This is another fun character and I love the inclusion of Horizon walker. It's very good but it will have huge problems against anything that can stay out of range.
Actually, though my build's obvious focus is on melee combat and tanking, with Spiritual Weapon, Flame Strike, Magic Missile, and access to other ranged damage spells from both the Druid and Cleric spell lists, they can do ranged combat if absolutely necessary. With Hold Person and other control spells, they are also decent at getting into melee.
Just a quick correction, and I'm glad you liked my build and character!
Yeah, I might have been a bit unclear, sorry about that. You're absolutely right that the build has ranged options. I was mostly commenting on the use of BB/GFB/Holy Weapon as a main damage dealer. If your opponent can stay out of range of that, it will be a problem is what I meant.
I mean, sure. You are correct. It is not amazing at ranged combat, which isn't its focus. It can be good at it, but is not amazing at it. Just the same way that Paladins don't focus on ranged combat. If the opponent can stay out of range of this build, it would be just as bad for this character as it would be for most ranged characters when they to go into melee.
No real point in arguing this, though. Good luck to all of you!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
I've tallied the votes and added the list to the OP, but:
Congratulations to Yurei1453's 'Yferna the Fewwarden'
Three out of four wins, who will challenge 5e Throwdowns returning champ in our next, our first seasonal (!), challenge?
As is now tradition, Yurei1453 if you would like a sketch of your winning entry then please PM me.
A quick note: Unfortunately I had to disqualify two builds this time around for not having poster votes, please remember everyone that you must submit a vote for your build to be considered eligible to win!
Thanks everyone for competing and I'll see you later today in the next throwdown.
Ha. It's called vhuman with grappler, but 8 str and probs a sorcerer that burns through spell slots. Use points for heightened or something else not so good. Done!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
Ha. It's called vhuman with grappler, but 8 str and probs a sorcerer that burns through spell slots. Use points for heightened or something else not so good. Done!
Nah it is a barbarian/sorcerer
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Do the most useless character. Yurei CANT win at that
As a consistent RP pal of his for the past 20 years, I assure you of your wrongness on levels I wish I weren't familiar with.
That said GG Spooky.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I once knew this fella, Aasimar raised in the Underdark. Was like a brother to me. When he escaped we couldn't take much with us. Poor, emaciated husks of the living we were. 'ts okay though. We survived and made our ways. I'll never forget the way the people from my home looked at us when we walked in the archway. Though, I'm frighteningly certain the feelings they would have, had they but the opportunity ta see us leave." --Manolovo the Traitor, Memoirs of a Scoundrel
Congratulations on the win. I enjoyed the build quite a bit. I originally planned to put a build in, but then I figured I have a hard enough time optimizing competitive builds for these contests when there’s actually a clear goal.
I never got to this before, and I apologize. Life intruding all around. I can’t offer the usual analyses, but I’ll try and share at least a few words, however belated they may be. Regardless, thanks for playing everybody. These are always fun to watch and participate in.
Slithering Doom: This is a curious mix of traits that seems to center on bolstering the use of Wild Shape combat forms, assuming that all the monk’s assorted munkpunchery features work in wild shape. The character functions well in its role as a guardian of its temple and is almost entirely unreliant on gear. It’s got a lot of longevity with Wild Shapes, but its reliance on Wildshape forms for the brunt of its combat and its limited ki pool unfortunately leaves it off the champion’s altar this time.
Okay, Boomer: I’m tempted to clump this in with the nova builds despite the fact that Sir Okay is not actually built for nova. I’ve seen a lot of nonsense with GFB/BB, but this one really does take it to an extreme. Half-plate on a druid is a bit of a faux pas, but all right. The actual layering of abilities gives Okay one seriously heckin’ large whack every turn even with minimal spell investment, which is definitely better than burning every resource you have for a bunch of damage once a day. It’s a somewhat fragile combo though, reliant on a one-HP fox to grant advantage on its one swing a turn and with a lot of moving pieces to get going in the right order. A great build, but too specialized for my blood.
Whertvoll Bernstein: Feels a little weird to rate this build after spending the last six-odd months talking to you about it, but a’ight, here we at. Whertvoll is a fun theme build and quite good at her job of being a chatty little two-timing shitkicker, but I’m not super sure why you entered her in a Powergamer competition, Maker. She does have more utility than I figured she would have at higher levels, but the loss of those sweet, juicy 15th-level invocations physically pains me. And you know full well my opinion of the Crab Familiar Blindsight nonsense x_x. Nevertheless, Whertvoll is amusing, if even more of a nuisance than the fox.
Tamsin Li, the Viper: And now to rate the level 20 build of a character I’m actively playing a campaign with. Awks Factor 9, Scotty. All right. Tamsin was actually almost my vote, since she lines up with the same ethos for ‘optimization’ that I hold – namely, being good at combat is the baseline for being competent, not the thing you optimize for. Tamsin can deal a ton of damage and is gear independent (mostly), and she’s got a lot of skill and utility outside the fight. I like the use of Kensei, highly underappreciated monk class that fits the design pretty well. If this-with-magic-items is what we’re looking forward to in Grave of Saints, it’s gonna be a good run.
“Bastard”, the Regent’s Enforcer: This is what I ended up voting for, and for most of the same reasons I cited under Tamsin. Being really good at combat is the baseline, not the finish goal, for optimization. I dithered for nearly half an hour between Tamsin and Bastard, honestly. The Bastard deals less damage than Tamsin does given the lack of Assassinate and it ends up with one less ASI boost, but the Bastard’s got a slightly better skill spread, better access to bolstering magic, and magical attacks with all his strikes via Kensei 6. Tamsin is a better striker and assassin, but the Bastard’s a more versatile character and I deeply prize versatility. In the end, the Bastard got the nod.
Sett, The BOSS: The BOSS comes back for a second round with a ballsy unarmed combat build. This is an interesting mix of traits trying to make a Natsu Dragneel-esque Dragon Puncher, and I do dig the vibe. Interception doesn’t work without a weapon or shield in hand though, and the low Charisma seriously hampers the otherwise excellent Conquest abilities and fantastic oath spell list. Still a very powerful duelist and someone not to be trifled with, and a great example of the sort of Strength-based fistbrawler build the CFVs UA made possible – if Sett can land a Fear and pin somebody down that somebody will Have A Bad Time. But man...Conquest paladins are so reliant on their Charisma to land their Fears and Sett just doesn’t quite make it.
The Arsonist: I don’t actually know if one can be both a Winged tiffle and a Zariel tiffle. But heck, why not. Also I wish I was allowed to play Winged tiffles q_q. Anyways. On subject. Here’s our Nova build, also built around Green Flame Blade and augmenting damage via smites and numerous class features. Gets around the hexblade ban with Shillelagh (which, to be fair, just means he joins half the builds in this contest), and devotes virtually every level to ways of increasing single-turn nova damage to extreme heights. Sadly, this means he’s kinda not great at anything else – Actor and Mask of Many Faces makes for a good provocateur, but the character is restricted to mid-level casting and not much of that if it wants to burn all its spell slots on Smite. The character can hammer one critter in melee range into the dirt, but doesn’t extend much beyond the baseline after that. Sorry, Superior Beef.
Drakken, Knight of the Fell Wood: This one disappeared between the Throwdown and when I mustered the womanpower to write this post, so I can’t review it to say much about it. It was a different twist though, with a neat little goal of maximizing the number of short-rest special actions you could do. What I recall of the build beyond that didn’t seem like it made particularly effective use of all those special actions though, so while it was a neat exercise in unconventional character building, I couldn’t vote for it.
I mean, sure. You are correct. It is not amazing at ranged combat, which isn't its focus. It can be good at it, but is not amazing at it. Just the same way that Paladins don't focus on ranged combat. If the opponent can stay out of range of this build, it would be just as bad for this character as it would be for most ranged characters when they to go into melee.
No real point in arguing this, though. Good luck to all of you!
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Last couple of hours. Get the votes in guys, sway the balance (don't want another two in a row for some people)
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Voting is now closed
I will total the votes and announce the winner later today, good luck all!
Subscribe to our channel for character builds, roleplay and DM tips: www.youtube.com/c/dorkforge
Interested in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything? Check out our playlist on Youtube
Please feel free to message us with any requests or build challenges!
Hey, any update on this?
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Sorry, real life butted in!
I've tallied the votes and added the list to the OP, but:
Congratulations to Yurei1453's 'Yferna the Fewwarden'
Three out of four wins, who will challenge 5e Throwdowns returning champ in our next, our first seasonal (!), challenge?
As is now tradition, Yurei1453 if you would like a sketch of your winning entry then please PM me.
A quick note: Unfortunately I had to disqualify two builds this time around for not having poster votes, please remember everyone that you must submit a vote for your build to be considered eligible to win!
Thanks everyone for competing and I'll see you later today in the next throwdown.
Subscribe to our channel for character builds, roleplay and DM tips: www.youtube.com/c/dorkforge
Interested in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything? Check out our playlist on Youtube
Please feel free to message us with any requests or build challenges!
GG yurei. The final vote could've gone to anyone, this comp was a lot harder. Can't wait for the next one!
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
GG Yurei! Again! I have won once (By accident) so I can do it again!
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
At this rate, is Yurei becoming the BBEG of the Throwdowns for everyone to takedown? Hmm....
Subscribe to our channel for character builds, roleplay and DM tips: www.youtube.com/c/dorkforge
Interested in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything? Check out our playlist on Youtube
Please feel free to message us with any requests or build challenges!
Just make a frickin mage build. I can't lose then. Or ultimate seasonal character. Or just not physical characters!!
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Do the most useless character. Yurei CANT win at that
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Ha. It's called vhuman with grappler, but 8 str and probs a sorcerer that burns through spell slots. Use points for heightened or something else not so good. Done!
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Nah it is a barbarian/sorcerer
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Haha both.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Congrats, Yurei. You deserved it.
I can't wait for the next one!
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
As a consistent RP pal of his for the past 20 years, I assure you of your wrongness on levels I wish I weren't familiar with.
That said GG Spooky.
"I once knew this fella, Aasimar raised in the Underdark. Was like a brother to me. When he escaped we couldn't take much with us. Poor, emaciated husks of the living we were. 'ts okay though. We survived and made our ways. I'll never forget the way the people from my home looked at us when we walked in the archway. Though, I'm frighteningly certain the feelings they would have, had they but the opportunity ta see us leave." --Manolovo the Traitor, Memoirs of a Scoundrel
Congratulations on the win. I enjoyed the build quite a bit. I originally planned to put a build in, but then I figured I have a hard enough time optimizing competitive builds for these contests when there’s actually a clear goal.
Well s**t
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
I never got to this before, and I apologize. Life intruding all around. I can’t offer the usual analyses, but I’ll try and share at least a few words, however belated they may be. Regardless, thanks for playing everybody. These are always fun to watch and participate in.
Slithering Doom:
This is a curious mix of traits that seems to center on bolstering the use of Wild Shape combat forms, assuming that all the monk’s assorted munkpunchery features work in wild shape. The character functions well in its role as a guardian of its temple and is almost entirely unreliant on gear. It’s got a lot of longevity with Wild Shapes, but its reliance on Wildshape forms for the brunt of its combat and its limited ki pool unfortunately leaves it off the champion’s altar this time.
Okay, Boomer:
I’m tempted to clump this in with the nova builds despite the fact that Sir Okay is not actually built for nova. I’ve seen a lot of nonsense with GFB/BB, but this one really does take it to an extreme. Half-plate on a druid is a bit of a faux pas, but all right. The actual layering of abilities gives Okay one seriously heckin’ large whack every turn even with minimal spell investment, which is definitely better than burning every resource you have for a bunch of damage once a day. It’s a somewhat fragile combo though, reliant on a one-HP fox to grant advantage on its one swing a turn and with a lot of moving pieces to get going in the right order. A great build, but too specialized for my blood.
Whertvoll Bernstein:
Feels a little weird to rate this build after spending the last six-odd months talking to you about it, but a’ight, here we at. Whertvoll is a fun theme build and quite good at her job of being a chatty little two-timing shitkicker, but I’m not super sure why you entered her in a Powergamer competition, Maker. She does have more utility than I figured she would have at higher levels, but the loss of those sweet, juicy 15th-level invocations physically pains me. And you know full well my opinion of the Crab Familiar Blindsight nonsense x_x. Nevertheless, Whertvoll is amusing, if even more of a nuisance than the fox.
Tamsin Li, the Viper:
And now to rate the level 20 build of a character I’m actively playing a campaign with. Awks Factor 9, Scotty. All right. Tamsin was actually almost my vote, since she lines up with the same ethos for ‘optimization’ that I hold – namely, being good at combat is the baseline for being competent, not the thing you optimize for. Tamsin can deal a ton of damage and is gear independent (mostly), and she’s got a lot of skill and utility outside the fight. I like the use of Kensei, highly underappreciated monk class that fits the design pretty well. If this-with-magic-items is what we’re looking forward to in Grave of Saints, it’s gonna be a good run.
“Bastard”, the Regent’s Enforcer:
This is what I ended up voting for, and for most of the same reasons I cited under Tamsin. Being really good at combat is the baseline, not the finish goal, for optimization. I dithered for nearly half an hour between Tamsin and Bastard, honestly. The Bastard deals less damage than Tamsin does given the lack of Assassinate and it ends up with one less ASI boost, but the Bastard’s got a slightly better skill spread, better access to bolstering magic, and magical attacks with all his strikes via Kensei 6. Tamsin is a better striker and assassin, but the Bastard’s a more versatile character and I deeply prize versatility. In the end, the Bastard got the nod.
Sett, The BOSS:
The BOSS comes back for a second round with a ballsy unarmed combat build. This is an interesting mix of traits trying to make a Natsu Dragneel-esque Dragon Puncher, and I do dig the vibe. Interception doesn’t work without a weapon or shield in hand though, and the low Charisma seriously hampers the otherwise excellent Conquest abilities and fantastic oath spell list. Still a very powerful duelist and someone not to be trifled with, and a great example of the sort of Strength-based fistbrawler build the CFVs UA made possible – if Sett can land a Fear and pin somebody down that somebody will Have A Bad Time. But man...Conquest paladins are so reliant on their Charisma to land their Fears and Sett just doesn’t quite make it.
The Arsonist:
I don’t actually know if one can be both a Winged tiffle and a Zariel tiffle. But heck, why not. Also I wish I was allowed to play Winged tiffles q_q. Anyways. On subject. Here’s our Nova build, also built around Green Flame Blade and augmenting damage via smites and numerous class features. Gets around the hexblade ban with Shillelagh (which, to be fair, just means he joins half the builds in this contest), and devotes virtually every level to ways of increasing single-turn nova damage to extreme heights. Sadly, this means he’s kinda not great at anything else – Actor and Mask of Many Faces makes for a good provocateur, but the character is restricted to mid-level casting and not much of that if it wants to burn all its spell slots on Smite. The character can hammer one critter in melee range into the dirt, but doesn’t extend much beyond the baseline after that. Sorry, Superior Beef.
Drakken, Knight of the Fell Wood:
This one disappeared between the Throwdown and when I mustered the womanpower to write this post, so I can’t review it to say much about it. It was a different twist though, with a neat little goal of maximizing the number of short-rest special actions you could do. What I recall of the build beyond that didn’t seem like it made particularly effective use of all those special actions though, so while it was a neat exercise in unconventional character building, I couldn’t vote for it.
Please do not contact or message me.
NGL, I like superior beef :D
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.