Character creation burnout

[Klorox]

I'm looking to come up with a fresh, interesting and funny character concept.

It doesn't need to be the most effective character, just not a gimp either.

Anybody seen anything really unique, and RAW in 5e?


I'm thinking for a AL game where I won't know what anybody else is playing.

[RickAllison]

Darn, I was excited until I saw that it was AL :smallbiggrin: A RAW, but non-permissible for AL and only available by DM fiat concept I've toyed with was using the alternative races in the DMG in the NPC section, specifically the Kenku; I liked the idea of making a Mimicry-based Bard or Rogue. Doesn't help you, however :smalltongue:

[quinron]

Ever since I first read through the PHB I've loved the idea of a Monk of the Open Hand with the Urchin background. Not a disciplined ascetic, just a really capable street thug.

Instead of kung fu kicks and thrusts on his flurry of blows, he's throwing one-two combos and headbutts; his Slow Fall is because he's learned how to safely take a tumble off a rooftop; his Tranquility is basically just him going on the defensive. I have fun subverting the expected flavor of a class while still sticking wholeheartedly to the features.

Halfling is probably the best race for the concept - aside from the obvious help of the Dex bonus, Brave and Halfling Nimbleness are definitely street fighter characteristics. I don't think the flavor leans one way or the other between the sub-races.

[Belac93]

Well, here is the idea I had for one of my backup characters.

He is Gurk. Gurk the strong. He wields an axe as big as himself, and can take down an enemy over twice his size. He can cleave through a tree in a single swing, and he eats men's hearts. All tremble before him, laughing up until they die.
He is a Stout halfling barbarian. If you've ever read the Malazan book of the Fallen series, play him like Karsa Orlong.

[JumboWheat01]

I have a lightfoot halfling rogue, while not overly unique, he is not a sneaky thief in any way, shape or form. He's got some skill with slight of hand and stealth, along with deception and insight, but his real skill is in his perception and investigation. He can find something, and WILL find something. He's a near strict ranged attacker, relying not on bows but rather crossbows.

Simple, not overly power-gamey, but not a complete dead weight either. Though I admittedly do better in non-combat situations, but that's because my dice hate me.

[Biggstick]

I run into this issue sometimes as well. One of the great things about 5e is that you have to try pretty hard to build something that is going to fail. One of the ways I've built characters when I'm at that point is to roll up the major choices. What I mean by this is roll for race, class, background, and personality traits. It might seem a little strange at first, but it gives you some pretty interesting albeit strange combinations.

Here's the formula I go through and then a quick character example (done in about 20-30 minutes)


Roll 1d9 for Race (You can choose subrace yourself)
Roll 1d12 for Class (You can choose subclass yourself, I personally will roll for my subclass if I get something like Wizard or Cleric though)
Roll 1d13 for Background (Acolyte = 1, Urchin = 13)
If the background has a Specialty, roll as suggested
Roll 2d8 for Personality Traits (Two traits make for more fun, just make sure they're not the same)
Roll 1d6 for Ideal
Roll 1d6 for Bond
Roll 1d6 for Flaw

Set up stats once you have an idea of the story.

Don't be try and change the rolls to something that you might think is more appealing, embrace your rolls! Playing something different will probably be fun if you're burnt out on character creation. As for my quick build character, here it is.

9. Tiefling
12. Wizard (3. Divination)
8. Noble
5, 4. I don't like to get my hands dirty, and I won't be caught dead in unsuitable accommodations. I take great pains to always look my best and follow the latest fashions.
1. Respect. Respect is due to me because of my position, but all people regardless of stations deserve to be treated with dignity (Good)
4. I am in love with the heir of a family that my family despises.
4. I have an insatiable desire for carnal pleasures.

Quick character summary: Zordos couldn't believe the situation he was in. A son of the Frostsworn family line had no place being in a jail cell such as this! Calling out to the jailer, he demanded to know when he would be let out. The jailer laughed at the young Tiefling. Zordos had been in this jail cell a few times before. Fortunately for Zordo, his family name was the only thing that kept him out of prison in this town. Even more ridiculous was the outfit this young Tiefling was wearing. What did he think he was doing?

Out of the corner of the jailer's eye, he saw a flash of magic from the cell Zordos was in. This was a trained eye though, and knew it only to be a cleaning magic from Zordos. The boy absolutely hated being in a dirty cell, so he always managed to make sure it was nice and dirty when Zordos was brought in. It was about this time that the father of Zordos arrived and boy did he look angry. Apparently, there was some sort of controversy with Zordos attempting to court a rival family's daughter and it was not going over well with either side. Despite the demands of the father, Zordos didn't appear to give in to his father. This was something that the jailer respected in him. He stood his ground when he felt he was right. It was something he could respect in the boy. It was something that someday might make him someone worth following.

08 - 0
14 - 7
14 - 7
15 - 9
10 - 2
10 - 2

Make sure you take Prestidigitation!



Run through that process a few times, you'll definitely find something interesting and unique to play. :)

[EscherEnigma]

A little girl, as young as the GM will let you get away with. Carries a battered stuffed doll with ratty yarn hair and a single button eye, a torn spot with stuffing coming out the empty socket where the other would be and a sewn on smile. The girl is a warlock, and thinks her doll is her patron. She uses the dolls in all her spells and talks to it constantly, and acts like she doesn't understand that she's casting spells, suggesting all the magic is the doll's work and she's just the one carrying it.

... okay, yeah, that might be hard to swing in an AL game, but it would be fun, no?

[Kane0]

Damn, AL. Was going to suggest an EK/Rune Scribe.

Could always play a sadomasochist. Barb/fighter multiclass that relies on his unarmored ac and rages ('gets his high') only after he's taken or dealt a good amount of damage.
Even better if he has more personality than a brick, say for example he's a variant human with the actor feat, hiding his 'proclivities' while in polite company.

[Inevitability]

Thief rogue with the healer feat. Heal with your bonus action, then stab! I played once played one with the personality of a nervous doctor (great fun).

[Regitnui]

A little girl, as young as the GM will let you get away with. Carries a battered stuffed doll with ratty yarn hair and a single button eye, a torn spot with stuffing coming out the empty socket where the other would be and a sewn on smile. The girl is a warlock, and thinks her doll is her patron. She uses the dolls in all her spells and talks to it constantly, and acts like she doesn't understand that she's casting spells, suggesting all the magic is the doll's work and she's just the one carrying it.

... okay, yeah, that might be hard to swing in an AL game, but it would be fun, no?

I am so stealing this concept. Brilliant.

Er... I don't have any suggestions of my own... :smalleek:*grabs concept and runs*

[JumboWheat01]

Thief rogue with the healer feat. Heal with your bonus action, then stab! I played once played one with the personality of a nervous doctor (great fun).

Excuse me, combat medic! Unless you're trained and have the certificate to be called a doctor! /silliness

Though it's still an interesting idea that I've seen pop up a few times. Get yourself a wand of invisibility and training in stealth, and you can pop about and heal your friends as needed. Cleric down? Sneaky invis over, stabilize and force a healing potion down their throat. Dwarf friend poisoned and didn't bring any antidotes because he thought it was impossible? Sneaky invis over and shove an antidote in his mouth. Fighter get himself asploded into a gooey mess? Sneaky invis and collect something for a Resurrection later.

Big bad baron making things tough for your allies? Sneaky invis over and force a vial of something nasty down his throat! Medical people get all the best poisons and diseases.

Who needs to stab people?

[INDYSTAR188]

What about Dwarf Battlerager Barbarian mc Rogue? You'd be a tank, play a unique and new character concept and it's schtick might be mechanics you haven't used primarily before.

[eastmabl]

A gnome illusionist with a Russian accent from the United Soviet Socialist Burrows of the Sword Coast.

[foREVer_Lawliet]

I quite like the idea of playing a water Genasi Rouge, Has a large waterskin on his back, carries no weapons.

can use the shape water to bring water out of his waterskin and shape it into a sword/dagger and freeze it, weapons wont last long but it would be quite awesome to keep re-summoning daggers and thwrowing them, maybe see if your DM would allow him to have a specially made crossbow that could fire Ice bolts.

[Inevitability]

Excuse me, combat medic! Unless you're trained and have the certificate to be called a doctor! /silliness

Actually, he was an official doctor. He just happened to have been 'recruited' into the local thieves' guild some time after completing his training.

[Irishkatana]

One character I created to get out of burnout was Fleece.

Fleece is a lightfoot halfing cleric of the life domain. What made the character fun to play was his Vow of Silence. His Vow allowed him to speak the words of his god, so casting spells was not restricted.

I did not gain a buff for this vow, but it made the RP more entertaining. Instead of talking, I had to describe WHAT Fleece was doing at all times. It made me think and look at RPing in a new light.

For pure hilarity I gave him the scholar background. Which meant he knew almost everything that was going on, but due to his inability to speak, it may have caused more problems in the long run.

[JumboWheat01]

Actually, he was an official doctor. He just happened to have been 'recruited' into the local thieves' guild some time after completing his training.

Well... not much of a difference between a doctor and a thief. Both will rob you of all your money, often from right out under you.


One character I created to get out of burnout was Fleece.

Fleece is a lightfoot halfing cleric of the life domain. What made the character fun to play was his Vow of Silence. His Vow allowed him to speak the words of his god, so casting spells was not restricted.

I did not gain a buff for this vow, but it made the RP more entertaining. Instead of talking, I had to describe WHAT Fleece was doing at all times. It made me think and look at RPing in a new light.

For pure hilarity I gave him the scholar background. Which meant he knew almost everything that was going on, but due to his inability to speak, it may have caused more problems in the long run.

Now that sounds like it made for some fun sessions. Did you ever try some bouts of pantomiming? I could almost see the little halfling faceplaming when the party doesn't quite get what he's trying to say/do.

[lebefrei]

Play the indecisive character. That person who can never commit to anything for long, and even needs help with menu item selections when out to eat. Respond to every question with "I don't know, what do you want to do?" Picking a class? Roll a D6 every level. Warning, this character could be a mess.

Half-Elf, Persuasion, Stealth (to get others to decide, to hide from responsibility) 13 15 15 10 8 14 (stats applied. Average int, slightly lacking the wisdom to apply it. Capable otherwise.)

1. Barbarian: I'm going to get in shape!
2. Paladin: Maybe I'm a real hero
3. Bard: I know, I'll join a band!
4. Rogue: Screw the system, it's crime time
5. Sorcerer: I'm tapping my inner greatness
6. Warlock: Uhh, a cult you say? Sign me up!

So, good luck with that.

[tieren]

I thought it would be interesting to try to play a character that isn't honest, even with his own party, on what his class was, maybe make a bard who tries to pass himself off as a cleric (maybe he has the criminal background and is trying to hide from a bounty), or a sorcerer who still carries around a spell book and tries to pass himself off as a true wizard, etc...

[Lord Il Palazzo]

I thought it would be interesting to try to play a character that isn't honest, even with his own party, on what his class was, maybe make a bard who tries to pass himself off as a cleric (maybe he has the criminal background and is trying to hide from a bounty), or a sorcerer who still carries around a spell book and tries to pass himself off as a true wizard, etc...I briefly played a warlock who passed himself off as a wizard. He took every opportunity to show off his spell book (actually his book of shadows, of course) and took Find Familiar using Book of Ancient Secrets and took several of the invocations that gave him at-will spells (Silent Image and Disguise Self, I think were the main ones he used constantly). He had slightly above average intelligence, but tried very hard to act smarter than he was to appear more wizardly. It was a lot of fun.

[bid]

I quite like the idea of playing a water Genasi Rouge, Has a large waterskin on his back, carries no weapons.
Only fire genasi are Rouge. Water genasi are Bleu.

[Necromancy]

I've been in your shoes when I grew out of power gaming. Instead of coming up with builds, try coming up with fun concepts and then fitting the build to it.



I quite like the idea of playing a water Genasi Rouge, Has a large waterskin on his back, carries no weapons.

can use the shape water to bring water out of his waterskin and shape it into a sword/dagger and freeze it, weapons wont last long but it would be quite awesome to keep re-summoning daggers and thwrowing them, maybe see if your DM would allow him to have a specially made crossbow that could fire Ice bolts.

You sure about water? Sand works better

[Regitnui]

Only fire genasi are Rouge. Water genasi are Bleu.

No, they're Grene.

[Fwiffo86]

Baron Munchausen.

Bard.

Tells epic stories of his previous adventures, filled with amazing people who do amazing things. And gets all the ladies. Doesn't really "boost" the party in combat.

[Sir cryosin]

I quite like the idea of playing a water Genasi Rouge, Has a large waterskin on his back, carries no weapons.

can use the shape water to bring water out of his waterskin and shape it into a sword/dagger and freeze it, weapons wont last long but it would be quite awesome to keep re-summoning daggers and thwrowing them, maybe see if your DM would allow him to have a specially made crossbow that could fire Ice bolts.

I love this concept. I love the ideal of a magic spell using assassin so I rolled up a lv 5 character 3 lvs in assassin rouge 2lvs in dragon sorcerer. He was somewhat a **** but the party like him because he stood up to one saved the other and spotted the psycho murder rogue. But I only got to play 30 mins of him sadly.


Haha while I was distracting them with my concept I stole his muhahaha.:)

[Segev]

A druid/feylock would be able to feed a small army, if they so chose. A sorcerer/warlock's ability to convert short-rest-recharge spell slots to long-rest-recharge spell slots through the medium of sorcery points could be interesting.


Or maybe... variant human battlemaster fighter going for archery. Take the sniper feat as your human bonus, and pick up Ritual Caster (wizard) as your first Fighter feat. Use the maneuvers to hit harder and more often, as well as to do nasty things like ranged disarms and to shove people who get too close further away. With a longbow, you'll have a 600 foot range thanks to sniper. Get a familiar that can fly and use it as a spotter.

If you prefer, you could go warlock for pact of the chain and even better spotting, but it'd be a question then what you'd do with the rest of your warlock tools to help with this. Maybe Devil's Sight plus the darkness spell to ensure that you have Advantage against anybody you're shooting; a level of Rogue at some point may not be remiss for the sneak attack, if you go that way.

Ritual caster also gives you access to phantom steed. I'm still not convinced it's going to be all that useful, but if anybody can use it, a 600-ft. range sniper can.

[Anonymouswizard]

It's not AL legal, but for other fun ideas, play a Warforged. Take the Cleric class, and worship a nature deity. The more anti-technology the better.

Make sure you have high Deception, because your back story is that you've somehow bluffed your God into think you're a weasel in druod-forged powered armour. Unlike other Warforged you have no metal parts, only wood and stone.

Also, the Sorcerer utterly convinced that they're a Monk. I'm not sure if it's possible in 5e, but you try to take only self buffs (including defence), touch spells, and a few things like flight. Loudly proclaim your enlightenment. Ideally in a party with a Barbarian Wizard (no, not a multiclass Barbarian/Wizard).

[gfishfunk]

I really want to do a barbarian who is the younger brother of someone else who is a barbarian in the book. Instead of being all kill and smash, he is awkward and always telling his older brother 'mom wouldn't like that'. At the inn, he orders a big-boy Roy Rogers. Yum! Its basically an adult cocktail. Basically.

The fun comes from the roleplay, not necessarily the mechanics.

[Addaran]

Also, the Sorcerer utterly convinced that they're a Monk. I'm not sure if it's possible in 5e, but you try to take only self buffs (including defence), touch spells, and a few things like flight. Loudly proclaim your enlightenment. Ideally in a party with a Barbarian Wizard (no, not a multiclass Barbarian/Wizard).

Sorcerer with tavern brawler pretending to be an elemental monk? =P

[Oramac]

I don't now why all the hate for AL. One of my favorite characters is played in AL. It's really simple too.

Half-Elf with the Sailor background

Start with a level of Storm Sorcerer

Then take 2 levels of Tempest Cleric

Then the rest of your levels in Storm Sorcerer.



It's got great mobility with Tempestuous Magic, Heavy armor and shields from the Tempest domain, and the real kicker: Destructive Wrath. You can upcast a Chromatic Orb or Lightning Bolt and just maximize the damage. On normal hits, it's great fun. On a crit, it's legitimately scary.

[Sir cryosin]

I'm working on a concept of a lighting thunder monk 1lv of dragon sorcerer for booming blade and shocking grasped and the dragon natru armor so we can dump wis and pump charasma so you can hit with the spells.

[Sir cryosin]

I don't now why all the hate for AL. One of my favorite characters is played in AL. It's really simple too.

Half-Elf with the Sailor background

Start with a level of Storm Sorcerer

Then take 2 levels of Tempest Cleric

Then the rest of your levels in Storm Sorcerer.



It's got great mobility with Tempestuous Magic, Heavy armor and shields from the Tempest domain, and the real kicker: Destructive Wrath. You can upcast a Chromatic Orb or Lightning Bolt and just maximize the damage. On normal hits, it's great fun. On a crit, it's legitimately scary.

Do you get higher domain spells even if you don't take more lvs of that class? That sounds to op.

[RickAllison]

Do you get higher domain spells even if you don't take more lvs of that class? That sounds to op.

Nope. You prepare spells as a single-classed cleric with that many levels. He will get shut down if he hasn't planned ahead.

[Sir_Leorik]

I played a Half-Elf Archfey Warlock with the Urchin background in AL during Tyranny of Dragons. My idea was that the PC would steal food from wherever she went and stuff it into her clothes, and take it out and eat it at various times.

Another fun idea I had is a Half-Orc Paladin with the Soldier background; he would be a knight militant of Torm, Lawful Good despite his ancestry.

Hope these ideas help.

[Sir cryosin]

Nope. You prepare spells as a single-classed cleric with that many levels. He will get shut down if he hasn't planned ahead.

I'm talking about the list of spells you get from the domain you pick are those character lv based or class based

[Oramac]

I'm talking about the list of spells you get from the domain you pick are those character lv based or class based

As I read it, they are class based. So you only get the initial 2 domain spells. But they are useful spells, especially Thunderwave.

You do get to pick prepared spells as a single class of that level though. So with my characters 14 Wisdom and 2 levels of Cleric, I can prepare 4 Cleric spells of a level for which I have slots. Meaning, I can prepare any 4 Cleric spells up to my max spell slots in addition to the spells I know as a Sorcerer.


He will get shut down if he hasn't planned ahead.

I'm not sure what you mean by this? Shut down by what?

====================================

In any case, I would definitely recommend the build to the OP. It is quite fun.

[RickAllison]

As I read it, they are class based. So you only get the initial 2 domain spells. But they are useful spells, especially Thunderwave.

You do get to pick prepared spells as a single class of that level though. So with my characters 14 Wisdom and 2 levels of Cleric, I can prepare 4 Cleric spells of a level for which I have slots. Meaning, I can prepare any 4 Cleric spells up to my max spell slots in addition to the spells I know as a Sorcerer.



I'm not sure what you mean by this? Shut down by what?

====================================

In any case, I would definitely recommend the build to the OP. It is quite fun.

By the DM for trying to launch a Destructive Wave.

[Aurthur]

I've always wanted to play a cleric/bard MC where I'm singing songs about how awesome my deity is and everything is a happy sermon. Just borderline annoying, but with a good heart that just wants to 'Spread the love of Moradin!'.

Another I've pondered was one I read on a thread here that has stuck in my noggin... a minotaur bard who plays the cowbell and has a gruff attitude about his music. "What do you mean it's not an instrument?! <Angry>"

[MrStabby]

I have recently been trying to sort out a build for an NPC for one of my games that looks like it could be fun to play.

The plan is to be a magekilling assassin. Race is Svifgoblin for non-detection, small size and the stats boosts.

Classes would be assassin and either warlock or divination wizard - you want infiltration spells like spider climb, invisibility and/or abilities like mask of many faces. You also want some good anti magic spells like silence as well as divination spells to scout your target out.

You are a dropout from a magical academy, who has made their way in life working for criminal enforcers. Your background and expertise in bypassing magical wards has been highly values by your superiors, but they know you are smart and they don't trust you... they send you on ever more dangerous tasks in the hope you won't come back.

My rough map was:

Rogue 1
Caster 4
Rogue to 5

To get a level 9 character that has had 2 ASIs, can cast a few level 2 spells per day (all the target spells this guy wants don't actually need Int/Cha so it can stay at 13) and has 3d6 sneak attack. For character I would be looking to take feats primarily - svirfgobin magic and mage slayer.

[Oramac]

By the DM for trying to launch a Destructive Wave.

Ahh! Not quite.

It's Destructive Wrath, not Destructive Wave. The Tempest Cleric's Channel Divinity that maximizes lightning/thunder damage.

[JumboWheat01]

I've always wanted to play a cleric/bard MC where I'm singing songs about how awesome my deity is and everything is a happy sermon. Just borderline annoying, but with a good heart that just wants to 'Spread the love of Moradin!'.

Another I've pondered was one I read on a thread here that has stuck in my noggin... a minotaur bard who plays the cowbell and has a gruff attitude about his music. "What do you mean it's not an instrument?! <Angry>"

I'm pretty sure his musics and songs would be quite mooving, so there's no reason to question his choice of instrument.

[RickAllison]

Ahh! Not quite.

It's Destructive Wrath, not Destructive Wave. The Tempest Cleric's Channel Divinity that maximizes lightning/thunder damage.

Ah, that's fine then. Resume your tempesting.

[Regitnui]

I once had a character who was like a female batman with social anxiety.

Her back story was that she grew up in the slums as a beautiful orphan. After being cornered by a bunch of older orphans and being... Well, used, she ran off and started living on her own, learning the craft of the thief. She discovered she was pretty good at it, and was, when the adventure started, gaslighting an old nobleman for a place to stay. She had no idea of the value of money, since she could steal anything she needs, so would favour jewelry or clothes over coins. If she did get coins, she threw them to beggar children from the rooftops. The kids started telling stories about her, which she enjoys. But she still has this crippling social anxiety where she's not comfortable even being seen by the children. So she spends most of her days sleeping and walking around the old nobleman's mansion pretending she's a rich girl in fancy dresses and shiny jewels. The irony was (between me and the GM) that the old man would gladly adopt her as his heir, since he has no family of his own.

Translating her to 5e, she'd probably be a rogue (thief) with high dex and charisma, above average strength (she can lift her slight frame quite easily), low wisdom with intelligence and constitution taking the average slots. Even when introduced to the rest of the party, she had a tendency to climb trees, hide in the rafters and duck behind something when spoken to directly. It was hilarious.

Maybe I should find her old sheet and stat her out. She was far too much fun to let slide into obscurity.

[Zman]

How about about a surly dwarven bard who quests for a magical endless wineskin and channels his magics through his unharmonic voice while singing uncouth tavern songs and shouting insults. Make him a valor bard, throw him in medium armor, send him into battle with a hammer in one hand and a wineskin in the other.

[ZX6Rob]

I played a few sessions as an exiled drow noblewoman who had forsaken her people for the chance to make a pact with a powerful fey. The trick with her was, despite her status as an exile, she was still extremely haughty and superior, always well-composed, extremely concerned with her appearance and making sure that everyone knew that they were beneath her; but her patron, some goofy fey with a ridiculous name like She Who Dances As the Rain Falls or something like that, agreed to provide her power only if she, the fey, could decide the form that it took. As a result, she has these cool warlock abilities, but whenever she uses them, they're always incredibly silly or undignified. Her eldritch blast was a beam of rainbows and sparkles, accompanied by strange noises like giggles or horses, her Armor of Agathys resulted in being covered in pink fuzz, things like that. And all the while, she's trying to maintain this deadly-serious, threatening appearance.

The DM really took to it, and always surprised me with something unexpected whenever I would have to call on my eldritch might. It was really the only thing that kept me playing as a warlock for several sessions, because if I'd gone a more traditional route, I think that, mechanically, the class would've bored me a bit.

Being a drow was actually kind of fun, because the DM and I both agreed at the start of the campaign that drow were, naturally, just, like, the worst around, and that everyone would hate her immediately. So, we'd be getting our quest rewards, and the kindly little innkeeper lady would turn to the fighter and say, "Oh, you wonderful man, I've no idea what we would've done without you," and then in the same breath turn to me, drop my coin on the ground, and say, "You're a horrible, nasty little stain on the world, the absolute scum of the earth, and I hope for all our sake that you die in a fire."

So you could steal that one, if you like.

[Segev]

I played a few sessions as an exiled drow noblewoman who had forsaken her people for the chance to make a pact with a powerful fey. The trick with her was, despite her status as an exile, she was still extremely haughty and superior, always well-composed, extremely concerned with her appearance and making sure that everyone knew that they were beneath her; but her patron, some goofy fey with a ridiculous name like She Who Dances As the Rain Falls or something like that, agreed to provide her power only if she, the fey, could decide the form that it took. As a result, she has these cool warlock abilities, but whenever she uses them, they're always incredibly silly or undignified. Her eldritch blast was a beam of rainbows and sparkles, accompanied by strange noises like giggles or horses, her Armor of Agathys resulted in being covered in pink fuzz, things like that. And all the while, she's trying to maintain this deadly-serious, threatening appearance.

The DM really took to it, and always surprised me with something unexpected whenever I would have to call on my eldritch might. It was really the only thing that kept me playing as a warlock for several sessions, because if I'd gone a more traditional route, I think that, mechanically, the class would've bored me a bit.

Being a drow was actually kind of fun, because the DM and I both agreed at the start of the campaign that drow were, naturally, just, like, the worst around, and that everyone would hate her immediately. So, we'd be getting our quest rewards, and the kindly little innkeeper lady would turn to the fighter and say, "Oh, you wonderful man, I've no idea what we would've done without you," and then in the same breath turn to me, drop my coin on the ground, and say, "You're a horrible, nasty little stain on the world, the absolute scum of the earth, and I hope for all our sake that you die in a fire."

So you could steal that one, if you like.
I can only picture Star Butterfly's Mom when you describe this.

[EscherEnigma]

I don't now why all the hate for AL.
In my case, it's 'cause for AL you need characters that can get plopped into the adventure-of-the-week easily, and the concept I threw out (little girl with a magic doll) probably wouldn't work out so well in that environment. It really would need a party/GM that gives an in-story reason for a little girl to be an "adventurer", which isn't the kind of play-along you can necessarily expect at an AL game vs. your own regular group.

So not "hate" so much as "not all concepts are appropriate for all games and play-styles".

[Sigreid]

Go for personality. How about a delusional rogue that believes he is the one true prophet of Reinhold the High God who has returned to put right the mess the lesser gods have made of the world. Really ham it up. What would make this concept fun is the character absolutely believing it.

[bid]

You do get to pick prepared spells as a single class of that level though. So with my characters 14 Wisdom and 2 levels of Cleric, I can prepare 4 Cleric spells of a level for which I have slots. Meaning, I can prepare any 4 Cleric spells up to my max spell slots in addition to the spells I know as a Sorcerer.
A cleric 2 only has access to level 1 spells.

Are you implying that your cleric 2 / sorcerer 18 can cast true resurrection?

[RickAllison]

A cleric 2 only has access to level 1 spells.

Are you implying that your cleric 2 / sorcerer 18 can cast true resurrection?

If it worked that way (which it doesn't), I would take one level in druid, cleric, and wizard, with the rest in either Bard or Sorcerer. Get the entirety of the cleric and druid spelllists, can copy down any wizard spells found, and can cherry-pick the rest with Magical Secrets or use Metamagic. It would make for extremely OP casters.

[Oramac]

A cleric 2 only has access to level 1 spells.

Are you implying that your cleric 2 / sorcerer 18 can cast true resurrection?

That was a typo on my part. Sorry.

But you do get more spells than a single-class Sorcerer. And more than a Cleric at lower levels.

- Level 2 Cleric with 14 Wis gets 3 cantrips and 4 prepared spells + 2 Domain spells = 6 total spells
- Level 5 Sorcerer gets 5 cantrips and 6 spells known.

Total cantrips: 8
Total spells known/prepared: 12

Compared to a 7th level Sorc: 5 cantrips and 8 spells.
Compared to a 7th level Cleric: 4 cantrips and 11 spells prepared (assuming an 18 wisdom).

It does skew in favor of the single-class Cleric at higher levels, but you always end up with more spells available than a single-class sorcerer of the same level.

[Joe the Rat]

Personality goes a long way. My favorite was a Dwarven Sailor - he was a Tempest Cleric, but that part isn't as important as Dwarven Sailor. Bonus points if you can NOT use the "Ach, Scotch Pirate, Arr" accent. I tried Yiddish, but ran out of steam.


Actually, he was an official doctor. He just happened to have been 'recruited' into the local thieves' guild some time after completing his training.


Well... not much of a difference between a doctor and a thief. Both will rob you of all your money, often from right out under you. You need the Guild Artisan background so you can be properly licensed. Plus you can use your artisan's tools to keep everyone looking sharply styled and cleanly shaved.

What, you mean you're not a barber?

[TentacleSurpris]

If you're playing in AL you're probably playing Ravenloft. It's a gothic horror fantasy setting.

Remember in Lord of the Rings, the Dwarves have been all but exterminated. Every dwarf city they visit is a long-dead ruin. Their greed was their tragic flaw that destroyed them. They dug too deep and uncovered horrible things.

So, the character concept is a Dwarf Warlock, Fiend patron, Pact of the Blade. He is the last survivor of the extermination (maybe he participated in it?) of his civilization. He was driven insane by what he saw and now the Balrog that possesses part of his soul torments him. He's gone absolutely mad and that madness takes the form of horrific nightmares and being consumed by greed.

[Regitnui]

You need the Guild Artisan background so you can be properly licensed. Plus you can use your artisan's tools to keep everyone looking sharply styled and cleanly shaved.

What, you mean you're not a barber?

Actually works better that you think; barbers were originally barber-surgeons, they did bloodletting in addition to cutting hair. A rogue assassin with the guild artisan background could be a barber; cutting hair during the day, and throats at night.

[JumboWheat01]

Actually works better that you think; barbers were originally barber-surgeons, they did bloodletting in addition to cutting hair. A rogue assassin with the guild artisan background could be a barber; cutting hair during the day, and throats at night.

...I swear, that sounds like a plot line for a murder/mystery.

[Segev]

Actually works better that you think; barbers were originally barber-surgeons, they did bloodletting in addition to cutting hair. A rogue assassin with the guild artisan background could be a barber; cutting hair during the day, and throats at night.

Might he be setting up shop on Fleet Street?

[Regitnui]

Might he be setting up shop on Fleet Street?

As long there isn't a meat pie store downstairs. :p

[GorinichSerpant]

You could play a priest that doesn't have any levels in a class that gives divine magic. It could make for some interesting roleplay. Like what if a warlock is a devout follower of deity A but knowingly is in a pact with patron B, there could be some interesting explanations for this.

I have had this concept in my head for a long time of the Greatest Coward in the World. A character who goes around calling himself a weak coward and spreading that reputation of thier self while sometimes doing incredibly brave and foolhardy things with shaking knees.
"I have run from great kings, I have cowered before dragons, i have groveled before gods, I have pissed my pants before things that would rip you to twain without so much as a thought. You don't scare me."

A necromancer wizard who has either the Healer and/or Magic Initiate to become the medic. He's a doctor on the quest to find the secrets of life and death. Don't know how optimal it is, but it would be interesting.

[Inevitability]

A necromancer wizard who has either the Healer and/or Magic Initiate to become the medic. He's a doctor on the quest to find the secrets of life and death. Don't know how optimal it is, but it would be interesting.

Healer seems surprisingly good for a necromancer. If your DM rules that non-sentient undead can't heal damage on their own (a reasonable rule) Healer allows you to restore HP to all of your skeletons/zombies. Besides, the mental image of a necromancer carefully stitching his legions back together is awesome.

[ZX6Rob]

I can only picture Star Butterfly's Mom when you describe this.

I'm sorry, but I don't actually know that reference. I Googled it and it looks like a neat show, though!

Oh, I had another fun one that I haven't gotten to play yet. So, I really, really want to be a battlerager dwarf, because they're just so dumb that they kind of wrap around and become kind of awesome again. I wouldn't want to use the class in anything approaching a "serious" game, but for a more unhinged or permissive game, it's a fun concept. But anyway, I had this idea for a dwarf who was taken as a slave by the dark elves in a long-ago raid, and for the past 60 years, he's basically been a personal gladiator/slave for this powerful drow priestess. And then, one day, his priestess' house is destroyed -- drow wars or political maneuvering or something like that, there's no shortage of ways to wipe out a family in the Underdark -- and he's the only survivor. So, with nothing else to do, he wanders to the surface and looks for a new mistress to serve.

He's a former slave, though, and has no memory of whatever his previous life would have been, so unlike most dwarves, he's extremely timid, almost never speaks, and has no idea how society really functions, since the only things he's used to receiving as feedback for any action are "pain" and "not quite as much pain". His spiked and bladed leather armor doesn't look like functional armor, but instead like some kind of elaborate S&M gear, all black leather and hooks and harnesses, and he has no idea how weird this looks in public. He's extremely shell-shocked, reluctant to engage with people, and difficult to understand, but when someone threatens his new "mistress", whomever that might be (I was going to make it someone from the party), he grumbles, "ooooh imma put on th' helmet...", grabs his spiked leather headgear, and goes absolutely ape-doody until there is nothing left but a bloody pulp.

[bid]

- Level 2 Cleric with 14 Wis gets 3 cantrips and 4 prepared spells + 2 Domain spells = 6 total spells
- Level 5 Sorcerer gets 5 cantrips and 6 spells known.
Oh, I see what you mean. You can almost fill it just with rituals.