So my group is getting ready to start a campaign and I, as a forever DM of small one-shots, am going to get to play for the first time. I want to play a lightfoot halfling Swashbuckler/College of Swords(keeping like a 3/1 ratio in levels)with the entertainer background throughout the campaign to act as a support skirmisher in combat and the party face out of combat. After looking at stats and features using an app to simulate my level progression I am convinced this will be a really fun and effective character, except maybe for my AC. Even with studded leather armor and a DeX of 18, my highest AC is 17 at Level 20. This just seems kind of low for an acrobatic, agile rogue. My only reference really of what to expect from a level 20 character is the one-shot battle royale CR did at the end of the campaign 1, and almost all of the characters had ACs of 20+.
So my question boils down to: Am I expecting too much AC for the build? I know I have to consider the fact that we will more than likely be awarded magic items that may boost this stat, but it just seems like at later levels my idea of in and out of the fray character isn't going to work because I'm going to get hit often.
Plate Mail is 18 AC, so you are only one lower at max Dex, and you are going to get your best armor way earlier than them. You do lack Shields, which might make your AC feel low. Most of the AC from that level 20 one-shot probably came from magic items which shred bounded accuracy, especially when it comes to AC.
As a rogue, a significant portion of your survival comes from Uncanny Dodge and Evasion, which greatly reduce damage you take, and your AC is passable enough to make sure Uncanny Dodge is actually able to reduce a meaningful amount of the damage that actually hits you.
Rogues are really hard to kill, especially at very high levels. You have great defensive features, and are probably going to be completely untargetable due to hiding about half the time.
Yeah, your max AC with Dex 20 is 17 base, with normal stealth. Someone in plate is 18/disadvantage. Shields take those two values to 19 and 20, and the Defense fighting style takes that to 21. Without magic items, racials, etc, higher than 21 normally takes specific class (artificer) or subclass (bladesinger) abilities. Your primary source of supplemental durability is Uncanny Dodge, which amounts to resistance that stacks with real resistance against 1 attack per round. And don't forget you're a lightfoot halfling - you can and should hide behind friends and foes from other foes.
And don't forget you're a lightfoot halfling - you can and should hide behind friends and foes from other foes.
My buddy who is also playing is going to be playing a variant human Ancestral Guardian/Fighter, so this was always the strategy. Thank you for your feedback. I'm probably overthinking it due to anticipation. First time really getting to play I just don't want my character to die early on.
And don't forget you're a lightfoot halfling - you can and should hide behind friends and foes from other foes.
My buddy who is also playing is going to be playing a variant human Ancestral Guardian/Fighter, so this was always the strategy. Thank you for your feedback. I'm probably overthinking it due to anticipation. First time really getting to play I just don't want my character to die early on.
As a rogue, a significant portion of your survival comes from Uncanny Dodge and Evasion, which greatly reduce damage you take, and your AC is passable enough to make sure Uncanny Dodge is actually able to reduce a meaningful amount of the damage that actually hits you.
Rogues are really hard to kill, especially at very high levels. You have great defensive features, and are probably going to be completely untargetable due to hiding about half the time.
Thank you for your feedback. Regarding this, I intend to multiclass fairly early and to be honest I was going to start with Bard for story reasons and immediately go Rogue. On that note, may I ask, if hypothetically this campaign takes us to Level 20 and my character doesn't die, how would you do the level progression as far as going between the two classes? My end goal is to have 13 Swashbuckler/7 College of Swords(mostly to get a 4th level spell).
And don't forget you're a lightfoot halfling - you can and should hide behind friends and foes from other foes.
My buddy who is also playing is going to be playing a variant human Ancestral Guardian/Fighter, so this was always the strategy. Thank you for your feedback. I'm probably overthinking it due to anticipation. First time really getting to play I just don't want my character to die early on.
Ah, brilliant. If his Fighter subclass is Battlemaster, you're going to have a hell of a combo when he uses Commander's Strike on you.
With my swashbuckler I got the cloak of displacement having disadvantage on all attacks rolls against you was a god send, makes that slightly lower AC a bit easier.
With my swashbuckler I got the cloak of displacement having disadvantage on all attacks rolls against you was a god send, makes that slightly lower AC a bit easier.
Yeah I'm hoping the DM rewards us with some cool stuff. I just found out that another possible player is going to be a fighter so paired with the Ancestral Guardian Barbarian I should have teammates to tank and provide cover lol.
Realistically your AC should not be a problem. As a rogue/ bard you are not a frontline fighter. Magic will help and that cloak of displacement forcing foes to attack at disadvantage would be huge. One thing you might think about is making a deal with your mage. Get them to caste mage armour on you at the start of each episode and go armorless otherwise. The best light armor gets you is 12+Dex while mage armor is 13+Dex. You may have to wait till they are above L1 or 2 but it’s a definite improvement if the mage is willing.
So my group is getting ready to start a campaign and I, as a forever DM of small one-shots, am going to get to play for the first time. I want to play a lightfoot halfling Swashbuckler/College of Swords(keeping like a 3/1 ratio in levels)with the entertainer background throughout the campaign to act as a support skirmisher in combat and the party face out of combat. After looking at stats and features using an app to simulate my level progression I am convinced this will be a really fun and effective character, except maybe for my AC. Even with studded leather armor and a DeX of 18, my highest AC is 17 at Level 20. This just seems kind of low for an acrobatic, agile rogue. My only reference really of what to expect from a level 20 character is the one-shot battle royale CR did at the end of the campaign 1, and almost all of the characters had ACs of 20+.
So my question boils down to: Am I expecting too much AC for the build? I know I have to consider the fact that we will more than likely be awarded magic items that may boost this stat, but it just seems like at later levels my idea of in and out of the fray character isn't going to work because I'm going to get hit often.
Plate Mail is 18 AC, so you are only one lower at max Dex, and you are going to get your best armor way earlier than them. You do lack Shields, which might make your AC feel low. Most of the AC from that level 20 one-shot probably came from magic items which shred bounded accuracy, especially when it comes to AC.
As a rogue, a significant portion of your survival comes from Uncanny Dodge and Evasion, which greatly reduce damage you take, and your AC is passable enough to make sure Uncanny Dodge is actually able to reduce a meaningful amount of the damage that actually hits you.
Rogues are really hard to kill, especially at very high levels. You have great defensive features, and are probably going to be completely untargetable due to hiding about half the time.
Yeah, your max AC with Dex 20 is 17 base, with normal stealth. Someone in plate is 18/disadvantage. Shields take those two values to 19 and 20, and the Defense fighting style takes that to 21. Without magic items, racials, etc, higher than 21 normally takes specific class (artificer) or subclass (bladesinger) abilities. Your primary source of supplemental durability is Uncanny Dodge, which amounts to resistance that stacks with real resistance against 1 attack per round. And don't forget you're a lightfoot halfling - you can and should hide behind friends and foes from other foes.
My buddy who is also playing is going to be playing a variant human Ancestral Guardian/Fighter, so this was always the strategy. Thank you for your feedback. I'm probably overthinking it due to anticipation. First time really getting to play I just don't want my character to die early on.
Thank you for your feedback. Regarding this, I intend to multiclass fairly early and to be honest I was going to start with Bard for story reasons and immediately go Rogue. On that note, may I ask, if hypothetically this campaign takes us to Level 20 and my character doesn't die, how would you do the level progression as far as going between the two classes? My end goal is to have 13 Swashbuckler/7 College of Swords(mostly to get a 4th level spell).
Ah, brilliant. If his Fighter subclass is Battlemaster, you're going to have a hell of a combo when he uses Commander's Strike on you.
With my swashbuckler I got the cloak of displacement having disadvantage on all attacks rolls against you was a god send, makes that slightly lower AC a bit easier.
Yeah I'm hoping the DM rewards us with some cool stuff. I just found out that another possible player is going to be a fighter so paired with the Ancestral Guardian Barbarian I should have teammates to tank and provide cover lol.
Realistically your AC should not be a problem. As a rogue/ bard you are not a frontline fighter. Magic will help and that cloak of displacement forcing foes to attack at disadvantage would be huge. One thing you might think about is making a deal with your mage. Get them to caste mage armour on you at the start of each episode and go armorless otherwise. The best light armor gets you is 12+Dex while mage armor is 13+Dex. You may have to wait till they are above L1 or 2 but it’s a definite improvement if the mage is willing.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.