Me and my friends will be starting Rime of the Frostmaiden as a party of 5 and I'm looking for some suggestion brainstorming ideas for a build. Based off of the ideas we've shared thus far it looks like we'll be going with: an Oath of the Ancients Paladin, a Moon Druid, a Life Cleric, a Mastermind Rogue, and then me as the Beast Master Ranger.
For starters, I'm really sold on the roleplay and theme of being a Half-Goliath, Half-Orc Half-Breed and I think we all know why so I suppose this means I'll be using the Custom Lineage option. I've opted to go for an Archery build, taking Dex +2 for my stat increase, Dark Vision, and Piercer as my starting feat (the roleplay flavor behind this being that my big Goliath-Orc can draw his longbow with such strength his arrows can pierce any beast's armor. Also its 3rd effect kinda simulates the Half-Orc race feat and he's technically Half-Orc so eh it works I guess). I'm also trying to talk my DM into letting me get Powerful Build, so I can roleplay the part without having my knees buckle under carrying the weight of anything over 150 lbs.
What I was wondering whether or not it was worth starting as Fighter for the Second Fighting Style, or generally what would best cover for my team.
Archery/Dueling: Medium Armor, Longbow, Rapier/Shield; the idea here is that I mostly fight at range but if for any reason I need to be in melee or be defensive I can switch as needed without compromising much in the way of damage.
Archery/Druidic Warrior: Light Armor, Longbow, two Druid cantrips: I was thinking Guidance and Shape Water perhaps? I'd probably have to check with my Druid & Paladin and see what cantrips they plan on taking and plan around that.
Pure Archery Ranger: Light/Medium Armor, Longbow, shortswords. Vanilla flavor.
All options will pick up Sharpshooter at Ranger 4. In terms of Features, I'll be taking: Favored Foe and Primal Awareness; however, I'm considering sticking to Natural Explorer as opposed to Deft Explorer since this campaign is one of the few settings I can expect to consistently be in my terrain. Maybe.
Since this is Icewind Dale, the campaign will be going to lvl 12. Looking forward to your ideas and suggestions for how to build my character~
Medium Armor provides the same AC as Light Armor when you have 18 dex or above. If you take the Medium Armor Master feat, then Medium Armor provides one extra AC.
Consider use a custom Background and change the Athletics to Acrobatics if you are playing Pure Archery Ranger.
Medium Armor provides the same AC as Light Armor when you have 18 dex or above. If you take the Medium Armor Master feat, then Medium Armor provides one extra AC.
Consider use a custom Background and change the Athletics to Acrobatics if you are playing Pure Archery Ranger.
All three options are good.
Do you find yourself getting much use out of Acrobatics? Since about summer I've been playing Monk (albeit it's a Str/Barb multiclass), this character has both Athletics and Acrobatics proficiency and I've found a lot more situation to make use of Athletics or otherwise was forced by the DM to make an athletics check, whereas Acrobatics rarely comes up unless I go out of my way to think and imagine acrobatic maneuvers for my Monk to perform.
I could just be imagining it, but that's the impression I have so far.
1. I do agree this would be a very good campaign for Natural Explorer. However, giving up Deft Explorer seems to preclude you from it forever which is kind bad as a second terrian is likely going to be wasted and the 6th and 10th level features for Deft Explorer seem just better. Ultimately talk with the DM about how survival will go and if a survival check is the basis I would just go Deft Explorer and pick Survival for expertise. With the Outlander background you will be able to feed people I think.
2. Favored Foe is....okay. You will likely find use for it but its about as boring as it comes and is mechanically underwhelming IMO. Still better than Favored enemy though!
3. I would go leather/studded leather. Breastplate is the best medium armor that does not impose DIS on stealth and it is fairly expensive (450 gp) so its unlikely you will be able to afford for a bit or have it made in Rime.
4. I would go pure archery build as your spells from Primal Awareness alternative and your spell selection will likely be good enough for versatility. You could consider Fey Touched later on to get some more spells (Misty Step is never a bad option).
Make sure to look over the new beast companion options/rules from Tashas as they are a VAST improvement over the PHB version!
Medium Armor provides the same AC as Light Armor when you have 18 dex or above. If you take the Medium Armor Master feat, then Medium Armor provides one extra AC.
Consider use a custom Background and change the Athletics to Acrobatics if you are playing Pure Archery Ranger.
All three options are good.
Do you find yourself getting much use out of Acrobatics? Since about summer I've been playing Monk (albeit it's a Str/Barb multiclass), this character has both Athletics and Acrobatics proficiency and I've found a lot more situation to make use of Athletics or otherwise was forced by the DM to make an athletics check, whereas Acrobatics rarely comes up unless I go out of my way to think and imagine acrobatic maneuvers for my Monk to perform.
I could just be imagining it, but that's the impression I have so far.
That is more depending on the DM. We have about 20-ish sessions so far and we have not to be forced by the DM to make an athletics check yet but many Acrobatics checks. However, I do find myself need Athletics when I try to Shoving a Creature or Grappling. That been said, a Pure Archery Ranger may be too far away to use Shoving a Creature or Grappling (depending on the player). Also, people could choose between Acrobatics or Athletics in some situations by RAW.
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Me and my friends will be starting Rime of the Frostmaiden as a party of 5 and I'm looking for some suggestion brainstorming ideas for a build. Based off of the ideas we've shared thus far it looks like we'll be going with: an Oath of the Ancients Paladin, a Moon Druid, a Life Cleric, a Mastermind Rogue, and then me as the Beast Master Ranger.
For starters, I'm really sold on the roleplay and theme of being a Half-Goliath, Half-Orc Half-Breed and I think we all know why so I suppose this means I'll be using the Custom Lineage option. I've opted to go for an Archery build, taking Dex +2 for my stat increase, Dark Vision, and Piercer as my starting feat (the roleplay flavor behind this being that my big Goliath-Orc can draw his longbow with such strength his arrows can pierce any beast's armor. Also its 3rd effect kinda simulates the Half-Orc race feat and he's technically Half-Orc so eh it works I guess). I'm also trying to talk my DM into letting me get Powerful Build, so I can roleplay the part without having my knees buckle under carrying the weight of anything over 150 lbs.
Starting stats: Str: 10, Dex: 18, Con: 14, Int: 8, Wis: 14, Cha: 8
Background: Outlander
Proficiencies: Athletics, Animal Handling, Perception, Stealth, Survival
What I was wondering whether or not it was worth starting as Fighter for the Second Fighting Style, or generally what would best cover for my team.
Archery/Dueling: Medium Armor, Longbow, Rapier/Shield; the idea here is that I mostly fight at range but if for any reason I need to be in melee or be defensive I can switch as needed without compromising much in the way of damage.
Archery/Druidic Warrior: Light Armor, Longbow, two Druid cantrips: I was thinking Guidance and Shape Water perhaps? I'd probably have to check with my Druid & Paladin and see what cantrips they plan on taking and plan around that.
Pure Archery Ranger: Light/Medium Armor, Longbow, shortswords. Vanilla flavor.
All options will pick up Sharpshooter at Ranger 4. In terms of Features, I'll be taking: Favored Foe and Primal Awareness; however, I'm considering sticking to Natural Explorer as opposed to Deft Explorer since this campaign is one of the few settings I can expect to consistently be in my terrain. Maybe.
Since this is Icewind Dale, the campaign will be going to lvl 12. Looking forward to your ideas and suggestions for how to build my character~
Just to point out a few things:
Do you find yourself getting much use out of Acrobatics? Since about summer I've been playing Monk (albeit it's a Str/Barb multiclass), this character has both Athletics and Acrobatics proficiency and I've found a lot more situation to make use of Athletics or otherwise was forced by the DM to make an athletics check, whereas Acrobatics rarely comes up unless I go out of my way to think and imagine acrobatic maneuvers for my Monk to perform.
I could just be imagining it, but that's the impression I have so far.
Just take Acrobat Feat to gain a bonus on every acrobatic manouvers, avoidances, etc etc etc.
My Ready-to-rock&roll chars:
Dertinus Tristany // Amilcar Barca // Vicenç Sacrarius // Oriol Deulofeu // Grovtuk
1. I do agree this would be a very good campaign for Natural Explorer. However, giving up Deft Explorer seems to preclude you from it forever which is kind bad as a second terrian is likely going to be wasted and the 6th and 10th level features for Deft Explorer seem just better. Ultimately talk with the DM about how survival will go and if a survival check is the basis I would just go Deft Explorer and pick Survival for expertise. With the Outlander background you will be able to feed people I think.
2. Favored Foe is....okay. You will likely find use for it but its about as boring as it comes and is mechanically underwhelming IMO. Still better than Favored enemy though!
3. I would go leather/studded leather. Breastplate is the best medium armor that does not impose DIS on stealth and it is fairly expensive (450 gp) so its unlikely you will be able to afford for a bit or have it made in Rime.
4. I would go pure archery build as your spells from Primal Awareness alternative and your spell selection will likely be good enough for versatility. You could consider Fey Touched later on to get some more spells (Misty Step is never a bad option).
Make sure to look over the new beast companion options/rules from Tashas as they are a VAST improvement over the PHB version!
That is more depending on the DM. We have about 20-ish sessions so far and we have not to be forced by the DM to make an athletics check yet but many Acrobatics checks. However, I do find myself need Athletics when I try to Shoving a Creature or Grappling. That been said, a Pure Archery Ranger may be too far away to use Shoving a Creature or Grappling (depending on the player).
Also, people could choose between Acrobatics or Athletics in some situations by RAW.