I only dipped into 3 levels of Warlock and went Rogue the rest of the way. I initially wanted to go Assassin, but instead chose to homebrew my own Rogue archetype. It's called Shadow Stalker. So far it has been pretty fun to play.
I'm only in my second level into a Swashbuckler dip, from level 5 Hexblade... checking to see if I have this right... Once I get to Hex 5/Rogue 3 I should be able to:
Move 30 ft. / Attack (+ Sneak Attack?) / Cunning action Dash / Thirsting Blade Second Attack another target (+ Sneak Attack?) / Bonus action Thunder Step...
And take no opportunity attacks because of Fancy Footwork, right?
Ok - that helps. Cunning Action grants me a single bonus action.
I could still do a Reaction - Counterspell, for example, right? But NOT Hex?
you mean CA use your BA "granting" would mean it give you an extra BA XD. Yes counterspell use reaction and hex use BA so no you can't use it as same turn as a CA.
I'm currently playing a SB rogue/ Hex blade Warlock which I'm finding super fun to play. That being said I've not gone all out optimization wise as some of the hex blade things are just for flavour, seems to work fairly well but my party doesn't short rest as often so the limited spell slots become and issue
I was thinking of multiclassing my level 4 Swashbuckler Rogue with Drunken Master Monk (mostly due to thematic reasons; my character is a former bartender), but I'm still new to playing. Any thoughts?
My current party has a barbarian|swashbuckler. She's pretty strong.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I'm only in my second level into a Swashbuckler dip, from level 5 Hexblade... checking to see if I have this right... Once I get to Hex 5/Rogue 3 I should be able to:
Move 30 ft. / Attack (+ Sneak Attack?) / Cunning action Dash / Thirsting Blade Second Attack another target (+ Sneak Attack?) / Bonus action Thunder Step...
And take no opportunity attacks because of Fancy Footwork, right?
Rogues can only sneak attack once per turn. Level 17 scout is the exception to this rule.
Thunder step is a bonus action, but misty step is a bonus action teleport.
Also, thunderstep does not activate your fancy footwork because you are not making an attack roll. You're casting a spell that forces a save. It's still an incredible spell to have in your arsenal though. It will allow you to move 90 feet away from your enemy, then you can cunning action dash or hide
I've got a swashbuckler in mind with 2 possible dips, and the whole difference is how to focus the tactics:
Option 1: Fighter 1 dip - Human Variant with dual wielding and two weapon fighting to increase the chance of sneak attacks in each round
Option 2 : Hexblade 3 dip: - human variant with Fey touched (Cha/Hex) to give better AC (due to sheild) and add flavor to the gameplay with scalable spells
FWIW, I've been playing a Swashbuckler/Barbarian. Only at level 9 so far, with a 7/2 split. I haven't figured out what to do next with the build (quite possibly some fighter levels), but right now having Reckless Attack as a way to gain advantage (or cancel out disadvantage), having that advantage on Evasion from Danger Sense, and having the damage reduction from Rage stacking with Uncanny Dodge is making for a pretty potent combo.
This may well be working for me because of how my stats fell out, though. I have Str (16), Dex (15), Cha (14), so it makes very little difference which attribute my attacks are based on, and I've dumped all of my Expertise into Persuasion/Deception/etc so I've got a very fast-talking Han Solo vibe to the character. If I had the stats to be a more conventionally sneaky or agile Rogue, the multiclassing might be a bit more redundant - it was more of a choice out of squishy necessity as the game went on!
My Hexblade 5 / Rogue 2 is pretty handy and fun so far... with Dash, Disengage, or even Misty Step if needed, she can move all over the field of battle, attacking twice with a 2 handed longsword and she rarely gets hit...
Looking forward to getting full Swashbuckler at level 3. Pretty sure I'll stick with Hexblade for the rest of the ride, as long as it lasts.
Your character won't benefit from Sneak Attack with a Longsword as it doesn't have the finesse quality.
I've been thinking about a Swashbuckler/Sorcerer multiclass, with the idea of eventually being able to use Quicken meta magic to be able to cast BB/GFB twice per round (so long as your Sorcery points last anyway), recognizing that doing so would prevent my BA from being used for a Cunning Action. Draconic origin gives an extra HP per level and makes armor unnecessary and Bracers of Defense an option down the road. I was also looking at a Velenar Wood Elf, to get Double Bladed Scimitar and Longbow proficiency, as well as a couple of other nice traits. DBS, with feat, gives a point of Dex, a +1 to AC, makes the DBS a finesse weapon and gives an optional BA attack without two weapon fighting. Moreover, DBS allows a free hand for casting, since you can hold it in just one hand. Here's a fifth level prototype: https://ddb.ac/characters/58103303/oDThcP
I haven't seen much on line about this combo, so I am wondering if I am missing something pretty basic. Once I hit 4th in Sorcerer, I'd probably switch back to Swashbuckler for good.
I think the main problem with a sorcerer dip is you need at least three levels for metamagic, which is a pretty big hit to Rogue progression, and you'll have a tiny number of sorcery points to work with; your quickening idea for example would only be usable twice per long rest and that's with a four level dip, I'm not sure if that's worth it to be honest.
While Draconic Bloodline's built in Mage Armor is nice, I'm not sure if aiming for high AC is super important, plus if you're getting to pick magic items you could just get magic armour (bracers of defence are for characters that can't). If you wanted a sorcerer dip I'd be more interested in Clockwork Soul personally; being able to cancel enemy advantage or your own disadvantage could be useful, and it scales with proficiency (so character rather than class level), plus you get a good selection of bonus spells known which is ideal for a lower level dip (you'd only need one to get most of the benefits).
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Thanks for this. You make some excellent points. I was thinking that, if the character were combat focused, they would be willing to convert spell slots to sorcery points. At level four, the character could potentially have 14 sorcery points, allowing Quicken to be used 7 times between long rests. Should the character find a Bloodwell Vial, they could get 2 more. All of that, of course, at the cost of casting anything but cantrips. Assuming 18 DEX, and at least level five, each Green Flame Blade would do 2d4 + 4 + 2d8 or an average of 18 additional points of damage, with another 2d6 if the second attack is a Sneak Attack. Of course you would also get the extra damage to a second opponent from GFB, and the benefits of Fancy Footwork applying to another target. Doing that seven or nine times a day is something. Of course, the character would choose the spell slot versus sorcery point balance they want, favouring spell slots when the day is spent with little or no combat.
As for the origin, I thought Draconic for the AC and the extra HP per level. Not having to cast Mage Armour frees up a spell slot, and AC is nice for a combat oriented character. If later on the character made it to level 6 in Sorcerer, they would get the benefit of Elemental Affinity applying to GFB.
I agree though, that on balance it is not an optimal build, especially compared to a Bladesinger, or a SwashLock, but it is interesting to explore.
I only dipped into 3 levels of Warlock and went Rogue the rest of the way. I initially wanted to go Assassin, but instead chose to homebrew my own Rogue archetype. It's called Shadow Stalker. So far it has been pretty fun to play.
R. Hamilton
I'm only in my second level into a Swashbuckler dip, from level 5 Hexblade... checking to see if I have this right... Once I get to Hex 5/Rogue 3 I should be able to:
Move 30 ft. / Attack (+ Sneak Attack?) / Cunning action Dash / Thirsting Blade Second Attack another target (+ Sneak Attack?) / Bonus action Thunder Step...
And take no opportunity attacks because of Fancy Footwork, right?
Cunning action is a Bonus action...so no thunder step in addtion.
Thunder Step also has a casting time of 1 Action not 1 Bonus Action. Misty Step is the Bonus Action teleport spell.
Ok - that helps. Cunning Action grants me a single bonus action.
I could still do a Reaction - Counterspell, for example, right? But NOT Hex?
you mean CA use your BA "granting" would mean it give you an extra BA XD.
Yes counterspell use reaction and hex use BA so no you can't use it as same turn as a CA.
Nox - Adult Oblex - The Trials
Jartrin Ephok - Dragonborn - Zanoliv
Bunol - Grim Angel - The Floating Lands of Goriate
Rogue 4/Wizard 5...lots of fun
https://ddb.ac/characters/5933444/iIAj0G
a d3 isnt half of a d6. The average score for a d3 is 2 and the average score for a d6 is 3.5 which isnt the double of 2...
I'm currently playing a SB rogue/ Hex blade Warlock which I'm finding super fun to play. That being said I've not gone all out optimization wise as some of the hex blade things are just for flavour, seems to work fairly well but my party doesn't short rest as often so the limited spell slots become and issue
I was thinking of multiclassing my level 4 Swashbuckler Rogue with Drunken Master Monk (mostly due to thematic reasons; my character is a former bartender), but I'm still new to playing. Any thoughts?
My current party has a barbarian|swashbuckler. She's pretty strong.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Rogues can only sneak attack once per turn. Level 17 scout is the exception to this rule.
Thunder step is a bonus action, but misty step is a bonus action teleport.
Also, thunderstep does not activate your fancy footwork because you are not making an attack roll. You're casting a spell that forces a save. It's still an incredible spell to have in your arsenal though. It will allow you to move 90 feet away from your enemy, then you can cunning action dash or hide
I've got a swashbuckler in mind with 2 possible dips, and the whole difference is how to focus the tactics:
Option 1: Fighter 1 dip - Human Variant with dual wielding and two weapon fighting to increase the chance of sneak attacks in each round
Option 2 : Hexblade 3 dip: - human variant with Fey touched (Cha/Hex) to give better AC (due to sheild) and add flavor to the gameplay with scalable spells
Can't decide which way to go...
FWIW, I've been playing a Swashbuckler/Barbarian. Only at level 9 so far, with a 7/2 split. I haven't figured out what to do next with the build (quite possibly some fighter levels), but right now having Reckless Attack as a way to gain advantage (or cancel out disadvantage), having that advantage on Evasion from Danger Sense, and having the damage reduction from Rage stacking with Uncanny Dodge is making for a pretty potent combo.
This may well be working for me because of how my stats fell out, though. I have Str (16), Dex (15), Cha (14), so it makes very little difference which attribute my attacks are based on, and I've dumped all of my Expertise into Persuasion/Deception/etc so I've got a very fast-talking Han Solo vibe to the character. If I had the stats to be a more conventionally sneaky or agile Rogue, the multiclassing might be a bit more redundant - it was more of a choice out of squishy necessity as the game went on!
Your character won't benefit from Sneak Attack with a Longsword as it doesn't have the finesse quality.
Yes, the only way to get a two-handed finesse weapon is to take a double-bladed scimitar and the Revenant Blade feat (for Elves).
A Blade Pact Hexblade can summon it and fight using charisma, but they will still need the RB feat to make it a finesse weapon.
I've been thinking about a Swashbuckler/Sorcerer multiclass, with the idea of eventually being able to use Quicken meta magic to be able to cast BB/GFB twice per round (so long as your Sorcery points last anyway), recognizing that doing so would prevent my BA from being used for a Cunning Action. Draconic origin gives an extra HP per level and makes armor unnecessary and Bracers of Defense an option down the road. I was also looking at a Velenar Wood Elf, to get Double Bladed Scimitar and Longbow proficiency, as well as a couple of other nice traits. DBS, with feat, gives a point of Dex, a +1 to AC, makes the DBS a finesse weapon and gives an optional BA attack without two weapon fighting. Moreover, DBS allows a free hand for casting, since you can hold it in just one hand. Here's a fifth level prototype: https://ddb.ac/characters/58103303/oDThcP
I haven't seen much on line about this combo, so I am wondering if I am missing something pretty basic. Once I hit 4th in Sorcerer, I'd probably switch back to Swashbuckler for good.
Reactions welcome.
I think the main problem with a sorcerer dip is you need at least three levels for metamagic, which is a pretty big hit to Rogue progression, and you'll have a tiny number of sorcery points to work with; your quickening idea for example would only be usable twice per long rest and that's with a four level dip, I'm not sure if that's worth it to be honest.
While Draconic Bloodline's built in Mage Armor is nice, I'm not sure if aiming for high AC is super important, plus if you're getting to pick magic items you could just get magic armour (bracers of defence are for characters that can't). If you wanted a sorcerer dip I'd be more interested in Clockwork Soul personally; being able to cancel enemy advantage or your own disadvantage could be useful, and it scales with proficiency (so character rather than class level), plus you get a good selection of bonus spells known which is ideal for a lower level dip (you'd only need one to get most of the benefits).
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Thanks for this. You make some excellent points. I was thinking that, if the character were combat focused, they would be willing to convert spell slots to sorcery points. At level four, the character could potentially have 14 sorcery points, allowing Quicken to be used 7 times between long rests. Should the character find a Bloodwell Vial, they could get 2 more. All of that, of course, at the cost of casting anything but cantrips. Assuming 18 DEX, and at least level five, each Green Flame Blade would do 2d4 + 4 + 2d8 or an average of 18 additional points of damage, with another 2d6 if the second attack is a Sneak Attack. Of course you would also get the extra damage to a second opponent from GFB, and the benefits of Fancy Footwork applying to another target. Doing that seven or nine times a day is something. Of course, the character would choose the spell slot versus sorcery point balance they want, favouring spell slots when the day is spent with little or no combat.
As for the origin, I thought Draconic for the AC and the extra HP per level. Not having to cast Mage Armour frees up a spell slot, and AC is nice for a combat oriented character. If later on the character made it to level 6 in Sorcerer, they would get the benefit of Elemental Affinity applying to GFB.
I agree though, that on balance it is not an optimal build, especially compared to a Bladesinger, or a SwashLock, but it is interesting to explore.
Rogue (Swashbuckler) 5 / Bard (College of Swords) 4
Dual Wield and Magic Initiate (Warlock) feats
Makes for a good character, and a skill monkey. Bit low on hitpoints though.
https://ddb.ac/characters/58182040/kMfywr