I'm currently stuck trying to decide how to build my character and I've got it pretty much ironed out except for a couple of things. I'm intentionally leaving some things out just to try and get a comparison only on what I describe. Extra info tends to lead to criticisms on the less than optimal build 😅.
So at level 5, would you rather have;
A) Dark vision (60 ft), 4 skill proficiencies, the Superior Technique Fighting Style and Martial Adept feat for 3 maneuvers and 2 superiority dice
Or
B) No darkvision, 6 skill proficiencies (1 with expertise) due to Skill Expert feat and the Blind Fighting, Fighting Style.
I know it's not a lot to go on but everything else about the character is pretty much built. I just can't decide between these two options. The biggest difference being which Fighting Style gets chosen and which feat.
I'd go with Option A. Dark Vision (or lack thereof) comes up a LOT in the games I play, and blind fighting doesn't do enough to mitigate the impact of not having DV, even for a melee build. Plus I have a lot of love for battle manoeuvres.
Only situations in which I'd consider option B would be if:
1) the +1 attribute from skill expert is important
2) I'm confident of getting DV from another source in the not-too-distant future (eg from a subclass or easy access to goggles of night)
3) Expertise in a certain skill and/or having a lot of skills is a key aspect of the character concept, though even then a lot of the skills can be given a boost with the right manoeuver selections
Either could be fun. What would the two extra skill proficiencies be? Which skill would get expertise and does it play heavily in your character's overall concept? Which maneuvers would you choose and how would those shape your character differently than the skills? The dark vision getting traded for blind fighting alone could change depending on whether that would push the build from a melee build to a ranged build, though I'm assuming the character would be melee on the possibility of blind fighting at all.
I think that for me, if I were going to be a battlemaster, I might lean into the skill monkey version to diversify a bit more. I know some people would go the other way, but it just doesn't interest me as much at this point.
The roleplay options from the skill monkey version are intriguing me quite a bit in this format, mostly on the strength of the blind fighting style. Perhaps because I see it as more defined (three unknowns in the superiority dice version versus two unknowns in the skill monkey version). I would choose expertise in a skill that I would get in either build (which for some reason is screaming at me to be Athletics, even though I have no idea if Athletics would even be a factor in the build), so I'm not really considering it to be an unknown. It's just the two extra skills versus the maneuvers.
It's likely that the superiority dice is the stronger version mechanically, and it likely fits more combat builds, especially martial builds.
I guess my advice to you would be to identify the answers to the questions I asked and then decide which character you want to find out more about.
I would go with B. A whole feat is way too much of an investment for a single d6 superiority die, in my opinion. Also, Blind Fighting Style (BFS from here on) can be extremely useful. Magic darkness? BFS. Fogcloud? BFS. A mage blinded you? BFS. Invisible enemy? BFS. Etc. Depending on your campaign you may not need it often. But when you need it, you really need it.
In the vast majority of campaign I've been in, not having darkvision has never been any a big hindrance. Tons of options for a light source. BUT... should something come up and you're stuck in total darkness? BFS.
Blind Fighting is superb. It helps you hit invisible enemies in melee, as well as fight effectively in magical darkness or with your eyes firmly shut while fighting an enemy with a gaze attack (like a Medusa). Darkvision just lets you make perception checks at disadvantage in darkness when you otherwise wouldn't be able to make perception checks.
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I'm currently stuck trying to decide how to build my character and I've got it pretty much ironed out except for a couple of things. I'm intentionally leaving some things out just to try and get a comparison only on what I describe. Extra info tends to lead to criticisms on the less than optimal build 😅.
So at level 5, would you rather have;
A) Dark vision (60 ft), 4 skill proficiencies, the Superior Technique Fighting Style and Martial Adept feat for 3 maneuvers and 2 superiority dice
Or
B) No darkvision, 6 skill proficiencies (1 with expertise) due to Skill Expert feat and the Blind Fighting, Fighting Style.
I know it's not a lot to go on but everything else about the character is pretty much built. I just can't decide between these two options. The biggest difference being which Fighting Style gets chosen and which feat.
Thanks in advance!
Are you a battlemaster?
will your group reliably take 2 short tests a session?
is your expertise in stealth, perception, or athletics?
I'd go with Option A. Dark Vision (or lack thereof) comes up a LOT in the games I play, and blind fighting doesn't do enough to mitigate the impact of not having DV, even for a melee build. Plus I have a lot of love for battle manoeuvres.
Only situations in which I'd consider option B would be if:
1) the +1 attribute from skill expert is important
2) I'm confident of getting DV from another source in the not-too-distant future (eg from a subclass or easy access to goggles of night)
3) Expertise in a certain skill and/or having a lot of skills is a key aspect of the character concept, though even then a lot of the skills can be given a boost with the right manoeuver selections
Either could be fun. What would the two extra skill proficiencies be? Which skill would get expertise and does it play heavily in your character's overall concept? Which maneuvers would you choose and how would those shape your character differently than the skills? The dark vision getting traded for blind fighting alone could change depending on whether that would push the build from a melee build to a ranged build, though I'm assuming the character would be melee on the possibility of blind fighting at all.
I think that for me, if I were going to be a battlemaster, I might lean into the skill monkey version to diversify a bit more. I know some people would go the other way, but it just doesn't interest me as much at this point.
The roleplay options from the skill monkey version are intriguing me quite a bit in this format, mostly on the strength of the blind fighting style. Perhaps because I see it as more defined (three unknowns in the superiority dice version versus two unknowns in the skill monkey version). I would choose expertise in a skill that I would get in either build (which for some reason is screaming at me to be Athletics, even though I have no idea if Athletics would even be a factor in the build), so I'm not really considering it to be an unknown. It's just the two extra skills versus the maneuvers.
It's likely that the superiority dice is the stronger version mechanically, and it likely fits more combat builds, especially martial builds.
I guess my advice to you would be to identify the answers to the questions I asked and then decide which character you want to find out more about.
I would go with B. A whole feat is way too much of an investment for a single d6 superiority die, in my opinion. Also, Blind Fighting Style (BFS from here on) can be extremely useful. Magic darkness? BFS. Fogcloud? BFS. A mage blinded you? BFS. Invisible enemy? BFS. Etc. Depending on your campaign you may not need it often. But when you need it, you really need it.
In the vast majority of campaign I've been in, not having darkvision has never been any a big hindrance. Tons of options for a light source. BUT... should something come up and you're stuck in total darkness? BFS.
I'd go with the second option.
Blind Fighting is superb. It helps you hit invisible enemies in melee, as well as fight effectively in magical darkness or with your eyes firmly shut while fighting an enemy with a gaze attack (like a Medusa). Darkvision just lets you make perception checks at disadvantage in darkness when you otherwise wouldn't be able to make perception checks.