My DM has announced that he is going to start running Tyranny of Dragons with us in the next month or so, now that our other game has ended. I have done nothing but gush about D&D to my family and my Dad has said he'd like to have a go. He wants to play, but he doesn't want to commit to playing regularly and likes the idea of his character coming and going. Are there any race/class combinations that would suit this? He has played a little before (2 one-shots) and likes the cheeky kind of characters. His previous one-shot characters were a mild mannered (until you piss him off) half-orc monk and an adulterating, beer driven dwarf barbarian!
I don't think race or class matter to play this kind of character.
You could go for a mysterious ninja that disappears without warning, a nature loving hermit who prefers to be away from humanoids, a simple minded type that wanders off and gets lost, a traveling merchant that has business elsewhere, a charlatan that skips town after conning some NPCs, or a soldier/hero who has other duties to attend to.
Those were just off the top of my head and several combinations of races and classes could fit any of them.
So assuming your dm is on board, I think this is better handled with backstory. The char could have a debt or responsibility that pulls them away. My thoughts are cleric or paladin that helps when they can but is sent on a mission by their church when the player isn't around. Warlock could have something similar with their patron. Alternately I've had friends who picked up a cursed item which "randomly"(read when they can't make it) shunts them into another plane of existence and back.
Honestly I wouldn’t have your main tank main healer or main caster away. Anyone else works. I would play a Monk as they are very helpful but not essential. Another recommendation is Rogue, as they provide lots of utility and some decent damage but don’t do anything full casters can’t do.
I second the Warlock patron duties thing. If he likes being cheeky, an Archfey patron can make for some antics.
He can also play a clueless but good hearted Paladin that is always distracted by mini side quests to save kittens or what-not. If you’ve ever seen The Tick, that’s the personality I have in mind.
Yeah, obviously, the party needs to be able to support itself without him.
I think avoid mages, just because if the character is going to pop in and out, that would incentivise going nuclear on the enemy, which might make the encounters less interesting for ... everyone else. A spellcaster who doesn't have to think long term is a pretty boring character. Other than that, whatever appeals to your father, really. Maybe a rogue-- pretty straight forward and is generally pretty useful: in and out of combat. They also have a reputation for being "cheeky".
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I don't think race or class matter to play this kind of character.
You could go for a mysterious ninja that disappears without warning, a nature loving hermit who prefers to be away from humanoids, a simple minded type that wanders off and gets lost, a traveling merchant that has business elsewhere, a charlatan that skips town after conning some NPCs, or a soldier/hero who has other duties to attend to.
Those were just off the top of my head and several combinations of races and classes could fit any of them.
So assuming your dm is on board, I think this is better handled with backstory. The char could have a debt or responsibility that pulls them away. My thoughts are cleric or paladin that helps when they can but is sent on a mission by their church when the player isn't around. Warlock could have something similar with their patron. Alternately I've had friends who picked up a cursed item which "randomly"(read when they can't make it) shunts them into another plane of existence and back.
Honestly I wouldn’t have your main tank main healer or main caster away. Anyone else works. I would play a Monk as they are very helpful but not essential. Another recommendation is Rogue, as they provide lots of utility and some decent damage but don’t do anything full casters can’t do.
I second the Warlock patron duties thing. If he likes being cheeky, an Archfey patron can make for some antics.
He can also play a clueless but good hearted Paladin that is always distracted by mini side quests to save kittens or what-not. If you’ve ever seen The Tick, that’s the personality I have in mind.
Ask him what types of characters he finds interesting.
Now just pick a class that matches that and give him some backstory reason to have to leave regularly.
Yeah, obviously, the party needs to be able to support itself without him.
I think avoid mages, just because if the character is going to pop in and out, that would incentivise going nuclear on the enemy, which might make the encounters less interesting for ... everyone else. A spellcaster who doesn't have to think long term is a pretty boring character. Other than that, whatever appeals to your father, really. Maybe a rogue-- pretty straight forward and is generally pretty useful: in and out of combat. They also have a reputation for being "cheeky".