Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 FunkySpunk Apr 02, 2015 8:50:57	I'm thinking of starting with a Human (Aasimar? Elf?) Fighter 2/Warlock 3.    The idea isn't to recreate Elric perfectly, it's to recreate the feel of an Elric-type character, and make him an effective 5e character.    Thank you.
#2 transcendantviewer Apr 02, 2015 9:44:31	I don't know what he is really, but I would recommend avoiding multiclassing as much as possible. Go with Warlock and take the Pact of the Sword. That'll give you the sort of "Spellsword" feel you're going for.
#3 SterlingRat Apr 02, 2015 10:54:51	You won't be able to make him very well at Level 5, but you can try...   Albino drow. Noble background. dump con and have stupid-high int & charisma. The real trick is getting Stormbringer - is there a magic sword that boosts the wielder's Con and Str?   I would go with either pure Vengance Paladin or pure Bladelock rather than mixing fighter.
#4 FunkySpunk Apr 02, 2015 11:00:19	Thanks guys.   Lawful Evil?
#5 SterlingRat Apr 02, 2015 11:11:48	More Lawful Neutral, I think. Can you do Lawful Evil-But-Not-That-Evil? The sword was the real evil and if he had been truly evil he wouldn't have had so many doubts and regrets. And he would have killed all his cousins. Actually.... he pretty much did end up killing all his cousins, but he tried not to.
#6 spanglemaker Apr 02, 2015 11:24:12	If my memory serves me right, Elric was rather sickly, so you might be looking at Warlock 5 Pact of the Blade, Thirsting Blade as a definite invocation. Your constitution would probably be 8. Fiend Pact would probably be a good bet, but I must admit it's been a long time since I read the Elric Books. Lawful Neutral as well. It was the Sword Stormbringer which was Evil, that sword was sentient and therefore couldn't be a Pact Weapon (in a home game I would allow if I was DM, but the sentient weapon would be constantly corrupting Elric. If your DM won't permit this ( sad) then you could try Vengeance Paladin. Not really Elric, as Elric was definitely an Arcane Practitioner.
#7 FunkySpunk Apr 02, 2015 12:27:40	I know I can't get Elric just right, but I was thinking the warlock would work (this characters master would be represented by the Power, not Stormbringer).    It's all a flavor thing. I don't need it to be perfect.    Why are we against starting with a couple of fighter levels?
#8 FunkySpunk Apr 02, 2015 12:31:08	Drow:   STR 10 DEX 16 CON 8 INT 14 WIS 10 CHA 16
#9 SterlingRat Apr 02, 2015 12:41:19	For me, it's because Level 5 is awesome in lots of classes (Extra Attack, 2nd level spells for 1/2 caster and 3rd level spells for full caster). I'm not against ending up as a multiclass character, but I generally recommend going multi a bit later than 5 (either at 6 or 12, really)   Unless you go fighter 1 for the saves & proficiencies and only delay hitting 2nd attack/3rd level spells by 1 level.
#10 miburo99 Apr 02, 2015 14:58:01	Fighter 1 isn't as crucial because you may not need medium/heavy armor (you can use armor of shadows instead). However, Con proficiency and fighting style would be pretty nice. Fighter 2 isn't quite as useful compared to what you are losing in Warlock progression. A generous DM might still allow you to take Thirsting Blade at 5th level, even though you are Warlock 4 (given the whole debate on RAW character levels for invocations vs. intended class levels).   Fiend Pact of the Blade Warlock makes a lot of sense. Elric worked for the Lords of Chaos for much of his life, with Stormbringer representing that pact. Reskin the Fiend to Chaos and this works really well (still draining energy from your foes when you kill them, etc.). Drow is probably the closest you will get to Melnibonean, though High Elf and Eladrin could work as well.   Also, be super emo. Like, I've destroyed my kingdom and everything and everyone I hold dear emo.   Edit: Just a thought. Melniboeans are technically half-breeds (the descendants of the Eldren with Humans). Also, Stormbringer was supposed to be a big sword, not something dexterous like a rapier. If you want to be strength-based, therefore, perhaps half-elf wielding a greatsword would work. Ftr 1/War 4, put in medium/heavy armor. Take the Great Weapon Mastery feat and you have a pretty effective bladelock. You could also fluff high strength and constitution as being a boost from the pact.
#11 spanglemaker Apr 02, 2015 17:16:26	As emperor of Melniboné, Elric wears the Ring of Kings, also called the Ring of Actorios, and is able to call for aid upon the traditional patron of the Melniboné emperors, Arioch, a Lord of Chaos and Duke of Hell. From the first story onwards, Elric is shown using ancient pacts and agreements with not only Arioch but various other beings—some gods, some demons—to assist him in accomplishing his tasks. Sounds pretty much Warlock, to me and a Fiend Pact to boot.  I would suggest the Half Elf race. Level 5 Warlock grants access to 3rd level spells, an extra Invocation, possibly some utility and an increase in Proficiency.   Elric is a sorcerer and a summoner, so if you wanted to you could go Tome or Chain Pact and have Fighter 1, dexterity rather than strength. He is meant to be frail and weak. Constitution would be the worst, followed by Strength. High Charisma. Noble Background. Dexterity doesn't have to be penalised, it can be more about alertness, honed senses, instincts and intuition)   Possible invocations  Thirsting Blade Armor of Shadows (or Devils Sight) One with Shadows (or Eldritch Sight or Misty Visions or Mask of Many Faces or Fiendish Vigour) Possible Stats at 5th Level, as an AL character (using 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) are:   Str 10,Con 8, Dex 16, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 18 (you could swap Int and Wis around)   Thirsting Blade, Devils Sight, (Armor of Shadows or Fiendish Vigour or One a With Shadows) as one possibility ( advantage in magical darkness). Thirsting Blade, Misty Visions, Mask of Many Faces (Illusiory Fighter)   Probably wouldn't be an Eldritch Blast caster, but it's the players choice.   Tomelock version Invocations could be: Book of Ancient Secrets (Call Familiar, Detect Magic), Fiendish Vigour and (Devils Sight or Mask of Many Faces). Extra 3 Cantrips (possibly) - Shilelagh, Thaumaturgy, Shocking Grasp
#12 Gwaithador Apr 02, 2015 18:51:12	Good suggestions from all. Elric was perfectly capable of wearing heavy armor and did so on a few  occassions. I would recommend at least one level of fighter for access to heavy armor, greatsword proficiency and the general martial training provided to him. Elric needs a high intelligence and charisma. While Warlock makes the most sense because of the pacts, Elric had a number of pacts, and was often summoning aid. Thus, access to summoning is key. Warlock has a lot of the thematic feel. So, fighter 1/ warlock 4 could work.  But so could wizard, though its not as thematically strong. You may not be able to find Stormbringer, but you could find Blackrazor!   As far as alignment. He's the eternal champion, he fights for the balance. In the end, I woud say, True Neutral.
(Reply to #8) arnwolf666	FunkySpunk wrote:
#14 draegn Apr 02, 2015 21:05:48	http://www.geekhero.org/ADnDFE/files/ADnDFE_Deities%20and%20Demigods-Lost%20Mythos%20Only.pdf   Perhaps you can use the AD&D Elric for inspiration.
#15 miburo99 Apr 02, 2015 21:21:21	arnwolf666 wrote:
#16 spanglemaker Apr 02, 2015 23:52:17	I checked out the Elric rpg, RuneQuest, his Int was 24, Cha 18, Str 5 (13), Con 8 (13) Before Stormbringer he had to use drugs ( exotic healing herbs and poisons) to take his str and Con to 13, Stormbringer unnaturally did that without drugs, and had the advantage of giving him the life force of those slain with the sword.   Technically he would be a Wizard (Necromancer or Evoker or Abjurer) or Tome Warlock  (Book of Ancient Secrets) as the Sorcerers of his worlds are all ritual casters which use Intelligence, rather than Charisma. All of his spells are the result of mini pacts with Elemental Lords and Ladies, Beastlords, Demons of Chaos and Lords and Ladies of Law. To fly, he may initially have to perform a ritual, where he meets the Lady of Air or the Lord or Lady of Birds (could be a ritual or vision quest), negotiates so that he can call upon Flight, Levitate or Feather Fall ( Immediately and or at a later date).  Beastlords would most probably provide Druidic Powers.   Now attempting to simulate Elric in D&D, is harder because the magic systems are completely different. But I personally would just KISS (keep it simple sweetheart) go Warlock (Fiend Blade) 5 or go more complex as Fighter 1, Warlock (Fiend Tome) 4.  His alignment also would depend on the time, early he would be more Lawful Neutral, then we chooses to abdicate his throne Chaotic Neutral, Stormbringer influence Lawful Evil through to True Neutral or Lawful Neutral as the Eternal Champion ( or agent of law).   A possibility for fluffing the Con, in my Half Elf Elric, would be to swap Str and Con then reduce the Charisma by 2 and increase the Con by 2 (level 4 Warlock ABS increase). Str 8, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 16. If going Fighter 1, Warlock 4 (Invocations: Thirsting Blade and Devils Sight (Blade) or Book of Ancient Secrets, Devils Sight (Tome).  Warlock 5, you get 3 Invocations and 3rd level spells including Flight).