Ventruenox
2018-08-02, 03:42 PM
I think I did a bad thing here. I am certainly pushing the limits of good taste at our table, but for a one shot, I may just get away with it. I made a murderhobo character. Literally. A mentally ill homeless Hill Dwarf who has killed indiscriminately. [Edit: this is a parody character concept, not the murderhobo playstyle] I roll with a RP heavy group, so this thread is as much a request for roleplaying advice as it is mechanical optimization. All published materials and UA allowed.
Since optimizers want to go straight to the nuts and bolts, I'll list those first:
Level 12: Assassin 5/ Ancestral Barbarian 5/ Revised Ranger 2
Standard Array, modified thus:
Str 21 (13/Belt of Hill Giant Str)/ Dex 14 / Con 18 (15 +racial + feat)/ Int 8 / Wis 13 (12 + racial) / Cha 10
Skills: Athletics (expertise), Deception, Intimidation, Perception, Sleight of Hand, Stealth (expertise), Survival
Role: Sticky Tank/Comedy Relief
Feats: Sentinel, Dwarven Fortitude (with Periapt of Wound Closure)
Fighting Style: Tunnel Fighter - Whip (+1) & Shield; Thrown weapons as ranged option
Spells: Goodberry, Speak with Animals (out of combat RP utility)
Favored Enemy/Terrain: Humanoids / Urban Terrain (DM fiat)
3 Magic Items allowed: 2 uncommon & 1 Rare - Currently have Whip +1, Periapt of Wound Closure, & Belt of Hill Giant Strength.
The idea here is to forego maximum damage in order to lock down opponents and make my character the primary target, while getting some sneak attacks off turn with reach. Since this is going to be a one shot, I can't expect to get many short rests to refill HP. So during combat, I can Dodge and get double healing with the Periapt of Wound Closure for each HD spent. Otherwise, Reckless Attack nearly every round with the action. Bonus action gets used for mobility to get into melee, then adopt a fighting stance via Tunnel Fighter for possibility of extra attacks with reaction. I was able to squeeze out an 18 AC with Unarmored Defense and shield. Grappling is viable with Athletics expertise, but I expect that would be used mostly out of combat.
So from a mechanical aspect, what am I missing or what changes should I make?
Roleplaying
Aghar Highshart, the Rat King
Personality Trait: Blow up at the slightest insult
Ideal: Chains are menat to be broken, as are those who forge them
Bond: My ill gotten gains goes to support my family (rats)
Flaw: If there is a plan, I'll forget it or ignore it.
Relevant campaign info: This one shot is acting as a side story in the longer campaign we have been running for the last 2.5 years. The BBEG has pulled a Kefka (Final Fantasy 6) and decimated the city this adventure will take part in. Our characters are survivors with ties to the organized crime syndicate that ran the criminal element prior to the fall. Now, they are seeking to reestablish their network as a means to formulate some sort of resistance movement.
Abridged character backstory: Aghar Highshart is known as the Rat King, mostly because he spends his days talking to rats. He will also bite off their heads and eat them if he perceives them as disagreeing with his mad ramblings. He may actually be able to communicate, but no one wants to ask him. His hygiene is appalling, and his appearance exemplifies that. He will use a soiled trash can lid as a shield - one that doubles as his serving plate. The crime syndicate only nominally claims him as one of theirs, and will sometimes toss an assassination contract to him if they need plausible deniability. In their view, a mad dog has its uses, and better to have him on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in.
From a roleplaying perspective, what sort of behaviors should I play up for this character?
Since optimizers want to go straight to the nuts and bolts, I'll list those first:
Level 12: Assassin 5/ Ancestral Barbarian 5/ Revised Ranger 2
Standard Array, modified thus:
Str 21 (13/Belt of Hill Giant Str)/ Dex 14 / Con 18 (15 +racial + feat)/ Int 8 / Wis 13 (12 + racial) / Cha 10
Skills: Athletics (expertise), Deception, Intimidation, Perception, Sleight of Hand, Stealth (expertise), Survival
Role: Sticky Tank/Comedy Relief
Feats: Sentinel, Dwarven Fortitude (with Periapt of Wound Closure)
Fighting Style: Tunnel Fighter - Whip (+1) & Shield; Thrown weapons as ranged option
Spells: Goodberry, Speak with Animals (out of combat RP utility)
Favored Enemy/Terrain: Humanoids / Urban Terrain (DM fiat)
3 Magic Items allowed: 2 uncommon & 1 Rare - Currently have Whip +1, Periapt of Wound Closure, & Belt of Hill Giant Strength.
The idea here is to forego maximum damage in order to lock down opponents and make my character the primary target, while getting some sneak attacks off turn with reach. Since this is going to be a one shot, I can't expect to get many short rests to refill HP. So during combat, I can Dodge and get double healing with the Periapt of Wound Closure for each HD spent. Otherwise, Reckless Attack nearly every round with the action. Bonus action gets used for mobility to get into melee, then adopt a fighting stance via Tunnel Fighter for possibility of extra attacks with reaction. I was able to squeeze out an 18 AC with Unarmored Defense and shield. Grappling is viable with Athletics expertise, but I expect that would be used mostly out of combat.
So from a mechanical aspect, what am I missing or what changes should I make?
Roleplaying
Aghar Highshart, the Rat King
Personality Trait: Blow up at the slightest insult
Ideal: Chains are menat to be broken, as are those who forge them
Bond: My ill gotten gains goes to support my family (rats)
Flaw: If there is a plan, I'll forget it or ignore it.
Relevant campaign info: This one shot is acting as a side story in the longer campaign we have been running for the last 2.5 years. The BBEG has pulled a Kefka (Final Fantasy 6) and decimated the city this adventure will take part in. Our characters are survivors with ties to the organized crime syndicate that ran the criminal element prior to the fall. Now, they are seeking to reestablish their network as a means to formulate some sort of resistance movement.
Abridged character backstory: Aghar Highshart is known as the Rat King, mostly because he spends his days talking to rats. He will also bite off their heads and eat them if he perceives them as disagreeing with his mad ramblings. He may actually be able to communicate, but no one wants to ask him. His hygiene is appalling, and his appearance exemplifies that. He will use a soiled trash can lid as a shield - one that doubles as his serving plate. The crime syndicate only nominally claims him as one of theirs, and will sometimes toss an assassination contract to him if they need plausible deniability. In their view, a mad dog has its uses, and better to have him on the inside pissing out than on the outside pissing in.
From a roleplaying perspective, what sort of behaviors should I play up for this character?