I'm contemplating Hexblade / Thief multiclass for the campaign following our current one. I'm just getting back into D&D and am still learning 5e so any/all help is appreciated.
Campaign and Character Concept Notes:
Campaign will be coastal / seafaring
Played the healer this go around, would prefer a damage-dealer with other utility and RP value
Character Concept:
Warlock Hexblade / Rogue Thief
Race: Half-Elf or Half-Drow (if allowed)
Background: Criminal/Spy
Cartographer's Tools - Cartophraphy/Map-Making will be his day job (why he's on the ship)
Would love recommendations on class/level approach (which class to focus on for the first few levels)
Would like to use EB as the primary ranged attack
Would like to wield Greatsword as Hex/Pact weapon (GWM feat?) - outwardly others will see him carry daggers, in combat he'll manifest/summon the greatblade
Could be open to 2-weapon if there is value / synergy there
Recommendations on Armor? Studded Leather, Scale, Chain, or?
Doesn't need to be "fully optimized", but would like to be able to hold my own in combat, do damage, etc.
Invocations - Was thinking Devil's Sight and Mask of Many Faces initially, then???
Not sure on Thief vs Scout vs Assassin for the Rogue side
Would like very good movement and initiative
Spells:
Cantrips:
Eldritch Blast
Mage Hand
Prestidigitation
Level 1 & 2
Hex
Shield
Darkness
Misty Step
Armor of Agathys
Stat priorities:
CHA
CON
DEX
???
Backstory Notes:
Blade Patron: Sea/Water based (barnacle encrusted greatsword from the depths)
Found by pirates as a half-breed survivor of a ship-wreck, clutching the old, barnacle encrusted sword)
Being a good speaker, highly charismatic, etc., the Pirates thrust him into a life helping the Pirates offload/fence their stolen treasures, steal information and maps on trade-routes, etc.
My thanks in advance for any recommendations, suggestions, complimentary ideas, etc. Anything else I should be considering? Other thoughts or recommendations?
Depending on how many rogue levels you plan on taking, I would go with a rapier instead of a greatsword. Greatsword is not finesse, so you wouldn't get sneak attack.
Also, if you're planning on going on a seafaring adventure, Swashbuckler is a good fit as it is a common choice for pirates and buccaneers. It also benefits from a high charisma. Booming Blade is also a great cantrip for Swashbucklers because you can increase the odds of an enemy moving.
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Depending on how many rogue levels you plan on taking, I would go with a rapier instead of a greatsword. Greatsword is not finesse, so you wouldn't get sneak attack.
Also, if you're planning on going on a seafaring adventure, Swashbuckler is a good fit as it is a common choice for pirates and buccaneers. It also benefits from a high charisma. Booming Blade is also a great cantrip for Swashbucklers because you can increase the odds of an enemy moving.
First, my thanks for the recommendations and thoughts!
I will definitely consider Rapier.
I did consider Swashbuckler but was trying to not be too stereotypical, but this is good "food for thought" that I will consider this as well. Are there any specific benefits or value Swashbuckler beyond the "not triggering opportunity attacks"?
Was thinking of Booming Blade for the "next" cantrip - would you recommend that over Mage Hand or Prestidigitation for any specific reason?
Swashbucklers benefit from Sneak Attack if their target is within 5' of them, and no other opponent is. Of course they can also sneak attack like any other rogue, if an ally is within 5' of their target. This means sneak attacks are easy to come by for Swashbucklers.
Multiclassing Hexblade means that can focus on CHR instead of DEX, which improves their initiative as well as improves their social skills. Panache, available at 9th, is OP for a 20 CHR Swashbuckler with expertise in Persuasion. Hexblade also give medium armour and shield proficiency, so you can get away with as little as a 14 DEX and still have decent AC. Being less MAD makes feats more accessible. Fey Touched (CHR) will give you 18 CHR on your first ASI, if you start with 17. Using a shield means no Shield spell unless you get Warcaster. I think it's a decent trade-off.
For invocations, Mask of Many Faces is awesome. Devil's Sight is very nice, but you already have Darkvision. I like Beguiling Influences, and going full ham as a social skill monkey. A half elf get 2 skill proficiencies, Rogue gives 4, background gives 2 more, Beguiling Influences 2 more for a total of 10, 4 of which will benefit from expertise.
You absolutely must take GFB or BB, probably BB. You can usually get by without Hex since you have Hexblade's Curse.
Swashbucklers benefit from Sneak Attack if their target is within 5' of them, and no other opponent is. Of course they can also sneak attack like any other rogue, if an ally is within 5' of their target. This means sneak attacks are easy to come by for Swashbucklers.
Multiclassing Hexblade means that can focus on CHR instead of DEX, which improves their initiative as well as improves their social skills. Panache, available at 9th, is OP for a 20 CHR Swashbuckler with expertise in Persuasion. Hexblade also give medium armour and shield proficiency, so you can get away with as little as a 14 DEX and still have decent AC. Being less MAD makes feats more accessible. Fey Touched (CHR) will give you 18 CHR on your first ASI, if you start with 17. Using a shield means no Shield spell unless you get Warcaster. I think it's a decent trade-off.
For invocations, Mask of Many Faces is awesome. Devil's Sight is very nice, but you already have Darkvision. I like Beguiling Influences, and going full ham as a social skill monkey. A half elf get 2 skill proficiencies, Rogue gives 4, background gives 2 more, Beguiling Influences 2 more for a total of 10, 4 of which will benefit from expertise.
You absolutely must take GFB or BB, probably BB. You can usually get by without Hex since you have Hexblade's Curse.
I love Swashbucklers.
Thanks MiddleAgedNoob! Appreciate your feedback as well. Shield/Buckler and Rapier may be the way to go (Hexblade with Swashbuckler sounds like the way to go).
I'll probably grab BB and wanted Hex just for the thematic.
While Swashbuckler is an excellent choice, you might also want to take a look at Phantom for your rogue subclass. It gets you yet another proficiency (skill or tool, and you can switch it around as needed), extra damage to a secondary target when you sneak attack, and it's a great fit thematically with Hexblade's Accursed Specter feature
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Swashbucklers benefit from Sneak Attack if their target is within 5' of them, and no other opponent is. Of course they can also sneak attack like any other rogue, if an ally is within 5' of their target. This means sneak attacks are easy to come by for Swashbucklers.
Multiclassing Hexblade means that can focus on CHR instead of DEX, which improves their initiative as well as improves their social skills. Panache, available at 9th, is OP for a 20 CHR Swashbuckler with expertise in Persuasion. Hexblade also give medium armour and shield proficiency, so you can get away with as little as a 14 DEX and still have decent AC. Being less MAD makes feats more accessible. Fey Touched (CHR) will give you 18 CHR on your first ASI, if you start with 17. Using a shield means no Shield spell unless you get Warcaster. I think it's a decent trade-off.
For invocations, Mask of Many Faces is awesome. Devil's Sight is very nice, but you already have Darkvision. I like Beguiling Influences, and going full ham as a social skill monkey. A half elf get 2 skill proficiencies, Rogue gives 4, background gives 2 more, Beguiling Influences 2 more for a total of 10, 4 of which will benefit from expertise.
You absolutely must take GFB or BB, probably BB. You can usually get by without Hex since you have Hexblade's Curse.
I love Swashbucklers.
I5 only specifies a creature with 5ft of the rogue. Not an opponent. So as long as the rogue on has 1 creature withing 5 ft. It doesn't matter how close they are to the opponent.
Are you referring to this: "You also gain an additional way to use your Sneak Attack; you don’t need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you."
You very clearly need to be within 5 ft of the creature you are sneak attacking.
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Hi all,
I'm contemplating Hexblade / Thief multiclass for the campaign following our current one. I'm just getting back into D&D and am still learning 5e so any/all help is appreciated.
Campaign and Character Concept Notes:
Character Concept:
Backstory Notes:
My thanks in advance for any recommendations, suggestions, complimentary ideas, etc. Anything else I should be considering? Other thoughts or recommendations?
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ModeratorDepending on how many rogue levels you plan on taking, I would go with a rapier instead of a greatsword. Greatsword is not finesse, so you wouldn't get sneak attack.
Also, if you're planning on going on a seafaring adventure, Swashbuckler is a good fit as it is a common choice for pirates and buccaneers. It also benefits from a high charisma. Booming Blade is also a great cantrip for Swashbucklers because you can increase the odds of an enemy moving.
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First, my thanks for the recommendations and thoughts!
I will definitely consider Rapier.
I did consider Swashbuckler but was trying to not be too stereotypical, but this is good "food for thought" that I will consider this as well. Are there any specific benefits or value Swashbuckler beyond the "not triggering opportunity attacks"?
Was thinking of Booming Blade for the "next" cantrip - would you recommend that over Mage Hand or Prestidigitation for any specific reason?
Swashbucklers benefit from Sneak Attack if their target is within 5' of them, and no other opponent is. Of course they can also sneak attack like any other rogue, if an ally is within 5' of their target. This means sneak attacks are easy to come by for Swashbucklers.
Multiclassing Hexblade means that can focus on CHR instead of DEX, which improves their initiative as well as improves their social skills. Panache, available at 9th, is OP for a 20 CHR Swashbuckler with expertise in Persuasion. Hexblade also give medium armour and shield proficiency, so you can get away with as little as a 14 DEX and still have decent AC. Being less MAD makes feats more accessible. Fey Touched (CHR) will give you 18 CHR on your first ASI, if you start with 17. Using a shield means no Shield spell unless you get Warcaster. I think it's a decent trade-off.
For invocations, Mask of Many Faces is awesome. Devil's Sight is very nice, but you already have Darkvision. I like Beguiling Influences, and going full ham as a social skill monkey. A half elf get 2 skill proficiencies, Rogue gives 4, background gives 2 more, Beguiling Influences 2 more for a total of 10, 4 of which will benefit from expertise.
You absolutely must take GFB or BB, probably BB. You can usually get by without Hex since you have Hexblade's Curse.
I love Swashbucklers.
Thanks MiddleAgedNoob! Appreciate your feedback as well. Shield/Buckler and Rapier may be the way to go (Hexblade with Swashbuckler sounds like the way to go).
I'll probably grab BB and wanted Hex just for the thematic.
While Swashbuckler is an excellent choice, you might also want to take a look at Phantom for your rogue subclass. It gets you yet another proficiency (skill or tool, and you can switch it around as needed), extra damage to a secondary target when you sneak attack, and it's a great fit thematically with Hexblade's Accursed Specter feature
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I5 only specifies a creature with 5ft of the rogue. Not an opponent. So as long as the rogue on has 1 creature withing 5 ft. It doesn't matter how close they are to the opponent.
Are you referring to this:
"You also gain an additional way to use your Sneak Attack; you don’t need advantage on the attack roll to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you."
You very clearly need to be within 5 ft of the creature you are sneak attacking.