I'm posting here as I don't know quite what class to go with...
(If this should go elsewhere, please let me know!)
I have a character I'm trying to make. The idea so far, is a male Dark Elf Tiefling...(I know, it's just a Dark Elf with a tail, tiny horns, and skin slightly bluer black.)
So, I'm thinking this character would be raised in Drow society, where they kept their tail hidden, and was tolerated as they had magical aptitude and were to study that.
Despite growing up there, they were happy and want to make others happy, so Entertainer background. They would escape from the underground, and go on to become a flashy adventurer.
So, I would love them to be like a Red Mage type, a damage/buff/healing spell slinging swashbuckler type. And teleporting/ I like lots of teleporting if possible. But I do already have the race picked out with story stuff as above, so not Eladrin or Shadar-Kai...
The thing is I have gone over and over classes/ subclasses and am not sure which to go with. I'd like them to get multiple attacks (2 is fine), either some light-medium armor or Mage Armor, Shield is always nice, I would appreciate having a distance cantrip (Firebolt, Chill Touch, Eldritch Blast, etc.), & Booming Blade or GFB. And if I can, Misty Step and other teleports. Would love Steel Wind Strike. I do like having high CHA and DEX, then CON if i can.... although I like INT characters too. And just assume Point Buy for any stats. But any published material is good to use. Prolly a Rapier/ Scimitar/ Short Sword for weapon? Contemplating Whip as extra weapon prof if going Bladesinger... It'd be nice if they were ready to go at lower levels like 5-6... most games don't hit 20, as we all know, so I'm not too concerned with things like Wish.
I've strongly considered Bards, Hexblades, and Bladesingers... just not sure which one/ combo would all work best.
Of course Bards, which I usually play, can cover most of these in some way. I'm totally open to multiclassing... pretty much anything except Barbarians, and would seriusly need to be convinced on Monks.. And I don't think I'd ever be allowed to use Blood Hunters... but any other class is open for consideration!
So, please, if you like to theory craft, feel free to help out a guy who makes waaay too many characters to come up with a gish type build that I will love...!!!
Thank you in advance for any help!!!!
TLDR: I want to make a teleporty gish - please help!
the new flame stride (i forgot its updated name) in fizbans is a 3rd level that gives you super mobility and some extra dmg (extra 20ft base with no AoO at all and an extra 1d6 fire dmg if within 5ft) this is a higher slot but would help allow for that kind of "zip in and out safely" that misty step lets you do and you can do it upto a minute long as you stay concentrating. For that prob bladesinger with a 2-3 level in rogue for the steady aim, dash, or hide as a bonus action. this would probably be fully online by level 8-9 though to get the extra atk. if no rogue then you can just go bladesinger and be online at lvl 5 for the spell and lvl 6 for the extra cantrip atk.
If you want to be casually teleporting round-after-round, Shadow Monk is the best option that can be used without spending any resource... you're just limited based on how much light is in the room.
Aside from that, I'd recommend a Swords Bard with the Fey Touched Feat... it gives you a chance to increase CHA and still lets you nab Misty Step at level 4, and gives you one free casting of it per day, so it opens you up to some extra casting. You can also grab an enchantment spell, and I'd recommend Hunter's Mark or Hex, since it will boost your damage output in a way that rewards you when attacking with your sword. Rather than Shield, you'll have access to a Defensive Flourish to boost your AC and help keep concentration on spells. Plus as a bard, when you hit level 10 you can use your Magical Secrets to learn Steel Wind Strike, and you can also grab Shield if you want, or you could grab counterspell for some extra defense.
The only thing you're looking for in your build that this doesn't cover is any kind of ranged damage cantrip. Vicious Mockery is better than its reputation, but it's still not a great way to deal damage compared to other options and really only gets used because it's the only ranged cantrip given to Bards. If you're willing to spend a Magical Secrets on it, you can nab a Cantrip instead.
If you really want some more damaging cantrips in your repertoire without needing to invest feats or Magical Secrets, you could take a single level dip into Sorcerer. None of the Sorcerer subclasses really work for a Gish, but luckily all of the Sorcerer subclasses give you the subclass benefits right at level 1, so you can dip in, nab firebolt, maybe green flame blade. I'd recommend Storm Sorcerer to play with your teleportation concept... a Storm Sorcerer can move 10 feet as a bonus action after casting a leveled spell without provoking attacks of opportunity, which could easily be reflavored as a short-range teleport. It will keep you very mobile on the field even if you're in a situation where you want to cast a leveled spell other than Misty Step in combat.
Thank you for the replies so far, I really appreciate it!
Quindraco - I looked at a Horizon Walker, and I really like it! But it's a little light on the magic. No real cantrips or spell burstiness...
Arntithebest - Shadow Monk...with a splash of Warlock...hmmm...that's an intriguing idea...!
RoyalRodney - I don't think I've seen that yet - I'll definitely check it out when I get my book! Bladesinger is always in my thoughts for this build... it just seems so good, but a touch squishy...I have considered taking Rogue with it. I think Swashbuckler might be best, but Arcane Trickster gives some more spell slots, but there's a bi of crossover maybe... what rogue subclass were you thinking? Or just maybe 1-2 levels?
TransmorpherDDS - Shadow Monk again...I think I'll seriously have to take a look at that. Of course I love Bards, so I think Swords Bards are wonderful. As is Fey Touched. I think I've already used it on 2-3 characters since it came out. LOL I have to say I really love your idea of the Storm Sorcerer re-flavoring Tempestuous Magic as a teleport... marvelous!!
ChoirofFire & Jounichi - LOL yes, the 'Fuzzy Elf' was part of my inspiration for the character, just as Red Mages from Final Fantasy were too. I have to say, I feel like he's been presented as an Entertainer type more than an Acolyte...
Thank you all for your replies! If anyone has any more ideas or suggestions I'd love to hear them!!
I had been thinking Arcane Trickster for not just extra slots but also some extra spells. The swashbuckler idea works very well though, just keep in mind the slot progression would be lagging behind. The squishiness for the bs finally has some non feat based way to mitigate its dmg and also pad the dmg done. before the best I could think of (if melee focused) is mobile feat, longstrider for an extra 20ft movement non con for an hour. Now this is still pretty good...if only facing 1 enemy within AoO range. Now with the Flame stride spell you dont need the feat but could still do longstrider to have an extra 30ft movement that no one can AoO you, plus deal its extra dmg to anyone you get next to. If rogue then you can just zip away freely on your bonus action (i think upto 60 ft if my math is right) then next turn movement to get in there deal d6 fire, atk x2, and zip out again safely. This can all be done even against a whole mess of enemies. So you can just kite them around and unless ranged not really get hit at all. You really do get to feel like The Flash,...with swords XD
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Hello all!
I'm posting here as I don't know quite what class to go with...
(If this should go elsewhere, please let me know!)
I have a character I'm trying to make. The idea so far, is a male Dark Elf Tiefling...(I know, it's just a Dark Elf with a tail, tiny horns, and skin slightly bluer black.)
So, I'm thinking this character would be raised in Drow society, where they kept their tail hidden, and was tolerated as they had magical aptitude and were to study that.
Despite growing up there, they were happy and want to make others happy, so Entertainer background. They would escape from the underground, and go on to become a flashy adventurer.
So, I would love them to be like a Red Mage type, a damage/buff/healing spell slinging swashbuckler type. And teleporting/ I like lots of teleporting if possible. But I do already have the race picked out with story stuff as above, so not Eladrin or Shadar-Kai...
The thing is I have gone over and over classes/ subclasses and am not sure which to go with. I'd like them to get multiple attacks (2 is fine), either some light-medium armor or Mage Armor, Shield is always nice, I would appreciate having a distance cantrip (Firebolt, Chill Touch, Eldritch Blast, etc.), & Booming Blade or GFB. And if I can, Misty Step and other teleports. Would love Steel Wind Strike. I do like having high CHA and DEX, then CON if i can.... although I like INT characters too. And just assume Point Buy for any stats. But any published material is good to use. Prolly a Rapier/ Scimitar/ Short Sword for weapon? Contemplating Whip as extra weapon prof if going Bladesinger... It'd be nice if they were ready to go at lower levels like 5-6... most games don't hit 20, as we all know, so I'm not too concerned with things like Wish.
I've strongly considered Bards, Hexblades, and Bladesingers... just not sure which one/ combo would all work best.
Of course Bards, which I usually play, can cover most of these in some way. I'm totally open to multiclassing... pretty much anything except Barbarians, and would seriusly need to be convinced on Monks.. And I don't think I'd ever be allowed to use Blood Hunters... but any other class is open for consideration!
So, please, if you like to theory craft, feel free to help out a guy who makes waaay too many characters to come up with a gish type build that I will love...!!!
Thank you in advance for any help!!!!
TLDR: I want to make a teleporty gish - please help!
Horizon Walker Ranger sounds like it ticks the boxes you want.
Not going with a priest background? ;)
Misty Step is what you want. Rate your picks based on how many times it'll let you cast Misty Step.
the new flame stride (i forgot its updated name) in fizbans is a 3rd level that gives you super mobility and some extra dmg (extra 20ft base with no AoO at all and an extra 1d6 fire dmg if within 5ft) this is a higher slot but would help allow for that kind of "zip in and out safely" that misty step lets you do and you can do it upto a minute long as you stay concentrating. For that prob bladesinger with a 2-3 level in rogue for the steady aim, dash, or hide as a bonus action. this would probably be fully online by level 8-9 though to get the extra atk. if no rogue then you can just go bladesinger and be online at lvl 5 for the spell and lvl 6 for the extra cantrip atk.
If you want to be casually teleporting round-after-round, Shadow Monk is the best option that can be used without spending any resource... you're just limited based on how much light is in the room.
Aside from that, I'd recommend a Swords Bard with the Fey Touched Feat... it gives you a chance to increase CHA and still lets you nab Misty Step at level 4, and gives you one free casting of it per day, so it opens you up to some extra casting. You can also grab an enchantment spell, and I'd recommend Hunter's Mark or Hex, since it will boost your damage output in a way that rewards you when attacking with your sword. Rather than Shield, you'll have access to a Defensive Flourish to boost your AC and help keep concentration on spells. Plus as a bard, when you hit level 10 you can use your Magical Secrets to learn Steel Wind Strike, and you can also grab Shield if you want, or you could grab counterspell for some extra defense.
The only thing you're looking for in your build that this doesn't cover is any kind of ranged damage cantrip. Vicious Mockery is better than its reputation, but it's still not a great way to deal damage compared to other options and really only gets used because it's the only ranged cantrip given to Bards. If you're willing to spend a Magical Secrets on it, you can nab a Cantrip instead.
If you really want some more damaging cantrips in your repertoire without needing to invest feats or Magical Secrets, you could take a single level dip into Sorcerer. None of the Sorcerer subclasses really work for a Gish, but luckily all of the Sorcerer subclasses give you the subclass benefits right at level 1, so you can dip in, nab firebolt, maybe green flame blade. I'd recommend Storm Sorcerer to play with your teleportation concept... a Storm Sorcerer can move 10 feet as a bonus action after casting a leveled spell without provoking attacks of opportunity, which could easily be reflavored as a short-range teleport. It will keep you very mobile on the field even if you're in a situation where you want to cast a leveled spell other than Misty Step in combat.
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Thank you for the replies so far, I really appreciate it!
Quindraco - I looked at a Horizon Walker, and I really like it! But it's a little light on the magic. No real cantrips or spell burstiness...
Arntithebest - Shadow Monk...with a splash of Warlock...hmmm...that's an intriguing idea...!
RoyalRodney - I don't think I've seen that yet - I'll definitely check it out when I get my book! Bladesinger is always in my thoughts for this build... it just seems so good, but a touch squishy...I have considered taking Rogue with it. I think Swashbuckler might be best, but Arcane Trickster gives some more spell slots, but there's a bi of crossover maybe... what rogue subclass were you thinking? Or just maybe 1-2 levels?
TransmorpherDDS - Shadow Monk again...I think I'll seriously have to take a look at that. Of course I love Bards, so I think Swords Bards are wonderful. As is Fey Touched. I think I've already used it on 2-3 characters since it came out. LOL I have to say I really love your idea of the Storm Sorcerer re-flavoring Tempestuous Magic as a teleport... marvelous!!
ChoirofFire & Jounichi - LOL yes, the 'Fuzzy Elf' was part of my inspiration for the character, just as Red Mages from Final Fantasy were too. I have to say, I feel like he's been presented as an Entertainer type more than an Acolyte...
Thank you all for your replies! If anyone has any more ideas or suggestions I'd love to hear them!!
I had been thinking Arcane Trickster for not just extra slots but also some extra spells. The swashbuckler idea works very well though, just keep in mind the slot progression would be lagging behind. The squishiness for the bs finally has some non feat based way to mitigate its dmg and also pad the dmg done. before the best I could think of (if melee focused) is mobile feat, longstrider for an extra 20ft movement non con for an hour. Now this is still pretty good...if only facing 1 enemy within AoO range. Now with the Flame stride spell you dont need the feat but could still do longstrider to have an extra 30ft movement that no one can AoO you, plus deal its extra dmg to anyone you get next to. If rogue then you can just zip away freely on your bonus action (i think upto 60 ft if my math is right) then next turn movement to get in there deal d6 fire, atk x2, and zip out again safely. This can all be done even against a whole mess of enemies. So you can just kite them around and unless ranged not really get hit at all. You really do get to feel like The Flash,...with swords XD