Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 JeffroDH Feb 13, 2015 22:45:18	I'm playing the HotDQ, my first campaign ever, and am coming up on level 4 with my character, a half elf sorcerer.   Stats: STR 9 DEX 17 CON 16 INT 11 WIS 14 CHA 20   Yes, it was 4d6 drop 1, my DM rolled the numbers for me, I just got lucky, and then chose half elf and plugged the +1s into CON and DEX.  The character is based loosely on Wil Ohmsford from the Elfstones of Shannara. I took Dragon Ancestry because it seemed to fit the world we're in a bit better.  I'm having a great time with the game. I'm at an impasse when it comes to character development.  I'd like to take a point in Dexterity when I hit level 4, and then take 2 points at the next opportunity to get DEX to +5 and my armor less AC to 18.  I figured I could hold a shield at that point for +2, and be extremely difficult to hit (less squishy). The rub is that I can't figure a way to get shield proficiency without multi classing, and can't make a decision.   Bard is tempting, but I would still need to burn a feat to get shields. Bonus spells and abilities at level 1 are nice, and staying within the CHA wheelhouse is attractive, especially since I'm maxed there. 1 Level of Cleric offers a lot more in the way of spells, abilities, and proficiency, but uses WIS.  If I'm just using healing buffs on that side, then no worries. I could take the weapon master feat, get my dexterity bonus and 4 weapon proficiencies, get to sorcerer 6 for damage boost and the. Take cleric 1Ranger offers everything I could need as well, but far fewer spells
#2 JeffroDH Feb 13, 2015 22:51:13	Typing this on the phone is onerous.  ** Take cleric 1 after sorcerer 6 to get shield, something like 8 extra spells, ritual casting, etc.  Ranger 1 gives a LOT also, but I'd be giving up a high level spell slot later in the game. In short, I'd like some perspective and viewpoints from some folks who have been around for more than one character. Should I be happy with 18 AC and forget the shield? Should I dismiss the loss of a spell slot and do ranger because it RPs the best with my character? Etc. thanks!
#3 mellored Feb 14, 2015 0:11:03	medium armor expeetise gives you a shield, though it costs 2 feats for you. IMO: i would stay stright sorcerer and take... 4:inspiring leader to be less squishy. it helps your party a lot too. 8:resilence (dex). giving you AC as well as protecting you from spells. 12: defensive dualist. giving you a burst of AC when you need it.
#4 pudd Feb 14, 2015 7:10:09	Id' get to level 4 in sorcerer first so you can get either the feat or ability scores. Then, if you're desperate for shield proficiency, I'd put a level into either ranger, druid, or cleric (preferred). Rangers and Druids dont really get anything super awesome until atleast level 2 in my opinion, but the cleric chooses their domain at level 1 which opens up a lot more options. The amount of spell slots you have rises as normal and your only aquiring higher level spells 1 level slower than normal so I don't think that's a huge issue. Also I'm pretty sure the cleric is the only class with access to a cantrip that does radiant damage, Sacred Flame. I'd probably pick either light, tempest, or trickery domain (or life depending on how your healer goes). Clerics also have access to Shield of Faith which is a pretty decent defensive spell if you're not already concentrating.
#5 JeffroDH Feb 14, 2015 7:22:33	Thanks for the feedback. I'd like to take elemental adept (fire) and ritual caster at some point too, particularly if I'm going to be stuck with the sorcerer's limited spell list. Inspiring leader is a whole lot better than I realized at first glance, and the DEX proficiency from resilience would be great too.
(Reply to #4) JeffroDH	pudd wrote:
#7 JeffroDH Feb 14, 2015 7:33:54	I suppose the real question is: Should I be desperate for shield proficiency?  I lack the experience to know how important it's likely to be.  And as pointed out above, I could take Resilient to get proficiency in DEX saves against spells/traps as well as boost my AC to 17. (Already have Shield for the temporary +5, but that's fairly expensive at this level for such a short term effect)
#8 transcendantviewer Feb 14, 2015 10:20:32	I would recommend grabbing the Cleric level. It's the most bang for your buck. I don't know what your AC's looking like, but it sounds rather respectable. If you grab Cleric and Life Domain or some other domain that trains you in heavy armor for free, your AC just skyrocketed. You can wear it without any risk of spell failure, like casters used to have to deal with back in 3.5. And, you'll get the shield proficiency to boot, so if you can hook yourself up with some full plate armor, you're kicking around a 20 AC.
#9 mellored Feb 14, 2015 11:50:24	shields depend on your party. are you getting attacked a lot? or does the paladin (and whoever else) recive the bulk of the attacks. if your not attacked much, it's not worth much.
#10 Eggnogfool Feb 14, 2015 12:18:43	Draconic at his dex is base 16 AC, but medium armor + shield is 19.  And yes, get it.  What else are you doing with that arm?  The difference becomes bigger when + shields start showing up too.  Any cleric subclass works.
(Reply to #8) JeffroDH	transcendantviewer wrote:
(Reply to #11) ScuroNotte	1My DM allowed me to have a Sorcerer with light armor and 20 spells as I never played a pure spell caster. I have reached level 3 and feel comfortable that I will play Sorcerer as written, though think that this should be there attributes. I chose Alert as human variant feat for my Wild Sorcerer. I plan to take a level of Bard, take light armor, then back to Sorcerer for moderate armor feat. I plan to take Lore Bard 3/ Sorcerer 17. I rolled my stats as well Str. 10 Dex. 16 from 15 with armor feat Con.  16 Int.  13 Wis. 14 Cha.  18   Feats planned Human. Alert 4th.(at 5th) Moderate Armor 8th. (Done at 11th) Shield master for dex saves and no damage on saves 12th (15th). Ritual Caster or Inspiring Leader 16th (19th)  Tough
#13 ScuroNotte Feb 14, 2015 18:39:52	Bard spells 6 (2). 1st. Cure Wounds, Dissonant Whispers