Making a Diva ( not to be confused with a deva)

[TigerT20]

So, I had a rather interesting character idea: A drow noble travelling the world with her Retainers, using an adventuring party as escorts/guides. She would contribute to battle with buffing or healing, although any playstyle would do so long as the focus remains away from being directly involved in combat - she doesn't like getting her hands dirty.

The main roleplaying focus will be her concern for and friendship with her retainers, and her culture shock (What do you mean I have to share a room?)

But I'm here for mechanics: what classes/multiclass combinations would be able to suit this idea?
Bard is the obvious one, but I feel there may be some more out-of-the-box ideas

Thanks in advance :)

[nickl_2000]

How about going completely crazy and going barbarian. You play a diva with decent charisma until someone messes up your hair in battle or causes you to break a nail. Then you go into a crazy wild rage.


NOTE: I clearly didn't read the OP well enough, but its still an entertaining idea.

[jmartkdr]

I'm having a hard time thinking of a non-bard option. Maybe celestial warlock, but even that's going to end up blasting someone at some point because you have so few other options.

Bard just *works* for this idea.

[Galithar]

Divine Soul Sorcerer should at least get a mention. In my opinion it is the best buffing class you can play. If you don't mind never having the big flashy effects Bard 5or 6/Divine Soul X is probably even better. You'll have 5 Bardic Inspirations to throw out each short rest and can use twinned buffs during combat. A few non-concentration buff or debuff spells can keep you from ever having to deal damage while always having a way to help the party. It's not "optimized" but when I think of a "non-combat" adventurer I usually imagine throwing out a constant barrage of lower level buffs and battlefield control (Grease, Wall spells etc). If optimization isn't that important even the cantrips like Resistance can be used in combat. It wouldn't be nearly as much contribution as something else, but if it's for role-play potential it could work. Especially in lower threat combats where you are really playing up the "not wanting to get your hands dirty" bit.

[kazaryu]

So, I had a rather interesting character idea: A drow noble travelling the world with her Retainers, using an adventuring party as escorts/guides. She would contribute to battle with buffing or healing, although any playstyle would do so long as the focus remains away from being directly involved in combat - she doesn't like getting her hands dirty.

The main roleplaying focus will be her concern for and friendship with her retainers, and her culture shock (What do you mean I have to share a room?)

But I'm here for mechanics: what classes/multiclass combinations would be able to suit this idea?
Bard is the obvious one, but I feel there may be some more out-of-the-box ideas

Thanks in advance :)

so. if you want to avoid 'getting dirty' then you're talking about something ranged. and depending on how you define 'getting dirty' you're specifically talking about any kind of caster. i'd avoid sorcerer, as what it looks like you're looking for is some form of support character, and while sorcerer's aren't terrible at this, they have limited spells known which may get stale if you're not putting up damage numbers.

so, you have druid/wizard (not multiclass, just both options): either one would give you solid area control spells/abilities. abjurer wizard specifically would really fit the concept IMO. use area denial to keep enemies away from you, meanwhile any enemies that do manage to hit you, have their attacks absorbed by your ward (which is specifically not you). eventually, at level 6 the abjurer also gains the ability to shield their allies with their ward. character growth! generally multiclassing full casters isn't recommended until *really* high levels, but thats only if you're concerned with 100% optimization. if you're not then a couple of levels in rogue means expertise (is 'bitchy' a skill in 5e?) and cunning action, which is very useful for you keeping your hair pretty. a cleric MC would mean you could get things like heavy armor prof and the tempest clerics HOW DARE YOU STRIKE ME??!?! ability.

then you have bard/cleric on the ally support side of things. life cleric (particularly at level 6) get an ability that heals themselves every time they heal someone else. which is nice mechanics to match a flavor of 'not helping others unless it also helps you'. meanwhile they also get heavy armor proficiency which...ya know, helps keep you pretty.
tempest cleric also get heavy armor, and they get a version of hellish rebuke 'HOW DARE YOU STRIKE ME!'.
light domains warding flare would be similar to tempest domains 'you dare strike me and get punished for it'. while also getting the flavor of 'i am the light that lights your path'.

[TigerT20]

How about going completely crazy and going barbarian. You play a diva with decent charisma until someone messes up your hair in battle or causes you to break a nail. Then you go into a crazy wild rage.


NOTE: I clearly didn't read the OP well enough, but its still an entertaining idea.

It's amazing and I love it. Anyway, to stick to her 'doesn't like getting her hands dirty' thing, I can just have her stay away from the fray until she rages, then have her fling herself at the offending monster (while receiving cheers and applause from her retainers)

[nickl_2000]

It's amazing and I love it. Anyway, to stick to her 'doesn't like getting her hands dirty' thing, I can just have her stay away from the fray until she rages, then have her fling herself at the offending monster (while receiving cheers and applause from her retainers)

Or if you want to go even further, give her a noble background. There is nothing that screams diva than a prince or princess of noble background who has never been taught the ways of the world and has had everything given to them on a silver platter. If this is the case, you don't even need a high charisma.

[Sorinth]

If "getting your hands dirty" is strictly a melee thing then a Mastermind Rogue using something like a hand crossbow would work.

You are basically spending the battle telling your retainers who they should kill. Use your ranged attacks to do tons of SA damage and then point out to your retainers how easy it is to kill them and why aren't they doing it faster. At times you can also secretly make a ranged attack and claim ignorance of who shot that, basically pretending you don't actually care about them and aren't actually helping them. Or get upset and claim you have to do everything yourself as you make your attack.

Just be careful not to go overboard with any diva attitudes, giving others advantage should alleviate that somewhat, but it can still get old.