Like the title suggests, building a Barbarian character for a one shot (with the potential to be a backup character for a long term campaign). I am looking for recommendations and comments for my 4th and 8th level AIS/Feat selections.
It will be a time sensitive dungeon crawl; projection is 4 sessions and my guess is one long rest at most. The campaign is a party of the 3 with a 4th TBD; but two of the current characters do not fill the frontline fighter or scout. With that said, I am gonna try a Bugbear Barbarian build to try an help with the role of scouting ahead but being able to handle confrontation while waiting for the rest of the party to catch up. No commitment on magical items; but we may get to request a couple of Uncommon/Common/Rare items (I will list my high probability for approved magic item options at the end).
My plan is to go with a Path of the Zealot Barbarian build. It is point buy and I can use the +1/+1/+1 ability score improvement. So I am going with:
STR 16 (15+1); DEX 14 (13+1); CON 16 (15+1); INT 8; WIS 12; CHA 8 Proficiency in: Athletics, Perception, Slight of Hand, Stealth, Survival Weapons: Battleaxe, Handaxe (x3), Javelin (x3), Warhammer Armor: Shield
At 4th level I am doing the ASI to improve to a STR 18
Now at level 8 I am debating. Do I go with another ASI in STR 20 or do I do Resilient (WIS).
I do not challenge the arguments to max out my main ability score and DPR. Still, I feel like I can get a magic item at some point to help with that. My fear is that failing WIS saves can take me out of the combat for long periods or completely. My theory is that it doesn't matter how often I can hit if I am prevented from attempting to hit; am I overthinking this concern? I am open for other suggestions, but feel like the best thing I can do now is either max out DPR or increase my success potential against WIS saves. If it helps, the dungeon implies undead or cultist who worship a necromancer/lich/demigod archetype so that is why I think I will have to face some WIS saving throws.
I appreciate any advice. Thank you in advance.
Oh...the Magic Items I will ask for (non-priority order): Amulet of Health; Belt of Giant Strength (which will make me rethink my ASI or remove my request for this item); Boots of Speed; Bracers of Defense (will drop shield & battleaxe and take a Greataxe); Cloak of Displacement; Cloak/Ring of Protection; Weapon +1. No guarantee magic items is available.
With your general concept, I would suggest a couple of tweaks.
First, instead of the +1/+1/+1 ASI at start, take the +2/+1 option to set your stats to look like this :STR 17 (15+2); DEX14; CON 16 (15+1); INT8; WIS 10; CHA 8
This will allow you to take a feat at level 4 that increases your strength, bring it to a total of 18 (with your weapon choices, I would suggest either Shield Master for a Bonus Action Shove or Charger for extra damage when you move 10' towards enemy in a straight line before attacking). You can then max your strength at level 8, which I would say is the better option versus Resilient: Wisdom. Don't forget that Zealots get the Fanatical Focus feature at level 6, which lets you reroll a failed saving throw with a bonus equal to your rage damage mod once per rage, so your saves should be fine. Also, they can't debuff you if they are already dead.
Since you want to be a psuedo-scout, starting at level 3 you can use your Primal Knowledge ability to use your Strength Mod for Perception checks. Very handy.
All told, you should be a decent forward scout with serious frontline capabilities. You will see the danger early, hit hard in combat, and be hard to knock down.
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Like the title suggests, building a Barbarian character for a one shot (with the potential to be a backup character for a long term campaign). I am looking for recommendations and comments for my 4th and 8th level AIS/Feat selections.
It will be a time sensitive dungeon crawl; projection is 4 sessions and my guess is one long rest at most. The campaign is a party of the 3 with a 4th TBD; but two of the current characters do not fill the frontline fighter or scout. With that said, I am gonna try a Bugbear Barbarian build to try an help with the role of scouting ahead but being able to handle confrontation while waiting for the rest of the party to catch up. No commitment on magical items; but we may get to request a couple of Uncommon/Common/Rare items (I will list my high probability for approved magic item options at the end).
My plan is to go with a Path of the Zealot Barbarian build. It is point buy and I can use the +1/+1/+1 ability score improvement. So I am going with:
STR 16 (15+1); DEX 14 (13+1); CON 16 (15+1); INT 8; WIS 12; CHA 8
Proficiency in: Athletics, Perception, Slight of Hand, Stealth, Survival
Weapons: Battleaxe, Handaxe (x3), Javelin (x3), Warhammer
Armor: Shield
At 4th level I am doing the ASI to improve to a STR 18
Now at level 8 I am debating. Do I go with another ASI in STR 20 or do I do Resilient (WIS).
I do not challenge the arguments to max out my main ability score and DPR. Still, I feel like I can get a magic item at some point to help with that. My fear is that failing WIS saves can take me out of the combat for long periods or completely. My theory is that it doesn't matter how often I can hit if I am prevented from attempting to hit; am I overthinking this concern? I am open for other suggestions, but feel like the best thing I can do now is either max out DPR or increase my success potential against WIS saves. If it helps, the dungeon implies undead or cultist who worship a necromancer/lich/demigod archetype so that is why I think I will have to face some WIS saving throws.
I appreciate any advice. Thank you in advance.
Oh...the Magic Items I will ask for (non-priority order): Amulet of Health; Belt of Giant Strength (which will make me rethink my ASI or remove my request for this item); Boots of Speed; Bracers of Defense (will drop shield & battleaxe and take a Greataxe); Cloak of Displacement; Cloak/Ring of Protection; Weapon +1. No guarantee magic items is available.
With your general concept, I would suggest a couple of tweaks.
First, instead of the +1/+1/+1 ASI at start, take the +2/+1 option to set your stats to look like this :STR 17 (15+2); DEX14; CON 16 (15+1); INT8; WIS 10; CHA 8
This will allow you to take a feat at level 4 that increases your strength, bring it to a total of 18 (with your weapon choices, I would suggest either Shield Master for a Bonus Action Shove or Charger for extra damage when you move 10' towards enemy in a straight line before attacking). You can then max your strength at level 8, which I would say is the better option versus Resilient: Wisdom. Don't forget that Zealots get the Fanatical Focus feature at level 6, which lets you reroll a failed saving throw with a bonus equal to your rage damage mod once per rage, so your saves should be fine. Also, they can't debuff you if they are already dead.
Since you want to be a psuedo-scout, starting at level 3 you can use your Primal Knowledge ability to use your Strength Mod for Perception checks. Very handy.
All told, you should be a decent forward scout with serious frontline capabilities. You will see the danger early, hit hard in combat, and be hard to knock down.