The Wandering Archipelago (OOC)

[thinkslogically]

That's... pretty sweet! Ranger, Monk and Druid are the three classes that are the least naturally-appealing to me, but you guys forcing me to read them has been pretty interesting. There's a lot of fun stuff you can do with all of them The problem I always have when it comes to multi-classing is that 5e gives you something pretty decent at every level-up, which makes it a tough choice between continuing with the core class or dipping out. What I do quite like with 5e is the variety of options you get for filling each of the four "niches" of a classic party (wizard, fighter, cleric, rogue), all with slightly different flavours. Unfortunately (fortunately?) I very strongly dislike DMPC, so I tend not to build NPC stats until the last possible moment and don't really play with the options very much!

Still, feel free to chat about random character builds and stuff in here if you're wanting stuff to do while we wait on actions - whether you use them or not later in the game is no odds to me, and to be honest, will probably give me ideas for NPCs or some future PC

The last character I tried to stat out for a few extra levels was an Assassin / Murderer build. It involved building a Fiendish Tomelock with Mask of Many Faces, Silence, Darkness, Devil's Sight etc., but I don't think it was going to be that effective, and it was definitely going to be an obnoxious member of an otherwise chaotic party with relatively new DM so I decided not to pursue that any further and make a friendly dex-fighter instead. Otherwise, Nemeia and Elara are basically it unless anyone else starts a new game

[spiderwrangler]

I've ideas of how to make a massively MC skill monkey...

Half elf, rogue, knowledge cleric, and lore bard, skilled feat... Proficiency in 15 of 18 feats, expertise in a bunch, half Prof in others...

[Arch Lich Burns]

Barbarians, monks and Fighters are the least appealing to me (mostly fighter), but seeing 5e is different I am willing to try them. And it is hard to choose when to multiclass, I only have Maji and Gwen as my characters and I don't know if I even want to multiclass with Gwen because of the choices I have with warlock. If I do it would be lore bard.

As for Maji, I plan to become a bear barbarian moon druid but I have no idea when I should multiclass because every level of druid is good. I would like to have rage and eventually reckless attack, bear totem stuff and use con added to ac but it's hard to choose when to do so. If i start dipping next level I will be behind on making healing potions for everybody, and a spell level...there is no real good choice when to multiclass out of the druid class.

[thinkslogically]

I've ideas of how to make a massively MC skill monkey...

Half elf, rogue, knowledge cleric, and lore bard, skilled feat... Proficiency in 15 of 18 feats, expertise in a bunch, half Prof in others...

Hah! That would do it!

I think the core classes are pretty sweet in 5e. Totem barbarian is basically a druid with anger-management problems; monks can be ninja rogues or punchy fighters; fighters are actually kind of interesting just because they're so damn flexible on a DEX build - they can fill out a pretty good general role in the party, can stand happily on the front line (obviously) and all they need is DEX or STR and reasonable CON.

Raging bears seem like a pretty solid option. Without looking too hard at it, maybe 3 levels of barbarian at some point after you've accessed animals of a decent CR?

[Arch Lich Burns]

I was thinking of dipping 1 level in barb next level the continue in druid for a while until i get flying creatures and go bsck to 2 lv barb . Right now I have up to cr 1 creatures and having dr would be extremely useful, especially since I will probably be the dedicated tank role with the extra hp I get from animal forms.

[WearsHats]

I'm not really planning ahead. I'm letting RP lead. But Kal might take a level in ranger at some point. He'd need another point in wisdom, which will take a while, but it feels right for him and being able to lead the party through the swamps or forest could be useful all around.

[Dlover]

I've not really made plans either. Not much good at planning things.

[thinkslogically]

That's fair. Either way of doing it is completely fine by me, just see what happens as we go and see where you end up

[Nioca]

Likewise, since I'm pretty much playing it by ear with limited information, I'm sticking with just single-classed druid.

[spiderwrangler]

So if Gwen is leaving in a huff, does anyone else know hope to get to the farm?

[Dlover]

Maybe she can just give directions? She was only given vague directions anyway, as I recall.

[Arch Lich Burns]

Considering the last time she dealt with rats she almost died, if Merh did not bandage her she would have been because dice hated me enough to kill of Gwen, I think it's a bit fair that she wants no part in the rats, especially since she does not have anything that would really help the situation. Syli seems to have it under control and wanted us (Me, Darruk, Merhiv) out anyways. I did not intend it for her to leave out in a huff, sorry if you interpreted that way.

I assume people would ask direction to the farm if they were interested in the theft. She could have gave directions then.

[spiderwrangler]

► Show Spoiler

I was thinking of dipping 1 level in barb next level the continue in druid for a while until i get flying creatures and go bsck to 2 lv barb . Right now I have up to cr 1 creatures and having dr would be extremely useful, especially since I will probably be the dedicated tank role with the extra hp I get from animal forms.

That's probably what I would do in your place if I were pursuing this route... either that or wait until 5th. The odd levels for druid are spell level increases, so you're delaying that, but the party has quite a few casters already, so not as dire as needing to progress as a full caster in a smaller party.

A couple of things to consider:

Rage + Concentration = Nope - Rage breaks concentration on any spells that use it, the main one in your regular rotation it would affect would be faerie fire. This could be mitigated by not relying on a lot of Conc spells, and is less of a drawback for Moon druid than it would be for Land druid.

Unarmored Defense - Your AC while not wearing armor is 10 + DEX + CON, which for you right now is 13, or 15 with shield (both your DEX and CON are odd though, so taking an ASI to bump each by 1 would increase your naked dragonborn AC by 2, getting you to 15 or 17 with shield). However, while in wild shape, you will then have the DEX and CON of the beast, so this may mean that in some cases you will have a better AC than on the beasts stat card. For example, the Black Bear has AC 11, but has DEX +0 and CON +2, so your AC while in bear form would be 12 (you can always take the higher).

Rage Damage - this triggers on STR based melee weapon attacks (all natural weapons count as weapon attacks, so you're fine there), but might not trigger for some beast forms. For example, your giant centipede with STR -3 and DEX +2 is a DEX based attack, so you wouldn't get extra rage damage for biting with it.

2nd Level Barb

Reckless Attack - same as Rage Damage, it has to be STR based.

Danger Sense - ADV on DEX saves would also apply to your wildshape form, some of which might be more dextrous than your dragonborn form.

[Dlover]

I stand on the roadway, slightly annoyed as our "guide" veers off into the shrubbery to start rustling around for berries.

We didn't stop for it. She essentially found them growing by the road as we walked.

[spiderwrangler]

Well, Korrik stopped in annoyance at least. Gwen's managed to convince him that she's incompetent at anything but flirting with the boss.

[thinkslogically]

You guys do you. You're very welcome to flesh out any and all details of the narrative that you'd like to for humour or drama or whatever. I'm trying to keep the updates relatively short so they don't turn into huge walls of text, but random additions from you guys are what make these games fun so have at it.

[spiderwrangler]

I'm sure that will change when we get into it and Korrik is able to see more of Gwen in action.

[Dlover]

She's got no rations and practically no money, so she's getting a little food without stopping and inconveniencing anyone. How is that incompetence?

[spiderwrangler]

How is that incompetence?

Never said that was. I said that she's convinced Korrik that she is incompetent:

He's certain that half the party almost being killed by rats was due to her fooling about in the basement when she ought not to.

She's portraying herself as a flirty damsel constantly in distress, clinging to Mehr's arm because she's afraid of cutpurses or something. At this point, he know's she can speak into minds, but her recent behavior and actions haven't convinced him she's suited for heading into the unknown. A flighty flirt who can't handle themselves doesn't cut it in smuggling, and won't cut it when it comes to adventuring. Korrik's failed his rolls to tell it's (at least partially) an act, so until Gwen proves herself in his eyes, he's going to occasionally be irritated by her.

Also probably feels that Mehr is too coddling towards her, and/or encourages her flirting too much, but hasn't gotten around to bringing that up...

► Show Spoiler

Gwen clinging onto Merhiv's arm, pretending to be afraid when they step out of the light.

Deception: 1D20+6 = [9]+6 = 15

EDIT: to those that see past the deception:

► Show Spoiler

She's not afraid in the slightest. It seems she wants to get near the handsome dragonborn noble that saved her life a couple of times.

I roll my eyes at Gwen... Perhaps if Otho doesn't work out, she's the one to leave behind if she can't handle a few people being noisy at night...

► Show Spoiler

Insight: 1D20+4 = [1]+4 = 5
Insight: Take 2: 1D20+4 = [10]+4 = 14

Gwen kisses Merhiv on the cheek, trying to hide her crush and as something she'd do with any good looking person that helps her out. "Thank you ever so much for escorting me tonight.~"
Deception: 1D20+6 = [10]+6 = 16 people who passed last time shouldn't have to roll.

Etc., etc...

He'll be fine in time, part of the backstory is his brother and smuggling partner got killed because they got sloppy. Having someone along that to his perspective may not be capable of pulling their own weight has him on edge.

[Arch Lich Burns]

Korrik saw her shell out 3 gp to Merv to support the Guild certification for the halfling last night. ...I don't think Korrik has a stand for Merhiv approving or coddling her flirting.

[spiderwrangler]

Her tossing gold on the table in a huff doesn't really improve his opinion of her.

[thinkslogically]

Hey folks, I've decided to put Darruk on "tag-along" mode until LAYF has time to come back to the forum. Basically, you can use him for emergency healing if it comes to it, but otherwise he's a non-entity in combat / skill checks. He's there, but wont really contribute to the party without a player.

For in-game purposes, you can consider him to have contracted some particularly draining tropical bug that means he's basically able to keep up with you guys for travelling, but that's about it.

[spiderwrangler]

Mountain Dwarves in scale mail aren't cut out for this tropical climate. He'd probably be more comfortable if he braided his beard up so it wasn't quite so insulating.

[thinkslogically]

Exactly. But it's character building enough on its own, so he'll level up alongside you guys

Incidentally, I'm thinking I'll give you guys mini events to reach level 3. That way it won't matter if you live in the wilds forevermore or not. It does mean that some of you might reach level 3 faster than others, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue... If anyone is planning on dipping a level before L3 give me a shout though (maybe Gwen / Korrik?).

[spiderwrangler]

I do still plan to dip Rogue to get to Thief, but re-reading "Sneak Attack", it doesn't apply to unarmed strikes apparently, only finesse or ranged weapons, so of slightly less immediate draw. Dipping 1 level still gets me another skill proficiency and expertise, so that would still be good.

I think at this point, I'll take a dip into Rogue when it is narratively justified, but don't have any particular point at which I'd "want" to take it. It gets me a bit more skill utility, and SA on some dart tosses, but monk gets me movement and ki (2nd), shadow arts (3rd), ASI/Feat (4th), extra attack (5th), and shadow teleport (6th). If I dip 1 in Rogue, I'd probably be continuing with Monk through 6 before taking any more Rogue. If I don't take 1 in Rogue before 6, that'd probably be when I dip for a few.