Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Dyndrilliac Apr 20, 2015 14:02:55	So I'm planning on making a character combining Moon Druid with a dip in Monk for Unarmored Defense. Here's my level 1:   Race: Human Variant Background: Folk Hero Class: Monk Stats Before Racial Bonuses (STR/DEX/CON/INT/WIS/CHA): 10/14/14/10/15/8 from 27 point buy Human Racial Bonuses: WIS +1, DEX +1, Resilient (Wisdom), Perception Skill Proficiency Monk Skills: Insight, Stealth   I went monk at level 1 for the save proficiencies. I want at least 18 levels of Druid for Timeless Body and Beast Spells. I will be maxing Wisdom out at 20 with Ability Score Improvements and putting the leftover point in Dexterity. I also want the Alert feat and the War Caster feat later on. I'm trying to decide what would be more beneficial: taking 19 levels in Druid, taking 2 levels in Monk, or taking a 1 level dip in an entirely separate class.   The advantage of taking 19 levels in Druid is I will get my last Ability Score Improvement but I'm not sure what I would spend it on, maybe the Skilled feat or Lucky feat. Taking a level in any full caster class including Druid will get me an additional 6th level spell slot. Going Druid would also allow me to prepare one additional Druid spell. The other full caster class that uses Wisdom is Cleric, and if I were to take a level in Cleric that would get me 3 additional Cleric cantrips, my additional 6th level spell slot, the level 1 benefits of a Cleric Domain, and access to the entire library of 1st level Cleric spells with the ability to prepare 6 of them in addition to my 23 prepared Druid spells. Both Cleric and Druid can ritual cast. A dip in Cleric looks pretty tempting. Knowledg domain is great for rounding out my skills. Another dip I like the sound of for the skill boosts and Sneak Attack is Rogue. The advantage of taking a second Monk level is 2 Ki to add a couple of handy bonus action possibilities and +10 speed.   What does the hive mind think?
#2 mellored Apr 21, 2015 0:43:22	you likely won't reach 20, so don't worry about it and decide later.
#3 WizardV Apr 21, 2015 1:20:37	The bearbarian is a common optimization if you want to go full tank. Barbarian provides unarmed defense as well but also optionally provides rage for damage resistance and extra damage.   Another common optimization is to go Forest Gnome. The racial grants magical resistances which carry over while wild shaped and minor illusion which is always a good thing. Between barbarian danger sense and gnome you have advantage on most dex, int, wis, and cha saves you're going to make and proficiency in Strength and Con.   If you're willing to stay to Barbarian 3 your rage resistance applies to all damage types except psychic. If you're willing to stay to 5 you can multi-attack which works pretty well with being a giant elk and trampling things.   In terms of leveling: barb 1, druid 2, barb 5, druid 15 with an optional dip 1 for rogue if you go the grapple route. If you want to stay pure druid, barb 1->druid 19 or 18 if you want danger sense.
#4 Dyndrilliac Apr 21, 2015 17:03:13	I opted for the Cleric dip. Knowledge Domain. Chose Religion and Nature as my free double proficiency knowledge skills.   I am pretty adamant on at least 18 levels of Druid, and Barbarian takes too much investment to be really good. One level dip in monk gets me the superior version of Unarmored Defense which in most forms frees up Concentration which would have been used to sustain Barkskin. In exchange for Unarmored Defense (which frees up concentration for something else) and the extra versatility from the level 1 Cleric abilities I won't get my last Druid Ability Score Improvement, the Druid capstone ability, or my second 7th level spell slot. I think that is a fair trade.