Hi there! I've been playing a Half-Orc Totem Barbarian for a while, now; he's level 11, plus 1 Warlock levelforced on us by the plot, which is irrelevant because our DM guaranteed that we'll be able to reach level 20 in our main class. I just can't decide what to do with the next ASI, and we're about to hit level 12 (+1, yeah, I know).
The road so far
We used the 4d6-drop-lowest system and I got reasonably lucky, so I started with STR 17+2, DEX 15, CON 17+1, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 10. I chose the Outlander background and I picked the Great Weapon Master feat at level 4, even though a greataxe-wielding Half-Orc Barbarian is a bit cliché, then I went for +1 STR (20) and +1 DEX (16) at level 8.
I like mobility so I went with Eagle as my Totem Spirit (lv. 3), and took Eagle again as my Aspect of the Beast (lv. 6) to add a bit of much-needed utility to my character. I picked some magic items along the way: an Agility Iounstone (+2 DEX) that bumped it to 18, a Belt of Dwarvenkind (+2 COS) that bumped it to 20, and a Ring of Protection (+1 AC, +1 saving throws) that's icing on that particular frothing cake.
A bit of context: my party also has a Wizard (Evoker), a Sorcerer (Draconic), a Fighter (Battlemaster) and a Ranger (Hunter, but dual-wielding). To add a bit of flavour besides Hulk smash, I'm starting to lean on the shamanic trope for my character, and the DM is graciously going along with it; one of skills now is Shamanism (WIS), along with the more curricular Athletics (STR), Perception (WIS), Survival (WIS) and Intimidation (CHA / STR).
Where to go next?
Now: at level 12 I could pick Resilient (DEX), to bump it to 19 (17 + 2 from the Ioun Stone) and round it up further down the road; 20 DEX would give more AC and initiative, and that's always nice to have.
Otherwise I could go for the Orcish Fury feat: +1 COS, a Reaction attack when Relentless Endurance (0 HP => 1 HP) procs, and on top of that a nice additional damage die once for short / long rest, that can get the Barbarian's huge crit bonus; I'd have to round that 19 COS up, and by doing that I could be able to drop the Belt of Dwarvenkind and free an attunement slot up. Bracers of Defense, am I right?
Or I could just slam a straight +2 COS as the level 12 ASI, to drop the Belt and free that attunement slot. Yeah, I aim to have a pure 20 COS score before level 20, to maximize the profit from the Barbarian's capstone, but I could as well get to 20 COS at level 19.
A Relisient (WIS) would be great, because WIS saves are usually what the Barbarian fails right before turning on the party, but I guess we can't have everything. All in all, I'd like to bump my WIS up for the shamanic shtick, but I'd be gimping myself on the Unarmored Defense front.
So, my main targets are: 20 DEX and 20 COS before hitting level 20, to have that sweet 10 + 5 DEX + 7 COS = 22 AC, that could be further increased by magic items. A solution to have it all could involve pestering the DM to let me find a Manual that would boost either DEX, COS or WIS, but I wouldn't be counting on that.
Thanks for reading so far, and for any bit of advice that you'll give me!
I was actually considering picking Resilient (WIS) exactly for that reason, then Resilient (DEX) at level 16 and +1 DEX +1 WIS at level 19.
I'd just keep the Belt of Dwarvenkind, not just because I like it, but mostly because meanwhile I discovered that our capstone should work on top of the bonus granted by the belt: 18 +2 from the belt +4 from the capstone.
Anyway, then I'd have to beg the DM to let me find a Manual of quickness of action to achieve the desired DEX 20, or just suck it up and have one less point in AC.
By the rules, you cannot take both Resilient (WIS) and Resilient (DEX). Unless a feat specifically says so like Elemental Adept, you cannot take the same feat twice. And unfortunately, Resilient (WIS) and Resilient (DEX) are considered the same feat.
You're right, I completely missed that part of Sage Advice. I could pick Resilient (WIS) now, Orcish Fury (+1 CON) at level 16 and +1 CON +1 WIS at level 19, dropping the Belt of Dwarvenkind, keeping the +2 DEX Ioun Stone and picking up a +2 DEX Manual along the way.
Barbarians already have advantage on most Dex saving throws so I think resilient Dex would be pretty unnecessary. I'd just focus on maxing your important stats unless one of them is odd. If one is odd then one of those feats that add 1 to that stat would be good.
I'd just focus on maxing your important stats unless one of them is odd. If one is odd then one of those feats that add 1 to that stat would be good.
I was thinking about taking Resilient (WIS), then a half feat (Orcish Fury) with +1 COS, and rounding both COS and WIS up at level 19. By then I'd have STR 20, DEX 16+2 (Ioun Stone), COS 20, INT 8, WIS 14 and CHA 10, with proficiency in STR, COS and WIS saving throws.
With a Ioun Stone (+2 DEX), a Ring of Protection (+1 to all saving throws) and some Bracers of Defense (+2 AC), and with the help of a Manual picked up along the way, I could still hit 20 DEX and have 23 AC, that would get to 25 at level 20 with Primal Champion.
Hi there! I've been playing a Half-Orc Totem Barbarian for a while, now; he's level 11, plus 1 Warlock level forced on us by the plot, which is irrelevant because our DM guaranteed that we'll be able to reach level 20 in our main class. I just can't decide what to do with the next ASI, and we're about to hit level 12 (+1, yeah, I know).
The road so far
We used the 4d6-drop-lowest system and I got reasonably lucky, so I started with STR 17+2, DEX 15, CON 17+1, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 10. I chose the Outlander background and I picked the Great Weapon Master feat at level 4, even though a greataxe-wielding Half-Orc Barbarian is a bit cliché, then I went for +1 STR (20) and +1 DEX (16) at level 8.
I like mobility so I went with Eagle as my Totem Spirit (lv. 3), and took Eagle again as my Aspect of the Beast (lv. 6) to add a bit of much-needed utility to my character. I picked some magic items along the way: an Agility Iounstone (+2 DEX) that bumped it to 18, a Belt of Dwarvenkind (+2 COS) that bumped it to 20, and a Ring of Protection (+1 AC, +1 saving throws) that's icing on that particular frothing cake.
A bit of context: my party also has a Wizard (Evoker), a Sorcerer (Draconic), a Fighter (Battlemaster) and a Ranger (Hunter, but dual-wielding). To add a bit of flavour besides Hulk smash, I'm starting to lean on the shamanic trope for my character, and the DM is graciously going along with it; one of skills now is Shamanism (WIS), along with the more curricular Athletics (STR), Perception (WIS), Survival (WIS) and Intimidation (CHA / STR).
Where to go next?
Now: at level 12 I could pick Resilient (DEX), to bump it to 19 (17 + 2 from the Ioun Stone) and round it up further down the road; 20 DEX would give more AC and initiative, and that's always nice to have.
Otherwise I could go for the Orcish Fury feat: +1 COS, a Reaction attack when Relentless Endurance (0 HP => 1 HP) procs, and on top of that a nice additional damage die once for short / long rest, that can get the Barbarian's huge crit bonus; I'd have to round that 19 COS up, and by doing that I could be able to drop the Belt of Dwarvenkind and free an attunement slot up. Bracers of Defense, am I right?
Or I could just slam a straight +2 COS as the level 12 ASI, to drop the Belt and free that attunement slot. Yeah, I aim to have a pure 20 COS score before level 20, to maximize the profit from the Barbarian's capstone, but I could as well get to 20 COS at level 19.
A Relisient (WIS) would be great, because WIS saves are usually what the Barbarian fails right before turning on the party, but I guess we can't have everything. All in all, I'd like to bump my WIS up for the shamanic shtick, but I'd be gimping myself on the Unarmored Defense front.
So, my main targets are: 20 DEX and 20 COS before hitting level 20, to have that sweet 10 + 5 DEX + 7 COS = 22 AC, that could be further increased by magic items. A solution to have it all could involve pestering the DM to let me find a Manual that would boost either DEX, COS or WIS, but I wouldn't be counting on that.
Thanks for reading so far, and for any bit of advice that you'll give me!
Since you want 20 DEX & CON,
Level 12: +2 CON and drop an attunement.
Level 16: +2 DEX.
Level 19: +2 DEX and drop an attunement.
Convince the wizard and/or sorcerer to always have Dispel Magic prepared to cast on you. And figure out a way to mitigate being frightened!
Thanks, Jesse!
I was actually considering picking Resilient (WIS) exactly for that reason, then Resilient (DEX) at level 16 and +1 DEX +1 WIS at level 19.
I'd just keep the Belt of Dwarvenkind, not just because I like it, but mostly because meanwhile I discovered that our capstone should work on top of the bonus granted by the belt: 18 +2 from the belt +4 from the capstone.
Anyway, then I'd have to beg the DM to let me find a Manual of quickness of action to achieve the desired DEX 20, or just suck it up and have one less point in AC.
By the rules, you cannot take both Resilient (WIS) and Resilient (DEX). Unless a feat specifically says so like Elemental Adept, you cannot take the same feat twice. And unfortunately, Resilient (WIS) and Resilient (DEX) are considered the same feat.
But if your DM will allow it, go for it!
You're right, I completely missed that part of Sage Advice.
I could pick Resilient (WIS) now, Orcish Fury (+1 CON) at level 16 and +1 CON +1 WIS at level 19, dropping the Belt of Dwarvenkind, keeping the +2 DEX Ioun Stone and picking up a +2 DEX Manual along the way.
It's the same, I guess.
Barbarians already have advantage on most Dex saving throws so I think resilient Dex would be pretty unnecessary. I'd just focus on maxing your important stats unless one of them is odd. If one is odd then one of those feats that add 1 to that stat would be good.
Yup, I see how it could be redundant.
I was thinking about taking Resilient (WIS), then a half feat (Orcish Fury) with +1 COS, and rounding both COS and WIS up at level 19. By then I'd have STR 20, DEX 16+2 (Ioun Stone), COS 20, INT 8, WIS 14 and CHA 10, with proficiency in STR, COS and WIS saving throws.
With a Ioun Stone (+2 DEX), a Ring of Protection (+1 to all saving throws) and some Bracers of Defense (+2 AC), and with the help of a Manual picked up along the way, I could still hit 20 DEX and have 23 AC, that would get to 25 at level 20 with Primal Champion.
Yeah, that could work.