I love the idea of playing as a Bear Grappler as a Player Character and have been playing around with the concept for quite a while, but I was hoping for some more insight from others.
My stipulations for this is no Homebrew, except recent UAs. Also that rules may be reflavoured to become more Ursine, if they would be features that would work well.
My Ideas so far:
Moon Druid lv2 for Wildshape, however this is very limited timewise and I would like this character to be a Bear 24/7
Races: Leonin, Tabaxi, Shifter, Lizardfolk, Bugbear (a stretch)
Black Bear 'Sidekick', sadly Medium Sized and behind power-curve, but I could be convinced! For example, a lv6 Bear Friend
Barbarian Subclasses: Beast or Giant (UA) (It seems Barbarian would be the most suitable class for this character concept, but I may be wrong)
Just before this I put together a quick Path of the Giant Leonin character sheet, but as a grappler, Tabaxi may be a better Race option...
I think a reflavored Leonin would make for the best Bear-analogue without getting into homebrew.
So, if you're going to play as a Grappler there are two things you want... you want the Unarmed Fighting Style, which lets you deal passive damage every round to a creature you have grappled (and increases your natural claw attacks to a solid d8 of damage, making them viable primary weapons), and you want the Tavern Brawler feat so you can grapple enemies and still get in all your attacks each round. This is easiest to get with a Fighter, but it's hard to resist Barbarian with its advantage on Strength checks.
If you're willing to multiclass, I would recommend taking 2 levels of fighter for Unarmed Fighting Style and Action Surge, then go Barbarian the rest of the way... I can't help but recommend Totem Warrior with a focus on the Bear totem, if only to double-down on the whole bear concept.
If you're not multiclassing, I think Beast Barbarian is the best option. Leonin will still give you a use-able claw attack when not raging, but when you do rage you can increase the damage and number of attacks with your claws. Or, if you're low on health, you can choose to activate your bites when you rage to heal yourself. I'd still recommend grabbing Tavern Brawler for that bonus action grapple, but I wouldn't bother putting effort into getting the unarmed fighting style.
Multiclassing is always hard for a Grappler as there is soo much low hanging fruit. It is a shame that Unarmed Fighting Style is not available to Rangers else Ranger 2 for Expertise in Athletics and Unnarmed Fighting would be better than Fighter 2 even with Action Surge. I am always willing to multiclass, but bear in mind that a grappler wants 20 Str and 20 Con asap.
I really like the Leonin Roar for some more utility and flavour in combat, though the Tabaxi movement would be fantastic for enviromental hazards (depends how dynamic the DM likes to make combat). Any other Race thoughts? I did think about Minataur... but sadly Hammering Horns is not a shove bonus action, else it would be able to knock prone. Edit: Funnily enough, Ork would actually be a good fit but as it has no natural weapons, would work better with the Beast Subclass
On the Barbarian Subclass front, I actually think the simple ability to grow Large is more significant for grappling than Bear Totem and far more than any of the Beast features. Obviously this begs the question of Rune Knight Bear Totem but the problem with that build is it requires many rounds of bonus actions to get going (I played a Rune Knight Grappler and loved it)
If you're looking to grow Large, then honestly Rune Knight seems like the most elegant solution. No need to worry about multiclassing into Barbarian, since Giant's Might gives you advantage on Strength Checks as well... plus you can grapple creatures up to Huge size, making you an even better grappler overall.
I think Tabaxi is, on average, a more reliable race than Leonin, but Leonin still feels closer to being a Bear with the roar ability, whereas bears aren't exactly known for their speed, making Tabaxi kind of an odd pairing.
Aye, but Rune Knight hardly feels very Ursine and to be honest... I think it's a bit overtuned as a subclass. I loved my Rune Knight but I had to handycap myself a lot so to not outshine the other players. Mostly I'd like to grow Large for the flavour (bears are large, except the Black Bear) but if something feels more feral and bear like I could be convinced otherwise - like the Beast Barbarian (but I just don't think it adds much to the table)
Edit: A Lizardfolk would be perfectly for a reskinned Polar Bear
If you're looking to grow Large, then honestly Rune Knight seems like the most elegant solution. No need to worry about multiclassing into Barbarian, since Giant's Might gives you advantage on Strength Checks as well... plus you can grapple creatures up to Huge size, making you an even better grappler overall.
That's always a tricky balance when going with a themed, gimmick character... you kind of have to decide if you'll prioritize matching the theme or making an efficient character.
Without getting into homebrew, there's practically no way to play as a properly Large character without getting a lot of magical baggage along with it... either you need to be a spellcaster to get enlarge/reduce, play as a druid and wildshape into something large, or play a class like Rune Knight where you'll have a bunch of magic abilities that don't quite fit in with your theme.
But yes, I’d have to be a pigmy Bear and focus on other features to optimise and retain flavour otherwise: like Bear Totem and accept the tradeoff in battlefield control for the benefit of stickability.
edit: I really hope the Path of the Giant gets printed, even if I don’t really care about the thrown weapons for this character. Growing Large (going from standing on hind-legs to all fours) and Throwing Allies/ Enemies is so good for battlefield control and very fitting for bestial strength.
Sentinel is very powerful when Large or even Huge also, so something for me to keep in mind
I love the idea of playing as a Bear Grappler as a Player Character and have been playing around with the concept for quite a while, but I was hoping for some more insight from others.
My stipulations for this is no Homebrew, except recent UAs. Also that rules may be reflavoured to become more Ursine, if they would be features that would work well.
My Ideas so far:
Just before this I put together a quick Path of the Giant Leonin character sheet, but as a grappler, Tabaxi may be a better Race option...
I think a reflavored Leonin would make for the best Bear-analogue without getting into homebrew.
So, if you're going to play as a Grappler there are two things you want... you want the Unarmed Fighting Style, which lets you deal passive damage every round to a creature you have grappled (and increases your natural claw attacks to a solid d8 of damage, making them viable primary weapons), and you want the Tavern Brawler feat so you can grapple enemies and still get in all your attacks each round. This is easiest to get with a Fighter, but it's hard to resist Barbarian with its advantage on Strength checks.
If you're willing to multiclass, I would recommend taking 2 levels of fighter for Unarmed Fighting Style and Action Surge, then go Barbarian the rest of the way... I can't help but recommend Totem Warrior with a focus on the Bear totem, if only to double-down on the whole bear concept.
If you're not multiclassing, I think Beast Barbarian is the best option. Leonin will still give you a use-able claw attack when not raging, but when you do rage you can increase the damage and number of attacks with your claws. Or, if you're low on health, you can choose to activate your bites when you rage to heal yourself. I'd still recommend grabbing Tavern Brawler for that bonus action grapple, but I wouldn't bother putting effort into getting the unarmed fighting style.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
Multiclassing is always hard for a Grappler as there is soo much low hanging fruit. It is a shame that Unarmed Fighting Style is not available to Rangers else Ranger 2 for Expertise in Athletics and Unnarmed Fighting would be better than Fighter 2 even with Action Surge. I am always willing to multiclass, but bear in mind that a grappler wants 20 Str and 20 Con asap.
I really like the Leonin Roar for some more utility and flavour in combat, though the Tabaxi movement would be fantastic for enviromental hazards (depends how dynamic the DM likes to make combat). Any other Race thoughts? I did think about Minataur... but sadly Hammering Horns is not a shove bonus action, else it would be able to knock prone. Edit: Funnily enough, Ork would actually be a good fit but as it has no natural weapons, would work better with the Beast Subclass
On the Barbarian Subclass front, I actually think the simple ability to grow Large is more significant for grappling than Bear Totem and far more than any of the Beast features. Obviously this begs the question of Rune Knight Bear Totem but the problem with that build is it requires many rounds of bonus actions to get going (I played a Rune Knight Grappler and loved it)
If you're looking to grow Large, then honestly Rune Knight seems like the most elegant solution. No need to worry about multiclassing into Barbarian, since Giant's Might gives you advantage on Strength Checks as well... plus you can grapple creatures up to Huge size, making you an even better grappler overall.
I think Tabaxi is, on average, a more reliable race than Leonin, but Leonin still feels closer to being a Bear with the roar ability, whereas bears aren't exactly known for their speed, making Tabaxi kind of an odd pairing.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
Aye, but Rune Knight hardly feels very Ursine and to be honest... I think it's a bit overtuned as a subclass. I loved my Rune Knight but I had to handycap myself a lot so to not outshine the other players. Mostly I'd like to grow Large for the flavour (bears are large, except the Black Bear) but if something feels more feral and bear like I could be convinced otherwise - like the Beast Barbarian (but I just don't think it adds much to the table)
Edit: A Lizardfolk would be perfectly for a reskinned Polar Bear
That's always a tricky balance when going with a themed, gimmick character... you kind of have to decide if you'll prioritize matching the theme or making an efficient character.
Without getting into homebrew, there's practically no way to play as a properly Large character without getting a lot of magical baggage along with it... either you need to be a spellcaster to get enlarge/reduce, play as a druid and wildshape into something large, or play a class like Rune Knight where you'll have a bunch of magic abilities that don't quite fit in with your theme.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
Ah I was referring to Giant Options UA above: https://media.wizards.com/2022/dnd/downloads/UA2022-drjwf73f8n.pdf
But yes, I’d have to be a pigmy Bear and focus on other features to optimise and retain flavour otherwise: like Bear Totem and accept the tradeoff in battlefield control for the benefit of stickability.
edit: I really hope the Path of the Giant gets printed, even if I don’t really care about the thrown weapons for this character. Growing Large (going from standing on hind-legs to all fours) and Throwing Allies/ Enemies is so good for battlefield control and very fitting for bestial strength.
Sentinel is very powerful when Large or even Huge also, so something for me to keep in mind