Greywander
2021-04-21, 06:23 PM
This will probably be filed under "builds that are mechanically straightforward but thematically hilarious".
Rune Knights. They're probably the best grappling class/subclass right now. They can eventually become Huge (important later).
Simic hybrids. For our first enhancement, we'll take the Underwater Adaptation on the off-chance we get the opportunity to drag someone underwater and drown them. Second enhancement is obviously the grappling appendages. They're a bit awkward to use (hit with an attack, then BA grapple), but the ability to grapple up to four targets at once is too good, and synergizes nicely with the fighter's many attacks.
Simic hybrids are specific to the Ravnica setting, though. Based on the two enhancements we've chosen, lets refluff it to some sort of octopus-person, maybe like Hachan from One Piece (https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Hatchan). Except with only four arms, rather than six. Now, six-limbed octopuses exist apparently don't exist now that I'm searching for them, so to make our character eight-limbed maybe they use four of their limbs as legs, like Squidward (https://spongebob.fandom.com/wiki/Squidward_Tentacles). Or Octodad (https://octodad.com/files/Octodad_Character.png).
So our character is a fishman (octopus variant) from Fishman Island, which is actually underwater for some reason. He's journeyed onto land to seek his fortune as basically a reverse-sailor (an aquatic creature that lives on land). Perhaps he trained at a dojo run by a giant (a sea giant, of course), which might explain his Rune Knight abilities, and he's an avid wrestler. He needs a name, but "Squidward" is a bit too on-the-nose. Perhaps something that is a bit more of a stealth pun, like "Craig McKraken (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_McCracken)". When he grows to a huge size, he's not far off from being an actual kraken, after all, and might even have a trace of kraken blood in his veins (which might also explain some Rune Knight abilities). Riffing off his real-life namesake, perhaps he has proficiency in painter's supplies, and likes to draw/paint comics (since the only animation that exists in D&D is necromancy). Perhaps his whole reason for adventuring is to gather material he can use for his comics.
See, you could be "just" a simic hybrid Rune Knight. Or, you could be an octopus fishman who trained under a sea giant and draws comics. Same mechanics, more colorful flavor.
I like to think that the McKrakens are descended from an ancient fishman hero who was half-kraken who is almost universally known among fishmen, but basically unknown by landfolk. So Craig often introduces himself as "Craig McKraken. Yes, that McKraken," and no one actually knows what he's talking about.
Rune Knights. They're probably the best grappling class/subclass right now. They can eventually become Huge (important later).
Simic hybrids. For our first enhancement, we'll take the Underwater Adaptation on the off-chance we get the opportunity to drag someone underwater and drown them. Second enhancement is obviously the grappling appendages. They're a bit awkward to use (hit with an attack, then BA grapple), but the ability to grapple up to four targets at once is too good, and synergizes nicely with the fighter's many attacks.
Simic hybrids are specific to the Ravnica setting, though. Based on the two enhancements we've chosen, lets refluff it to some sort of octopus-person, maybe like Hachan from One Piece (https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Hatchan). Except with only four arms, rather than six. Now, six-limbed octopuses exist apparently don't exist now that I'm searching for them, so to make our character eight-limbed maybe they use four of their limbs as legs, like Squidward (https://spongebob.fandom.com/wiki/Squidward_Tentacles). Or Octodad (https://octodad.com/files/Octodad_Character.png).
So our character is a fishman (octopus variant) from Fishman Island, which is actually underwater for some reason. He's journeyed onto land to seek his fortune as basically a reverse-sailor (an aquatic creature that lives on land). Perhaps he trained at a dojo run by a giant (a sea giant, of course), which might explain his Rune Knight abilities, and he's an avid wrestler. He needs a name, but "Squidward" is a bit too on-the-nose. Perhaps something that is a bit more of a stealth pun, like "Craig McKraken (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_McCracken)". When he grows to a huge size, he's not far off from being an actual kraken, after all, and might even have a trace of kraken blood in his veins (which might also explain some Rune Knight abilities). Riffing off his real-life namesake, perhaps he has proficiency in painter's supplies, and likes to draw/paint comics (since the only animation that exists in D&D is necromancy). Perhaps his whole reason for adventuring is to gather material he can use for his comics.
See, you could be "just" a simic hybrid Rune Knight. Or, you could be an octopus fishman who trained under a sea giant and draws comics. Same mechanics, more colorful flavor.
I like to think that the McKrakens are descended from an ancient fishman hero who was half-kraken who is almost universally known among fishmen, but basically unknown by landfolk. So Craig often introduces himself as "Craig McKraken. Yes, that McKraken," and no one actually knows what he's talking about.