Just wanted some thoughts on a multiclass Rune Knight(Fighter UA)/Battlesmith tank.
Kalashtar for RP/campaign reasons, I know it doesn't give anything great for this combo. Going frontline, so standard array went 10/14/13/15/10/13 (+2 Wis and +1 Cha from race). Also get a free feat at creation from the DM, so, again going tanky, choosing Sentinel.
So, y'alls thoughts? My first thought is this :First 3 in Battlesmith, get half plate and a shield, gives me 20 AC with my +2 Dex and a defense infusion, and I can share tanking with my Steel Defender :Level 4 Artificer for the ASI, split it Con and Int to turn them both even, or take an Int boosting feat like Observant :Then go whole hog on Rune Knight until Fighter 4, 6, or 7 (character 8, 10, or 11)
That's my first thoughts, but what do y'all think? Shield too much defense, so go polearm for the tried and true combo Sentinel/PAM at level 4? If I keep the shield, regular 1 hander? Go for the whip for one-hander reach with sentinel so I can still stop the mob across the steel defender? Hand crossbow with repeating shot? How would y'all take the ASIs?
My issue with this combo is just the PLETHORA of options available, especially once the runes and the Large size start getting involved, so I'm foreseeing some choice paralysis, hehehe. I also recognize the empty level somewhere for choosing two classes that get multiattack. Thus the opening up to the forum.
I think its a pretty solid tank build. I personally like the Repeating Shot Hand crossbow but it wouldn't be able to take advantage of one of Sentinel's effects. Maybe Focus on Dex, Con, and Int. For frontline tank, I personally would invest in Medium Armor Master/Sentinel/Polearm Master combo (character level 11) to get +3 Dex for AC, and also have a Spear since it can count for Polearm Master and is one handed, allowing the shield. Backline tank, I would do hand crossbow with Repeating shot, and the Crossbow Expert/Sentinel/Sharpshooter feats. Overall I agree with the fact that there are several options for adaptability. If enemies use lots of magic, maybe consider Mage Slayer feat.
Thanks for the spear suggestion. The interesting thing is, taken a step further, it can be enchanted with Returning Weapon and used both as melee and as ranged, which interestingly means I could throw the spear, then move into melee having triggered PAM and hit with the haft: the triggering attack is not explicitly required to be melee, just as a response to AN attack during the attack action.
So, as we leveled to 5, I hit another decision point. I could start into Fighter as soon as possible as I stated above, but I could also go one more into Artificer. This would give me Extra Attack AND 2nd level spells. This would include Enlarge/Reduce, which eventually combined with my Rune Knight ability, would allow me to become Huge, adding 1d6 AND 1d4 to my damage. However, as a tank, I don't need to do TOO much damage, and regardless, I already get a d8 force damage second attack if I need it with the Steel Defender (which competes with PAM, but I'm fine with letting it, because if I use PAM, that means my SD is still Dodging, yay utility). So Extra Attack may not need to be rushed toward. Not more than the fighter subclass and quicker ASIs, at any rate.
Thoughts?
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Hey all!
Just wanted some thoughts on a multiclass Rune Knight(Fighter UA)/Battlesmith tank.
Kalashtar for RP/campaign reasons, I know it doesn't give anything great for this combo. Going frontline, so standard array went 10/14/13/15/10/13 (+2 Wis and +1 Cha from race). Also get a free feat at creation from the DM, so, again going tanky, choosing Sentinel.
So, y'alls thoughts? My first thought is this
:First 3 in Battlesmith, get half plate and a shield, gives me 20 AC with my +2 Dex and a defense infusion, and I can share tanking with my Steel Defender
:Level 4 Artificer for the ASI, split it Con and Int to turn them both even, or take an Int boosting feat like Observant
:Then go whole hog on Rune Knight until Fighter 4, 6, or 7 (character 8, 10, or 11)
That's my first thoughts, but what do y'all think? Shield too much defense, so go polearm for the tried and true combo Sentinel/PAM at level 4? If I keep the shield, regular 1 hander? Go for the whip for one-hander reach with sentinel so I can still stop the mob across the steel defender? Hand crossbow with repeating shot? How would y'all take the ASIs?
My issue with this combo is just the PLETHORA of options available, especially once the runes and the Large size start getting involved, so I'm foreseeing some choice paralysis, hehehe. I also recognize the empty level somewhere for choosing two classes that get multiattack. Thus the opening up to the forum.
Wha'ch'all think?
I think its a pretty solid tank build. I personally like the Repeating Shot Hand crossbow but it wouldn't be able to take advantage of one of Sentinel's effects. Maybe Focus on Dex, Con, and Int. For frontline tank, I personally would invest in Medium Armor Master/Sentinel/Polearm Master combo (character level 11) to get +3 Dex for AC, and also have a Spear since it can count for Polearm Master and is one handed, allowing the shield. Backline tank, I would do hand crossbow with Repeating shot, and the Crossbow Expert/Sentinel/Sharpshooter feats. Overall I agree with the fact that there are several options for adaptability. If enemies use lots of magic, maybe consider Mage Slayer feat.
Thanks for the spear suggestion. The interesting thing is, taken a step further, it can be enchanted with Returning Weapon and used both as melee and as ranged, which interestingly means I could throw the spear, then move into melee having triggered PAM and hit with the haft: the triggering attack is not explicitly required to be melee, just as a response to AN attack during the attack action.
So, as we leveled to 5, I hit another decision point. I could start into Fighter as soon as possible as I stated above, but I could also go one more into Artificer. This would give me Extra Attack AND 2nd level spells. This would include Enlarge/Reduce, which eventually combined with my Rune Knight ability, would allow me to become Huge, adding 1d6 AND 1d4 to my damage. However, as a tank, I don't need to do TOO much damage, and regardless, I already get a d8 force damage second attack if I need it with the Steel Defender (which competes with PAM, but I'm fine with letting it, because if I use PAM, that means my SD is still Dodging, yay utility). So Extra Attack may not need to be rushed toward. Not more than the fighter subclass and quicker ASIs, at any rate.
Thoughts?