Character advise for future progression - Goliath Psi Warrior

[Rolero]

Hello there fellow giants!

I am starting a new campaign from level one. we will be taking on Rise of the Drow and after a bit of brainstorming I think I know what character I want to role but I not so sure on how should I build him onwards.

We will be using the slow healing rules. Meaning, you don't recover health on short rests and you have to roll and use your hit dice to gain hit points back on long rests. The GM is also restricting the number of PC who have access to healing spells and even thinking on ban the healer and inspiring leader feats. He really wants this campaign to be gritty and tough.

So, I am the new guy of the group and the rest of the gang has already pick their choices more or less. We have a Light Cleric, a Paladin, a Human Draconic Sorcerer and a Dwarf Ranger (Gloomstalker later on). Don't know the races of Cleric and Pal, but I know the second intends to multiclass into Bard. The DM stated that he will only allow a fullcaster with healing options plus a hybrid class in that regard, so, Cleric and Pal already cover that niche. One of my ideas was a Star Druid focused on support, so that's out the window now.

To recapitulate, the group has a heavy hitter/secundary healer (Paladin), a Healer/Blaster/Support (Light Cleric), a Blaster/Blaster (Draconic Sorcerer obssesed with fire) and a Scout/Ranged specialist (Dwarf ranger). With that in mind, I thought the group would need either extra muscle on the front lines, something roguish or extra arcane utility. While I have enjoyed playing wizards a lot, I am a bit tired of that, so I opted to do a mix of that idea: Enter the Goliath Psi Warrior.

My reasoning for this choice was that since healing was nerfed, maybe having some options to mitigate damage could come in handy. Goliaths already come in with Stone Endurance which combined with Fighter's Second Wind, will help me survive on the front lines. Later on, the Psi Warrior Protective Field extends this damage reduction to my companions.

In total that's 1d12+CON of dmg reduction per shor rest, plus 1d10+Fighter level healing per short rest, plus up to 4x 1d6 + INT dmg reduction up to 30' away per long rest with 1 extra use per short rest (at 3rd level).

I think it is a good chasis as a protector of the group. However, I have two possible routes for this build idea and I am not quite sure how to proceed.

We role for stats, with the caveat that we can turn our worst roll into an 18. My rolls were not spectacular, but after switching the lowest I ended up with 18 14 13 12 11 11. Nevertheless, this is still better that the standard point buy and We can also add the race bonus points however we like so I am pretty ok with this.

Now, my idea is to focus on Fighter levels first and multiclass into Wizard (warmage) later on, but Barbarian could also work and I don't even discard Rogue.

First, Strenght build:

STR 18 DEX 12 CON 14+2 INT 13+1 WIS 11 CHA 11

Classic big guy with a big weapon. Will probably go with a 2H weapon and pick HWM later on.
Pros: reliable big damage, can combo with Polearm master, will have a free hand for casting later.
Cons: less AC, less initiative, compete with Cleric and Pal for Heavy armor.

Second, Dexterity build:

STR 12 DEX 18 CON 14+2 INT 13+1 WIS 11 CHA 11

Sneaky giant with finesse weapon, Sword and Shield.
Pros: more AC, more initiative, if need can scout with the ranger
Cons: less damage, needs warcaster to cast later on.


The Strength route could acomodate some barbarian levels for some extra damage reduction and at will advantage to attack for desperate times.
The Dexterity route opens rogue for extra skills and movility options.

Discarding the choice between STR and DEX, my current plan would be: Fighter +5 (+2 STR/DEX), Wizard +1, Fighter +1 (Warcaster), Wizard+1, Fighter +2 (ASI), Wizard +2 (ASI)
Could do something similar with Barbarian if I don't go the Magic route (switching the wizard levels for barbs and not picking warcaster)

Magic route
Pros: a lot of extra defense and utility options (arcane deflection, shield, blur, misty step, silvery barbs, plus rituals and cantrips)
Cons: less HP, less damage

Brute route
Pros: more HP, extra damage, extra damage reduction, extra perks from path
Cons: less utility, less defense

If I considered a Rogue route and not sure which path could work better for this build, with the exception of thief if the healer feat is not banned.

What do you think could be the best/more reliable choice?

TL;DR. Goliath Fighter interested on the Psi Warrior subclass ask for suggestions on how he should build the later levels in a campaign on hardcore difficulty.

[J-H]

You and the paladin are the party tanks. I am not a fan of multiclassing a ton, and I think Wizard on a Fighter chassis is going to leave you going "Do I cast Shatter, or do I attack twice?" when you should instead be attacking 3 times. Is your DM actually taking the campaign to 20?

I would go the heavy armor (strength route), and then go with a sword and board style for higher AC since you don't want to get hit.
As a fighter, you get a lot of ASIs or feats. I would consider the following:
-Heavy Armor Master for an additional 3 DR on most attacks.
-You can coordinate with the Paladin to stand next to each other and use the Interception fighting style to block 1d10+PB of damage to him once per round (conflicts with OAs & your goliath ability for use of your reaction).
-An extra fighting style (Defense) could net you +1 AC.
-Mobile for extra move speed and disengage, so you can reach the enemy back line faster if needed. Your jumping distance is capped by your ground move speed, so this also helps your Force Jump.
-I like Crusher and a warhammer because you get to inflict a 5' push once per round for free, and if you crit, you give everyone advantage for a bit.

You have room to pick all of those up and still get STR 20 and a high CON/INT.

[nickl_2000]

If you want to watch the world burn, pick a Way of Mercy Monk. They can heal like crazy and get it back on a short rest. But that is going against the intent of the DM, so don't actually do that.


For a real answer, I would dex sword and board it. If you are getting Wizard levels later on you are using those mostly for buffs rather than out and out damage. I feel like you will have plenty of damage in the Paladin and the Sorcerer, so being able to help out the Ranger and AC would be nice.

[JLandan]

Goliath Psi Warrior would be a good fit in the lineup.

But due to the grittiness of the campaign, have you considered a second cleric. In that kind of campaign, a Grave Cleric would be of much use, perhaps with a level or two of Divine Soul Sorcerer for better spell options. Neither of which is optimal for a goliath, but a firbolg would work nicely.

[Rolero]

Thanks you all for the inputs :)


You and the paladin are the party tanks. I am not a fan of multiclassing a ton, and I think Wizard on a Fighter chassis is going to leave you going "Do I cast Shatter, or do I attack twice?" when you should instead be attacking 3 times. Is your DM actually taking the campaign to 20?


The intent of the Wizard multiclassing is to get extra defense abilities and tricks. Warcaster allows booming blade as a deterrent if they try to ignore me and level 1 and 2 have a good selection of buffs, also, Arcane Deflection is great for saves. I don't think I will be casting anything offensively.
I don't really know if we will go to 20, which is way I am trying to optimize from the low levels just in case.



I would go the heavy armor (strength route), and then go with a sword and board style for higher AC since you don't want to get hit.
As a fighter, you get a lot of ASIs or feats. I would consider the following:
-Heavy Armor Master for an additional 3 DR on most attacks.
-You can coordinate with the Paladin to stand next to each other and use the Interception fighting style to block 1d10+PB of damage to him once per round (conflicts with OAs & your goliath ability for use of your reaction).
-An extra fighting style (Defense) could net you +1 AC.
-Mobile for extra move speed and disengage, so you can reach the enemy back line faster if needed. Your jumping distance is capped by your ground move speed, so this also helps your Force Jump.
-I like Crusher and a warhammer because you get to inflict a 5' push once per round for free, and if you crit, you give everyone advantage for a bit.

You have room to pick all of those up and still get STR 20 and a high CON/INT.


Umm, I like this ideas. If I go with the Strenght route I'll consider them for sure :)



If you want to watch the world burn, pick a Way of Mercy Monk. They can heal like crazy and get it back on a short rest. But that is going against the intent of the DM, so don't actually do that.


Fun fact, I considered that :elan: Been wanting to try monk for a while and Mercy could be awesome for this setting situation, but I would be very bland and squashy till 3rd level. But should I die, maybe...



For a real answer, I would dex sword and board it. If you are getting Wizard levels later on you are using those mostly for buffs rather than out and out damage. I feel like you will have plenty of damage in the Paladin and the Sorcerer, so being able to help out the Ranger and AC would be nice.


Versatily, yes. Right now I think that's what the group needs since I am filling the fifth dude spot.



Goliath Psi Warrior would be a good fit in the lineup.

But due to the grittiness of the campaign, have you considered a second cleric. In that kind of campaign, a Grave Cleric would be of much use, perhaps with a level or two of Divine Soul Sorcerer for better spell options. Neither of which is optimal for a goliath, but a firbolg would work nicely.


Unfortunetly, there can be no more clerics because of the restrictions on healing. Besides, I was rolling a grave cleric through Tomb of Annihilation, so I am a bit tired of that.


One more thing. I've never been in the underdark as a main setting, so another question would be the priority in feats like Resilient (Wisdom) or Alert. Should I grab them as soon as possible, or can they wait?
What do you think of the Telekinetic and Telepathic ones (if only for the theme of the pc)?

Finally, how about the Barbarian route? Do you think a 3rd level dip (discarding the wizard option) and grab Bear or Ancestral could be worth it?

[Rashagar]

So, I love multiclassing, and tend to prefer to multiclass martial classes with other martial classes. Just to address my biases.

Love your idea of a Goliath Psi Warrior. I think it'll be a great addition to the party, and damage mitigation will go a long way.

In saying all that, unless your concept requires multiclassing, I think I'd go straight Psi Warrior here. Interception style as said will be great early on, but the higher level Psi Warrior features are great, and I wouldn't want to delay myself from getting to level 7 as soon as possible, for the fun of pushing enemies around and leaping everywhere.

*Edited because I forgot what level they get things at

[Sorinth]

Worth mentioning that straight Hexblade that liberally uses Armor of Agathys is a decent tank. And Goliath in particular is nice since Stone's Endurance will keep AoA up for that extra hit.

That said straight Psi Warrior is pretty good too, in this case I would go the Dex route in this case take Defence style and Rapier and Shield. And if I were to multiclass wizard I'd probably go Bladesinger over Warmage.