Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 valanthekayland Nov 24, 2014 11:17:36	Hello everyone.  This is going to be my first time playing in a 5th edition campaign and I have a few questions on what and when to do things.  First off I should say that I'm not a huge optimizer...I know some of my choices might not be the best, but that's ok...I'm just looking to make a fun character to play.  Below is a quick character rundown currently followed by my questions.   We started with a 15,14,13,12, 10, 8 array for stats and I picked the human variant. And broke it down as such.   Str 14 +1 to 15 Dex 10 con 13 Int 12 Wis 8 Cha 15 +1 to 16.   I then chose the heavy armor master feat to give me +1 str to 16.  This is my first problem...that feat sounds good and fun...but obviously is powerful at low levels than is mitigated to nothing but your stat bonus at higher levels.  So I was thinking about changing things as such.   Str 15 +1 to 16 Dex 10 Con 13 +1 to 14 Int 12 Wis 8 Cha 14.   This would give me a little better HP and con saves...I miss the 16 cha though...I like the thought of a higher cha...so if I go this route I'm putting my level 4 stat bonus in cha...optimal...no...but again I think it's fun.  Instead of the Heavy armor master feat, I'd take Sentinel and combine it with Protection for fighting style at level 2.  Does this sound like the better option?   My other main question is in multiclassing.  I will be taking the Oath of the Ancients as it sounds enjoyable roleplaying wise.  I'd like to add in levels of Fighter and take the archetype that gives me superiority dice and I can use my battlefield commands to help myself and my party...it sounds like it's a good match for a Paladin.  My question is...WHEN to multi-class.  At Max level...I was thinking of 16/4 or 17/3 for Paladin/Fighter.  At first glance...I was pondering multi-classing after I hit 5 from Paladin getting my fifth attack.  I'd then get up to Figher 3, then back to Paladin.  What are some thoughts on this?
#2 Coredump00 Nov 24, 2014 14:20:19	First question: Do you think you will get to such high levels?    Don't discount HWM so quickly, yes the returns diminish some, but you will *always* be taking damage from the basic three... and even against the big hitters, it is a good amount of mitigation.   Hydra is CR8, and does 10 HP per hit Guard Naga CR10, 8 HP Purple Worm CR 15, 22HP.... even here its almost a 14% reduction in damage.   Even a Death Knight CR 17, does 27HP.... so about 11% reduction in damage.   And you still get that +1 Str.
#3 Coredump00 Nov 24, 2014 14:21:28	What weapon are you considering?   If weapon and shield, Shield Master is very cool.   Polearm Master or GWM are also useful.
#4 valanthekayland Nov 24, 2014 14:59:09	I'm using a warhammer and a shield currently...have a handaxe as well for a different damage type if it's ever needed.  As to what levels I think we'll get to....it wouldn't surprise me if we got to at least the low teens.   As to the resistance always being there...I had assumed that creatures of a certain level would be considered to be "magical" in their attacks similar to how they were in previous editions.  Shield Master did sound cool...and was one of the 2 other feats I am pondering taking along with Greater Weapon Master sometime in the life of the character.   One of the reasons I was pondering the sentinel build option...was my constitution.  There doesn't seem to be a way to get that extra +1 to it without throwing things off or having to take the resilient feat.  The sentinel feat just seems to lend itself so well to my character idea...so if I still went the first option with Heavy Armor Master, I would pick sentinel up as a feat at fourth level rather than putting anything into a stat boost.   Considering I'm looking at only 5 stat increases or feats...I'm having to really juggle what I'm planning.  I don't need to eventually have a 20/20 for str cha at high levels..as previously stated I'm not necessarily looking for a great optimal build.  It would be nice though to get the str to 18 at the level 8 stat increase though....so I can't just completely feat it up.
#5 Coredump00 Nov 24, 2014 22:35:15	So, my first advice is to not worry about things like 16/4 vs 17/3.... if you figure you are likely to not get passed the early or Mid teens.   From the monsters I have seen, they tend to hit with regular damage "plus something".  Like 15 piercing + 12 necrotic; or 12 slashing + 12 fire...   I don't see anything making their hits 'magical'... but I may have missed something, or maybe the DMG will change things.   Even when the CR 19 Balrog is doing 34 HP a hit, you still reduce that by 9%... getting 10-20% less damage is still helpful even at higher levels.  But.... not nearly as awesome as reducing Orcs and such from 5 HP to 2 HP a hit.  So there are diminishing returns.  But again, you will not be fighting Balrogs at lvl 13,...     If you want to use weapon+Shield, then I would skip taking things like GWF or Polearm M feats....  Only take those feats if you want to use those weapons.  My Shield Paly is about to hit lvl 4, and I am debating between HWM and Shield M..... hard damn decision.  Sentinel is also good... getting those extra reaction attacks is pretty darn handy.   I don't think any of those feats will be a bad choice....     As for Multi-classing... I think Paly is pretty powerful all on its own.  I would go Paly 5, and then see how you feel.  What paly levels are you willing to delay to grab a fighting style and action Surge, and maybe Maneuvers....   Hard to pass up the lvl 6 and 7 benefits...
#6 Coredump00 Nov 24, 2014 22:33:28	Oh, have you seen this?   http://community.wizards.com/forum/player-help/threads/4135276   I agree with just about all of it, and any differences are just nitpicking of opinion....
#7 Sorxores Nov 25, 2014 5:29:59	the protection fighitng style require your reaction to protect your ally. Sentinel require your reaction to let you attack when the opponent attack your ally. you cannot do both and you'll alway have to choose if your protecting your ally or if your attacking the creature with your reaction.   Heavy Armor master, only work against non magical bludgeoning/slashing/peircing, and higher level monster weapon are considered magical, so the feat become totally useless.
#8 Asaris34 Nov 25, 2014 7:31:57	Honestly, I'd do a 16 str and a 15 cha. You'll be able to boost your charisma with your first stat bump, and take resilient to boost your con up to 14. Which oath are you thinking about? I think that might make a difference as far as weapon type, if only for rp reasons.
(Reply to #7) valanthekayland	Sorxores wrote:
(Reply to #6) valanthekayland	Coredump00 wrote: