Starting OotA - Need help picking race/class

[BladedWizard]

Our DM will be starting a new campaign, OotA. We are a team of four players, possibly five, which is composed of Monk, Wizard, Barbarian, Myself, and possibly a Ranger (the guy is not set on his class yet, not even sure if he'll play). I'm wondering if those who has played OotA can suggest what'd be a better pick for my character.

I'm thinking between Underdark Druid, Light or Life Cleric, Bard, or Beast Conclave Revised Ranger. I know about the OotA backgrounds that we can pick. I'm sure one of us will take it to help with travelling and foraging.

Druid, Cleric and Bard are great support. Ranger has good utility with favored terrain/foraging/survival, etc. For the Ranger I'm thinking maybe a halfing with the Steeder (spider) as mount if I go Beast Conclave. On a mount is it better to go range or melee? I can't see what other beast companion a Ranger could find in the UD.

What are your suggestion? There's always the other classes like Sorcerer, Paladin, etc that may fit better. Not interested in Warlock since it's what I played last campaign.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

[Unoriginal]

What kind of characters (or character concepts) do you like?

[BladedWizard]

What kind of characters (or character concepts) do you like?

I prefer caster for the utility and multi-functionality they have.
I like stealth.
Not fond of heavy armored character (full plate) type character.
I prefer agility and speed over strength or brute force.

I don't excluded other classes or combo either. Something like an Arcane Trickster/Bladesinger Wizard could be cool too. Paladin/Bard multiclass. But not with heavy armor.

[Unoriginal]

Sounds to me like you'd enjoy a character who's multiclassed Rogue/Cleric of Craft from the UA.



Now the question is: what kind of race and backgrounds do you like?

[BladedWizard]

Sounds to me like you'd enjoy a character who's multiclassed Rogue/Cleric of Craft from the UA.



Now the question is: what kind of race and backgrounds do you like?

Forge domain. That could be cool but it's not a domain I personally enjoy flavor wise. However, it could fit the campaign well played with a Duegar. Gonna look into it a bit more.

I usually play human, elf or half elf. Played a Halfling once. Background. I'm open to anything. That's my problem I love the character creation process and I usually end up creating multiple characters and then pick one that fit the group better. I don't care to have first pick because I find every class interesting.

[Hairfish]

Druid, particularly Moon Druid, can trivialize some of the challenge of the early levels of the campaign, if that's your thing.

[Anderlith]

You could take the new Mystic rules for a spin

[BladedWizard]

You could take the new Mystic rules for a spin

I don't think my DM would allow it.

[BladedWizard]

Anyone played a Halfling Ranger on a mount? Fun? Mechanically does it work well? Did you use range or melee weapon?

[Anderlith]

I don't think my DM would allow it.

Any UA? Or just mystic?

[BladedWizard]

Any UA? Or just mystic?

No UA allowed except for Revised Ranger. So no Forge domain for now.

[Anderlith]

I would recommend Paladin...

But you want a dex, so make a Valor bard, because hell needs a soundtrack

[RumoCrytuf]

I would recommend Paladin...

But you want a dex, so make a Valor bard, because hell needs a soundtrack

I guess Behemoth and Ghost will be playing? :P

[Sigreid]

GOO warlock for solid abilities that do not rely on resources you often may not have, and creepy underdark reasons. In general though, it'll be good if one or two members of your party can maintain full or near full effectiveness without depleting the party's expendable resources.

[2D8HP]

Having just started playing a Rogue in OotA (which is still a good option), I'd say that the best class to start as is monk, because reasons.

You start out as unarmed

[BladedWizard]

Having just started playing a Rogue in OotA (which is still a good option), I'd say that the best class to start as is monk, because reasons.

You start out as unarmed

ahahahah. Indeed. Too bad there's one already. But cantrips can always do the trick.

[MintyNinja]

As someone who's run OotA, and played it, a cleric is nearly a literal godsend. It gives your GM an angle to dangle threads for, and your naturally divine abilities will be more than helpful the more you play. Whatever flavor or domain, a cleric is a good choice.

[Unoriginal]

ahahahah. Indeed. Too bad there's one already. But cantrips can always do the trick.

You need a focus for that

[Sigreid]

You need a focus for that

Several cantrips are just V,S.