Arkhios
2017-04-26, 04:11 AM
It's been a good while since I posted the thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?493376-Bottlerager-(a-k-a-Drunken-Dwarf-Battlerager)-Spiked-Armor-question) about my character for our "rainy day games", running Adventurer's League modules without the normal PHB+1 restriction but only allowing officially released material (NO UA or other homebrew!), and I didn't dare/want to necro the old thread.
So, to recap, the character in question is a Mountain Dwarf Barbarian, and a Would-Be-Battlerager.
Stats are as follows:
Str 17, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 10
Initially I had plans on taking the feats Tavern Brawler (@4th level) and Durable (@ either 8th or 12th level), Grappler probably either before or after Durable, and the rest of the ASI's I intended on putting in +2 strength and +2 constitution.
Now, there was a time when I was quite enthusiastic about drawing, and - to my shame - less so nowadays, mostly because I just can't be arsed to begin with.
Anyway, I once made a picture of a dwarf (presumably a rogue) wielding two punching daggers, and charging head-on towards something.
That picture comes back to "haunt" me from time to time, as it's probably the best picture of a dwarf I've ever drawn myself, and it would be somewhat shame if I never played a character like that.
So, I was thinking that maybe I could change the "Bottlerager" a "little bit". Due to his stats, the character could easily give in to a rogue multiclass, but I'm not sure which roguish archetype would work best with Battlerager. I think I want - at the very least - Reckless Abandon. And since Rogue 2+ would give me Dash as a bonus action at all times, I wouldn't absolutely need the 10th level in Battlerager (but I'm unsure should I even go barbarian beyond 8th level? That ASI would be nice though.)
Note: I'm not going to change the Primal Path, I would prefer keeping the stats as much intact as possible, and as I said above, Unearthed Arcana (and I think it goes without saying that anything from DM's Guild and other homebrew) is out of question.
Edit: As an afterthought, I guess I could drop Constitution to 16 (15+2 to 14+2), freeing up 2 points to increase Charisma to 12, and instead of Durable, take just plain +2 Constitution.
My new plans include taking up Dual Wielder as soon as possible for the ability to draw and stow two weapons at the same time for free once in a turn, plus the +1 AC is also pretty tempting. High constitution is mandatory for Reckless Abandon, so I'd rather not decrease that either.
As for weapons (for times when i'm not grappling - which won't be ideal all the time) I think a shortsword is a good fit for a "punching dagger" with their equal critical damage potential; the 3.5 Punching Dagger (1d4x3) would've had max. 12 + str as does a shortsword (1d6x2).
Right now, I'm thinking that Barbarian 8/Rogue 12 would be a particularly good split, especially because I'd get cunning action at the same level I would've got Battlerager Charge (@10th level), and obviously expertise in athletics, acrobatics, and maybe survival and perception. (As a bonus, my approach regarding traps would pretty much align with Binwin Bronzebottom (http://pvponline.com/images/blog/binwinshirt.jpg) :smallbiggrin:).
The split would give me 6 ASI instead of just 5 which would mean I could get both strength and constitution to 20, and all the feats, including Dual Wielder.
Thoughts?
With Reckless Attack I could get sneak attack with any of the two (or three with Extra) attacks I get while dual wielding shortswords.
With Reckless Abandon, I'd have a steady source of Temporary Hit Points acting as a makeshift Damage Reduction.
Since Rage damage bonus applies even to my off-hand attacks, they wouldn't be that sub-optimal.
Once I have Extra Attack: I could attack with unarmed strike or improvised weapon, and if I hit, I could use Bonus Action (Tavern Brawler) to attempt a grapple. If I succeed, I could draw a shortsword as part of the second attack roll (it's still part of the same Attack action, I think?), make the attack with advantage since the target is Grappled, and be able to sneak attack, once for that turn.
Once I have Extra Attack: When grappling, I could make one attack with advantage using a shortsword (getting sneak attack), then release the target, draw the second sword with the second attack roll, and after that, make yet another attack with Bonus Action (I guess?)
Once I have Extra Attack: When grappling, I could make one attack with shortsword for Sneak Attack, Another attack with either unarmed strike for ****s-and-giggles or again with shortsword, and as a bonus action with the armor spikes.
So, to recap, the character in question is a Mountain Dwarf Barbarian, and a Would-Be-Battlerager.
Stats are as follows:
Str 17, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 8, Wis 8, Cha 10
Initially I had plans on taking the feats Tavern Brawler (@4th level) and Durable (@ either 8th or 12th level), Grappler probably either before or after Durable, and the rest of the ASI's I intended on putting in +2 strength and +2 constitution.
Now, there was a time when I was quite enthusiastic about drawing, and - to my shame - less so nowadays, mostly because I just can't be arsed to begin with.
Anyway, I once made a picture of a dwarf (presumably a rogue) wielding two punching daggers, and charging head-on towards something.
That picture comes back to "haunt" me from time to time, as it's probably the best picture of a dwarf I've ever drawn myself, and it would be somewhat shame if I never played a character like that.
So, I was thinking that maybe I could change the "Bottlerager" a "little bit". Due to his stats, the character could easily give in to a rogue multiclass, but I'm not sure which roguish archetype would work best with Battlerager. I think I want - at the very least - Reckless Abandon. And since Rogue 2+ would give me Dash as a bonus action at all times, I wouldn't absolutely need the 10th level in Battlerager (but I'm unsure should I even go barbarian beyond 8th level? That ASI would be nice though.)
Note: I'm not going to change the Primal Path, I would prefer keeping the stats as much intact as possible, and as I said above, Unearthed Arcana (and I think it goes without saying that anything from DM's Guild and other homebrew) is out of question.
Edit: As an afterthought, I guess I could drop Constitution to 16 (15+2 to 14+2), freeing up 2 points to increase Charisma to 12, and instead of Durable, take just plain +2 Constitution.
My new plans include taking up Dual Wielder as soon as possible for the ability to draw and stow two weapons at the same time for free once in a turn, plus the +1 AC is also pretty tempting. High constitution is mandatory for Reckless Abandon, so I'd rather not decrease that either.
As for weapons (for times when i'm not grappling - which won't be ideal all the time) I think a shortsword is a good fit for a "punching dagger" with their equal critical damage potential; the 3.5 Punching Dagger (1d4x3) would've had max. 12 + str as does a shortsword (1d6x2).
Right now, I'm thinking that Barbarian 8/Rogue 12 would be a particularly good split, especially because I'd get cunning action at the same level I would've got Battlerager Charge (@10th level), and obviously expertise in athletics, acrobatics, and maybe survival and perception. (As a bonus, my approach regarding traps would pretty much align with Binwin Bronzebottom (http://pvponline.com/images/blog/binwinshirt.jpg) :smallbiggrin:).
The split would give me 6 ASI instead of just 5 which would mean I could get both strength and constitution to 20, and all the feats, including Dual Wielder.
Thoughts?
With Reckless Attack I could get sneak attack with any of the two (or three with Extra) attacks I get while dual wielding shortswords.
With Reckless Abandon, I'd have a steady source of Temporary Hit Points acting as a makeshift Damage Reduction.
Since Rage damage bonus applies even to my off-hand attacks, they wouldn't be that sub-optimal.
Once I have Extra Attack: I could attack with unarmed strike or improvised weapon, and if I hit, I could use Bonus Action (Tavern Brawler) to attempt a grapple. If I succeed, I could draw a shortsword as part of the second attack roll (it's still part of the same Attack action, I think?), make the attack with advantage since the target is Grappled, and be able to sneak attack, once for that turn.
Once I have Extra Attack: When grappling, I could make one attack with advantage using a shortsword (getting sneak attack), then release the target, draw the second sword with the second attack roll, and after that, make yet another attack with Bonus Action (I guess?)
Once I have Extra Attack: When grappling, I could make one attack with shortsword for Sneak Attack, Another attack with either unarmed strike for ****s-and-giggles or again with shortsword, and as a bonus action with the armor spikes.