This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
I've recently had a lot of fun brewing characters by rolling for their Race, Class, Subclass, and Background. The combinations can often be odd, but pose a fun challenge for character creation.
I thought it could fun each Monday to roll for a new character and see what ideas others might come up with. How would YOU build these random Rogues and Rangers?
Hopefully the tables are clear enough (if you can come up with a better system or think things need to be added or removed, let me know!). Let's stick close to the results, but multiclassing is allowed and some backgrounds may be adapted a bit.
Looks like I have some kinks to work out in the charts and rolls, but this is what we have to brew this week. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Ok, I'm really taken in by the tension between being an assassin and a knight. One strong combination with the Assassin Rogue would be 3 levels in Gloom Stalker. I'm thinking something like an urban bounty hunter or vigilante. Batman could fit the theme a bit, a masked man waiting in the shadows.
Pushing the idea of a code a bit more, I'm also intrigued by something like Paladin 2/Rogue x or even Cleric 2/Rogue x. Adding Cleric especially makes me thing of someone like Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man from Game of Thrones. The Trickery domain could be a good combination, but I like the feel of the Death Domain for a "Holy Assassin" feel. Anyone ever built a Cleric/Assassin combo?
Still sketching right now, but will hopefully have more soon.
I'd mix in the rogue with 6 levels of Raven Queen Warlock, maybe make the elf with the Shadar-Kai subrace for extra flavor. Merges with it's raven spirit thing the subclass gives it, then sneaks through small windows etc. Unmerges for surprise, then merges back, and flies away, leaving almost no trace of the murder. Maybe take the devils sight invocation, then cast darkness with the pact slots to make them harder to catch.
After some thought I would make this character a drow Knight of some Menzoberranzen Order. Publicly plays the role of a minor official with mostly clerical duties, but is actually a spymaster in training. Could go pure Assassin all the way or could mix in some Whispers Bard.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Six levels is a heafty investment flight, but if you play in a high level game could be a lot of fun. Access to things like Devil's Sight seems powerful. The theme makes me think of the movie the Crow. Maybe a knight/assassin getting revenge for innocents.
I want to "resurrect" a character from a 1e campaign. Actually, he isnt dead, hes a werewolf. He "died" when he was level 5. He was a moreorless standard elf Magic-User/Fighter/Thief 5/5/5.
Any ideas for how to create him in 5e? A high elf Eldritch Knight or Trickster is fine. Wolfiness is ok too, but it is ok if he gets cured. Thinking out of the box with new options because of 5e is ok.
After some thought I would make this character a drow Knight of some Menzoberranzen Order. Publicly plays the role of a minor official with mostly clerical duties, but is actually a spymaster in training. Could go pure Assassin all the way or could mix in some Whispers Bard.
I immediately thought of the Drizzt books when Elf Assassin came up. I don't remember the exact roles in society, but a Drow Cleric/Assassin seems fitting for that setting. Whispers Bard seems very fitting for an assassin. How would you divide up the levels?
I want to "resurrect" an character from a 1e campaign. Actually, he isnt dead, hes a werewolf. He "died" when he was level 5. He was a moreorless standard Magic-User/Fighter/Thief 5/5/5.
Any ideas for how to create him in 5e? A high elf Eldritch Knight or Trickster is fine. Wolfiness is ok too, but it is ok if he gets cured. Thinking out of the box with new options because of 5e is ok.
If you want a blend of those three classes, it would be hard to do better than play an arcane trickster. If you want to focus primarily on magic, Fighter 1/Wizard x or Cleric 1 (especially the knowledge domain)/Wizard x make capable melee combatants with a lot more flexibilty in spells. Take spells like Disguise Self, Darkness, Invisibility, etc. for some thieving.
As far as playing a werewolf goes, the best option would be Bloodhunter (Order of the Lycan). You need at least three levels to transform and I wouldn't take more than 5 levels. A Bloodhunter/Wizard or Bloodhunter/Rogue should work fine. Some of the other threads might have more ideas for you. Good luck!
Ok, I have at least one approach I would take sketched out. I really like the idea of a cleric assassin who views giving death as a religious service. I can image a confessional marked with a special symbol for people to come and speak of evildoers who need taken care of.
E'hud, Servant of the Shadow of Death
Elf (Mark of Shadow)
Cleric (Death Domain) 3 / Assassin 17
Background: Knight of the Order
Str 9
Dex 20
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 14
Cha 10
Racial Features
Darkvision (60ft)
Fey Ancestry
Keen Senses
Cunning Intuition: 1d4 added to Stealth and Performance checks
Shape Shadows: Minor Illusion; Invisibility 1/long rest
Spells of the Mark: Disguise Self, Silent Image, Darkness, and Pace without a Trace added to spelllist
Class Features
Rogue 17
Expertise: Acrobatics, Perception, Stealth, and Thieves’ Tools
Sneak Attack 9d6
Thieves’ Cant
Cunning Action
Archetype (Assassin)
Bonus Proficiency: Disguise Kit and Poisoner’s Kit
Assassinate
Infiltration Expertise
Impostor
Death Strike
Uncanny Dodge
Evasion
Reliable Talent
Blindsense
Slippery Mind: Wis Save proficiency
Cleric 3
Proficiency with Medium armor and Shields
Divine Domain (Death)
Reaper: Bonus Necromancy cantrip (Decompose); Can target two people next to each other with one necromancy cantrip (Toll the Dead)
Channel Divinity (Touch of Death): One melee attack deals 11 extra necrotic damage
Spells
Cantrips
Decompose
Guidance
Minor Illusion
Thaumaturgy
Toll the Dead
Preparations (5)
1st
Bless
Detect Magic
Disguise Self
2nd
Darkness
Hold Person
Skills
Acrobatics (+17)
Deception (+13)
Perception (+14)
Persuasion
Religion
Sleight of Hand
Stealth (+17+1d4)
4 ASI
Elven Accuracy
Dex +2
Crossbow Expert
Alert
Some highlights from the build. Surprise is everything for an assassin. Our dip in Cleric gives us some nifty boons, including Guidance for a bit extra on our initiative, not to mention infiltration spells like Disguise Self and Darkness. Thaumaturgy has some flexibility in opening doors or windows for a faster escape or messing with lighting and causing distractions. I took Decompose to leave less evidence behind. We also get to splash a little extra necrotic damage (11) on one hit per short rest.
All of the rogue elements are pretty straight forward. The feats came together easily as well. I think Elven Accuracy is a given. Alert helps guarantee surprise (+10+1d4 from Guidance). Crossbow Expert is very flexible, but I wanted an option in case (perish the thought) we actually miss our first shot. Skulker or Stealthy might also be good options.
A Human Psionic Soul Investigator it is! I've never even looked at that subclass before and Sorcerers usually aren't cast as investigators so I'm excited to see what people might come up with.
I think that I could go with the typical sorcerer backstory. I also think I'll write it in 2nd person, because that tense is never used enough
Investigating disappearing people, you stumble across the culprits: A hive of mind flayers. While the mind flayers prepare a tadpole to turn you into one of them, a githzerai hunting party stumbles in, killing the mind flayers, and rescuing you. Having killed their fill of the Illithids, they bring you back to their monasteries. As you awake, you find that your mind works differently, twisted as it was by the mind flayers influence. As you try to speak, instead of Common as you attempted. The monks notice your transformation, and over the course of years, they slowly train you to control this power the mind flayers awakened within you. Perhaps someday you will understand the extent of your power, and learn to fully control it.
Nice! Looks like the psionic origin table helped you out a bit. Do you have a build in mind? Straight Sorcerer?
I'm still brainstorming right now. Haven't decided on the psionic origin yet, although I am interested in the near-death experience option. I'm imagining a charismatic detective who uses their force of personality and charm to get people talking more than they mean to. Perhaps even someone higher up in society, who use their social network to filter through rumors, with whom the law consults.
I think the real juice of the subclass comes at lv 14, so I'll probably cut it off there. I'm toying with six levels of Bard (College of Whispers) for all the delicious gossip or six levels of Rogue (Mastermind) for the spy element. I think either of these classes will make up for the heavy lack of skill proficiencies we see in Sorcerer.
Sinclair Halbrooke grew up an aristocrat. He enjoyed a leisurely life as a gentleman, hunting, fishing, dancing, and the like. He even fancied himself a bit of an amateur artist, composing verse for some of the ladies with whom he socialized. He was handsome, well-read, and easy to talk to. The cushion holding up his pampered life was pulled out from under him, though. In an attack by bandits, he lost a couple of his friends. Something snapped and new powers awoke in him. His brain felt backwards and yet everything seemed clearer and more...real.
In discussing the attack with the authorities, Sinclair discovered a world of crime and suffering he hardly knew. Apparently, banditry and crime had been swelling. What’s worse, he discovered some of the very people in his social circles benefited and even contributed to this crime. He decided to honor the memory of the friends he lost by developing his powers to put an end to the suffering others faced. He wanted to maintain and leverage his social position, so he passes all the information he discovers anonymously to the authorities.
Sinclair uses his charming personality to get those in higher society to open up more than perhaps they mean to. He often throws balls, hunts, and intimate get-togethers, trading in all the gossip of the aristocracy. When that proves unfruitful, he harnesses his psionic powers. Whatever happened to him, his mind functions almost precognitively, making him able to read a room and know minute details in seconds. With enough focus, he can discern the location of hidden objects or people. Even more, he can force his mind to dominate his body, allowing him to move unseen, fit through impossible spaces, and even fly. He is one of the greatest detectives in the world, but no one knows.
Highlights of the build:
Jack of all trades gives us a huge boost in utility and flexibility.
Expertise causes key investigative and social skills to soar: +13 Perception and +17 Persuasion
Mantle of Whispers gives us a dark, but affective disguise to infiltrate.
Our Mind over Body feature gives us excellent mobility options and useful abilities to infiltrate.
Psionic Discovery gives a great boost to make up for our smaller spell selection with Sorcerer
The Actor feat gives us a great option for disguising ourselves
The Observant feat not only allows us to read lips, but gives us a 28 Passive Perception and 21 Passive Investigation. That’s like Sherlock Holmes walking into a room!
9th level spell slots
Ritual spells from bard
Detective spells: Detect Magic, Disguise Self, Darkvision, Locate Object, Mind Spike, Suggestion, Zone of Truth, Speak with Dead, Greater Invisibility, and Polymorph.
In a party, Sinclair would do well with control and support. He is not the most stout character, but he has amazing Constitution and Wisdom saves.
Offensively, Sinclair has a few big gun spells. Also, while it’s not his expertise, the combination of Shadow Blade with Booming Blade and his Psychic Blade ability gives him a decent option for damage: 2d8+3d8+3d6+2 (+4d8 if the target moves). Cast at a higher level, it could be 5d8+3d8+3d6+2. Most likely not the best option for us in combat, but I like having it available.
I'd like to develop the backstory more and the spell list needs work, but I like the build overall. I'm excited to see what the new psionic classes look like in Tasha's. I toyed around with Rogue (Mastermind) 6/ Sorcerer 14. It was also a great skill monkey, had better defenses and maneuverability, but the Sorcerer spell list felt painfully restrictive.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I've recently had a lot of fun brewing characters by rolling for their Race, Class, Subclass, and Background. The combinations can often be odd, but pose a fun challenge for character creation.
I thought it could fun each Monday to roll for a new character and see what ideas others might come up with. How would YOU build these random Rogues and Rangers?
Hopefully the tables are clear enough (if you can come up with a better system or think things need to be added or removed, let me know!). Let's stick close to the results, but multiclassing is allowed and some backgrounds may be adapted a bit.
Race: Roll 1d6
1-2 Common Races
(Roll 1d10)
3-4 Monster Races
(Roll 1d10)
5-6 Exotic Races
(Roll 1d20)
Class: Roll 1d20; reroll 15-20
Background: Roll 1d6
1-3
(Roll 1d20; reroll 20)
4-6
(Roll 1d20)
I'll kick us off!
Race: 1;3;12
Class: 16
Subclass: 2
Background: 3;
172Ok, looks like our first build will be:
Race: Elf
Class: Rogue (Assassin)
Background: Knight of the Order
Looks like I have some kinks to work out in the charts and rolls, but this is what we have to brew this week. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Ok, I'm really taken in by the tension between being an assassin and a knight. One strong combination with the Assassin Rogue would be 3 levels in Gloom Stalker. I'm thinking something like an urban bounty hunter or vigilante. Batman could fit the theme a bit, a masked man waiting in the shadows.
Pushing the idea of a code a bit more, I'm also intrigued by something like Paladin 2/Rogue x or even Cleric 2/Rogue x. Adding Cleric especially makes me thing of someone like Jaqen H'ghar, a Faceless Man from Game of Thrones. The Trickery domain could be a good combination, but I like the feel of the Death Domain for a "Holy Assassin" feel. Anyone ever built a Cleric/Assassin combo?
Still sketching right now, but will hopefully have more soon.
I'd mix in the rogue with 6 levels of Raven Queen Warlock, maybe make the elf with the Shadar-Kai subrace for extra flavor. Merges with it's raven spirit thing the subclass gives it, then sneaks through small windows etc. Unmerges for surprise, then merges back, and flies away, leaving almost no trace of the murder. Maybe take the devils sight invocation, then cast darkness with the pact slots to make them harder to catch.
After some thought I would make this character a drow Knight of some Menzoberranzen Order. Publicly plays the role of a minor official with mostly clerical duties, but is actually a spymaster in training. Could go pure Assassin all the way or could mix in some Whispers Bard.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Six levels is a heafty investment flight, but if you play in a high level game could be a lot of fun. Access to things like Devil's Sight seems powerful. The theme makes me think of the movie the Crow. Maybe a knight/assassin getting revenge for innocents.
If you are taking requests ...
I want to "resurrect" a character from a 1e campaign. Actually, he isnt dead, hes a werewolf. He "died" when he was level 5. He was a moreorless standard elf Magic-User/Fighter/Thief 5/5/5.
Any ideas for how to create him in 5e? A high elf Eldritch Knight or Trickster is fine. Wolfiness is ok too, but it is ok if he gets cured. Thinking out of the box with new options because of 5e is ok.
he / him
I immediately thought of the Drizzt books when Elf Assassin came up. I don't remember the exact roles in society, but a Drow Cleric/Assassin seems fitting for that setting. Whispers Bard seems very fitting for an assassin. How would you divide up the levels?
If you want a blend of those three classes, it would be hard to do better than play an arcane trickster. If you want to focus primarily on magic, Fighter 1/Wizard x or Cleric 1 (especially the knowledge domain)/Wizard x make capable melee combatants with a lot more flexibilty in spells. Take spells like Disguise Self, Darkness, Invisibility, etc. for some thieving.
As far as playing a werewolf goes, the best option would be Bloodhunter (Order of the Lycan). You need at least three levels to transform and I wouldn't take more than 5 levels. A Bloodhunter/Wizard or Bloodhunter/Rogue should work fine. Some of the other threads might have more ideas for you. Good luck!
Ok, I have at least one approach I would take sketched out. I really like the idea of a cleric assassin who views giving death as a religious service. I can image a confessional marked with a special symbol for people to come and speak of evildoers who need taken care of.
E'hud, Servant of the Shadow of Death
Elf (Mark of Shadow)
Cleric (Death Domain) 3 / Assassin 17
Background: Knight of the Order
Str 9
Dex 20
Con 14
Int 10
Wis 14
Cha 10
Racial Features
Class Features
Rogue 17
Cleric 3
Spells
Cantrips
Preparations (5)
1st
2nd
Skills
4 ASI
Some highlights from the build. Surprise is everything for an assassin. Our dip in Cleric gives us some nifty boons, including Guidance for a bit extra on our initiative, not to mention infiltration spells like Disguise Self and Darkness. Thaumaturgy has some flexibility in opening doors or windows for a faster escape or messing with lighting and causing distractions. I took Decompose to leave less evidence behind. We also get to splash a little extra necrotic damage (11) on one hit per short rest.
All of the rogue elements are pretty straight forward. The feats came together easily as well. I think Elven Accuracy is a given. Alert helps guarantee surprise (+10+1d4 from Guidance). Crossbow Expert is very flexible, but I wanted an option in case (perish the thought) we actually miss our first shot. Skulker or Stealthy might also be good options.
Alright folks,
It's Monday, which means it's brew time!
Would anyone like to roll on the charts and see what we have to work with this week?
I'll go:
Race: 2, 5 (17 if exotic)
Class: 18 (I'll roll subclass after)
Background: 1, 16
Race: Human
Class: Sorcerer: 2 (for subclass) (Psionic Soul)
Background: Investigator
Thanks Margaret22!
A Human Psionic Soul Investigator it is! I've never even looked at that subclass before and Sorcerers usually aren't cast as investigators so I'm excited to see what people might come up with.
Happy brewing!
I think that I could go with the typical sorcerer backstory. I also think I'll write it in 2nd person, because that tense is never used enough
Investigating disappearing people, you stumble across the culprits: A hive of mind flayers. While the mind flayers prepare a tadpole to turn you into one of them, a githzerai hunting party stumbles in, killing the mind flayers, and rescuing you. Having killed their fill of the Illithids, they bring you back to their monasteries. As you awake, you find that your mind works differently, twisted as it was by the mind flayers influence. As you try to speak, instead of Common as you attempted. The monks notice your transformation, and over the course of years, they slowly train you to control this power the mind flayers awakened within you. Perhaps someday you will understand the extent of your power, and learn to fully control it.
Nice! Looks like the psionic origin table helped you out a bit. Do you have a build in mind? Straight Sorcerer?
I'm still brainstorming right now. Haven't decided on the psionic origin yet, although I am interested in the near-death experience option. I'm imagining a charismatic detective who uses their force of personality and charm to get people talking more than they mean to. Perhaps even someone higher up in society, who use their social network to filter through rumors, with whom the law consults.
I think the real juice of the subclass comes at lv 14, so I'll probably cut it off there. I'm toying with six levels of Bard (College of Whispers) for all the delicious gossip or six levels of Rogue (Mastermind) for the spy element. I think either of these classes will make up for the heavy lack of skill proficiencies we see in Sorcerer.
Either straight sorcerer, or add on a few levels of monk.
Well, after a little ruminating, here is my Human Psi Sorcerer Investigator...
Sinclair Halbrooke, Gentleman Detective
Sinclair Halbrooke grew up an aristocrat. He enjoyed a leisurely life as a gentleman, hunting, fishing, dancing, and the like. He even fancied himself a bit of an amateur artist, composing verse for some of the ladies with whom he socialized. He was handsome, well-read, and easy to talk to. The cushion holding up his pampered life was pulled out from under him, though. In an attack by bandits, he lost a couple of his friends. Something snapped and new powers awoke in him. His brain felt backwards and yet everything seemed clearer and more...real.
In discussing the attack with the authorities, Sinclair discovered a world of crime and suffering he hardly knew. Apparently, banditry and crime had been swelling. What’s worse, he discovered some of the very people in his social circles benefited and even contributed to this crime. He decided to honor the memory of the friends he lost by developing his powers to put an end to the suffering others faced. He wanted to maintain and leverage his social position, so he passes all the information he discovers anonymously to the authorities.
Sinclair uses his charming personality to get those in higher society to open up more than perhaps they mean to. He often throws balls, hunts, and intimate get-togethers, trading in all the gossip of the aristocracy. When that proves unfruitful, he harnesses his psionic powers. Whatever happened to him, his mind functions almost precognitively, making him able to read a room and know minute details in seconds. With enough focus, he can discern the location of hidden objects or people. Even more, he can force his mind to dominate his body, allowing him to move unseen, fit through impossible spaces, and even fly. He is one of the greatest detectives in the world, but no one knows.
Highlights of the build:
I'd like to develop the backstory more and the spell list needs work, but I like the build overall. I'm excited to see what the new psionic classes look like in Tasha's. I toyed around with Rogue (Mastermind) 6/ Sorcerer 14. It was also a great skill monkey, had better defenses and maneuverability, but the Sorcerer spell list felt painfully restrictive.