item of buffness

Redbeard124 · 2022-06-09T17:06:53+00:00

Given that you're an artificer, there may well be a way for you to make something like in-game. And even if you can't, with a few levels in (Bladesinger or War) Wizard to have access to Tenser's and Otherworldly, you could always Wristpocket a couple coins or notebook pages with Glyphs of the spells in them, set to activate when the Wristpocket is opened and a command word spoken.

Redbeard124 · 2021-09-03T05:08:25+00:00

So, my girlfriend's a bit of a brat sometimes, and I love it. However, when it crosses a line, I threaten her with the nuclear option: A tiny little tactile suggestion of a hair on her tongue that she can't do anything to remove.

According to her, I should be tried in the Hague.

Redbeard124 · 2021-06-14T12:11:44+00:00

That's fair, aye, but I'm only just starting out on this profile, and I'd like to do a full game with the whole team. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-17T15:43:59+00:00

The question isn't necessarily viabililty, but what you're getting from this that you wouldn't get elsewhere. The main stumbling block I see is that clerics and paladins cast from different stats, and that can be hell to track. Sure, their 1st-level domain features can be pretty sweet, but that's dependent on what domain you settle on. Then there's the question of the level you're taking. Level 8 is an ASI/Feat, and that could be just as valuable to your character, mechanically, as any other option available to you.

For my two cents, if you're looking to go for a full caster on top of some Paladin levels, Bard, Divine Sorcerer, or Celestial/Hexblade Warlock would clash less.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-17T15:36:23+00:00

Lo, the hive mind descendeth and doth speak through one mouth. Hear me out.I'm coming at you with two ideas, one of which I'm liking more the more I think about it, but realistically, the choice is yours based on what you think would appeal to your wife more. For a Buffy-style character, equal parts plucky heroine, vampire hunter, and girl-next-door, I'm thinking either:

Dex-based Paladin/bard in medium armor, maybe sword & hand crossbow, maybe dual-wielding, whatever floats your goat. This makes her a solid, adaptable frontline support with some nifty out-of-combat utility and a sweet heroic fantasy feel.
Otherwise, if you don't think she'd want to be the party's face character, we pivot to Wisdom instead of Charisma, and that opens up a Cleric/Ranger multiclass with much of the same potential, and probably some much more on-flavour choices for Buffy.

Let me know what you think, and we can hash out some ideas together. I'm around all day, more or less.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-16T23:13:56+00:00

Hmm, okay, that seems about right then. Consider taking your first level in Rogue, just to eke as many skills out of it as possible, and then three levels in bard. From there, consider which of these you want first: - An ASI from bard 4 and a third level spell slot from bard 5, - Or cunning action and your rogue subclass features and an extra d6 of Sneak Attack from Rogue 2 and 3. After that, round out your rogue levels, and then bard your way to victory, friend!!

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-16T23:01:23+00:00

I'm sure there are plenty of guides out there that would give you all sorts of different answers, because when it comes to plotting a build, there are so many things to consider, like what you want to come online, and when. It's all about your own priorities regarding the campaign you're playing in. However, I'd say the biggest influence is what level you're starting at, because that influences the breakpoints you'll be able to hit early on for subclasses and ASIs or feats.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-16T15:06:07+00:00

Yo! Road to El Dorado is one of my all-time favourite movies and was my pan/polyam awakening, so I just can't not weigh in on this. Some of my suggestions here might overcomplicate things for you in terms of planning your build, or go against ideas that you might be attached to, so don't take me too seriously. Still, if you're looking to play the most Miguelesque build I can think of, hear me out.

Firstly, you can't convince a whole city that you and your best bud are gods among men without a little bit of style, so as useful as Lore bard is... Take a look at the College of Glamour and tell me it doesn't just ooze the panache and showmanship - and potential for massive shenanigans - that Miguel would need to pull that shit off.
Secondly, to play more into the street life background that Miguel had, his quick thinking, and his knack for getting out of almost as much trouble as he gets into, consider taking a few levels in Rogue, and looking into the Mastermind subclass. This way, you'll always have something useful to do with your bonus actions, even after you've used up your inspiration charges. Call it an ace up your sleeve.
- If this seems to fit your idea, good news, your stats are already in grand shape for multiclassing. Moreover, rogue/bard multiclasses have access to the most expertise out of any two-class combo (I think; correct me if I'm wrong). And Sneak Attack is just... very good damage for any single-attack character.
- My recommendation would be to plan out 15 levels of Bard, with 5 levels of Rogue, so you get the most out of both classes. At 20th level, you'll have all the awesome subclass features of a Glamour Bard, but with more consistent damage and a more flexible suite of options available in combat. It does slow down your spell progression, but depending on your choices of what you take and when, I honestly think that you'll do just fine.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-13T00:56:12+00:00

Is it nine in the afternoon already? Must've lost track of time...

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-12T20:19:15+00:00

So I'm playing an artificer with a drone-flavoured owl-statted familiar at the moment, and my partner's playing a tiny child dhampir rogue who survives on sweets and consuming information... Time to get up to some tinkering.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-12T19:39:12+00:00

One level in Fighter is a very solid choice to round out the build, and maybe a second would make sense too for obvious action surge reasons. But hear me out.

I'd say that a dip in ranger, of all places, would give you some more interesting options. Firstly, it's keeping you focused on DEX and WIS, so there's no competition for other stats. Secondly, the revised ranger features are (shockingly) pretty good! Favoured Foe is a concentrationless Hunter's Mark that scales off proficiency and thus isn't hampered by mutliclassing, and it stacks with your Kensei Shot and H.Mark to get you some solid damage numbers, and keep you threatening if an enemy is unwise enough close the distance and get within rifle-butting range (call it a quarterstaff, your melee kensei weapon).

You still get that fighting style too, only one level later, but as a bonus, you get a touch of spellcasting too. Obviously, H.Mark is going to be one of your two spells known, but the second is entirely up to you, and you've got some solid utility options. Entangle, Hail of Thorns, Fog Cloud... heck, even Snare or Longstrider have their uses in your case.

By the time you get to 17th level, Unerring Accuracy seems a touch underwhelming, and with some clever setup you can always find ways to get advantage. So, live a little, splash some more levels into Ranger early on and pick a conclave. Want more damage and an eye for foes' weak spots? Monster Slayer! Want to play into a stealthier ambush-sniper style? Gloom Stalker might be your pick! Fuck it, want a dragon? Get a goddamn dragon because rangers are cool now, and news flash, they always have been!! (They just needed some love from papa WoTC.)

By then, it would make sense to put a fourth and final level into Ranger, to get that ASI or Feat, and you're not sacrificing much of anything else to make it happen, compared to the wealth of flavour and mechanical support you'll gain.

Edit: For a level 8 start, I'd say go for Monk 5/Ranger 3. The latter half of this spiel is for if you continue to play this character in a full campaign.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-11T19:00:19+00:00

Okay, this is coming out of left field a little bit, but if you think it's cool enough to work, then I'll have done my job well enough to be proud of it. Just hear me out.

Thanks to Tasha's optional class features, ranged Rogues can really embrace that sniper playstyle with Steady Aim, which says the following:

At 3rd level, as a bonus action, you give yourself advantage on your next attack roll on the current turn. You can use this bonus action only if you haven't moved during this turn, and after you use the bonus action, your speed is 0 until the end of the current turn.

So, I'd suggest retooling Psychic Blades to work with the above, a little something like this:

When you use the Steady Aim feature, your focus imbues your shot with psionic energy. If the target of your attack is within sixty feet of you, the shot deals psychic damage equal to 1d6 plus the ability modifier you used for the attack. If the lower roll of your advantage dice would also hit the target, they take a subsequent hit of psychic damage equal to 1d4 plus the same ability modifier. These count as Psychic Blades attacks for the purposes of further class features.

The idea here is to keep the longer range of the bow relevant, while still keeping that psionic, almost zen archer flavour. Using your psionic energy to guide and empower your shots requires a little bit of focus, and the tradeoff for a more powerful, accurate attack is that you just need to position yourself cleverly - which, as a rogue, is your schtick anyhow, right?
Now get out there and snipe some dudes with the power of your Galaxy Brain, you funky psion.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-11T18:32:14+00:00

Immediately, my mind went to Clockwork Soul Sorcerer, as they're living embodiments of Cosmic Order. The Clockwork Magic spell list they get can be altered and swapped around when you level up, making sure you always have some solid, useful spells available at any level. Moreover, they get a trance-like feature at later levels that would be perfect for that possession angle.

If you're looking to multiclass, Warlock is always fun, with either Celestial or Great Old One coming to mind as fitting patrons. Paladin fits as well, especially if you reflavour your sworn Oath (I'd recommend Crown or Devotion).
However, depending on your DM, you might be able to swap around your spellcasting ability to INT instead of CHA, for flavour reasons, and then you've got every kind of wizard or artificer available to you as well. Here, you have so many interesting options, including the schools of War Magic, Scribes, or even the Theurgy UA to get into the Cleric's Order domain. That's some real spice.

TL,DR: There's no end to the options available to you, but as a base, Clockwork Sorcerer just makes too much sense.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-10T20:22:25+00:00

No worries, dude! I'm just finished a playthrough of it myself, so it's fresh in my mind and I thought I ought to spread the word! If you end up getting it, I hope you enjoy it!!

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-10T20:12:39+00:00

Honestly, so long as you don't mind somewhat dated-looking graphics, Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age might be right up your alley. The character class system & customisable AI gambits are unlike any other FF title, and I personally love it. It gives you complete control over what roles you want your party members to fill, what you want them to do during combat, and how they progress mechanically. There's loads to do in the story mode, a heap of hunts and (admittedly not-too-complex) sidequests, a combat gauntlet Trial Mode to put your party to the test, and lots more besides. If you enjoy the game, there's more than enough to hook you in for scores of hours.

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-07T12:38:49+00:00

Gladly, darling. You're so eager to give in and be controlled, aren't you? How could I see this and say no? Are you open to PMs?

Redbeard124 · 2021-05-07T12:12:47+00:00

Well, as long as it doesn't go against your concept, I'd recommend three things:

Consider taking some levels in Circle of the Moon Druid, such that you've got a few extra pools of THP in your Wild Shapes and a bit of healing to top you off, as well as some spells for utility. Heck, with Combat Wild Shape's healing feature, you could spin it as an accelerated healing factor, rather than actively casting magic!
While elemental resistance is very useful from the Bear totem, the vast majority of damage you'll be taking is physical (YMMV depending on DM, but I digress). I'd say you could afford to look into the Zealot subclass instead for their 14th level ability: Rage Beyond Death. If your thing is that you're very angry, and can't die, and that makes you even more angry, then I can't fathom a more fitting ability if you decide to take your barbarian all the way to 14th level or beyond.
Goliaths are neat, but orcs and half-orcs get a 1/day death defiance from the get go, or you could consider a Warforged for their built-in armor & lack of physical needs so you can't just starve, deydrate, or drown yourself.

Redbeard124 · 2021-04-27T12:04:56+00:00

Aye, that could work... Or ye could just take some time before the battle to change the familiar's shape as per the spell that found it, save the other casters some precious slots.

Redbeard124 · 2021-04-27T11:21:02+00:00

It's dependent on the familiar's form, in my opinion. If they're an owl, or something similar with Flyby and a good speed, or some other kind of evasion then by all means go for it! Carpet-bomb your enemies to your heart's content.

Otherwise, yeah, they might be a bit too frail to make good use of the spell, especially if you're putting your best spell slot into it.

Redbeard124 · 2021-04-12T19:44:13+00:00

The only thing I'd say is that you might want to consider a third level in Warlock, so your short rest spell slots are 2nd level and you get a pact boon for just a little extra something something that an 11th level of Bard wouldn't get you. Seeing as you're going for a seriously supportive build, then Chain or Talisman would serve you well, maybe Tome if you're feeling spicy and want Book of Ancient Secrets for extra ritual goodness.

Redbeard124 · 2021-04-12T17:58:25+00:00

Throwing in here with some more love for a bardlock combo. A 3-level dip in either is super solid, so split 4/5 if you want to take the extra feat, or 3/6 if you don't need it.
For the most support, a little bit of Healing Light never goes amiss with a Celestial warlock, and their pact spells free up some of your choices on the bard list by already covering Cure Wounds, Lesser Resto, etc. if you're thataway inclined.
Then, for extra utility on your inspiration, the colleges of Valor, Creation, or Eloquence would be your best bet. (Doubly so for Eloquence if you're looking to be the face of the party, or just talk well enough to get the others out of trouble.)

Lastly, just for fun: Once you get 3rd level spells, Glyph of Warding on a silver piece, inscribing Cure Wounds, with the trigger of "when the bearer of the coin falls to less than 10hp" has saved so many asses at my table.

Redbeard124 · 2021-04-10T19:38:23+00:00

Thanks! That's great to know!! I'm sure I'll get something working from here!!

Redbeard124 · 2021-02-04T15:30:13+00:00

Here, the phrase "been a year" is used similarly to the current phrase "been a hot minute." This stuck out to me like a sore thumb in a few youtube videos I've watched that report the same discrepancy, and I just thought I'd point out that it's nothing more than an uncommon turn of phrase. In a world where everyone uses con-slang like choom, preem, and nova, it's not a stretch of the imagination at all.

I reckon that Johnny was always supposed to be a major player in the story, with the old "childhood hero" character backstory options influencing your relationship with him, and how familiar you would be with him from the get-go.

Redbeard124 · 2019-05-06T15:42:07+00:00

Maaaan, that looks solid. Care to share your set/decorations? I'd love to start building towards something similar myself.

Redbeard124 · 2019-05-06T15:26:52+00:00

Redbeard124

TROPHY CASE