In ToA I died, it wasn’t great, but I’ve finally settled on a concept to make my next character. A boxing preacher. My hope is to make a character who can take lots of hits but still deal decent damage, but by punching things instead of using great axes and such. My DM home brewed brass knuckles that deal 1d6+strength so I’m not too underpowered just using fists. Any help would be apreciated.
I had thought about the monk, but I didn't like it thematically, and there is already a monk in our group. I got the idea from real boxing preacher Willian Thompson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thompson_(boxer). I'm sadly not allowed to go fighter, because my group says I've played it too much, multiclassing into it is fine though. For cleric, I can multiclass into it but not start as it as there is another cleric in the party. I thought that barbarian could work because of the many hit points and zealot archetype that is religious in nature. There is also a bard in our party but that doesn't really make much of a difference. But I'm mostly planning on going barbarian zealot so I would really appreciate recommendations for feats, races, stat arrangements and play styles.
Keep in mind mechanic and flavor are not the same thing.
You can play a "monk" character without playing a Jackie Chan/Shaolin Monk.
If you want to do unarmed/unarmored combat nothing is better than a Monk. You'll have good Dex/Wisdom so Cleric isn't a bad choice for a multiclass at all.
You also don't have to Multiclass. Being a Preacher doesn't mean you have to take levels in Cleric or Paladin. Start as Human, put your points in Dex/Wisdom. For your VHuman feat take Magic Initiate Cleric, with I'd recommend Healing Word. You could go straight Monk from there, or multiclass. Monk benefit from max out dex ASAP. If your party has enough front line people, I do recommend Mobility as a feat. It turns you into a monster as you can jump in and jump out.
As a warning the Zeolot's 3rd level ability for free raise dead, will *not* work in ToA due to the Soul Monger. Your soul will be eaten already. So you lose that ability.
I have some questions, first what level will this character be? What if any book restrictions, and how are stats figured out.
I like the Zealot subclass a lot if you have someone to cast raise dead, but still good either way. I would look into taking 2 levels of paladin for divine smite. that fits thematically with your idea. One problem is paladins don't get two weapon fighting but your DM might allow it as it's not hugely game breaking, and he/she seems to be willing to work with you. Second problem, it's a bit MAD in that you want str, con, cha, dex up to 14. you can wear medium armor to help with it but still not great.
or go only barbarian and take the two weapon feat.
We will start at 1st level, there are no book restrictions and stats can be rolled or use pointbuy (although if your ability score modifiers equal +7 that seems to be acceptable for him, so really any stats as long as they add up to +7 seems okay)
Ok I would go with and Earth Genasi as race. using the standard array in this order 15,14,12,8,10,13; giving you 16 str, 14 dex, 14 con, 8 int, 10 wis, 13 cha allowing multi-class into paladin.
As for background i would go for gladiator, it fits what william thompson was as a boxer. you don't have access to religion that way but i don't think you need it.
Barbarian first level up to 5th level as you don't want to fall behind on extra attacks, then multi-class into paladin for 2 levels. I wouldn't worry about your spell slots as spells and use them as divine smite charges to add 2d8 twice per long rest, or healing in a pinch.
With your unarmored defense you are at 14 which isn't great, but nothing is stopping you from wearing medium armor. also taking the Dual wielder feat would get you 1 more, or using a shield to get 2 more. And don't forget about resistance to B/S/P damage while raging.
partially the stat increases, but also because no difficult terrain makes sense for a boxer that liked to move around a lot. I would have went goliath but the wiki page mentioned he was shorter. Personally i like dragonborns better as their breath weapon gives you a ranged weapon that you don't have to carry for barbarians, although it didn't seem to fit as much as an earth gensai. Who could look very human, and i liked the idea that he is tough as stone. All my comments are suggestions i would hope you add in your own flair, as that is what makes dnd so much fun.
In ToA I died, it wasn’t great, but I’ve finally settled on a concept to make my next character. A boxing preacher. My hope is to make a character who can take lots of hits but still deal decent damage, but by punching things instead of using great axes and such. My DM home brewed brass knuckles that deal 1d6+strength so I’m not too underpowered just using fists. Any help would be apreciated.
Lemb1,
Isn't that a Monk?
I mean, I was thinking Cleric + (Unarmed) Fighter for a Boxing Preacher, so... Monk. Maybe a Western or Irish flavor is the difference?
Can you talk a little more about what you're planning?
I had thought about the monk, but I didn't like it thematically, and there is already a monk in our group. I got the idea from real boxing preacher Willian Thompson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thompson_(boxer). I'm sadly not allowed to go fighter, because my group says I've played it too much, multiclassing into it is fine though. For cleric, I can multiclass into it but not start as it as there is another cleric in the party. I thought that barbarian could work because of the many hit points and zealot archetype that is religious in nature. There is also a bard in our party but that doesn't really make much of a difference. But I'm mostly planning on going barbarian zealot so I would really appreciate recommendations for feats, races, stat arrangements and play styles.
Keep in mind mechanic and flavor are not the same thing.
You can play a "monk" character without playing a Jackie Chan/Shaolin Monk.
If you want to do unarmed/unarmored combat nothing is better than a Monk. You'll have good Dex/Wisdom so Cleric isn't a bad choice for a multiclass at all.
You also don't have to Multiclass. Being a Preacher doesn't mean you have to take levels in Cleric or Paladin.
Start as Human, put your points in Dex/Wisdom. For your VHuman feat take Magic Initiate Cleric, with I'd recommend Healing Word. You could go straight Monk from there, or multiclass.
Monk benefit from max out dex ASAP. If your party has enough front line people, I do recommend Mobility as a feat. It turns you into a monster as you can jump in and jump out.
As a warning the Zeolot's 3rd level ability for free raise dead, will *not* work in ToA due to the Soul Monger. Your soul will be eaten already. So you lose that ability.
I have some questions, first what level will this character be? What if any book restrictions, and how are stats figured out.
I like the Zealot subclass a lot if you have someone to cast raise dead, but still good either way. I would look into taking 2 levels of paladin for divine smite. that fits thematically with your idea. One problem is paladins don't get two weapon fighting but your DM might allow it as it's not hugely game breaking, and he/she seems to be willing to work with you. Second problem, it's a bit MAD in that you want str, con, cha, dex up to 14. you can wear medium armor to help with it but still not great.
or go only barbarian and take the two weapon feat.
We will start at 1st level, there are no book restrictions and stats can be rolled or use pointbuy (although if your ability score modifiers equal +7 that seems to be acceptable for him, so really any stats as long as they add up to +7 seems okay)
Ok I would go with and Earth Genasi as race. using the standard array in this order 15,14,12,8,10,13; giving you 16 str, 14 dex, 14 con, 8 int, 10 wis, 13 cha allowing multi-class into paladin.
As for background i would go for gladiator, it fits what william thompson was as a boxer. you don't have access to religion that way but i don't think you need it.
Barbarian first level up to 5th level as you don't want to fall behind on extra attacks, then multi-class into paladin for 2 levels. I wouldn't worry about your spell slots as spells and use them as divine smite charges to add 2d8 twice per long rest, or healing in a pinch.
With your unarmored defense you are at 14 which isn't great, but nothing is stopping you from wearing medium armor. also taking the Dual wielder feat would get you 1 more, or using a shield to get 2 more. And don't forget about resistance to B/S/P damage while raging.
Thanks this seems great, but why earth genasi?
partially the stat increases, but also because no difficult terrain makes sense for a boxer that liked to move around a lot. I would have went goliath but the wiki page mentioned he was shorter. Personally i like dragonborns better as their breath weapon gives you a ranged weapon that you don't have to carry for barbarians, although it didn't seem to fit as much as an earth gensai. Who could look very human, and i liked the idea that he is tough as stone. All my comments are suggestions i would hope you add in your own flair, as that is what makes dnd so much fun.
Thanks, I see what you mean about the earth genasi now. Thanks for all your suggestions, it was really helpful