So I am about to start a campaign, and I really want to play a sword and board fighter, specifically a battle master. We will be starting at level 1, and my DM is letting me use the customizing your origin features from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and I was planning on playing a half-elf. Preferably, I'll be DEX based and using a rapier in one hand and a shield in the other, because I really like the idea of my fighter using precision and skill to attack instead of raw strength. However, the shield master feat sounded like it would be fun, and that is better for a STR based build given that the shove would require an athletics check. I'd also like to have decent insight and perception, so I was planning on putting points into WIS. I haven't had much luck with research and I'm not sure what feats/maneuvers to take. So far, this is how I plan to start:
Race: Half Elf
Origin ability scores: +2 DEX, +1 CON, +1 Wisdom
Proficiency: Athletics, Insight
Class: Fighter
Proficiency: Acrobatics, Perception
Fighting style: Dueling
Ability Scores: STR 10, DEX 15 (17 total), CON 15 (16), INT 10, WIS 13 (14), CHA 10
Background: Fey lost
As for my progression, I was going to take battle master at level 3, though I'm unsure which maneuvers to take. At level 4 I was thinking that I would take resilient or skill expert for a DEX increase, rounding out to 18. I figured that if I end up take skill expert, I should double acrobatics, though athletics would help if I take shield master later. As for level 6, I don't know if it would be better to max out my DEX or take a feat.
I'm okay with changing around the base scores, and I'm open to being custom lineage instead of half elf. I'm unsure what equipment to start with, and I also don't know what feats to take and when. Any and all feedback is appreciated.
Rapier Breastplate Armor + Shield + Dex max 2 = AC 18 Studded Leather Armor + Shield + Dex +3 = AC 17 So IMO Breastplate is good until you either find magic studded leather or increase dex to 18 or 20.
Are you allowed to use the Strixhaven backgrounds? You could use one of them to get Mage Armor for 8 hours a day without needing to multiclass. That's 13 + 3 (highest starting Dex Mod with standard array or point buy) + 2 (shield) = 18AC at L1, with a shield and no armor, and it doesn't cap the benefits you get from Dexterity.
Taking Fighter to L5 gives you your extra attack and an ASI to get your Dexterity to 18, which is really nice.
A four-level dip into Swashbuckler Rogue is amazing, and if your first level is in Rogue, you have the extra benefits of a couple Expertise and more proficiencies than you'd otherwise have, on top of the new options to use your Bonus actions on, and the fact that your first hit every turn should deal that extra Sneak Attack Damage, because of the multitude of triggers you have for it that don't rely on stealth. That 4th level of Rogue gets you that next ASI to get your Dexterity up to 20, and I personally really like putting an Expertise into Perception right out of the gate by taking Rogue at 1st level.
Thanks, but I’m pretty committed to the Feylost background. Multiclassing into swashbuckler rogue sounds good, but I’ll probably only take a few levels since we already have rogue.
Were you going with a point buy system for your attributes?
Regardless, I think you're probably going to have to make a call on whether or not to take shield master or not based on whether you intend to have strength, since athletics alone (even with expertise) likely won't be enough to make it reliable (to say nothing of how shoving is cross purposed to the idea that you're going for with a light duelist which would be more about sticking it out in melee or disengaging); might I suggest taking the mobile feat instead so that you can maximize your agility instead?
For maneuvers you could always take Pushing Attack in place of the Shueld Master feat. It cuts out the need for Athletics but you wouldn't get the other benefits from the feat and you would be limited by the number of Superiority Die you have. Other good maneuvers for your theme are Riposte and Lunging Attack. If you want to min-max you should consider taking Goading Attack as you have a high AC. Others that don't necessarily fit the theme you're going for but are good nonetheless, Menacing Attack for free advantage, and Precision Attack for hard to hit creatures.
For feats Magic Initiate could be fun, getting Mage Armor and Booming Blade. For style points go for Defensive Duelist, not the greatest feat but definitely fits the theme.
I like Precision Attack as you can roll the dice as a booster after you roll to attack so if you are miles off no point but if you think you are close I can easily change a miss to a hit. Riposte is good as it is a chance of an extra attack.
Are you protecting yourself, doing max damage or protecting your companions? If it is the later I would suggest that Bait and Switch, Menacing, and Trip give the best battlefield control.
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So I am about to start a campaign, and I really want to play a sword and board fighter, specifically a battle master. We will be starting at level 1, and my DM is letting me use the customizing your origin features from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, and I was planning on playing a half-elf. Preferably, I'll be DEX based and using a rapier in one hand and a shield in the other, because I really like the idea of my fighter using precision and skill to attack instead of raw strength. However, the shield master feat sounded like it would be fun, and that is better for a STR based build given that the shove would require an athletics check. I'd also like to have decent insight and perception, so I was planning on putting points into WIS. I haven't had much luck with research and I'm not sure what feats/maneuvers to take. So far, this is how I plan to start:
As for my progression, I was going to take battle master at level 3, though I'm unsure which maneuvers to take. At level 4 I was thinking that I would take resilient or skill expert for a DEX increase, rounding out to 18. I figured that if I end up take skill expert, I should double acrobatics, though athletics would help if I take shield master later. As for level 6, I don't know if it would be better to max out my DEX or take a feat.
I'm okay with changing around the base scores, and I'm open to being custom lineage instead of half elf. I'm unsure what equipment to start with, and I also don't know what feats to take and when. Any and all feedback is appreciated.
Rapier
Breastplate Armor + Shield + Dex max 2 = AC 18
Studded Leather Armor + Shield + Dex +3 = AC 17
So IMO Breastplate is good until you either find magic studded leather or increase dex to 18 or 20.
Are you allowed to use the Strixhaven backgrounds? You could use one of them to get Mage Armor for 8 hours a day without needing to multiclass. That's 13 + 3 (highest starting Dex Mod with standard array or point buy) + 2 (shield) = 18AC at L1, with a shield and no armor, and it doesn't cap the benefits you get from Dexterity.
Taking Fighter to L5 gives you your extra attack and an ASI to get your Dexterity to 18, which is really nice.
A four-level dip into Swashbuckler Rogue is amazing, and if your first level is in Rogue, you have the extra benefits of a couple Expertise and more proficiencies than you'd otherwise have, on top of the new options to use your Bonus actions on, and the fact that your first hit every turn should deal that extra Sneak Attack Damage, because of the multitude of triggers you have for it that don't rely on stealth. That 4th level of Rogue gets you that next ASI to get your Dexterity up to 20, and I personally really like putting an Expertise into Perception right out of the gate by taking Rogue at 1st level.
Thanks, but I’m pretty committed to the Feylost background. Multiclassing into swashbuckler rogue sounds good, but I’ll probably only take a few levels since we already have rogue.
Were you going with a point buy system for your attributes?
Regardless, I think you're probably going to have to make a call on whether or not to take shield master or not based on whether you intend to have strength, since athletics alone (even with expertise) likely won't be enough to make it reliable (to say nothing of how shoving is cross purposed to the idea that you're going for with a light duelist which would be more about sticking it out in melee or disengaging); might I suggest taking the mobile feat instead so that you can maximize your agility instead?
For maneuvers you could always take Pushing Attack in place of the Shueld Master feat. It cuts out the need for Athletics but you wouldn't get the other benefits from the feat and you would be limited by the number of Superiority Die you have. Other good maneuvers for your theme are Riposte and Lunging Attack. If you want to min-max you should consider taking Goading Attack as you have a high AC. Others that don't necessarily fit the theme you're going for but are good nonetheless, Menacing Attack for free advantage, and Precision Attack for hard to hit creatures.
For feats Magic Initiate could be fun, getting Mage Armor and Booming Blade. For style points go for Defensive Duelist, not the greatest feat but definitely fits the theme.
Keep your friends close, and enemies closer.
I like Precision Attack as you can roll the dice as a booster after you roll to attack so if you are miles off no point but if you think you are close I can easily change a miss to a hit.
Riposte is good as it is a chance of an extra attack.
Are you protecting yourself, doing max damage or protecting your companions? If it is the later I would suggest that Bait and Switch, Menacing, and Trip give the best battlefield control.