Just like the title says, I want to see the very worst character you guys can make. I’m talking practically no dpr, minimal and terrible skills, etc. I’m picturing something like a multiclass into every class, but I can’t wait to see what else you guys come up with.
An easy concept would be a single class character with bad stats in the most important skills for the class. like a fighter or barbarian with 8 str, dex and con. You can't hit anything, can't multiclass because you need 13 in the base class.
A level 1 ranger with point buy. go 11 9 9 15 9 15. Make sure to make them a mordenkainen kobold. They disadvantage because they are small, trash stats, can't shoot a bow, and they can't multiclass. Plus, with such low hit points, they aren't very viable in melee combat. Finally, their best use is a cha and int monkeys, which are somewhat useless.
With no conditions, I think the worst unoptimized character is: A wizard with the point buy stats of 15 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 15 / 15. Any race as long as it's not v. Human or Custom lineage to get a feat, don't think it'll make that much difference. This character not only cannot wear armor, their negative dex gives them an even worse AC and even mage armor barely helps. With -1 Con modifier the powerful concentration spells you'd normally expect from a spellcaster will drop easily AND health rolls are all terrible (even assuming max hit dice on the rolls, best case scenario, you still only have 5 hp per level). This character WILL die, unless they just don't do anything in combat and hide.
Now, this would be a more interesting question if there were some parameters around it, especially regarding stats.
With no conditions, I think the worst unoptimized character is: A wizard with the point buy stats of 15 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 15 / 15. Any race as long as it's not v. Human or Custom lineage to get a feat, don't think it'll make that much difference. This character not only cannot wear armor, their negative dex gives them an even worse AC and even mage armor barely helps. With -1 Con modifier the powerful concentration spells you'd normally expect from a spellcaster will drop easily AND health rolls are all terrible (even assuming max hit dice on the rolls, best case scenario, you still only have 5 hp per level). This character WILL die, unless they just don't do anything in combat and hide.
Now, this would be a more interesting question if there were some parameters around it, especially regarding stats.
Not only can this character wear armor to be the worst character possible they must wear armor, preferabbly padded. OK is raises AC from 9 to 10 but they get disadvantage on a whole host of skill checks and most of all they can't cast spells. You did however forget about racial bonuses, I would suggest a race with 3 +1s so you don't have to actually increase anything.
I had been compiling a character with all the worst options, A sun soul monk with feats in weapon master and spell sniper (they qualify as they can cast a spell but don't gain anything because they can't cast make a ranged spell attack). Links to him at the start and end of a campaign (level 1 and 13) but I think the wizard who can't cast spells beat him, I'll let you work out what subclass he should take.
Any full spellcaster you can make bad by picking only bad spells. But let's consider an additional constraint: We are giving the character at level 1 to an optimizer to play, so we want one with the least capability to become good even if the player tries their hardest to do so (i.e. picks the best spells giving the stats, chooses optimal feats, etc..).
In such a case... I think a Monk with Stats: STR 13, DEX 8, CON 8, INT 15, WIS 11, CHA 15 is the worst.
Most spellcasters you can just pick spells with no attack roll/save to compensate if your casting stat sucks. But a martial without STR or DEX is stuck.
A level 1 ranger with point buy. go 11 9 9 15 9 15. Make sure to make them a mordenkainen kobold. They disadvantage because they are small, trash stats, can't shoot a bow, and they can't multiclass. Plus, with such low hit points, they aren't very viable in melee combat. Finally, their best use is a cha and int monkeys, which are somewhat useless.
I still think this one is the best. The ranger's best combat role is to shoot enemies from far away. This ranger is really bad at that. The ranger's second best combat role is to come in with shortswords. This ranger has a -1 to dex. Spellcasting? -1 to wisdom. Survival? -1 to wisdom. Charisma and int monkey? Have fun with just a +2.
I would like to add a condition to make it more challenging. The character will be played as powerfully as it can be. This means that equipment and in game choices aren't the limiting factors. Otherwise you end up with boring solutions like a pacifist barbarian.
Artificer with 8 int and low dex. 95% of the artificers class abilites scale off int. You're not just hurting their turn by turn stuff like attack mods and spell DCs, your hurting every class ability in their book + amount of prepped spells.
Obviously you use infusions to make useless items/buff party members.
A low STR/DEX unarmed Drow Wizard wearing padded armor is pretty much useless since it can't cast spell or make ranged attacks and totally sucks in melee.
Another good one is a Barbarian with 8 STR and 8 CON, low HP can't tank, can't hit anything, can't cast spells.. make it a Small race so it's even worse a grappling...
Maybe that instead of theorizing useless builds, we can theorize useless builds that are useless no matter what the PC does? All the PC choices are PC choices, except for what makes the character. For instance, the player chooses whether or not to wear armor. They choose what weapon to use, given that they have the money to. They decide combat tactics, feats, and later features that are option based. They choose whatever is possible beyond the level they are on, which is preferably 1 or 3.
Just like the title says, I want to see the very worst character you guys can make. I’m talking practically no dpr, minimal and terrible skills, etc. I’m picturing something like a multiclass into every class, but I can’t wait to see what else you guys come up with.
An easy concept would be a single class character with bad stats in the most important skills for the class. like a fighter or barbarian with 8 str, dex and con. You can't hit anything, can't multiclass because you need 13 in the base class.
A PHB ranger with 8 Dex and 10 Wis would be pretty bad, for much the same reasons stated above by Sutlo.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Make 'em small and only give them weapons with the heavy property.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
How’s this?
https://ddb.ac/characters/94739619/iwCpmf
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Monk
A level 1 ranger with point buy. go 11 9 9 15 9 15. Make sure to make them a mordenkainen kobold. They disadvantage because they are small, trash stats, can't shoot a bow, and they can't multiclass. Plus, with such low hit points, they aren't very viable in melee combat. Finally, their best use is a cha and int monkeys, which are somewhat useless.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
A rogue with 8 for Dex, Int, and Wis that tries to wield a club.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
With no conditions, I think the worst unoptimized character is: A wizard with the point buy stats of 15 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 15 / 15. Any race as long as it's not v. Human or Custom lineage to get a feat, don't think it'll make that much difference. This character not only cannot wear armor, their negative dex gives them an even worse AC and even mage armor barely helps. With -1 Con modifier the powerful concentration spells you'd normally expect from a spellcaster will drop easily AND health rolls are all terrible (even assuming max hit dice on the rolls, best case scenario, you still only have 5 hp per level). This character WILL die, unless they just don't do anything in combat and hide.
Now, this would be a more interesting question if there were some parameters around it, especially regarding stats.
Not only can this character wear armor to be the worst character possible they must wear armor, preferabbly padded. OK is raises AC from 9 to 10 but they get disadvantage on a whole host of skill checks and most of all they can't cast spells. You did however forget about racial bonuses, I would suggest a race with 3 +1s so you don't have to actually increase anything.
I had been compiling a character with all the worst options, A sun soul monk with feats in weapon master and spell sniper (they qualify as they can cast a spell but don't gain anything because they can't cast make a ranged spell attack). Links to him at the start and end of a campaign (level 1 and 13) but I think the wizard who can't cast spells beat him, I'll let you work out what subclass he should take.
Suckie Chan Level 1
Suckie Chan Level 13
Any full spellcaster you can make bad by picking only bad spells. But let's consider an additional constraint: We are giving the character at level 1 to an optimizer to play, so we want one with the least capability to become good even if the player tries their hardest to do so (i.e. picks the best spells giving the stats, chooses optimal feats, etc..).
In such a case... I think a Monk with Stats: STR 13, DEX 8, CON 8, INT 15, WIS 11, CHA 15 is the worst.
Most spellcasters you can just pick spells with no attack roll/save to compensate if your casting stat sucks. But a martial without STR or DEX is stuck.
I still think this one is the best. The ranger's best combat role is to shoot enemies from far away. This ranger is really bad at that. The ranger's second best combat role is to come in with shortswords. This ranger has a -1 to dex. Spellcasting? -1 to wisdom. Survival? -1 to wisdom. Charisma and int monkey? Have fun with just a +2.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
Wizard wearing padded armor and with no spells prepared.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
I would like to add a condition to make it more challenging. The character will be played as powerfully as it can be. This means that equipment and in game choices aren't the limiting factors. Otherwise you end up with boring solutions like a pacifist barbarian.
Artificer with 8 int and low dex. 95% of the artificers class abilites scale off int. You're not just hurting their turn by turn stuff like attack mods and spell DCs, your hurting every class ability in their book + amount of prepped spells.
Obviously you use infusions to make useless items/buff party members.
A low STR/DEX unarmed Drow Wizard wearing padded armor is pretty much useless since it can't cast spell or make ranged attacks and totally sucks in melee.
Another good one is a Barbarian with 8 STR and 8 CON, low HP can't tank, can't hit anything, can't cast spells.. make it a Small race so it's even worse a grappling...
Maybe that instead of theorizing useless builds, we can theorize useless builds that are useless no matter what the PC does? All the PC choices are PC choices, except for what makes the character. For instance, the player chooses whether or not to wear armor. They choose what weapon to use, given that they have the money to. They decide combat tactics, feats, and later features that are option based. They choose whatever is possible beyond the level they are on, which is preferably 1 or 3.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/95369897
Technically possible. Does not leave out anything that D&D beyond wants you to choose so as to prevent a player from claiming those items post.
Left out subclass because although I have it wild magic sorcerer is not available on D&D beyond for those who don't want to buy the same thing twice
Only improvement I can think off the top of my head is a heavy weapon to give them disadvantage which is why I chose halfling.
[roll]7d6[/roll]
Every post these dice roll increasing my chances of winning the yahtzee thread (I wish (wait not the twist the wish threa-!))
Drummer Generated Title
After having been invited to include both here, I now combine the "PM me CHEESE 🧀 and tomato into PM me "PIZZA🍕"
Should also add, use standard array or point buy with all points spent.