I am essentially new to D&D 5e (I've played 41 hours of BG3 and played D&D a couple of times a couple of decades ago so I have a little knowledge and have tried to research and learn as much as I can before we start our campaign) and some friends and I are playing the Curse of Strahd campaign. I'm not looking for any spoilers, though I already know that we will be facing the undead and a vampire(s). The cover art is pretty self explanatory, but that's all I know about the campaign.
I have created a level 1 Human Fighter with the following attributes using Point Buy: Str: 16, Dex: 12, Con: 16, Int: 9, WIS: 14, and CHA: 10.
My core fighter traits are Intimidation and Perception and I have chosen Dueling as my fighting style, because I want to "Sword and Board." My weapon masteries are long sword, javelin, and Warhammer. My starting AC will be 18 with Chain Mail and a Shield.
I went with a Custom 2024 Background, choosing Athletics and Acrobatics as my skill proficiencies and then chose Magic Initiate (Wizard) with Wisdom as my spell casting ability for the feat's spells and I chose Booming Blade and Chill Touch as my Cantrips, and Shield for a 1st level spell.
I am thinking about subclasses and multi-classing, which is where I think I need the most input. I am not sure if I want to go Eldritch Knight at Level 3 or Battlemaster. I am leaning towards going with Battlemaster, since I am essentially an Apprentice Eldritch Knight from the start (since I have 2 Cantrips and a Spell) and then building off of that and then multi-classing with a Cleric or Paladin after level 8. I could also multi-class an Eldritch Knight with a Cleric after level 8.
What are your thoughts on this? If it was your build, how would you build it and optimize.
I've already played through Curse of Strahd so I'm hesitant to say too much here. In a vacuum, there's nothing wrong with your build. If you're using the 2024 rules, you might want to have a cantrip that can deal damage from a distance in case you run out of javelins or piercing damage isn't ideal (Chill Touch has 120 ft range under the 2014 rules, but Touch range in 2024.) You may also want to consider the Light, since you'll need a light source in dark places, or Blade Ward for defense. These are just suggestions though, you could definitely do just fine as is. Many Fighter builds have 0 spells at all.
Eldritch Knight and Battle Master are both great subclasses; I'd pick whichever you find more appealing.
If you're looking into multiclassing with another spellcasting class, the rules are unfortunately a bit unkind to Eldritch Knights. The way spell slots are calculated when you have more than 1 spellcasting class causes you to count as 1 level lower whenever your Eldritch Knight level isn't divisible by 3. For example, if you get to Eldritch Knight level 5 for Extra Attack and then take 1 level in Cleric, you won't gain any spell slots, even though every Cleric level should increase your caster level by 1. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's something to be aware of.
I was thinking about Firebolt or Green Flame Blade as alternate cantrips to Chill Touch. I thought Chill Touch might help with the undead. Blade Ward was initially my second cantrip along with Booming Blade, but some YouTube videos were a bit against it, since you have to use an action. Thanks for your input!
The 2014 version of Blade Ward was awful because it only lasted for 1 round; you might as well just take the Dodge action. The 2024 version lasts a whole minute (assuming you don't lose concentration), so while it does cost you your first action, it can still be very useful. Since you were planning on using a sword and shield and also the Shield spell, I think it can be a good fit for you.
Chill Touch can definitely help against some undead since it prevents HP recovery, but many of them are resistant to necrotic damage, and you'd have to get close. (Granted, not everything you'll be fighting will be undead, so the necrotic damage isn't always a downside. It can be very reliable against other creature types.) If that was your motivation, you could also take a look at the 2024 version of True Strike, which lets you deal radiant damage with a weapon attack (and it doesn't have to be a melee attack, so you could throw a javelin.)
You've sold me on Blade Ward and True Strike. I switched from Human to High Half Elf to gain a third cantrip, because I really want Booming Blade. Now I have Booming Blade, True Strike, and Blade Ward as Cantrips, with Shield as my level 1 spell.
With this level 1 Fighter, I am probably more likely to go with Battlemaster at level 3.
Hello, this is my first post.
I am essentially new to D&D 5e (I've played 41 hours of BG3 and played D&D a couple of times a couple of decades ago so I have a little knowledge and have tried to research and learn as much as I can before we start our campaign) and some friends and I are playing the Curse of Strahd campaign. I'm not looking for any spoilers, though I already know that we will be facing the undead and a vampire(s). The cover art is pretty self explanatory, but that's all I know about the campaign.
I have created a level 1 Human Fighter with the following attributes using Point Buy: Str: 16, Dex: 12, Con: 16, Int: 9, WIS: 14, and CHA: 10.
My core fighter traits are Intimidation and Perception and I have chosen Dueling as my fighting style, because I want to "Sword and Board." My weapon masteries are long sword, javelin, and Warhammer. My starting AC will be 18 with Chain Mail and a Shield.
I went with a Custom 2024 Background, choosing Athletics and Acrobatics as my skill proficiencies and then chose Magic Initiate (Wizard) with Wisdom as my spell casting ability for the feat's spells and I chose Booming Blade and Chill Touch as my Cantrips, and Shield for a 1st level spell.
I am thinking about subclasses and multi-classing, which is where I think I need the most input. I am not sure if I want to go Eldritch Knight at Level 3 or Battlemaster. I am leaning towards going with Battlemaster, since I am essentially an Apprentice Eldritch Knight from the start (since I have 2 Cantrips and a Spell) and then building off of that and then multi-classing with a Cleric or Paladin after level 8. I could also multi-class an Eldritch Knight with a Cleric after level 8.
What are your thoughts on this? If it was your build, how would you build it and optimize.
Thanks in advance!
I've already played through Curse of Strahd so I'm hesitant to say too much here. In a vacuum, there's nothing wrong with your build. If you're using the 2024 rules, you might want to have a cantrip that can deal damage from a distance in case you run out of javelins or piercing damage isn't ideal (Chill Touch has 120 ft range under the 2014 rules, but Touch range in 2024.) You may also want to consider the Light, since you'll need a light source in dark places, or Blade Ward for defense. These are just suggestions though, you could definitely do just fine as is. Many Fighter builds have 0 spells at all.
Eldritch Knight and Battle Master are both great subclasses; I'd pick whichever you find more appealing.
If you're looking into multiclassing with another spellcasting class, the rules are unfortunately a bit unkind to Eldritch Knights. The way spell slots are calculated when you have more than 1 spellcasting class causes you to count as 1 level lower whenever your Eldritch Knight level isn't divisible by 3. For example, if you get to Eldritch Knight level 5 for Extra Attack and then take 1 level in Cleric, you won't gain any spell slots, even though every Cleric level should increase your caster level by 1. This isn't necessarily a dealbreaker, but it's something to be aware of.
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I was thinking about Firebolt or Green Flame Blade as alternate cantrips to Chill Touch. I thought Chill Touch might help with the undead. Blade Ward was initially my second cantrip along with Booming Blade, but some YouTube videos were a bit against it, since you have to use an action. Thanks for your input!
The 2014 version of Blade Ward was awful because it only lasted for 1 round; you might as well just take the Dodge action. The 2024 version lasts a whole minute (assuming you don't lose concentration), so while it does cost you your first action, it can still be very useful. Since you were planning on using a sword and shield and also the Shield spell, I think it can be a good fit for you.
Chill Touch can definitely help against some undead since it prevents HP recovery, but many of them are resistant to necrotic damage, and you'd have to get close. (Granted, not everything you'll be fighting will be undead, so the necrotic damage isn't always a downside. It can be very reliable against other creature types.) If that was your motivation, you could also take a look at the 2024 version of True Strike, which lets you deal radiant damage with a weapon attack (and it doesn't have to be a melee attack, so you could throw a javelin.)
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You've sold me on Blade Ward and True Strike. I switched from Human to High Half Elf to gain a third cantrip, because I really want Booming Blade. Now I have Booming Blade, True Strike, and Blade Ward as Cantrips, with Shield as my level 1 spell.
With this level 1 Fighter, I am probably more likely to go with Battlemaster at level 3.
I greatly appreciate your advice!
No problem. Have fun with Curse of Strahd! It's one of my favorite 5th edition adventures.
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