Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dleto May 12, 2015 15:18:46	I am going to be joining a new group for a home campaign this Thursday and am looking for help with my character.   Currently, the group is composed of a halfling rogue, a gnome illusionist wizard, a warforged druid (who is planning on going moon I believe), and an elf life cleric. Before I heard the groups composition I had been thinking about making a warlock. However, since I realized that starting at level 1 we really don't have a good frontline character I am looking instead at making someone who can provide the frontline, bottleneck capacity we seem to lack as well as providing good damage. My current thoughts are that rather than being a pure vanilla fighter I could create some sort of magic knight concept or perhaps magical duelist.   I have been looking at a paladin, fighter planning on going ek, bard planning on going valor, or possibly a paladin or fighter that will multiclass into warlock later. I'm not sure which idea is going to be the most effective at lower levels since we start at level 1 and I don't anticipate this going to the higher levels anytime soon based off the amount we will be playing.   As far as concepts I have been looking at something with a potentially fey theme associated with it due to the majority of the party having a fey/nature theme between race and class choices. Also, the character probably needs a noble aspect. Most of the party either took noble backgrounds or connections or are disguising themselves as such (the gnome is a conman pretending to be a lord and the elf cleric is a noble lady for example). I was thinking that would make classes like a warlock with the fey pact, a paladin of the oath that is more fey like, and elf, half-elf, or possibly human flavorful choices. As far as background I was considering soldier or noble with the knight option.   The only two concepts that I have really fleshed out beyond initial musings are two brothers who I would pick between one is the older son who starts as a paladin (str and charisma traditionally styled) up to at least level 3 to go oath of the ancients or vengeance, and then multiclass into warlock to become a fey bladelock. His backstory being the family are an ancient line of defenders of the fey/nature/the ancient secrets etc... And the eldest member must bear the weight of the families promise to serve one of the faerie queens as her knight. The other brother would be the second son or the youngest son and something of a rake as well as a bit of a duelist (dex and charisma). He is jealous of his older brother being allowed into the families paladin order while he is merely a street duelist and leader of the house forces (dex fighter soldier background or noble background). He will multiclass warlock after making a deal either with a faerie queen (perhaps the opposite of his brother) or perhaps a devil to gain powers similar to his brother.   I'd probably give the other character to the dm to use as a possible recurring villain or foil to whichever one I select assuming I even play one of the brothers. I am still not sure what makes a good frontline character in this edition let alone a gish but I definitely want to play more than just a melee character. I want someone who can swing a sword and also contribute with spells and utility.
#2 Danny_Montanny May 12, 2015 16:10:40	Variant Human, Fighter start, Polearm Mastry, and Great Wapon Fighting style. Then Warlock to 5 to get Thursting Blade Invocation and Great Weapon Master at 4. Fighter from there.
#3 Lord_Ventnor May 12, 2015 17:10:30	Thirsting Blade is worthless on any character who has 5 or more fighter levels.
(Reply to #3) Danny_Montanny	Lord_Ventnor wrote:
#5 dleto May 12, 2015 17:38:55	Danny_Montanny wrote:
#6 SterlingRat May 13, 2015 7:42:39	Oath of Ancients Paladin can be a powerhouse of a character. It will also easily multiclass to warlock - 3 levels and you can have a sprite familiar (it is not optimized, but it is awesome)
#7 HermanTheWize May 13, 2015 8:01:03	@dleto I love it when players give me extra stuff to work with. I would definatlly use the younger borther to huge advantage. Hopefully pushing you Paladin to the brink of his oath, would make a good story, though to get that point it may be several sessions. I can see it now; the older brother lets the younger brother go, after an evil act, loosing his oath powers(temporarily). He redeems himself and needs to hunt down his younger borther. He follows the trail of destruction and misery, leading finally to his brother who has entered a pact with a demon. He gains great power, at the cost of his soul. The older brother must end him, but with the help of his companions he's been adventuring with for months becasue he's isn't strong enough by himself.  Finally coming to a final comflict where the brothers meet, either destroying the evil, and his brother, or failing and unleashing a great evil upon the world.    Good on you for giving extra stuff to your DM.