In the campaign i currently play in, we've gone from level 1 - 13 using exp (so we've been going a WHILE) and the end is finally in sight (kinda!) so I'm starting the practice of daydreaming up new character ideas and wanna talk about em/get opinions other than my own!

Here's what I'm currently working with (in order of how much I've thought about them) Note: we will probably start at level 1 and it will be a full length, multi year campaign where we'll more than likely get to 15~ minimum

Hexblade Warlock: Grizzled, "do-it-for-the-money", "only-if-you-pay-me" Tabaxi treasure hunter/tomb raider who got locked in a tomb, made a deal with a lich/mummy/something sealed in a magic weapon. deal was "in exchange for you bringing this weapon back to my true tomb, Ill grant you power and all the treasure within."

Armorer Artificer: plain, boring, human farmer teenager who's too smart for his own good stumbles upon a mysterious collar. the collar is actually a marvel of technology and provides spell like abilities and knowledge through unknown machinery and a psychic link. all "spells" would be functions of the collar with it eventually becoming a full suit of armor. The collar would be almost parasitic in the sense that I would flavor it as being unable to be removed. (HEAVILY inspired by DC's Blue Beetle. I thought it would be a fun DnD thing to try!)

Wildfire Druid/Light Cleric(maybe): Using tasha's custom lineage and the "elemental adept" feat, be a sentient, humanoid shaped mass of perpetually smoldering vines and twigs covered by a cloak. The character wouldn't worship a deity so much as it would worship the cleansing properties of Fire itself. The characters reason for adventuring would be to discover what exactly it is, and why it is alive. It wouldn't have a name and when asked would respond with "usually called 'it'... or 'Thing'...."

Drakewarden Ranger: I literally have nothing for this one, but come on! dragon tamer? how cool is that?? 

I have built that druid/cleric combination, although mine was a phoenix-flavored aarakocra. I like the way these subclasses work together a lot thematically. Where to split is tough though - I think my plan was 2 levels of druid, then 5 of cleric for Fireball, then all druid from there.

I've wanted to play a Drakewarden ranger since the UA came out, but I really like the idea of playing a strength-based ranger and trying to grab a heavy armor prof early on and play like a knight with a dragon companion. Would be cool. 

Drakewarden!!! This is most likely going to be my next character.  Can't wait to see the final version which will most likely be in Fizban's!

Drakewarden is something I am also going to be using when Fizban finishes his book, and I agree that this is an amazing subclass. No competition, just go out and train a dragon

I just wrapped up a campaign where I played a Wildfire Druid and I gotta say, the AOE teleport is clutch. As a druid you're already a master of battlefield control, but add in the ability to let huge clusters of your party to freely reposition every single round? Just fantastic fun. Hard to explain just how must utility it really is.

Your pet can fly. It take your bonus action to command it, but it'll zip around through the air, drop down, and Poof. AOE teleport. Everyone within 5ft of it gets a 15ft teleport. And any enemies in that area are eating fire damage.

Combos really with other battlefield control. Entangle? Faire Fire? Spike Growth? Easy. 

What I found really great was the ability to Ready an aoe spell on my turn, use my bonus action to send my pet to swoop in an yoink the allies who are in the way out of there, and immediately drop the aoe spell afterwards.

Just so much fun. Plus you can still wildshape, when the need calls for it. Yes, wildshape use competes against your pet summons, but in a pinch you can both have the pet out and be wildshaped.