If you wanted to create a character that has abilities founded in thunder and lightning, what would be the best combination of race class and ancestory to do so? Something outside of homebrew.

I tried getting a sorcerer there with a blue dragon... But it didn't really work. There's nothing lightning oriented to attack with since thunderclap usually hits allies as well and is thereby counter productive towards creating a fun game.

Tempest domain Cleric is has potential, I believe.

I’d say the Storm Sorcerer with an Air Genasi for the race is also close. I’d take the Distant Spell Metamagic to be able to use Thunderwave and Shocking Grasp at a distance instead of close up and I’d flavor my appearance so that my hair was blonde and was constantly sparking as if by static electricity. 

Also, for lightning evocation spells, there is lightning lure as a cantrip, and witch bolt at 1st level.

I guess anything thunder is essentially behind paywalls for the moment.

I sorta forgot how much wasn't unlocked on a free account.

Any ideas for a version of this on free to play?

You could try homebrewing the stuff you own in the books into DDB beyond for free (for personal use only).

Or you could buy the subclass for about the same as a coffee.

 I don't see class purchases. The only thing I've seen is the books which I figured was the thing that unlocked...

Go here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/marketplace/source/players-handbook

And scroll down to 'Additional Purchase Options'. The first option is subclasses, including Tempest Domain (Cleric)

Alternatively, go here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/marketplace/source/xanathars-guide-to-everything

And scroll down and you'll see the option for either "Path of the Storm Herald" (Barbarian) or Storm Sorcery (Sorcerer)

Anyway to read what your buying beyond just a name? Or do you have to look them up on resources outside of DnDB?

Purchases of subclasses, spells, etc. on DDB allow you to access those items in the character builder and on the digital character sheet. With Tempest Domain subclass, for example, you get at 1st level, you gain proficiency with martial weapons and heavy armor, and at 6th level, when you deal lightning damage to a Large or smaller creature, you can also push it up to 10 feet away from you, etc. These things will show up on the DDB character sheet in the appropriate locations.

Purchasing a spell will allow you to add that spell to a character, and will display the spell description when you click on the spell on the digital character sheet, and so on.

In my opinion it is definitely worth considering purchasing the PHB for spells, subclasses, etc. You can find discount codes in the 'current discount codes' thread.

I assumed that when you referred to the stuff as being behind a 'paywall', you meant you already had the books are were just complaining about having to pay for them a second time, not just pay for them at all.

You could look up reviews of the classes online? Or go to your local gaming store and flip through the books?

Thanks, I missed that.

Stop being toxic @Davedamon. Who's to say I even have to a gaming store near me or even know the classes names that I'm looking up? For one I've never even been to a gaming store. Everything here is new to me and its my choice if I don't want to jump in with both feet on any financial investments.

And yes, its a paywall... If you want to have access, you pay... That's the definition of a paywall. Making snarky remarks because I show displeasure and disinterest in going through it in my learning stages, is not appropriate. 

I had planned to purchase a few small items from the marketplace like you suggested to see how things turn out, but your comment "I assumed that when you referred to the stuff as being behind a 'paywall', you meant you already had the books are were just complaining about having to pay for them a second time, not just pay for them at all." was just uncalled for. I'm not complaining, but hopefully you can understand why I'm frustrated and facing difficulties in my progress adapting to DnD. 

I'm sorry, I didn't think my comment would read as toxic, I was just stating my initial assumption based on your choice of language. I apologise, this forum gets somewhat saturated at times by people who feel entitled to the content on DDB because they've purchased the books and complain about having to 'buy it twice'. I didn't mean to lump you in with those people, it was just the use of 'paywall', which I don't feel is an accurate or appropriate term in this context. Paywall is usually used to mean an pay restriction to content that would otherwise be free, which is not the case for the stuff you're talking about; you've always had to pay for the stuff outside the SRD, it's never been free.

You're not going to find free, legitimate, online previews of the classes, but reviews and breakdowns would be your best bet. Also, didn't you say in another thread that your DM has the PHB? Couldn't they lend it to you to read through? If they're on DDB you could always pay for a month of Master Tier sub ($5) and then they'll be able to share it with you for that month so you can read through everything and decide what, if anything, you'd like to purchase.

Failing that, just make a character using the free SRD content and use that to find out if you want to dive in with D&D. If you like it, then the PHB is a solid purchase; $30 for all the rules a player needs to play, all the core subclasses plus all the spells.

D&d isn't really a free thing anyway, so some investment will be required to fully enjoy it.

On topic: 3 options for you

Tempest Cleric, comparable to Thor maybe, can wade into battle and summon thunder and lightning at will and still melee effectively, very fun channel divinity as well.

Storm Sorcerer: Comparable to Storm from the X-men, preferring to cast the storms from a bit further away, sorceres can do fun things with metamagic.

Herald of the storm Barbarian, don't have a fun character to compare this to. Obviously the Barbarian primarily attacks in melee and he doesn't cast any spells, they choose a type of storm and gain a variety of effects based on it w during their rage while having a metric shit ton of HP and mauling people to death.

Important to know for you maybe: Tempest cleric is in the player's handbook, the other 2 require Xanathar's guide to everything.

More than willing to help out with character building if you want.

To get a good sense of what the difference is btw the classes and sub-classes mentioned by Fordin, I recommend looking up "Titan Bear Gaming" on Youtube.  He gives good breakdowns of what abilities are likely to be useful and which are likely to be flavorful, but not see much play.  I would also recommend looking up Youtube videos about the base Sorcerer, Barbarian, and Cleric classes so that you have the context of how the sub-class abilities fit in with the class abilities before you make your purchase.   

I think the best bang for buck is the Player's Handbook. There is a TON of information in it from race, class, subclass, feats, spells, gear, tips...

Seriously the best buy. You're not going to want to play a thunder-whatever forever. Picking up the PHB allows nearly unlimited flexibility in character creation for now and into the future.

If you're going to play cleric or sorcerer, you have to buy the spells anyway, otherwise you're gonna have a severely limited spell choice.

The good thing is that if you do, the price you paid for the spells will be discounted from the book price, should you decide to buy it in the future. 

Spending money does not equal fun. 

"If I spend money on this. Its going to make the game more fun."

Fun doesn't work like that. Micro-transactions do though.

Imaginations going directly to what one should buy seems a bit wrong to me. There's so much more to it then that. It worries me.