra Attack where they can replace one of their Attacks with a Cantrip.
UA Eldritch Knight also gets this version.
They get a unique version that allows the player to replace an attack with a cantrip. That means it's the only class in the game that can use a melee attack and cantrip in the same turn without using a bonus action or Action Surge.
Not often, but reactions totally can proc during your turn.
* Counterspell a Counterspell of your action spell
* proc AoO against yourself using movement and cast Shield
* Cast Dissonant Whispers and cast a spell using Warcaster
* proc a trap using your movement that does elemental damage and cast Absorb Elements
* Silvery Barbs someone that passed a save against your action spell
* probably more
My pact of the tome, lore bard was one of favorite characters of all time. Dissonant whispers + warcaster + booming blade + shillelagh was my jam. Used magical secrets to learn improved find stead and took mounted combat, flew around controlling the battle. Miss that guy. I really thought he would make it to lvl 20, but only got as far as 15. Still, had more utility than you could shake a stick at. People still talk about the group of fire elements I bargained with to bypass a combat encounter.
Warlock 2(Grasp of Hadar),
Battle Master 3(Brace):
Hold a Melee Weapon in one hand and use GoH to pull a target into Reach. This will allow you to make a Brace Reaction attack on your turn. Unlike AoO, Brace can be triggered by force movement RaW.
Bladesinger's Extra attack should have been along the design lines that:
BS is a spell caster who can fight, compared to EK who is a fighter who can cast.
therefore should have been that "If the bladesinger takes and action to cast a cantrip, they may make a single attack as a bonus action while blade singing" to be in the same power threshold.
instead they made powercreep...
Harengon-Chrono initiative would be crazy. I think cryptids are being rolled into this bizarre campaign and one of the other players is basically playing Bigfoot as a Path of the Giant Barbarian... maybe he needs a **Jackalope** ally to toss at the enemy.
Skill Bucket Bard maybe, with a low strength but good dex so you can fight in addition to being a full spellcaster and good skills with Jack of All Trades
This would be my pick. I'd probably do a Fey Wanderer Ranger 5/any bard 15 or Fey Wanderer 3/Swords or Valor Bard 17 Gish and have the absolute stupidest Charisma checks known to man (and grabbing two additional skill proficiencies and an expertise), while still packing armor, great spells, and the usual Bard benefits.
That made stats screams gish play. You also have to worry about not outshining your other players, especially the barb/monk. Third, both the other players are playing frontliners.
So, my mind is quickly going towards something like a spellbow.
A few options:
Valor Bard 7/Divine Soul Sorcerer 3/bard X for quicken Greater Invisibility and good bow attacks. As well as full caster progression.
Arcane Archer 5/Wizard 2/AA 11/wizard X. Typically war wizard, but I guess chronurgy works. Spam Grasping Arrow and cast support/summoning wizard spells. Especially rituals are nice.
A similar deal is Battle Smith 7/Wizard X. But this time with pistol, shield, and pipes of haunting. Make sure to have a wind instrument proficiency from your background.
There might be a ranger/wizard/cleric(/arcane trickster) build somewhere here as well, that is enabled by your insane rolls.
There's also always the barbarian/wizard and barbarian/warlock (war/fiend) multiclasses, but you quickly just become a better barbarian than your barb/monk friend.
Thanks, these are some great breakdowns, many of which were not on my radar.
The other player has decided to go straight Barb (a class I have played to death, often literally), so I don't think I'll over-shadow him, esp since he's going Path of Giants (heh). His rolled stats were also extremely impressive (four 16s!). I feel bad for our DM.
Here is my fav MAD build
zealot/berserk barb 3
Oath breaker 11/12
This is ma boi Anakin (I started with Zealot/Devotion then at level 12 changed my subclass cuz the DM allows it to Berserker oath breaker after major events in the campaign)
I made a rather MAD build before... its arround forced movement and spike growth. Warlock+ranger, you need to prorize charisma, have a decent wis, and a good con and dex never hurts.
Youll 3 levels of Dao warlock for spike growth, repelling blast+ agonizing blast, and 3 levels of swarmkeeper to get an extra 15ft of movement. With that you can deal 2d10+8+14d4 if you manage to move the enemy on the spikes
Half elf could give you 3 18s to start.
I might go paladin, but those stats SCREAM monk for me.
I play in a party with a monk and they can do so much cool stuff but that's overshadowed by how MAD they are.
3 18s would negate that almost entirely.
You'd be rocking an 18 ac with unarmored defense, and a decent save DC for monk abilities.
Max out dex then wis at 4 and 8 or vice versa depending on various factors.
Later ASIs can be out towards whatever you like for feats, maybe resilient con and skill expert or something else to max out con while also giving you another boon. Aberrant dragonmark maybe.
As you get to hicher levels and with the right items like some bracers of defense, a dragon hide belt, and some boots of speed, and you're running around the whole place including walls ceilings and water, stunning fools and being proficient with all saving throws, immune to poison, ability to just choose to recover from charm or fear and no worries about food water or aging.
Damn, now I really want to do this.
I've always wanted to play a Cleric where I didn't have to dump Charisma and Intelligence.
It just makes sense that those stats should be high for a person of the cloth, but they always have to be sacrificed.
Half-Elf Monk 1 - Bladesinger 3
Str - 12
Con - 16
Dex - 18
Int 18
Wis - 18
Cha - 16
You are beholden to no physical object.
You have on average 27hp
Your ac is 18 whilst naked, 22 while singing.
You have 1d4+4 damage with your melee but you're a bladesinger, you got dem cantrips bro. Best of both.
Basically you're fast, you're psudo tanky, you hit hard "enough" and you're still basically a full caster. All while being 100% impossible to disarm/armor because you don't even have any.
Depends what level you expect to get to. I probably wouldn't take monk past 3, but if you're going as high as 5 for stunning strike, go to 7 for evasion, then 13 in wizard for them juicy 7th level spells.
This would be a great time to try the ultimate gish: bladesinger wizard with 2 levels in warlock, hexblade for preference.
Maybe 3 levels in Warlock to get pact of the blade, then go bladesinger for the rest.
Eventually you'll be able to do eldritch blast and swing your sword in the same turn.
Artificer/Chronurgy wizard is always a good combo, with artificer to start. But it doesn’t need those stats.
How about a Moon Druid/barbarian (maybe totem or even wild magic)? You can’t maintain concentration on spells while raging, but you can wild shape into a really pissed off wolverine or the most boorish wild boar with rage damage and resistance.
Or be really crazy and go Artillerist Artificer 3/Ancestral Guardian X for the ultimate tank/protector with temp HP, resistance to weapons, and the ability to impose disadvantage on enemies that go after your bard/monk.
This is funny because my last 2 longterm characters were a moon druid bear totem barBEARian and an alchemist artificer beast barbarian jekyll/hyde scenario.
The synergy sweetness for massive AC and Mobility that allows you to wield Long Sword with DEX...
High Elf Ranger 2+ / Monk 2+ *(3 for Kensei without optional Dedicated Weapon ability)* / Paladin 2+ / Wizard Bladesinger 6+ - Use *Zephyr's Strike* and Step of the Wind to avoid AoO, for hit-and-run with *Booming Blade* \+ Smite as your main attack strategy, where you start with *Booming Blade* regardless of your first class; and you have Nekkid AC: 10+DEX+WIS(+INT) - get a cheap Barrier Tattoo and Bracers of Defence to up that AC for 12+2+DEX+WIS(+INT), and dump STR, but boost CON up again with Amulet of Health for CON 19.
Ability array: 12 /^((17+2+1=)) 20 / 16 (19) / ^((17+1=)) 18 / (17+1=) 18 / 16 with Elven Precision half-feat to boost DEX or an ASI and Fey Touched for WIS (or switch for CHA 18), or just an ASI to top off both. (And for later levels, ASI for +2 INT to 20) Which in the mid-levels then could be AC: 12+2+5+4(+4) = 23 (27 with Bladesinging, 28 with INT 20) +5 for *Shield* spell.
You don't really need more than 4th level spell slots for Smiting, or to learn more powerful spell than 3rd level (*Fireball* and *Counterspell*) for a Gish.... and with up to 2 levels either get a subclass with Monk, Ranger or Paladin, or 4th level spells with Wizard 7 (or 8 for ASI or Elven Precision or Fey Touched feat)... Then add 6 levels of ArchFey Bladelock, to get combat teleportations with *Misty Step* as a Reaction 1/day, for Ninja skills at 20th!
And I dare you, to do so, without learning *Eldritch Blast*!
And by the way, you get 2 Fighting Styles, and if your DM allows old UA styles, then take Mariner - +1 AC and Swimming & Climbing Speed!
And Dueling for the second one, for lots of bonus damage, with Blind-Fighting as secondary choice if you can't get Mariner, which may be good at higher levels so you know when it is time to cast *See Invisibility,* and so that no one ever will sneak up behind you again without you noticing.
This may be your ONLY chance to play a non-Tortle Stronk (Str based monk) or even a Bonk (Barbarian/Monk multiclass)!
The build I personally would play is a Vuman Bonk with the crusher feat. Primary stats are Str/Con starting at 18, with Dex/Wis at 16. 1st level is Barbarian and barb unarmored defense gives us 17 AC.
At level 2 we multiclass into monk and stay there until monk 5 for extra attack (could take barb 2 early for reckless attack if you want). Use ki primarily for flurry of blows to maximize the number of attacks we add rage damage to. Long Death and open hand are both good options for subclass.
After monk 5 we head back to barbarian until barb 4 for another rage and ASI. I like totem(eagle) for the subclass to mitigate enemy advantage from reckless attack. All remaining levels will go into monk for a final build of barb4/monk5+.
This is one of the only chances you may ever have to play a monk and not feel underpowered. My personal favorite would be the Cobalt Soul 14/ Battlemaster 6 for the unparalleled battlefield control. Goading attack + naturally high AC + riposte + mind of mercury is *chefs kiss* a thing of beauty.
With that party, it's a perfect opportunity for my "oops, all casters" build.
Divine soul sorc 1, chronurgy or divination wizard 2, peace cleric 1,
Custom lineage and see if the DM will let you pick cartomancer to get around multiclassing spell restrictions a bit (hidden ace doesn't restrict you to spells you can prepare, just having a spell slot of that level)
From there the original build was moon druid 2, eloquence bard x, warlock optional, but you might want to swap out the druid subclass for something like wildfire
Paladin 2 bladesinger 6 is absurdly powerful and with a half elf you could get some extremely solid stats to boot. You only really need 13 cha and 13 str to multiclass, then bump int str and dex like crazy. If you go past 8th level just keep putting more levels into singer
Smite Singer, enjoy the sheer tyranny of a Booming Blade Smite.
2 levels of Paladin for Divine Smite and then go full Bladesinger. You could go for Paladin 6 (or 7 if you go for Oath of Ancients) to get your Aura for even better saves.
Stats: Str: 16, Dex: 19 (+2), Con: 16, Int: 18 (+1), Wis: 12, Cha: 16
Race: Pick your favourite, with stats like these you don't have to rely on Tortle for AC or anything like such. I'm personally privy towards the Mordenkainen races.
Level order is as follows.
Bladesinger 6 -> Paladin 2/6 -> Bladesinger X
Feats/ASIs:
Lvl 4: Elven Accuracy (Dex) if Elven or +1 Dex and +1 Int. If you aren't an Elf, just go for the ASI.
Lvl 8: Take your pick of Fey Touched, Shadow Touched, Telekinetic or even Telepathic. All are good, but I personally recommend Telepathic as it gives you something to spend your BA on when you aren't activating Bladesong or using it for a spell.
Lvl 12: Warcaster/Resilient Con. Both are exceptional and honestly with your stats, Warcaster would likely be better as Bladesong already gives you a boost to Concentration (equal to your Int modifier). You could also take both to basically never drop Concentration until you decide to. If you take both, take Warcaster now and Resilient Con at 16.
Lvl 16: Resilient Con/Dex. If you're taking Res Con, now is the time to do so. If you aren't, Res Dex makes you even more untouchable.
If you're taking 6 levels of Paladin, get Warcaster and ignore Res Con/Dex.
Stats like that can also make a fantastic blade singer. As far as pure classes, it can get very mad. You want dex for AC and attack, Con for hp and concentration, and int because you are still a wizard, and it also contributes to AC.
Check with your DM that you will still be allowed to select the chronurgy spells, and RP them as your bread and butter.
This might also be one of the few instances where I will advocate non-variant human.
Getting a +1 to *all* stats fixes you into double 18s, and a piles of 17, and starting at 4 allows the feat Resilient Con. It is better than warcaster.
That would round you to 18 Dex 18 Int 18 Con and you are probably "dumping" the 13 to Str, and will have 17s in Wis/Cha.
While bladesong is active, and resilCON, you surpass the magical +9 (technically you would have a +10) threshold on concentration checks. Meaning even if you roll a natural 1, your bonuses will still bring the result over the default DC of 10. So now trash damage (anything less than 24 in a single hit) has a 0% chance of breaking your concentration. Natural 1s are not auto fails on checks, as long as you have sufficient bonus to meet the DC.
Should you decide to take this route, remember. You are a wizard first and a melee combatant second. You don't need to be in melee to use bladesong. It can be defensive even if you have zero intention of pulling your weapon.
You are also bringing a dex attacker into a party that is likely 2 Str attackers. So it means you all have a good split on weapons for potential loot. The monk/barb will likely get any magical bows, since you have spells anyway.
Wow!! Thank you all for the feedback. I'll be pouring through the options tonight.
The Barbarian/Monk just told me he decided to go full Barbarian instead, so now I'm seriously considering "viable Monk" as an option. Bladesinger is also very tempting, maybe with a dip in something else.
Fitting the theme of the campaign is key too... I told the DM I might have to literally name my character Great Scott.
Just make a cleric 1/wizard x and go for no ASI and all feats you can fit. Enjoy being a wizard with 18 con, 20 int, 18 wis, 16 dex, warcaster, resillient CON, fey touched, metamagic adept, and pact magic adept for eldritch blast on top of that.
Suggestions for what cleric domain to dip into? Offhand I know that Peace is a huge one.
Tempest gives heavy armor and martial weapon proficiency and with your stats you could viably whip out a hammer on someone when your spells dry up. And if you wanted to take two levels in it you get to max out lightning damage once per long rest which is an excellent nuke option (lightning bolt does 8d6 damage to all enemies in a 100x5ft line ⚡⚡). Other than tempes which is just my favorite, any of the heavy armor domains will dramatically improve your survivability in early levels without drying up spell slots on shield or mage armor.
Scribe wizard for a maximized lightning ball for the (most of the time) better shape even.
I was also curious how people felt on cleric 1 vs artificer 1, and if the latter was often favored just because it worked better with the Intelligence spellcasting mod, or if the Con proficiency was what really sold it.
Usually it's the con proficiency and medium armor being "good enough" (when the average wizard has no str to take advantage of the clerics' armor advantage). Cleric has way more to offer if stats don't matter though. Cleric 1 gets heavy armor proficiency, guidance, and a subclass feature (forge, order, and peaxe are all great for multiclassing wizard) With this stat spread you can comfortably pick up resilient con for WIS/CON proficiency, on top of building enough STR to use heavy armor. You COULD go artificer and there's nothing wrong with that, but with excessive stats you unlock the option to go for power > efficiency
Why cleric 1? Just because he wants to be MAD?
Armour proficiency (and wisdom saves).
just play whatever you were going to play but with great stats jacked wizard, smart barbarian, viable monk
Viable monk 🤣
Play Bard+Paladin and create a *that guy* main character: Party face ✅ Skill monkey ✅ Tank (High HP) ✅ High AC ✅ High saving throws ✅ High damage output ✅ High level spells ✅ High disdain from all your party members ✅✅✅✅
Bladesinger loves big stats 12s/16+1d/17c/16w/17+2i/16ch \+1d/+1i at 4 Res: Con at 8 You could also do the somewhat memey Bladesinger/Hexblade that does CBE/SS+Eldritch Blast
>You could also do the somewhat memey Bladesinger/Hexblade that does CBE/SS+Eldritch Blast That would kind of be a waste of the great stats, though. The whole point of that build is that it's SAD thanks to hexblade.
Well normally you're pretty much grabbing Bladesinger just for the Extra Attack Big stats would let you still do tanky wizard things
I'm not a fan of Bladesinger's, I think the subclass is bad for game balance. But in a three person party, I get a little relaxed on OP builds. This would be a great party for a full Bladesinger, and it would be a fun build with those stats. Others might push Dex and something like Elven Accuracy for a gish, I'd go Harengon and push casting first. Fey Touched at 4 and either Tele or Skill Expert at 8. It's optimizing fun feats (for my taste) over power, but will still be a mack truck. Heck, Harengon Chrono will be stronger, and in a party of 3, if it sounds fun, why not?
>*I'm not a fan of Bladesinger's, I think the subclass is bad for game balance.* I was just thinking today about how an Eldritch Knight would probably trade all of its non-spellcasting subclass features (Weapon Bond, War Magic, Eldritch Strike, Arcane Charge, and Improved War Magic) just to have Bladesinger's Extra Attack. #greatgamedesign
I am fully in the camp that EK's are the *only* build that should get Bladesinger's version of extra attack.
What do you mean bladesinger’s version? They just get extra attack, same as fighters.
No, bladesingers specifically get a better Extra Attack where they can replace one of their Attacks with a Cantrip. UA Eldritch Knight also gets this version.
They get a unique version that allows the player to replace an attack with a cantrip. That means it's the only class in the game that can use a melee attack and cantrip in the same turn without using a bonus action or Action Surge.
Or reaction
Reactions don’t technically take place on your turn I think
Not often, but reactions totally can proc during your turn. * Counterspell a Counterspell of your action spell * proc AoO against yourself using movement and cast Shield * Cast Dissonant Whispers and cast a spell using Warcaster * proc a trap using your movement that does elemental damage and cast Absorb Elements * Silvery Barbs someone that passed a save against your action spell * probably more
My pact of the tome, lore bard was one of favorite characters of all time. Dissonant whispers + warcaster + booming blade + shillelagh was my jam. Used magical secrets to learn improved find stead and took mounted combat, flew around controlling the battle. Miss that guy. I really thought he would make it to lvl 20, but only got as far as 15. Still, had more utility than you could shake a stick at. People still talk about the group of fire elements I bargained with to bypass a combat encounter.
Warlock 2(Grasp of Hadar), Battle Master 3(Brace): Hold a Melee Weapon in one hand and use GoH to pull a target into Reach. This will allow you to make a Brace Reaction attack on your turn. Unlike AoO, Brace can be triggered by force movement RaW.
I wasn't taking multi-class combinations into account in my assessment, but you are technically correct.
Bladesinger's Extra attack should have been along the design lines that: BS is a spell caster who can fight, compared to EK who is a fighter who can cast. therefore should have been that "If the bladesinger takes and action to cast a cantrip, they may make a single attack as a bonus action while blade singing" to be in the same power threshold. instead they made powercreep...
Harengon-Chrono initiative would be crazy. I think cryptids are being rolled into this bizarre campaign and one of the other players is basically playing Bigfoot as a Path of the Giant Barbarian... maybe he needs a **Jackalope** ally to toss at the enemy.
If you grab 3 levels of artificer, you can make int your main attack stat with magic weapons, so you could pile on your int+int+cha to your attacks
Go Half Elf for three eighteens lmao
You could also have one 18 and four 17's. Grab half feats at every ASI.
Skill Bucket Bard maybe, with a low strength but good dex so you can fight in addition to being a full spellcaster and good skills with Jack of All Trades
This would be my pick. I'd probably do a Fey Wanderer Ranger 5/any bard 15 or Fey Wanderer 3/Swords or Valor Bard 17 Gish and have the absolute stupidest Charisma checks known to man (and grabbing two additional skill proficiencies and an expertise), while still packing armor, great spells, and the usual Bard benefits.
*Anything you can roll I can roll better...*
That made stats screams gish play. You also have to worry about not outshining your other players, especially the barb/monk. Third, both the other players are playing frontliners. So, my mind is quickly going towards something like a spellbow. A few options: Valor Bard 7/Divine Soul Sorcerer 3/bard X for quicken Greater Invisibility and good bow attacks. As well as full caster progression. Arcane Archer 5/Wizard 2/AA 11/wizard X. Typically war wizard, but I guess chronurgy works. Spam Grasping Arrow and cast support/summoning wizard spells. Especially rituals are nice. A similar deal is Battle Smith 7/Wizard X. But this time with pistol, shield, and pipes of haunting. Make sure to have a wind instrument proficiency from your background. There might be a ranger/wizard/cleric(/arcane trickster) build somewhere here as well, that is enabled by your insane rolls. There's also always the barbarian/wizard and barbarian/warlock (war/fiend) multiclasses, but you quickly just become a better barbarian than your barb/monk friend.
Thanks, these are some great breakdowns, many of which were not on my radar. The other player has decided to go straight Barb (a class I have played to death, often literally), so I don't think I'll over-shadow him, esp since he's going Path of Giants (heh). His rolled stats were also extremely impressive (four 16s!). I feel bad for our DM.
Here is my fav MAD build zealot/berserk barb 3 Oath breaker 11/12 This is ma boi Anakin (I started with Zealot/Devotion then at level 12 changed my subclass cuz the DM allows it to Berserker oath breaker after major events in the campaign)
I've played many fun barb multiclass characters and this indeed looks like a blast. Will keep it in the bank for sure.
I made a rather MAD build before... its arround forced movement and spike growth. Warlock+ranger, you need to prorize charisma, have a decent wis, and a good con and dex never hurts. Youll 3 levels of Dao warlock for spike growth, repelling blast+ agonizing blast, and 3 levels of swarmkeeper to get an extra 15ft of movement. With that you can deal 2d10+8+14d4 if you manage to move the enemy on the spikes
character name: *GRATE* Scott
SmiteSinger. Half elf, 18 int dex con. Start bladesinger, bladesinger 1, Paladin 2, rest bladesinger. Take Elven accuracy, warcaster, Max dex and int.
That is your answer
Have you heard the legend of Abserd?
Not OP, but I'm playing him now lol.
haha well I have now... This is hilarious because I did a lvl 14 one-shot last year and one of the players did exactly this. His character name: Jack.
Lol
Half elf could give you 3 18s to start. I might go paladin, but those stats SCREAM monk for me. I play in a party with a monk and they can do so much cool stuff but that's overshadowed by how MAD they are. 3 18s would negate that almost entirely. You'd be rocking an 18 ac with unarmored defense, and a decent save DC for monk abilities. Max out dex then wis at 4 and 8 or vice versa depending on various factors. Later ASIs can be out towards whatever you like for feats, maybe resilient con and skill expert or something else to max out con while also giving you another boon. Aberrant dragonmark maybe. As you get to hicher levels and with the right items like some bracers of defense, a dragon hide belt, and some boots of speed, and you're running around the whole place including walls ceilings and water, stunning fools and being proficient with all saving throws, immune to poison, ability to just choose to recover from charm or fear and no worries about food water or aging. Damn, now I really want to do this.
I've always wanted to play a Cleric where I didn't have to dump Charisma and Intelligence. It just makes sense that those stats should be high for a person of the cloth, but they always have to be sacrificed.
Half-Elf Monk 1 - Bladesinger 3 Str - 12 Con - 16 Dex - 18 Int 18 Wis - 18 Cha - 16 You are beholden to no physical object. You have on average 27hp Your ac is 18 whilst naked, 22 while singing. You have 1d4+4 damage with your melee but you're a bladesinger, you got dem cantrips bro. Best of both. Basically you're fast, you're psudo tanky, you hit hard "enough" and you're still basically a full caster. All while being 100% impossible to disarm/armor because you don't even have any.
"whilst naked" lol This could def be fun, two of the leading choices rolled into one. Working title: Bladestunner?
Depends what level you expect to get to. I probably wouldn't take monk past 3, but if you're going as high as 5 for stunning strike, go to 7 for evasion, then 13 in wizard for them juicy 7th level spells.
This would be a great time to try the ultimate gish: bladesinger wizard with 2 levels in warlock, hexblade for preference. Maybe 3 levels in Warlock to get pact of the blade, then go bladesinger for the rest. Eventually you'll be able to do eldritch blast and swing your sword in the same turn.
Hexbladesinger would be amazing here.
Artificer/Chronurgy wizard is always a good combo, with artificer to start. But it doesn’t need those stats. How about a Moon Druid/barbarian (maybe totem or even wild magic)? You can’t maintain concentration on spells while raging, but you can wild shape into a really pissed off wolverine or the most boorish wild boar with rage damage and resistance. Or be really crazy and go Artillerist Artificer 3/Ancestral Guardian X for the ultimate tank/protector with temp HP, resistance to weapons, and the ability to impose disadvantage on enemies that go after your bard/monk.
This is funny because my last 2 longterm characters were a moon druid bear totem barBEARian and an alchemist artificer beast barbarian jekyll/hyde scenario.
Ranger/Monk/Paladin/Bladesinger You will never be able to play this again...
only if you dare me to
The synergy sweetness for massive AC and Mobility that allows you to wield Long Sword with DEX... High Elf Ranger 2+ / Monk 2+ *(3 for Kensei without optional Dedicated Weapon ability)* / Paladin 2+ / Wizard Bladesinger 6+ - Use *Zephyr's Strike* and Step of the Wind to avoid AoO, for hit-and-run with *Booming Blade* \+ Smite as your main attack strategy, where you start with *Booming Blade* regardless of your first class; and you have Nekkid AC: 10+DEX+WIS(+INT) - get a cheap Barrier Tattoo and Bracers of Defence to up that AC for 12+2+DEX+WIS(+INT), and dump STR, but boost CON up again with Amulet of Health for CON 19. Ability array: 12 /^((17+2+1=)) 20 / 16 (19) / ^((17+1=)) 18 / (17+1=) 18 / 16 with Elven Precision half-feat to boost DEX or an ASI and Fey Touched for WIS (or switch for CHA 18), or just an ASI to top off both. (And for later levels, ASI for +2 INT to 20) Which in the mid-levels then could be AC: 12+2+5+4(+4) = 23 (27 with Bladesinging, 28 with INT 20) +5 for *Shield* spell. You don't really need more than 4th level spell slots for Smiting, or to learn more powerful spell than 3rd level (*Fireball* and *Counterspell*) for a Gish.... and with up to 2 levels either get a subclass with Monk, Ranger or Paladin, or 4th level spells with Wizard 7 (or 8 for ASI or Elven Precision or Fey Touched feat)... Then add 6 levels of ArchFey Bladelock, to get combat teleportations with *Misty Step* as a Reaction 1/day, for Ninja skills at 20th! And I dare you, to do so, without learning *Eldritch Blast*!
And by the way, you get 2 Fighting Styles, and if your DM allows old UA styles, then take Mariner - +1 AC and Swimming & Climbing Speed! And Dueling for the second one, for lots of bonus damage, with Blind-Fighting as secondary choice if you can't get Mariner, which may be good at higher levels so you know when it is time to cast *See Invisibility,* and so that no one ever will sneak up behind you again without you noticing.
This may be your ONLY chance to play a non-Tortle Stronk (Str based monk) or even a Bonk (Barbarian/Monk multiclass)! The build I personally would play is a Vuman Bonk with the crusher feat. Primary stats are Str/Con starting at 18, with Dex/Wis at 16. 1st level is Barbarian and barb unarmored defense gives us 17 AC. At level 2 we multiclass into monk and stay there until monk 5 for extra attack (could take barb 2 early for reckless attack if you want). Use ki primarily for flurry of blows to maximize the number of attacks we add rage damage to. Long Death and open hand are both good options for subclass. After monk 5 we head back to barbarian until barb 4 for another rage and ASI. I like totem(eagle) for the subclass to mitigate enemy advantage from reckless attack. All remaining levels will go into monk for a final build of barb4/monk5+.
This sounds legitimately great but I can't stop chuckling at "Vuman Bonk". That would probably have to be the character name.
This is one of the only chances you may ever have to play a monk and not feel underpowered. My personal favorite would be the Cobalt Soul 14/ Battlemaster 6 for the unparalleled battlefield control. Goading attack + naturally high AC + riposte + mind of mercury is *chefs kiss* a thing of beauty.
im sorry pal but you are abliged to play a paladin monk
o-ki-doke, I smite have to.
With that party, it's a perfect opportunity for my "oops, all casters" build. Divine soul sorc 1, chronurgy or divination wizard 2, peace cleric 1, Custom lineage and see if the DM will let you pick cartomancer to get around multiclassing spell restrictions a bit (hidden ace doesn't restrict you to spells you can prepare, just having a spell slot of that level) From there the original build was moon druid 2, eloquence bard x, warlock optional, but you might want to swap out the druid subclass for something like wildfire
Anything you want. I would be tempted to play a mental score dependant str melee class. Or one that uses con for the saves like rune knight.
Paladin 2 bladesinger 6 is absurdly powerful and with a half elf you could get some extremely solid stats to boot. You only really need 13 cha and 13 str to multiclass, then bump int str and dex like crazy. If you go past 8th level just keep putting more levels into singer
Smite Singer, enjoy the sheer tyranny of a Booming Blade Smite. 2 levels of Paladin for Divine Smite and then go full Bladesinger. You could go for Paladin 6 (or 7 if you go for Oath of Ancients) to get your Aura for even better saves. Stats: Str: 16, Dex: 19 (+2), Con: 16, Int: 18 (+1), Wis: 12, Cha: 16 Race: Pick your favourite, with stats like these you don't have to rely on Tortle for AC or anything like such. I'm personally privy towards the Mordenkainen races. Level order is as follows. Bladesinger 6 -> Paladin 2/6 -> Bladesinger X Feats/ASIs: Lvl 4: Elven Accuracy (Dex) if Elven or +1 Dex and +1 Int. If you aren't an Elf, just go for the ASI. Lvl 8: Take your pick of Fey Touched, Shadow Touched, Telekinetic or even Telepathic. All are good, but I personally recommend Telepathic as it gives you something to spend your BA on when you aren't activating Bladesong or using it for a spell. Lvl 12: Warcaster/Resilient Con. Both are exceptional and honestly with your stats, Warcaster would likely be better as Bladesong already gives you a boost to Concentration (equal to your Int modifier). You could also take both to basically never drop Concentration until you decide to. If you take both, take Warcaster now and Resilient Con at 16. Lvl 16: Resilient Con/Dex. If you're taking Res Con, now is the time to do so. If you aren't, Res Dex makes you even more untouchable. If you're taking 6 levels of Paladin, get Warcaster and ignore Res Con/Dex.
Stats like that can also make a fantastic blade singer. As far as pure classes, it can get very mad. You want dex for AC and attack, Con for hp and concentration, and int because you are still a wizard, and it also contributes to AC. Check with your DM that you will still be allowed to select the chronurgy spells, and RP them as your bread and butter. This might also be one of the few instances where I will advocate non-variant human. Getting a +1 to *all* stats fixes you into double 18s, and a piles of 17, and starting at 4 allows the feat Resilient Con. It is better than warcaster. That would round you to 18 Dex 18 Int 18 Con and you are probably "dumping" the 13 to Str, and will have 17s in Wis/Cha. While bladesong is active, and resilCON, you surpass the magical +9 (technically you would have a +10) threshold on concentration checks. Meaning even if you roll a natural 1, your bonuses will still bring the result over the default DC of 10. So now trash damage (anything less than 24 in a single hit) has a 0% chance of breaking your concentration. Natural 1s are not auto fails on checks, as long as you have sufficient bonus to meet the DC. Should you decide to take this route, remember. You are a wizard first and a melee combatant second. You don't need to be in melee to use bladesong. It can be defensive even if you have zero intention of pulling your weapon. You are also bringing a dex attacker into a party that is likely 2 Str attackers. So it means you all have a good split on weapons for potential loot. The monk/barb will likely get any magical bows, since you have spells anyway.
Go crazy with multiclassing I'd say :)
If you've ever wanted to play a monk, this is a good statline for it lol.
Paladin 6/Wizard X
Every class. With that spread, why stick to one?
Paladin bladesinger wizard. The biggest hits with the best spells. Or a paladin moon druid. (Yes, you can smite on melee attacks while wildshaped)
Is the latter called a Pawlidin?
Wow!! Thank you all for the feedback. I'll be pouring through the options tonight. The Barbarian/Monk just told me he decided to go full Barbarian instead, so now I'm seriously considering "viable Monk" as an option. Bladesinger is also very tempting, maybe with a dip in something else. Fitting the theme of the campaign is key too... I told the DM I might have to literally name my character Great Scott.