Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 FrogReaver Feb 28, 2015 18:21:06	A half-orc can be created with 16 14 14 10 13 9 stat array.   Using medium armor and a rapier and a shield should net 18 AC.     Going 5 levels into barbarian gets 3 rages with +2 damage each and the ability to get advantage on any str attacks in return for advantage on me.   Rogue gets sneak attack anytime he gets advantage.     Go the rest of the levels in rogue.   By level 10 we are looking at 2 attacks with advantage anytime I want it, we are looking at 3d6 sneak attack damage and 2 extra damage on each attack while I'm raging.  That's pretty impressive for a brawler type rogue.   Thoughts or opinions?
#2 mellored Feb 28, 2015 19:01:22	It works. Uncanny dodge and rage stack for 1/4 damage. Don't forget to carry a hand bow, just in case.
#3 FunkySpunk Feb 28, 2015 20:02:25	Looks like an effective and fun build! Let us know how it  works out!
#4 Kostoglot Feb 28, 2015 21:00:26	Some other potential pieces to keep in mind:   Level 7 Barbarian grants advantage on initiative, which combines well with Assassin. Sentinel works well with your damage reduction, and can grant off-turn Sneak Attacks. Shield Master gets Str, 2x your proficiency bonus, and advantage on its knockdown/push. Easy way to set up Sneak Attack for yourself/gain advantage on your attacks. 3 levels in Battlemaster Fighter gives you Duelist Style, Action Surge, and maneuevers - Menacing Attack and Riposte Strike both allow out of turn Sneak Attacks using your reaction.  Note that if you're not taking Shield Master/have a consistent way to gain advantage for Sneak Attack (flanking rules help) you're still likely better off playing a Dex-Barb. Better initiative, better AC (up to 22 if you can afford to max Con), and no disadvantage on Stealth, unlike medium armor wearers (unless you take Medium Armor Master with 16 Dex - though, this costs you another ABI).
(Reply to #4) FrogReaver	Kostoglot wrote:
#6 Kostoglot Feb 28, 2015 21:15:29	Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but personally, I like something like this for a tanky character: 1 Barbarian/6 Fighter/13 Rogue Wood Elf (Fast, hides easily, darkvision, stats work decently) Str 13 Dex 17 (20) Con 15 (20) Int 8 Wis 13 (14) Cha 8 6 increases:   +1 Dex/+1 Con Sentinel +2 Dex Resilient: Wis +2 Con +2 Con   Ends up with 22 AC (shield, no armor), 203 HP IIRC (starting Rogue 1), Uncanny Dodge and Rage x2 (save for threatening encounters) to reduce damage. Maneuvers can gain advantage, increase protection, or allow reaction attacks, depending what you choose. Easy enough to drop a Rogue level for FIghter 7 to increase these. Alternatively, a Fighter 11 variant would have less reliance on Sneak Attack, though I haven't looked at it much yet.
#7 Kostoglot Feb 28, 2015 21:31:27	FrogReaver wrote:
(Reply to #7) FrogReaver	Kostoglot wrote:
#9 1eejit Mar 01, 2015 2:10:57	You also have Evasion stacking with Danger Sense - advantage on almost all dex saves and 0 damage when you succeed. Fast Movement is also great with Cunning Action. I'm actually in the middle of playing this, just got 5 as barbarian so will go rogue from next level.
#10 Kostoglot Mar 01, 2015 4:45:58	FrogReaver wrote:
#11 Gwaithador Mar 01, 2015 9:49:40	I deleted my comment, I realized the original poster was referring to reckless attack to obtain advantage.
(Reply to #10) FrogReaver	Kostoglot wrote:
#13 Kostoglot Mar 01, 2015 20:36:33	You're right - shoving is a melee attack. One more bizarre piece to this edition.
(Reply to #13) FrogReaver	Kostoglot wrote:
#15 Glimjack Mar 02, 2015 3:53:33	I'm surprised noone has mentioned this (maybe I missed it) but reckless attack only works on Strength based attacks and sneak attack only works on dex based attacks. You cannot use them both at the same time. Either you reckless attack and use strength (thus rendering yourself unable to sneak attack) or you use a dex attack, meaning you can't use reckless rage to get advantage.   EDIT: Just thought I'd point out that I think both those feature are worded precisley to be mutually exclusive, so that there can be no perma-sneak attack.
#16 1eejit Mar 02, 2015 4:56:44	Actually sneak attack is keyed to finesse weapon, which you can use with strength.
#17 Glimjack Mar 02, 2015 5:15:16	1eejit wrote:
(Reply to #17) FrogReaver	Glimjack wrote:
(Reply to #18) Glimjack	Unfortunately, the barbarian rage power also explicitly states that the damage bonus only applies to Strength based attacks. So it suffers from the same problem as reckless attack. If it didn't explicitly state that it was Strength only, then all barbarians would go Dex based for the better AC. Which would ruin the flavour of the class. They are given Unarmoured Defence to make up for their de-prioritized Dexterity. Again, none of this is an issue if your DM interprets the use of the word "finesse" more liberally. I do not believe I am "nerfing" anything, more precisely interpreting the use of the word finesse in line with what I believe the intent of the word is and also in terms of relative power balance. Allowing raging barbarian sneak attackers to permanently sneak attack falls well outside any other classes power curve.
(Reply to #19) FrogReaver	Glimjack wrote:
(Reply to #20) Glimjack	FrogReaver wrote:
(Reply to #15) Macv12	Glimjack wrote: