By chance does anyone have any ideas for how to build a Marco Polo build in 5e? Pretty soon my group will be starting a new campaign based on medieval China, so I figured it would be cool to build a character at least similar to Marco Polo in that he is a trader from the campaign's version of Europe seeking to explore and document this unexplored land. However, I haven't the faintest idea how to even start. Any race and class would be fine, but there would be preferable if the class had high mental stats, particularly wisdom.
Sooooo many options. If you really want high Wisdom and would like to get good use out of it, cleric or druid are the obvious choices. Pick a deity with travel or something similar, the Knowledge domain, or maybe Trickery or Twilight depending on personality, take a background like Far Traveller and you're all set. Druid I'm thinking Circle of Stars or Circle of the land, but really all options are valid depending on personality again. Human, Kalashtar or Half-Elf would be the usual suspects for race, though Gnomes and Halflings have a reputation for curiosity and inquisitiveness that would work really well too.
Monks and Rangers tend to focus a bit more on the physical side of abilities, but Wis is not bad for the Ranger (with travel being right in their wheelhouse) and is excellent for the monk.
Being good in a wide selection of skills could also be a good starting point for a can-do, independent and self-reliant explorer. Rogue and Bard would accommodate such a character well. It might be better to have Wisdom take a back seat to Charisma, maybe, but you could still get good use out of a solid little bonus to Wis. If anything, having good Perception and Insight modifiers is never a waste of points.
Any of the classes could be used for a keen explorer really though. I think the above six have the more outstanding mechanical advantages, but the Far Traveller background in particular tunes every class up for visiting faraway lands longing to see what's beyond the horizon. I'd think about how this character wants to make his way in the world, what skillset he'd have to offer the party, consider how good Wisdom could figure into this, and start from there. Why does he want to see this strange continent, and what makes him think he's suited to the task?
By chance does anyone have any ideas for how to build a Marco Polo build in 5e? Pretty soon my group will be starting a new campaign based on medieval China, so I figured it would be cool to build a character at least similar to Marco Polo in that he is a trader from the campaign's version of Europe seeking to explore and document this unexplored land. However, I haven't the faintest idea how to even start. Any race and class would be fine, but there would be preferable if the class had high mental stats, particularly wisdom.
Volo.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
Sooooo many options. If you really want high Wisdom and would like to get good use out of it, cleric or druid are the obvious choices. Pick a deity with travel or something similar, the Knowledge domain, or maybe Trickery or Twilight depending on personality, take a background like Far Traveller and you're all set. Druid I'm thinking Circle of Stars or Circle of the land, but really all options are valid depending on personality again. Human, Kalashtar or Half-Elf would be the usual suspects for race, though Gnomes and Halflings have a reputation for curiosity and inquisitiveness that would work really well too.
Monks and Rangers tend to focus a bit more on the physical side of abilities, but Wis is not bad for the Ranger (with travel being right in their wheelhouse) and is excellent for the monk.
Being good in a wide selection of skills could also be a good starting point for a can-do, independent and self-reliant explorer. Rogue and Bard would accommodate such a character well. It might be better to have Wisdom take a back seat to Charisma, maybe, but you could still get good use out of a solid little bonus to Wis. If anything, having good Perception and Insight modifiers is never a waste of points.
Any of the classes could be used for a keen explorer really though. I think the above six have the more outstanding mechanical advantages, but the Far Traveller background in particular tunes every class up for visiting faraway lands longing to see what's beyond the horizon. I'd think about how this character wants to make his way in the world, what skillset he'd have to offer the party, consider how good Wisdom could figure into this, and start from there. Why does he want to see this strange continent, and what makes him think he's suited to the task?
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Have you considered the Linguist feat? He picked up several languages throughout his life as a trader/diplomat.