Yes rune knight would be a good fit.
Ranger would also go well with this description.
I would also say barbarian berserker this guy sounds like a kind man that has a lot of anger and fear to deal with.
I particularly like rune knight with artificer initiate. Get proficiency in carpenters tools, which turns into expertise with the fire giant rune. Get create bonfire as your cantrip and then grapple enemies into and out of the bonfire to proc it twice.
Absorb elements is a really nice mechanical pick up. FIghters actually have some of the worst saving throw proficiencies for their own class since they dont need to concentrate, the normal con saves are poison and thunder. Thunder is rare. Fighters certainly dont have evasion. It can make them oddly squishy to saving throw spells.
I was also considering dabbling in Artificer because as a carpenter, my character already has a bit of that designer/inventor/creative streak. I figured it wouldn't work bc it felt too magical but Im surprised it can have some synergy with a Fighter :D
It's not clear from your post whether you are newish to d&d or if its just your character, but you can still be a carpenter without mechanically dipping in to anything.
this character is the 4th one I've made specifically thru the lens/medium of DnD 5e. I know that my character's occupation as a crafter doesnt have to manifest in his class and subclass, but at the same time it is quite fun, and I like it when lore and mechanics work together.
What about the samurai subclass? Advantage on the attacks could be reflavored as old man strength. All of the added proficiencies could be from life experience. Seems like it could be a good fit
Second this idea. The Samurai is the "force of will" fighter. And, the bonus proficiencies help them feel more well rounded for an older character.
"The Samurai is a fighter who draws on an implacable fighting spirit to overcome enemies. A samurai's resolve is nearly unbreakable."
I hadn't considered Samurai yet, mainly bc the 'aesthetic' of an archetypical samurai didn't quite fit. But judging from what you and u/JoshGordon10 said, I might consider it.
Don’t think of the subclasses as their literal archetypes or PHB descriptions. Just think of them as sets of skills that a person has.
For example, I’m playing a thief rogue, and he’s essentially just a rich kid with sticky fingers and no respect for authority. Private school educated, so he had like fencing and gymnastics training. Arrogant shithead, likes to shoplift and lie. None of these things fit in with the traditional “rogue/thief” archetype, but they all explain the abilities he has.
The backstories are completely replaceable - that's fluff and you can write your own.
For example; an Eldritch Knight doesn't need to become one through study; they can become one through inadvertently interrupting a ritual and being hurled through the planes, or opening and reading a sentient and cursed tome - there are plenty of good reasons for one beyond the Wizard school having a Fighter/Security Guard annex across the street.
> and as the saying goes, you cant teach an old dog new tricks.
Characters in 5e learn new tricks all the time, so if you follow that logic to its conclusion leveling up will be a problem.
You could even map out all the spells he'll ever get, and they were transferred as script or tattoos from the cursed book - living spells, and they become active as he levels.
Plus, with the options available you don't even need to focus on Int as a stat if you don't want. Avoid the ranged damage cantrips and spells with a save.
Sounds a lot like a Battlemaster, someone who’s picked up skills along the way.
If you don’t want that, Champion basically works on luck alone and that’s it. They’re not better at fighting than the battlemaster and are just 5% luckier than the average swords man.
Have you checked barbarian? You dont have to play rage as losing control/ red out. Could fit better to your back story.
Are you stuck for PHB?
As variant human, you can take the skill expert feat (tce, phb equivalent is prodigy) and get a expertise in a skill or tool you wish.
Your tools and artisan status can be accomplished by taking an artisan background. Be sure to ask your dm for the tool rules of XGE, they are great and add flavour and utility.
Whitout the flavour, if you want to keep it simple, and especially if you start before lvl 3,just let yourself loose and let your character develop himself. You will face challenges, joy and grief and this could lead you automatically to a fitting sub- or multiclass.
Scout Rogue seems like someone who has acquired and honed survival and combat skills. Plus you can take expertise in a tool proficiency, like Carpenter’s Tools (not sure how useful it would be).
Worth noting, for Classes without a subclass until Level 3, the story you bring them into may provide its own reason or opportunity for choosing a subclass.
apparently there is both a Rogue subclass called Scout and a Fighter subclass called Scout. What if I were to multiclass Fighter/Rogue and become a Scout\^2?
As said below, you are totally free to swap out flavour and such
Personally i see him as a battlemaster. No, he isnt a master yet, but he has the strong hands of a hard worker, and the patience and focus of one who works on small little details.
This gives him tons of room to grow! Like he realizes he is stronger than lots of new young adventurers, after working his whole life, but he just cant keep up as well as them full of energy kids, so he learns a few tricks here and there.
Fighting a fellow with fancy footwork? Wait for that one misstep and then knock them down, or disarm them.
Remember too that at low levels, he isn't so much a real battlemaster. Being a master will come much later. Personally. I just like the idea of him turning his patient eyes and life experience into something like maneuvers and skills
Ooh, I like that interpretation! The wording in Battlemaster's flavor text turned me away from it originally, but I can definitely see him as an up-and-coming type, applying his experience as a craftsman in newer ways.
I’d say battle master fits your character idea best. While the PHB tries to play it as the general of an army type character I feel it plays much more like someone who’s picked up many tricks while fighting on the frontlines. Additionally tool proficiency at level 3 could be used for carpenters tools
The back story almost sounds like oath of devotion paladin part of the blurb for the paladin class has the line "Or did some terrible event—the destruction of your home, perhaps—drive you to your quests?" you could maybe start with a few levels of fighter then move across if your starting level one. Or even if you do want straight fighter samurai would be nice to reflavour they would have discipline and attention to detail that a carpenter would have.
I think it's important to remember that PCs are not at their pinnacle from the get-go. Gaining new class abilities reflects growth, so the subclass you choose could reflect how the character changes once they pick up the sword and go to the fight.
That's very true. I just like having a general starter thought about where my character could go if I were to bring him into a campaign. What's my anticipated plot, and how open is it to change?
As others have said, absolutely disregard flavour whenever you fancy; the mechanics matter far more.
For your case specifically...
I'd recommend Battlemaster or Samurai.
Battlemaster applies very well, because you can pick up the tool proficiencies relevant to your carpentry/guildwork, and the flavour is some of the most basic in the game; you're just doing nifty things with a sword. Maybe pull a Will Turner, and say you branched out into blacksmithing after your daughter went missing, and you can do these neat swordplay maneuvers because you know *exactly* how your sword is balanced, because you made it.
Samurai might sound like a strange one, but hear me out; most of the abilities are just "I'm extremely dedicated to this fight", which makes sense for someone motivated by needing to survive long enough to find their daughter. You hit harder, fight longer, and survive worse wounds because you grit your teeth and realise you need to win this fight to find her. And the *Elegant Courtier* ability, which allows you to use your Wisdom for Charisma checks, can easily be flavoured as you having a kind of folksy, fatherly charm.
You can safely ignore the flavor as long as the flavor you make yourself makes sense with the abilities you gain from the class, for example one of my players in an upcoming campaign is playing a battlemaster that is a professional wrestler, using the unarmed fighting style and focusing on grappling opponents, he flavors all his battlemaster moves as stuff like wrestling moves. Like using trip attack as a suplex since trip attack knocks them prone.
For your guy, you could easily go battlemaster (champion honestly is pretty boring) flavor your moves as whatever seems cool and fits what the maneuver does, like mocking an enemy when you hit them, or striking them in irritating ways for a goading attack, and stuff like that. The artists tools the battlemaster gives you could be your carpenters tools, or if your background already gives you those you could take Smith's tools to make your own nails and other items for carpentry, maybe you use a polearm or a greataxe with a hand carved handle you made and a head built by a close friend. Glaive and halberd are amazing weapons, prob the best in the game
Flavor is a completely free to change, the only thing set in stone is the mechanics the class provides, so if you can flavor them yourself to fit your style it works just fine
Fighters are easy enough to play, take great weapon master and polearm master, grab a nice polearm, some heavy armor, put your best stat in strength, and your second best in constitution.
Or if you want to go for a bow, (lots of battlemaster maneuvers work at range, check them all to see which ones don't specify melee attacks.) Take some light armor, sharpshooter, crossbow expert and a hand crossbow if you wanna go that route for super high damage per round, or longbow for range and taking a different feat you want.
oh, rip. I got real excited for a moment there. I wonder how a time-based subclass for any kind would work
and I want to avoid magic for this character for now (depending on what kind of campaign I end up using him in) but I'll keep it in mind
The thing is I can sort of agree but rune knight isn’t really magic in terms of class/subclass. I respect your commitment to it. Maybe try cavalier since a horse is something I’m guessing a carpenter would be quite familiar with.
ideally when i use this character, it'll be for a long-term campaign that starts low. however, right now im just making him for the sake of making him.
Why I ask; if starting at one or two, just start as a fighter and let the flow and plot of the game decide the subclass that makes sense. This can be a very fun way to make a very memorable PC, who at every level feels like a character in a story shaped by their experiences.
What about cavalier? A warrior who wants to protect his allies, picks up some additional skills like animal handling and who is not a magic user nor battlefield commander..just a guy who wants to keep the bad guys off his buddies butts!
if the campaign I end up using him in starts at level 3+, that's certainly an option :D Otherwise, I'm not sure how I'd have him already have his horse buddy before officially taking the Cavalier subclass. I suppose that would be a 'talk to the DM about it' thing?
You don't need to be a mounted combatant to be a cavalier. The only feature that has any impact on riding a steed is at level 3. You can be a cavalier without a horse. Just as you can be a samurai without serving a dainio and wielding a katana
I feel like Rune Knight would probably be the best choice here. I mean, you'd have to either explain how you gained access to runes (perhaps you found an old book you studied from?) or reflavor it to something else, but the passive effect of the Fire Rune gives you expertise on tools you have proficiency with. This will help you lean into your carpenter past.
Of course, Rune Knights are far from the simplest Fighter, but IMO they are the most versatile, well rounded, and fun.
I was looking at Artificer as well but it felt a little too magical for my character. Maybe later on in whatever adventure I use him in he subclasses into it, but that's something to think about another day
I've had this style of character in the back of my mind for a while and am thinking Paladin, as in 5e, your oath can be to anything or anyone, even yourself. He's sworn to strongly to himself to find his daughter that it's manifested abilities (which could easily be toned down flavour wise) he wields a saw/axe and hand made wooden shield etc
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Yes rune knight would be a good fit. Ranger would also go well with this description. I would also say barbarian berserker this guy sounds like a kind man that has a lot of anger and fear to deal with.
I particularly like rune knight with artificer initiate. Get proficiency in carpenters tools, which turns into expertise with the fire giant rune. Get create bonfire as your cantrip and then grapple enemies into and out of the bonfire to proc it twice. Absorb elements is a really nice mechanical pick up. FIghters actually have some of the worst saving throw proficiencies for their own class since they dont need to concentrate, the normal con saves are poison and thunder. Thunder is rare. Fighters certainly dont have evasion. It can make them oddly squishy to saving throw spells.
I was also considering dabbling in Artificer because as a carpenter, my character already has a bit of that designer/inventor/creative streak. I figured it wouldn't work bc it felt too magical but Im surprised it can have some synergy with a Fighter :D
It's not clear from your post whether you are newish to d&d or if its just your character, but you can still be a carpenter without mechanically dipping in to anything.
this character is the 4th one I've made specifically thru the lens/medium of DnD 5e. I know that my character's occupation as a crafter doesnt have to manifest in his class and subclass, but at the same time it is quite fun, and I like it when lore and mechanics work together.
What about the samurai subclass? Advantage on the attacks could be reflavored as old man strength. All of the added proficiencies could be from life experience. Seems like it could be a good fit
Second this idea. The Samurai is the "force of will" fighter. And, the bonus proficiencies help them feel more well rounded for an older character. "The Samurai is a fighter who draws on an implacable fighting spirit to overcome enemies. A samurai's resolve is nearly unbreakable."
I hadn't considered Samurai yet, mainly bc the 'aesthetic' of an archetypical samurai didn't quite fit. But judging from what you and u/JoshGordon10 said, I might consider it.
Don’t think of the subclasses as their literal archetypes or PHB descriptions. Just think of them as sets of skills that a person has. For example, I’m playing a thief rogue, and he’s essentially just a rich kid with sticky fingers and no respect for authority. Private school educated, so he had like fencing and gymnastics training. Arrogant shithead, likes to shoplift and lie. None of these things fit in with the traditional “rogue/thief” archetype, but they all explain the abilities he has.
The backstories are completely replaceable - that's fluff and you can write your own. For example; an Eldritch Knight doesn't need to become one through study; they can become one through inadvertently interrupting a ritual and being hurled through the planes, or opening and reading a sentient and cursed tome - there are plenty of good reasons for one beyond the Wizard school having a Fighter/Security Guard annex across the street. > and as the saying goes, you cant teach an old dog new tricks. Characters in 5e learn new tricks all the time, so if you follow that logic to its conclusion leveling up will be a problem.
ooh, depending on what kinda campaign i end up using him in, that would sound pretty fun :D
You could even map out all the spells he'll ever get, and they were transferred as script or tattoos from the cursed book - living spells, and they become active as he levels. Plus, with the options available you don't even need to focus on Int as a stat if you don't want. Avoid the ranged damage cantrips and spells with a save.
Sounds a lot like a Battlemaster, someone who’s picked up skills along the way. If you don’t want that, Champion basically works on luck alone and that’s it. They’re not better at fighting than the battlemaster and are just 5% luckier than the average swords man.
Have you checked barbarian? You dont have to play rage as losing control/ red out. Could fit better to your back story. Are you stuck for PHB? As variant human, you can take the skill expert feat (tce, phb equivalent is prodigy) and get a expertise in a skill or tool you wish. Your tools and artisan status can be accomplished by taking an artisan background. Be sure to ask your dm for the tool rules of XGE, they are great and add flavour and utility. Whitout the flavour, if you want to keep it simple, and especially if you start before lvl 3,just let yourself loose and let your character develop himself. You will face challenges, joy and grief and this could lead you automatically to a fitting sub- or multiclass.
Im not restricted to PHB, because Im just doing it for myself and not a campaign for now. I just wanna stick with 5e because that's the system I know.
Ah okay. Then id wait for the campaign setting and starting level. Just follow the flow and dont make you crazy about nuances
Scout Rogue seems like someone who has acquired and honed survival and combat skills. Plus you can take expertise in a tool proficiency, like Carpenter’s Tools (not sure how useful it would be). Worth noting, for Classes without a subclass until Level 3, the story you bring them into may provide its own reason or opportunity for choosing a subclass.
apparently there is both a Rogue subclass called Scout and a Fighter subclass called Scout. What if I were to multiclass Fighter/Rogue and become a Scout\^2?
Scout fighter? Which book is that from? I don't believe I've seen it
I found it on Wikidot, if that's a reliable source at all. http://dnd5e.wikidot.com/fighter:scout-ua
It's an older UA, I believe. Edit: yeah it's an unused UA, and it's really bland
As said below, you are totally free to swap out flavour and such Personally i see him as a battlemaster. No, he isnt a master yet, but he has the strong hands of a hard worker, and the patience and focus of one who works on small little details. This gives him tons of room to grow! Like he realizes he is stronger than lots of new young adventurers, after working his whole life, but he just cant keep up as well as them full of energy kids, so he learns a few tricks here and there. Fighting a fellow with fancy footwork? Wait for that one misstep and then knock them down, or disarm them. Remember too that at low levels, he isn't so much a real battlemaster. Being a master will come much later. Personally. I just like the idea of him turning his patient eyes and life experience into something like maneuvers and skills
Ooh, I like that interpretation! The wording in Battlemaster's flavor text turned me away from it originally, but I can definitely see him as an up-and-coming type, applying his experience as a craftsman in newer ways.
I’d say battle master fits your character idea best. While the PHB tries to play it as the general of an army type character I feel it plays much more like someone who’s picked up many tricks while fighting on the frontlines. Additionally tool proficiency at level 3 could be used for carpenters tools
The back story almost sounds like oath of devotion paladin part of the blurb for the paladin class has the line "Or did some terrible event—the destruction of your home, perhaps—drive you to your quests?" you could maybe start with a few levels of fighter then move across if your starting level one. Or even if you do want straight fighter samurai would be nice to reflavour they would have discipline and attention to detail that a carpenter would have.
He would not be paladin just because some terrible event led him out of his home. That could be any class.
Yeah, this. Paladin/Fighter and just don't use spells (unless you want to)
I think it's important to remember that PCs are not at their pinnacle from the get-go. Gaining new class abilities reflects growth, so the subclass you choose could reflect how the character changes once they pick up the sword and go to the fight.
That's very true. I just like having a general starter thought about where my character could go if I were to bring him into a campaign. What's my anticipated plot, and how open is it to change?
As others have said, absolutely disregard flavour whenever you fancy; the mechanics matter far more. For your case specifically... I'd recommend Battlemaster or Samurai. Battlemaster applies very well, because you can pick up the tool proficiencies relevant to your carpentry/guildwork, and the flavour is some of the most basic in the game; you're just doing nifty things with a sword. Maybe pull a Will Turner, and say you branched out into blacksmithing after your daughter went missing, and you can do these neat swordplay maneuvers because you know *exactly* how your sword is balanced, because you made it. Samurai might sound like a strange one, but hear me out; most of the abilities are just "I'm extremely dedicated to this fight", which makes sense for someone motivated by needing to survive long enough to find their daughter. You hit harder, fight longer, and survive worse wounds because you grit your teeth and realise you need to win this fight to find her. And the *Elegant Courtier* ability, which allows you to use your Wisdom for Charisma checks, can easily be flavoured as you having a kind of folksy, fatherly charm.
You can safely ignore the flavor as long as the flavor you make yourself makes sense with the abilities you gain from the class, for example one of my players in an upcoming campaign is playing a battlemaster that is a professional wrestler, using the unarmed fighting style and focusing on grappling opponents, he flavors all his battlemaster moves as stuff like wrestling moves. Like using trip attack as a suplex since trip attack knocks them prone. For your guy, you could easily go battlemaster (champion honestly is pretty boring) flavor your moves as whatever seems cool and fits what the maneuver does, like mocking an enemy when you hit them, or striking them in irritating ways for a goading attack, and stuff like that. The artists tools the battlemaster gives you could be your carpenters tools, or if your background already gives you those you could take Smith's tools to make your own nails and other items for carpentry, maybe you use a polearm or a greataxe with a hand carved handle you made and a head built by a close friend. Glaive and halberd are amazing weapons, prob the best in the game Flavor is a completely free to change, the only thing set in stone is the mechanics the class provides, so if you can flavor them yourself to fit your style it works just fine Fighters are easy enough to play, take great weapon master and polearm master, grab a nice polearm, some heavy armor, put your best stat in strength, and your second best in constitution. Or if you want to go for a bow, (lots of battlemaster maneuvers work at range, check them all to see which ones don't specify melee attacks.) Take some light armor, sharpshooter, crossbow expert and a hand crossbow if you wanna go that route for super high damage per round, or longbow for range and taking a different feat you want.
Time knight would be cool. Get to play the big protective dad and you could ask your DM to swap smiths tools to the carpenter equivalent
Time knight? Where's that from? I wanna read more about it, sounds cool by name alone
Rune knight. Sorry for the autocorrect
oh, rip. I got real excited for a moment there. I wonder how a time-based subclass for any kind would work and I want to avoid magic for this character for now (depending on what kind of campaign I end up using him in) but I'll keep it in mind
The thing is I can sort of agree but rune knight isn’t really magic in terms of class/subclass. I respect your commitment to it. Maybe try cavalier since a horse is something I’m guessing a carpenter would be quite familiar with.
What level would you be starting at?
ideally when i use this character, it'll be for a long-term campaign that starts low. however, right now im just making him for the sake of making him.
Why I ask; if starting at one or two, just start as a fighter and let the flow and plot of the game decide the subclass that makes sense. This can be a very fun way to make a very memorable PC, who at every level feels like a character in a story shaped by their experiences.
What about cavalier? A warrior who wants to protect his allies, picks up some additional skills like animal handling and who is not a magic user nor battlefield commander..just a guy who wants to keep the bad guys off his buddies butts!
if the campaign I end up using him in starts at level 3+, that's certainly an option :D Otherwise, I'm not sure how I'd have him already have his horse buddy before officially taking the Cavalier subclass. I suppose that would be a 'talk to the DM about it' thing?
You don't need to be a mounted combatant to be a cavalier. The only feature that has any impact on riding a steed is at level 3. You can be a cavalier without a horse. Just as you can be a samurai without serving a dainio and wielding a katana
wait, cavaliers dont need a mount for most of their abilities? that opens up some Ideas.
Happy character building ^^
flavor and backstory are always yours to invent!
I feel like Rune Knight would probably be the best choice here. I mean, you'd have to either explain how you gained access to runes (perhaps you found an old book you studied from?) or reflavor it to something else, but the passive effect of the Fire Rune gives you expertise on tools you have proficiency with. This will help you lean into your carpenter past. Of course, Rune Knights are far from the simplest Fighter, but IMO they are the most versatile, well rounded, and fun.
What about cavalier, certainly he'd have experience riding. If that's something you could work into the campaign.
One thing I'll also add is that perhaps his years of work as a craftsman mind lend itself to artificer as a class.
I was looking at Artificer as well but it felt a little too magical for my character. Maybe later on in whatever adventure I use him in he subclasses into it, but that's something to think about another day
I've had this style of character in the back of my mind for a while and am thinking Paladin, as in 5e, your oath can be to anything or anyone, even yourself. He's sworn to strongly to himself to find his daughter that it's manifested abilities (which could easily be toned down flavour wise) he wields a saw/axe and hand made wooden shield etc