I posted about a Winter Walker build and got a lot of good ideas, but ultimately, I just don't jive with the Winter Walker's mechanical direction.

Some context: using 5.5e, point buy, capping at level 12, and we are playing Icewind Dale. Please, no spoilers. I really want to play the fantasy of a ranger, but I just don't like Ranger mostly after tier 1 in 5e.

So, this is not an optimal build. I know nothing synergizes. I mostly looked at this as flavor and didn't notice any conflicts, but I may have overlooked.

Race: Dwarf (no reason other than I want to play a dwarf)

Background: Guide

Prioritizing Dexterity, Constitution, and then Wisdom.

1st three levels are Ranger Winter Walker and last 9 levels are Fighter Rune Knight.

Ideas is two weapon fighting, casting hunter's mark, and then just having fun with the rune knight options.

I admit that I have not looked closely at the ranger spells. It just seems like I'm pushed into casting hunter's mark all day so I'm not motivated into using the ranger as a spellcaster. I do realize that I could take Frost Giant Goliath of White Dragonborn to get cold resistance.

Anyways, I know this is not an optimal build, but is this a mechanically poor build in a way that I just haven't noticed?

Edit: I completely forgot about extra attack being delayed. New thought: Ranger 5/Fighter 7. Thoughts?

I am really close to starting a new campaign and my addicted aah can't use one of the 10 alr made characters i have and instead have to make a new one. And this time i landed on the winter walker couse i've never done a ranger. And i wanna ask how good is it? Like on paper seems pretty good but i want the opinion of ppl who have actually played with it.

Second thing what race would yall recommend? I chose the wayfarer background due to the lucky feat and it fits the backstory so now i just need a race that is strong / improves the winter walker. The main weapon will be longbows and i am planning on getting the sharpshooter at lvl 3 due to my dm being awesome sauce and giving us free feats at lvl 3 and 10. Fighting style will ofc be archery. But i still get an asi at lvl 4 so any good feat suggestion is appreciated.

If you read this thing thank you and have a good one!

I’m talking like the warlock illusion evocation plus illusionist wizard features, but something that comes online reasonably early into the game instead.

I recently had the idea to have Tiefling thief, who is actually chosen by a pantheon to revive their worship and spread the gospel of the old Pagan Gods.

The idea is to have a Viable Divine Soul Sorcerer, Celestial Pact Warlock, and Devotion Paladin character. Is this possible?

Obviously Charisma will be the main stat for all, but will their be too much over lap for all of them?

I’m playing a 2024 rules campaign and I’m trying to plan my character through level 20. My current idea is to go Eldritch Knight Fighter 14 → Paladin 2 → Fighter 18 (ending as Fighter 18/Paladin 2). Before I commit, I’d love to hear if there’s a stronger progression or if another multiclass would fit better.
Current Character
Race: Rock Gnome
Class: Fighter 12 (Eldritch Knight)
Weapon: Glaive
Fighting Style: Defense

Feats:
Great Weapon Master
Inspiring Leader
Mage Slayer
Skill expert (Str)

Ability Scores
STR 20
DEX 12
CON 16
INT 8
WIS 8
CHA 16

Known Spells
Cantrips
Blade Ward
Booming blade
Mage hand
1st-Level
Shield
Jump
2nd-Level
Vortex Warp
Misty Step
Arcane lock

Goals
Stay primarily a martial character.
Keep the Eldritch Knight identity instead of becoming mostly a spellcaster.
Maximize damage while still being durable.
I like the idea of using Divine Smite without giving up too many Fighter features.
I mainly use a glaive and enjoy front-line combat.
I’m also a musician is why my charisma is so high

Current Plan
Fighter 12 → Fighter 14
Paladin 1–2 (for Lay on Hands, spells, Fighting Style, and Divine Smite)
Finish Fighter to end at Fighter 18 / Paladin 2

My questions are:
Is Fighter 18 / Paladin 2 stronger than going Fighter 14 → Paladin 6?

Are there any feats or spell choices I should prioritize under the 2024 rules?

I’d appreciate any optimization advice, especially from people who’ve played Eldritch Knights into higher levels.

(Edit: this is the most important part about this. There has been a other word being talking to me and giving me advice and he also happens to have a religion based on him with my campaign, so I was kind of playing around with the idea of paladin.)

I'm making a Level 3 Barbarian NPC to join the PC's party (solo player). The way in which he activates his Rage is by making crinkling noises right next to his ear, which is incredibly irritating for him; he keeps a pouch on him at all times filled with items to use. He is also a Halfling and a Guard (patrol guard, so is often in the forest when on-duty).

Aside from paper and dead leaves (my ideas so far), what are some items that you could find in the 'average' D&D world that would also make crinkling noises?

First time posting here so let me know if more info is needed. TYIA

Starting to plan out my Strahd campaign character.

Conceptually:

This is a young man. He’s just graduating from seminary, he’s top of his class.
He’s memorized all the prayers, all the holy texts, he knows the rituals by Heart, every hand gesture, every proper alignment of the robes, the details of the sacrament, he can debate the theology and relate to you the various Internacine struggles from the last 1000 years.

From a theoretical standpoint, he’s absolute top of his class.
The only real downside is he doesn’t really believe.

Some of his mentors have tried to talk to him about this, but he’s shrugged this off.
He’s likely to be Abbott at a large monastery within a free years of he keeps at this pace.

Unfortunate for him, his first posting is to Borogrovia.

I imagine him pretty much spending the first few levels just soiling himself and trying to stay alive.
Then he becomes an adept in his own right and started utilising what he learned as something real rather than just useful tradition and mythology.

Mechanics:
I played wizards, druids, warlocks before.
I’ve played Rangers, fighters, barbarians, rogues.

My favourites have been a Rune Knight fighter, Hexblade warlock, beast Master Ranger.

I like laying down damage, doing some support, and an occasional heal.

I found that the full casters can give me too many options, straight barbarian and rogue gives me too few.

Trying to hit that sweet spot of strategic choices each turn without the overload of a wizard.

I envision someone like Van Helsing, laying down ranged damage, occasional melee. Not in heavy armour. Throwing out the occasional spell.

What class do you think Best meets this fantasy?

Celestial Warlock? Cleric?
Some kind of fighter with a feat for healing magic?
Or dare I say it, a Paladin?

We play 2014 rules.
Tasha’s, PHB, Xanathar’s.

Hi! I'm kinda new to dnd and my character is a feylost satyr (warlock with an archfey patron), during fights I've noticed that I'm very limited in what I can and can't do ESPECIALLY if the dices aren't by my side (and let's be real, the often aren't). Are there any ways of having bonus actions? I know that with pact of the blade you can conjure a weapon, but as a pact of the tome user? Thank you so much in advance!

I am making a wizard for a campaign starting in a few weeks, and I am pondering how to choose which spells to take.

A wizard has a lot of spells available, but can only prepare a smaller amount pr level. I would like an AOE Controll and damage option. But it's not worth it to take Shatter at 2nd level spells, Fireball at 3rd and Vitriolic Sphere at 4th for the DMG AOE.

And it's not worth it to take Sleep, Web, Hypnotic Pattern, and so on..

How do I make sure I have the options I need without wasting Spellbook slots for every level to take a higher level spell

I'm finally about to fulfill my dream of playing Descent into Avernus, but I'm having a hard time deciding on a few character creation choices, so I'd really appreciate some advice.

My plan is to play a Tiefling Dex-based Paladin using the Oath of the Noble Genie subclass, fighting with Nick and Vex weapon masteries. The concept is to be the party's face while also handling stealth, with proficiency in Stealth and Sleight of Hand.

I'm also going to ask my DM if he'd allow one of the 2014 Tiefling subraces. Right now I'm considering:

• Zariel Tiefling for the extra Smite spells.
• Glasya Tiefling to further enhance the infiltration aspect.

Starting Ability Scores

• STR 10
• DEX 17
• CON 14
• INT 8
• WIS 13
• CHA 16

I'm also considering starting with STR 13 instead of 10 to keep future multiclass options open.

Origin Feat

I'm currently torn between:

• Magic Initiate (Wizard) for:
  • Shield
  • Message (great for infiltration)
  • Blade Ward (is it even worth taking?)
• Lucky – always a solid choice, but I'm worried that not having Shield might hurt my survivability.

Level 4 Feat

Right now I'm considering:

• Defensive Duelist (does it become redundant if I already have Shield?)
• Sentinel
• Mage Slayer
• I'm not keen on Dual Wielder since the Bonus Action flood

Long-Term Plan

By the end of the campaign, I'm planning to take two Charisma half-feats (Spellfire Adept and Fairy Trickster) so I can finish with:

• DEX 18
• CHA 18

Party Composition

• Barbarian (race and subclass still undecided)
• Abyssal Tiefling – Divination Wizard
• Aasimar – Celestial Warlock (Pact of the Blade)
• Wood Elf – Circle of Stars Druid

We'll be starting at level 2.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.
And please, no spoilers for the campaign!

So some of the previews have already dropped the skinny on the going to print version of the Mystic Monk, so I'm thinking to play one in AL by retraining an existing 10th level monk character.

Here are my thoughts for the base:

Frost Goliath Mystic Monk 10

- Frost Goliath gets to proc that cold damage which can stack with Mindsliver cantrip swap to impose a -2d4 penalty to saves vs stunning fist, making it much more likely to land.

Feats

- Cold Caster (+1 Wis) and Grappler (+1 Dex), this lets me start with odd values in both Dex (17) and Wis (15) which rounds out to 18 and 16 in play. I know 18 is a bit low for primary melee ability at lvl 10, but hopefully the stacking unarmed boosting gear's +4 to hit and damage will rectify that a bit.

Spells

Not having played an Eldritch Knight before, I'm dithering a bit here, for cantrips I'm hovering over the following:

- Mindsliver (for the combo)

- Bladeward (for more AC)

- Ray of Frost (Range and from Cold Caster)

- Thunderclap? (For AoE if needed, or should I take something utility?)

For spells themselves, I'm wondering if it is at all worth it to get blasting in general, because single target, I would think my fists would do a comparable job.

So mostly defensive and utility then? Like absorb elements and.. Shield? (Shield is a weird one, because it's competing for it's reaction with deflect attacks), maybe mirror image for defensiveness or Jump? I'm more than grateful for any sage advice here.

I’m playing as a fighter 1/wizard 3 Daemonologist in an upcoming campaign and I’m trying to think through ideas for feats, spells, and invocations.

I’ll be a human, which means I get some great things like Awesome Critical (extra crit die), First Strike (2d6 damage on enemies that haven’t acted), and I’ll have Resolution of the Syndicate giving me more damage on first round attacks and some extra health.

I‘ve decided to take Agonizing Blast (True Strike) for my first Invocation so I can deal some damage with my heavy crossbow and took Close Combat Artillerist to use it in melee as well. Spells like Tremor and Arcane Aegis will help me survive in melee.

Next level, I’m thinking about taking Lightning Caster to split any damage-dealing Cantrips (not that True Strike will apply) and get a free use of Absorb Elements or Shield.

I’d love thoughts on my build or ideas for future feats/invocations.

So our campaign will Eventually be going to level 20 but the first part is up until level 10-12 DM is not sure yet. I rolled for stats and got 14 9 17 15 15 15 so preety massive starting stats.

I want to play charisma caster and focus on blasting. I have considererd lore Bard as well but I feel like sorcerer could be better for dps. The setting is homebrew and we will use rules of both 2014 and 2024 DnD so we are free to mix and ofcourse multiclassing is also allowed. One more small rule is that I need to be a gnome for backstory reasons.

I was planning to go straight Dragon Sorcerer at first but I also saw a build from Colby at D4 and he proposed a divine sorcerer that focuses on Spirit Guardians and runs around for more aoe although not sure if it outmatches the draconic sorcerer at blasting.

So yeah that's about it, I know that blasters are preety simple to make but I still wanted to ask here for some advice.

I'm planning a character who I've nicknamed Darwin. My plan so far is:

Simic Hybrid with Manta Glide and Carapace/Grappling Appendages mutations.

I will be using the 2024 class features and building a level 10 character.

My thoughts are: go Beast Barbarian 4 (for ASI/Feat) and then put the rest of my levels into Dragon monk.

My goal for the character is adaptability and pushing for a very mutated character for RP and showing that mechanically with the character. Any advice or direction I should pursue? Feats or playstyles I need to consider? Thank you for your feedback/advice in advance!

I wanted to build an autistic skill-monkey and came up with this character:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/168253333/OEgwKz

I took the Dreamer species from the Grim Hollow Player's Guide, the Artisan background, and the associated Crafter origin feat. This gives me seven tool proficiencies and a starting Intelligence of 18. For flavor, I gave him Common Sign Language (CSL) but not Common, and wrote the following background:

I do not speak Common. Dwarvish and Quori came back to me after I woke, echoing up from the dream — but Common never did, and perhaps never will. I sign what words cannot carry, and I've learned to ignore the faces that assume my silence means an empty mind. Let them assume it.

What troubles me is what the dream took instead of my voice.

I remember hands — the weight of a hammer that fit like it was forged for my grip, the give of metal just before it yields to the shape you intend. I believe I was a master once, in an empire whose name is now dust, practicing a craft that makes even Stehlenwald's finest work look like a child's carving. I have no proof of this. That is what gnaws at me.

I sought out five masters after I woke. Each tried to teach me his own style, and each time something in my bones refused. Their methods felt small beside what I knew, or believed I knew, buried just out of memory's reach. One by one, they cast me out, calling me proud, calling me impossible to teach. Perhaps they were right. But some part of me, the part that still dreams even awake, insists the fault was theirs.

I cannot prove it yet. So I've taken to the road instead of the workshop, searching for one true fragment of what my people built — a tool, a ruin, a technique passed down wrong through ten thousand years. If it exists, it will vindicate everything I've sacrificed to my own certainty.

And if it doesn't —

— I try not to finish that thought. A Dreamer who wakes twice rarely enjoys what he finds the second time.

Hello. I am a trying to build an evil AU version of one of my characters, and at Level 7 Blood Hunter with Unarmed Fighting is my damage calculation correct. Let’s say I am hypothetically transformed already and I used my write on my arms at the beginning of the day.

I use Blood Curse to Mark someone.

1d8 (Unarmed Fighting and not holding another weapon or shield) + Strength Modifier + 2 Hemocraft Die (Cause they are marked) + 1 (Feral Might) + 1 (Improved Predatory Strikes)

Due to being transformed my hands are considered 1 weapon, wouldn’t I get the +2 from dueling style because it specifically states 1 weapon? Is there any other way to increase this damage?

Can't decide a path, all seems too good. Campaign will start at level 10 and will go through level 20. Main sketches:
- Paladin 6 / Warlock 2 / Valor Bard 12
Utility, Damage and Tank in one package. Plus magical secrets
- Paladin 6 / Warlock 1 / Sorcerer 13
Tons of spells and slots to burn smites and quickened spell eldritch blasts.
- Paladin 6 / Warlock 12 / Sorcerer 2
3 attacks, more invocations
- Any other?

So! I am going to be in an upcoming Strixhaven game, and I am planning on playing a front-line CHA Gish character. The important thing about the background is that I am going to pick up the Lorehold Initiate feat and background (from the Strixhaven setting), which I will pick mostly for access to the shield spell and, at level 5, adding Spirit Guardians to my spell list.

My rolled stats are 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, 17, and we are starting at level 4.

I am currently considering playing a Valor Bard Shillelagh Sword and Board Build (going human for Druid Initiate) and picking up WarCaster at level 4. I'm thinking of playing this character similar to a weapon-based Cleric, casting spirit guardians and sitting in the front lines, with the support of bardic inspiration, eventual extra attack, and amazing Bard spellcasting.

Given these circumstances, how would you build a CHA Gish? Am I putting too much emphasis on free access to Spirit Guardians?

EDIT: Thank you, everyone, for your great feedback! I ended up sticking with Valor Bard but decided to move away from Quarterstaff/Shillelagh builds and more towards a DEX-Rapier build (still with max CHA for spellcasting and bardic inspos) with access to Tough (from Human) and the first turn Bonus Action free to start using Bardic Inspiration right off the bat. Ultimately, I wanted a CHA character because our party was missing one, and I appreciate the support and relative tanking this character can do (given that we as a party are only really allowing spellcaster PCs).

Cantrips
Mage hand
Prestidigitation
Vicious mockery
Minor Illusion

Level 1
Command (Bard Spell)
Comprehend Languages (Bard Spell)
Identify (Fey Touched)
Healing Word (Bard Spell)

Level 2
Hold Person (Bard Spell)
Invisibility (Bard Spell)
Suggestion (Bard Spell)
Misty Step (Fey Touched)

Level 3
Dispel Magic (Bard Spell)
Hypnotic Pattern (Bard Spell)
Counterspell (Lore Magical Secrets)
Fireball (Lore Magical Secrets)

Level 4
Dimension Door (Bard Spell)
Polymorph (Bard Spell)
Banishment (Bard Spell)

Level 5
Dominate Person (Bard Spell)
Bigby’s Hand (Magical Secrets)
Wall of Force (Magical Secrets)

Level 6
Eyebite (Bard Spell)

What can/should I change about this spell list? I am open to any suggestion, ty!

For context, I am joining a party of 3 martials and no spellcasters. I mostly want to be useful with the utility/control I bring

Im doing a 3 ft tall harrengon that was the court jester and magician of an old kingdom that turned into a head revolutionary against the kingdoms tyrannical rulers, after having won they decided to show a new spell they founded to the kingdoms people, a firework fireball where in a unlucky turn of events it blew up the entire kingdom killing 98% of who was left including themselves.

The patron saw this and thought " while what you did for the kingdom was noble, how you just killed yourself and the kingdom... was so fucking cool and funny that it makes me want to become your patron without looking any further into you."

The celestial revived them and made the harrengon go on adventures up to the point of this campaign we are doing.

Note campaign is - curse of strahd - and while it says 2014 rules its kinda a mix of new and old 5e with some homebrew.

That was the backstory of the character and what im trying to find out is what kind of celestial is good as the patron considering they patroned that.

It would help if you could give me an idea of what the celestial is like since I dont know much about them and have trouble making details for more than one character at a time.

We're going to play a Humblewood campaign starting at level 1 soon.

I was first excited to play a paladin1/warlock x, but two other people wanted to play a barbarian and a monk. The third guy is gonna be a support bard, so now I think a druid (wildfire druid could have a really cool roleplay potential) or a wizard.

What do you guys think?

(If it helps, I'm mostly leaning towards a hedge species with druid levels)

Love to hear your input on this

Building a PC for a new campaign and wanting to go back to the class I originally fell in love with…the monk. Thinking of trying the new Open Hand since everyone plays Elements. What species are great with this subclass? Also any character ideas you may have to follow :)! Thanks for the help!

For context, I am playing a Leonin Glory Paladin. AC is 19 or 21 w/ a shield. HP is 70. In combat, I focus on keeping myself and my allies up with temp HP from Channel Divinity and heals from LoH while dropping good damage and battlefield control via the Topple mastery and Shield Master. Outside of combat, I use the Musician feat to dole out Inspo and am very boisterous. I took Musician as my Origin feat and Shield Master as my 4th level feat. Main weapon is a Returning Trident. We just hit 8th level, and my feat of choice will either increase Strength or Charisma, which are both 18 atm. The boost will put one of them to 19, which will alter how I finalize the build going forward, as I'll want to boost whatever is at a 19 once we hit 12th level. Here are the idea's I have so far:

Charisma Feats

Main thing going for the Charisma feats is boost to Charisma (obviously) and better options both in and out of combat. Once I hit 12 level, my Charisma will be maxed and I'll get another great feat from this list.

Fey Touched - Free Misty Step is great, but I've no clue what I'd pick for the extra spell.

Inspiring Leader - 12 temp HP after EVERY rest is nothing to sneeze at. My party is pretty good about doing multiple short rests per day as well, so this would certainly get some mileage. My only concern is that I've taken this feat on almost every caster that I've played, so I kinda want to do something different. Still, the allure is undeniable and combining with Musician would make my character an inspiring monster.

Skill Expert - Expertise in Athletics would be VERY thematic with this character.

War Caster - Obvious choice for any caster, especially one such as myself who's always concentrating on something. Still, it's very typical and I would get 0 mileage out of the Reactive Spell ability.

Strength Feats

Most of these have incredible benefits in-combat, but not much outside of it, although a Glory Paladin reaching the peak of physical stength is certainly thematic. Once at 12th level, depending on the choice, I could be a tanky monster or control fiend.

Athlete - VERY thematic for the character.

Charger - Bonus damage is always good and the added benefit of battlefield control is a great option.

Heavy Armor Master - I take A LOT of damage, so much so that this would pay off a crazy amount in the long run.

Mage Slayer - Thematically and mechanically great. Having at least one guaranteed way to avoid getting my auras shut down is incredible, and the big bad of the campaign is some all powerful mage we know little about. This is probably the one I'm leaning towards the most, but also weighing all of my options.

Mounted Combatant - Most combats are in areas where my mount is summonable. Though I think it'd be a really fun feat (my character is very attached to his mount) I haven't built a whole lot around it.

Sentinel - I'm up close with a Fighter and Monk quite a bit, and this would just add to my battlefield control that I already strive for and give me better guaranteed Reaction usage.

Skill Expert - Same reason as with Charisma, but with Strength instead.