[PEACH] Viking for a converted 1e module - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

My gaming group is beginning a new 5e campaign, which will start with a converted B2 "Keep on the Borderlands" module and possibly continue with X1 "Isle of Dread". The campaign is set in Greyhawk, allows any of the character/race/background options of the PHB, as well as the two "villanous" class options and two new races of the DMG. Eberron content is not allowed, nor are custom races/classes/backgrounds.

I chose to roll my stats rather than take the standard array. My results were: 16, 16, 16, 13, 12, 11. With the expectation of high lethality (these are 1e modules, after all), I decided to build a tough character, specifically a barbarian. Please take a look:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Jindl Feb 06, 2015 12:43:07	My gaming group is beginning a new 5e campaign, which will start with a converted B2 "Keep on the Borderlands" module and possibly continue with X1 "Isle of Dread". The campaign is set in Greyhawk, allows any of the character/race/background options of the PHB, as well as the two "villanous" class options and two new races of the DMG. Eberron content is not allowed, nor are custom races/classes/backgrounds. I chose to roll my stats rather than take the standard array. My results were: 16, 16, 16, 13, 12, 11. With the expectation of high lethality (these are 1e modules, after all), I decided to build a tough character, specifically a barbarian. Please take a look: Herger the Joyous, Viking of the Fruztii 1st-level Human (variant) Barbarian Medium Male Humanoid Armor Class 18 (unarmed defense, shield) Hit Points 15 (1d12+3) Speed 30 ft. Sense Normal Str 17 (+3) Dex 16 (+3) Con 17 (+3) Int 11 (+0) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 12 (+1) Alignment chaotic good Languages common, giant Trait Background Pirate [Bad Reputation] Personality Traits: My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what. I stretch the truth for the sake of a good story. Ideal: Freedom. The sea is freedom - the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. Bond: I'll always remember my first ship. Flaw: Once I start drinking, it's hard for me to stop. Proficiency (+2) Tools: Navigator's tools, Vehicles (water) Saving Throws: Strength +5, Constitution +5 Skils: Athletics +5, Perception +3, Stealth +5, Intimidation+3, Survival +3 Feats: Polearm Master Rage (2/day, Rage Damage +2) Unarmored Defense Equipment: quarterstaff, shield, 5x javelin, backpack, bedroll, mess kit, 50 feet of silk rope, tinderbox, 5 days of rations, waterskin, set of common clothes, 2 pieces of chalk, a whistle made from gold-colored wood, belt pouch, 38 gp, 6 sp, 3 cp. Actions Attack: Melee - Quarterstaff: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 1d6+3 bludgeoning damage Bonus: Melee - Quarterstaff: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 1d4+3 bludgeoning damage Attack: Ranged - Javelin: +5 to hit (range 30/120 ft; one creature). Hit: 1d6+3 piercing damage Creation Notes: Human (variant): +1 Str/Con; Stealth proficiency; Common and Giant languages; Polearm Master feat. Sailor (Pirate) : Athletics, Perception, Navigator's tools, and Vehicles (water) proficiences; Bad Reputation feature. Barbarian 1: 1d12 HD; Light armor, Medium armor, Shields, Simple weapons, Martial weapons, Strength saves, Constitution saves, Intimidation, and Survival proficiencies; Rage (2/day, +2 damage); Unarmored defense. Initial equipment: greatsword (sold for 25 gp), light crossbow (sold for 12 gp 5 sp), 4x javelin, explorer's pack (sold 10 torches, 5 days of rations, 50 feet of hempen rope for a total of 1 gp 8 sp), club (sold for 5 cp), 50 feet of silk rope, trinket, set of common clothes, belt pouch, 10 gp. After selling excess initial equipment, Herger had 49 gp, 3 sp, 5 cp. This was used to purchase a quarterstaff (2 sp), a shield (10 gp), a javelin (5 sp), 2 pieces of chalk (2 cp). He enters play with 38 gp, 6 sp, 3 cp. When adventuring, he equips his shield and has a free hand ready to draw a javelin (to throw) or draw his quarterstaff. He usually begins a fight by raging, and either moving up to make a single attack with his quarterstaff or drawing/throwing a javelin if the enemy is too far away. He wields the quarterstaff in one hand and uses polearm master to make bonus/reaction attacks with it.
#2 HermanTheWize Feb 09, 2015 9:07:01	Interesting, I was thinking of multiclassing fighter with my barb. Looks pretty good to me. I usally come at stuff from a more roleplaying point of view. For example, if I did multiclass into fighter with my barb, I'm going to say somthing along the lines of "My barbarian has seen that while his strength has grown, his skills with his blade are lacking the precision he desires. He will then spend the next few x days/weeks/months(depending on amount of levels you desire to gain) honing his fighting skills, but not forgetting his barbarian background. One day when he becomes happy with his new found skill, he will return to the road of a Barbarian. "
#3 BRJN Feb 09, 2015 18:54:53	Don't worry too much about plotting out level progression beyond "the next two or three". You may find from experience that some other feature is much more important than you had originally thought. Ex: I took Monk1 / Rogue1 for Expertise(Perception) because I want to build a Scout. Based on my to-hit die rolls over time, I'll decide if I want to go for the "big bang" one-shot Sneak Attack, or go for the Monk's many-smaller-attacks that whittle the enemy down because one or another (but not all) always hits.

1st-level Human (variant) Barbarian
Medium Male Humanoid
Armor Class 18 (unarmed defense, shield)
Hit Points 15 (1d12+3)
Speed 30 ft.
Sense Normal
Str 17 (+3) Dex 16 (+3) Con 17 (+3)
Int 11 (+0) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 12 (+1)
Alignment chaotic good
Languages common, giant
Trait
Background Pirate [Bad Reputation]
   Personality Traits: My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what. I stretch the truth for the sake of a good story.
Ideal: Freedom. The sea is freedom - the freedom to go anywhere and do anything.
Bond: I'll always remember my first ship.
Flaw: Once I start drinking, it's hard for me to stop.
Proficiency (+2)
  Tools: Navigator's tools, Vehicles (water)
  Saving Throws: Strength +5, Constitution +5
Skils: Athletics +5, Perception +3, Stealth +5, Intimidation+3, Survival +3

Feats: Polearm Master
Rage (2/day, Rage Damage +2)
Unarmored Defense

Equipment: quarterstaff, shield, 5x javelin, backpack, bedroll, mess kit, 50 feet of silk rope, tinderbox, 5 days of rations, waterskin, set of common clothes, 2 pieces of chalk, a whistle made from gold-colored wood, belt pouch, 38 gp, 6 sp, 3 cp.

Actions
Attack: Melee - Quarterstaff: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 1d6+3 bludgeoning damage

Bonus: Melee - Quarterstaff: +5 to hit (reach 5 ft.; one creature). Hit: 1d4+3 bludgeoning damage

Attack: Ranged - Javelin: +5 to hit (range 30/120 ft; one creature). Hit: 1d6+3 piercing damage

Creation Notes:

Human (variant): +1 Str/Con; Stealth proficiency; Common and Giant languages; Polearm Master feat.

Sailor (Pirate) : Athletics, Perception, Navigator's tools, and Vehicles (water) proficiences; Bad Reputation feature.

Barbarian 1: 1d12 HD; Light armor, Medium armor, Shields, Simple weapons, Martial weapons, Strength saves, Constitution saves, Intimidation, and Survival proficiencies; Rage (2/day, +2 damage); Unarmored defense.

Initial equipment: greatsword (sold for 25 gp), light crossbow (sold for 12 gp 5 sp), 4x javelin, explorer's pack (sold 10 torches, 5 days of rations, 50 feet of hempen rope for a total of 1 gp 8 sp), club (sold for 5 cp), 50 feet of silk rope, trinket, set of common clothes, belt pouch, 10 gp.

After selling excess initial equipment, Herger had 49 gp, 3 sp, 5 cp. This was used to purchase a quarterstaff (2 sp), a shield (10 gp), a javelin (5 sp), 2 pieces of chalk (2 cp). He enters play with 38 gp, 6 sp, 3 cp.

When adventuring, he equips his shield and has a free hand ready to draw a javelin (to throw) or draw his quarterstaff. He usually begins a fight by raging, and either moving up to make a single attack with his quarterstaff or drawing/throwing a javelin if the enemy is too far away. He wields the quarterstaff in one hand and uses polearm master to make bonus/reaction attacks with it.