So, i was talking to some of the players that i asked to play my campaign that i have set up on D&D beyond, and one of them wanted to play a themed character, but i don't know how to help him do that with what's available.
He wants to play a character that is like Gajeel Redfox, a Iron Dragonslayer mage on the Fairy Tale anime. There is no way to create a homebrew race on D&D beyond, and i find creating a homebrew subclass very intimidating. I kind of need some help here on trying to figure out what i can do and what options i can give him that don't require me to make a whole new subclass.
How about a dragon born draconic sorcerer but with a home brew dragon? Some older editions had iron dragons they had a lightning breath but if he'd rather it be more fairy tail you could make it bludgeoning or slashing. That would give him;
Spell casting allowing spells that could be iron themed
resistance to a damage type which could be bludgeoning
a breath weapon which could be shards of metal
bonus damage with spells that do that effect
innate armor from scales which he can treat as a summoned iron armor
So, i was talking to some of the players that i asked to play my campaign that i have set up on D&D beyond, and one of them wanted to play a themed character, but i don't know how to help him do that with what's available.
He wants to play a character that is like Gajeel Redfox, a Iron Dragonslayer mage on the Fairy Tale anime. There is no way to create a homebrew race on D&D beyond, and i find creating a homebrew subclass very intimidating. I kind of need some help here on trying to figure out what i can do and what options i can give him that don't require me to make a whole new subclass.
You can create a homebrew race on DDB, and it's a lot easier than creating a subclass.
You can also homebrew feats.
I would work those to accommodate the theme, and stick with an existing class/subclass. Feats are more flexible in that, if you're not liking it, they're easier to remove than starting over a whole level progression homebrew all over again with a subclass. You can keep versioning homebrew feats, swapping them in and out of the build until you got the character running in a way that makes sense for your game.
Also remember, theme is not complete translation or clone. Just from the name/title of the character it sounds like the character could likely be thought of as overpowered for your campaign if you're starting at level one. it's great to want to use a player's inspiration, but the trick is showing how that inspiration needs to be applied to a mechanical system that wants to balance this character with the rest of the party regardless of what anime they watch.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
If your character doesn't mind a bit of reflavoring, you could go with something like an Armorer Artificer. They are able to create a suit of protective armor which could be flavored as the character creating his iron scales along his body. He could even go full plate armor.
The Guardian Armor mode would give him gauntlets that he can fight with that he can flavor as changing into the various claws and blunt instruments the character typically fights with (they deal thunder damage too so they are stronger then normal weapon attacks for the purpose of not being resisted nearly as much.). The Gaudian mode also gives temp hp as one of it's abilities to increase how tanky he can be.
He can use his Infusions to beef himself up as well and give him some versatility. Enhanced Defense and Enhanced Weapon can be used to increase his AC and his attack modifier and damage respectively. Mind Sharpener would allow him to keep his concentration spells up, showcasing his iron will. Returning Weapon can be placed on thrown weapons like Darts, Javelins, Knives or Hand Axes to allow for him to easily retrieve them after use, allowing him to mimic some of the characters ranged options. Replicate Item can give additional versatility.
As the character at some points gets access to some shadow magic, he could take the Shadow-Touched feat to gain Invisibility, which isn't quite like intangibility but can give an option to avoid getting hit all the same. He can them choose the Inflict Wounds spell for his first level option for some dark, shadowy damage goodness. The Tough feat could also be a good feat, giving the character extra hit points to help it be more resilient.
For cantrips, Booming Blade, Magic Stones (flavored as shrapnel), and Sword Burst seem to fit well. Absorb Elements is another good one as Dragon Slayers seem to be good at absorbing magic (at least from what I have seem, I'm not too familiar with the show just going off of what I've briefly read). Catapult is another good option for ranged attacks, throwing more iron shrapnel around. Thunderwave could be used as kind of like the characters Iron Roar maybe. Heat Metal and Shatter are good ways to showcase his ability to control and effect other metals. Fly could be good because dragon. And he has other options for spells so he can branch out a get creative.
For races, he could go with a Dragonborn to be closer to the dragon theme, or a Variant Human to get an early feat.
Not sure if any of this would be useful to you or the player but this was what I came up with after a few hours of pondering.
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"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Reflavoring is probably the best way to go here. Even with a basic wizard, you could easily re-flavor things like shield, blade ward and mage armor to be iron-based defensive options. Fire-based attacking options like fire bolt and burning hands could be molten iron. Stuff like sword burst and cloud of daggers would require no explanation
School of Conjuration subclass would allow them to create iron objects in their hands, or Bladesinging would give them melee capability
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Most naturally Gajeel would be a Metallic Dragon bloodline sorcerer. However I think I'd have to agree with AntonSirius that bladesinging (or War Mage) would mechanically suit. Instead of a bladesong, he would 'don' his iron skin for the same effect (or use magical defection).
Spells from Fizban's as well as others like mage armor, absorb elements, and shadow blade as well as giving him "metal" rations would probably help too.
Why don't let me be Dragonborn but appear Human? He'll have a breath weapon then too!
Another options is if he went Cleric1/Wizard X he would get access to heavy armour and some Winry-style buffs (like Bless)
So, i was talking to some of the players that i asked to play my campaign that i have set up on D&D beyond, and one of them wanted to play a themed character, but i don't know how to help him do that with what's available.
He wants to play a character that is like Gajeel Redfox, a Iron Dragonslayer mage on the Fairy Tale anime. There is no way to create a homebrew race on D&D beyond, and i find creating a homebrew subclass very intimidating. I kind of need some help here on trying to figure out what i can do and what options i can give him that don't require me to make a whole new subclass.
OpenworldAddict
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How about a dragon born draconic sorcerer but with a home brew dragon? Some older editions had iron dragons they had a lightning breath but if he'd rather it be more fairy tail you could make it bludgeoning or slashing. That would give him;
You can create a homebrew race on DDB, and it's a lot easier than creating a subclass.
You can also homebrew feats.
I would work those to accommodate the theme, and stick with an existing class/subclass. Feats are more flexible in that, if you're not liking it, they're easier to remove than starting over a whole level progression homebrew all over again with a subclass. You can keep versioning homebrew feats, swapping them in and out of the build until you got the character running in a way that makes sense for your game.
Also remember, theme is not complete translation or clone. Just from the name/title of the character it sounds like the character could likely be thought of as overpowered for your campaign if you're starting at level one. it's great to want to use a player's inspiration, but the trick is showing how that inspiration needs to be applied to a mechanical system that wants to balance this character with the rest of the party regardless of what anime they watch.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
If your character doesn't mind a bit of reflavoring, you could go with something like an Armorer Artificer. They are able to create a suit of protective armor which could be flavored as the character creating his iron scales along his body. He could even go full plate armor.
The Guardian Armor mode would give him gauntlets that he can fight with that he can flavor as changing into the various claws and blunt instruments the character typically fights with (they deal thunder damage too so they are stronger then normal weapon attacks for the purpose of not being resisted nearly as much.). The Gaudian mode also gives temp hp as one of it's abilities to increase how tanky he can be.
He can use his Infusions to beef himself up as well and give him some versatility. Enhanced Defense and Enhanced Weapon can be used to increase his AC and his attack modifier and damage respectively. Mind Sharpener would allow him to keep his concentration spells up, showcasing his iron will. Returning Weapon can be placed on thrown weapons like Darts, Javelins, Knives or Hand Axes to allow for him to easily retrieve them after use, allowing him to mimic some of the characters ranged options. Replicate Item can give additional versatility.
As the character at some points gets access to some shadow magic, he could take the Shadow-Touched feat to gain Invisibility, which isn't quite like intangibility but can give an option to avoid getting hit all the same. He can them choose the Inflict Wounds spell for his first level option for some dark, shadowy damage goodness. The Tough feat could also be a good feat, giving the character extra hit points to help it be more resilient.
For cantrips, Booming Blade, Magic Stones (flavored as shrapnel), and Sword Burst seem to fit well. Absorb Elements is another good one as Dragon Slayers seem to be good at absorbing magic (at least from what I have seem, I'm not too familiar with the show just going off of what I've briefly read). Catapult is another good option for ranged attacks, throwing more iron shrapnel around. Thunderwave could be used as kind of like the characters Iron Roar maybe. Heat Metal and Shatter are good ways to showcase his ability to control and effect other metals. Fly could be good because dragon. And he has other options for spells so he can branch out a get creative.
For races, he could go with a Dragonborn to be closer to the dragon theme, or a Variant Human to get an early feat.
Not sure if any of this would be useful to you or the player but this was what I came up with after a few hours of pondering.
"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup."
Characters for Tenebris Sine Fine
RoughCoronet's Greater Wills
Reflavoring is probably the best way to go here. Even with a basic wizard, you could easily re-flavor things like shield, blade ward and mage armor to be iron-based defensive options. Fire-based attacking options like fire bolt and burning hands could be molten iron. Stuff like sword burst and cloud of daggers would require no explanation
School of Conjuration subclass would allow them to create iron objects in their hands, or Bladesinging would give them melee capability
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Most naturally Gajeel would be a Metallic Dragon bloodline sorcerer. However I think I'd have to agree with AntonSirius that bladesinging (or War Mage) would mechanically suit. Instead of a bladesong, he would 'don' his iron skin for the same effect (or use magical defection).
Spells from Fizban's as well as others like mage armor, absorb elements, and shadow blade as well as giving him "metal" rations would probably help too.
Why don't let me be Dragonborn but appear Human? He'll have a breath weapon then too!
Another options is if he went Cleric1/Wizard X he would get access to heavy armour and some Winry-style buffs (like Bless)