This is currently more of a theory craft exercise, but I’m looking for advice and intellectual ping-pong about a Swarmkeeper + Circle of Stars Leonin designed for battlefield control.
Why Swarmkeeper? Extra single-target damage or moving your opponents 15 feat = excellent battlefield control and striker balance
Why Circle of Stars? Free guiding bolts + Starry Form + Cosmic Omen = fantastic versatility and combat support skills
Why Leonin? Cause a lawful good white lion roaming the land - and surrounded with shimmering dragonflies and sparkling beatles - sounds like a character I’d like to roleplay.
Combined with wild shape and ranger features for utility, that sounds like a well-rounded and very front-loaded character, both in and out of combat.
That being said, I’m not sure how to build it from scratch. Lvl 1 Druid ? Wis save, but no martial weapon. Lvl 1 Ranger ? Longbow, but very meh saves. Then do you push ranger lvl 5 for ASI/feat and extra attacks? Or switch to full Druid after lvl 3 ranger for maximum spell slots? DEX>WIS or WIS>DEX? Maxing out my ability scores or taking feats? Sharpshooter? War Caster? Resilient Con? Fey Touched w/ Bless?
As you may have guessed, I have zero experience with multiclass. I’m not trying to make a broken character, just a satisfying ranged support build that will make good use of its action and bonus action. Any advice?
Keep in mind that using a bow is going to pull you in two different directions as you will have both DEX and WIS as primary stats. Extra Attacks at Ranger 5 is probably worth it if you go this way, but delaying ASIs will hurt. I'd only go 3-5 levels into Ranger because Cosmic Omen is so good - assuming you get that high.
Starting level would hinge on how badly you want a longbow, then take druid to 2, then Ranger to 3, and by then you should have a good idea of where you want to go from there.
I do know that it’s gonna be a competition between DEX and WIS, and that by going Ranger 5 I’m delaying spells - not so much ASIs, only by one level.
I’m just really worried that without two attacks on regular turns, I won’t be able to activate Gathered Swarm so often. Is there any option for Druid to make multiple attacks beyond the archer starry form? Spell sniper for eldritch blast? That feels like a bad idea, unless I play it as a custom lineage or a variant human.
Beyond this Ranger 1 —> Druid 2 —> Ranger 5 —> Druid 6, I could see a Druid 2 —> Ranger 4 —> Druid 6 pathway that focuses on frostbite + archer form to activate the swarm, gets proficiency in WIS saving throw and benefits from a better spell progression? I can always reflavor the spell casting as longbow shots for the cool factor. It generates a far less MAD character, considering I can go for hide + shield to increase my AC, max Wisdom and have Con as my secondary stat.
Sounds like if I want higher damage, a vanilla Swarmkeeper is better in any case. Though I have to admit I’m much less interested in it past level 5, which is what gave me the idea of multiclass into Druid.
In order to get a better sense, I made a DnDBeyond character sheet for Ranger 5 —> Druid 6, as custom lineage with sharpshooter: https://ddb.ac/characters/57890951/0mmaH3
Best starry form is probably Dragon to maintain concentration on all those spells. DPR seems pretty high to me, and all the control spells (web, summon fey, heat metal, faerie fire). Also, 21 passive perception, DM is probably gonna be pissed 😅
Take a look and let me know what you would do differently !
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Hi everyone!
This is currently more of a theory craft exercise, but I’m looking for advice and intellectual ping-pong about a Swarmkeeper + Circle of Stars Leonin designed for battlefield control.
Why Swarmkeeper? Extra single-target damage or moving your opponents 15 feat = excellent battlefield control and striker balance
Why Circle of Stars? Free guiding bolts + Starry Form + Cosmic Omen = fantastic versatility and combat support skills
Why Leonin? Cause a lawful good white lion roaming the land - and surrounded with shimmering dragonflies and sparkling beatles - sounds like a character I’d like to roleplay.
Combined with wild shape and ranger features for utility, that sounds like a well-rounded and very front-loaded character, both in and out of combat.
That being said, I’m not sure how to build it from scratch. Lvl 1 Druid ? Wis save, but no martial weapon. Lvl 1 Ranger ? Longbow, but very meh saves. Then do you push ranger lvl 5 for ASI/feat and extra attacks? Or switch to full Druid after lvl 3 ranger for maximum spell slots? DEX>WIS or WIS>DEX? Maxing out my ability scores or taking feats? Sharpshooter? War Caster? Resilient Con? Fey Touched w/ Bless?
As you may have guessed, I have zero experience with multiclass. I’m not trying to make a broken character, just a satisfying ranged support build that will make good use of its action and bonus action. Any advice?
Keep in mind that using a bow is going to pull you in two different directions as you will have both DEX and WIS as primary stats. Extra Attacks at Ranger 5 is probably worth it if you go this way, but delaying ASIs will hurt. I'd only go 3-5 levels into Ranger because Cosmic Omen is so good - assuming you get that high.
Starting level would hinge on how badly you want a longbow, then take druid to 2, then Ranger to 3, and by then you should have a good idea of where you want to go from there.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Thanks!
I do know that it’s gonna be a competition between DEX and WIS, and that by going Ranger 5 I’m delaying spells - not so much ASIs, only by one level.
I’m just really worried that without two attacks on regular turns, I won’t be able to activate Gathered Swarm so often. Is there any option for Druid to make multiple attacks beyond the archer starry form? Spell sniper for eldritch blast? That feels like a bad idea, unless I play it as a custom lineage or a variant human.
Beyond this Ranger 1 —> Druid 2 —> Ranger 5 —> Druid 6, I could see a Druid 2 —> Ranger 4 —> Druid 6 pathway that focuses on frostbite + archer form to activate the swarm, gets proficiency in WIS saving throw and benefits from a better spell progression? I can always reflavor the spell casting as longbow shots for the cool factor. It generates a far less MAD character, considering I can go for hide + shield to increase my AC, max Wisdom and have Con as my secondary stat.
Sounds like if I want higher damage, a vanilla Swarmkeeper is better in any case. Though I have to admit I’m much less interested in it past level 5, which is what gave me the idea of multiclass into Druid.
In order to get a better sense, I made a DnDBeyond character sheet for Ranger 5 —> Druid 6, as custom lineage with sharpshooter: https://ddb.ac/characters/57890951/0mmaH3
Best starry form is probably Dragon to maintain concentration on all those spells. DPR seems pretty high to me, and all the control spells (web, summon fey, heat metal, faerie fire). Also, 21 passive perception, DM is probably gonna be pissed 😅
Take a look and let me know what you would do differently !