Les (Lester or Leslie) Abserd: A Guild Artisan Wood Elf
I wanted to get a bit of a head start on planning out the Abserd Character Build now that we know we don’t have stat restrictions. However, I wanted to build a character that could be useful throughout the leveling process instead of just a respec at the end of the game.
I thought I would share with everyone and start a discussion about different flavors of absErdity that you might all be planning. My focus is going to be on being a skill monkey that hides behind his/her teammates buffing them and taking potshots at enemies when it makes sense. Other than some key pickups, I’m not going to list out spells.
Protip: Identify 1 concentration spell that benefits the party most (at low levels that is going to be bless) and dedicate a couple spell slots to it.
I’ll be explaining my decisions along the way, but this build is in no way flawless and I would love to hear your thoughts and/or unique versions of the one level in every class build. Without further ado:
Race: Wood Elf
Reasoning: 2 great skill proficiencies and the ability to run away better than anyone else.
Background: Guild Artisan
Reasoning: If EA is any indication, Insight is the most important skill in the game and getting Persuasion early is great because we’ll need to talk our way out of things.
Ability scores: STR 8 DEX 14 CON 12 INT 8 WIS 16 CHA 16
Reasoning:
Physical: We need to be able to survive things trying to kill us from a distance, because we are going to be squishy HP wise, and there isn’t much we can do about it. DEX is a much better overall stat than STR because it helps with initiative, AC, has more important saves and more skills. DEX/CON can be swapped if you really want, but for me there are just too many upsides to the DEX that outweigh a slightly better concentration check and an extra 12HP by the end of the game.
Mental: We’re going to depend on our spell casting for support and damage and we will have 3 classes each that use WIS and CHA. So sorry INT, you are going to be our dump stat. We’ll pick up utility spells with our wizard so the penalty doesn’t matter.
Class by Level
1 Rogue:
Skills: Acrobatics, Deception, Intimidation, Performance
Reasoning: Dex saves proficiency and the most skill proficiencies possible when multi-classing (you get an extra skill by starting as rogue than you would by multi-classing into it later). Acrobatics to help us survive pushing and other environmental issues. CHA skills to help us navigate through different types of NPCs, and we are getting our rogue stuff from Ranger because this is the only way to get three skills from that class. Pick Insight and a CHA skill for your your Expertise.
2 Ranger:
Skills: Investigation, Sleight of Hand, Survival
Reasoning: This gets us Medium armor, a shield, and 3 skills. I am focusing primarily on skill monkey and spell slots. You can go fighter and pick up Defensive fighting style if you are worried about getting punched more than you are about failing skill checks. We’ll be acquiring gith armor (by whatever means you wish) and popping on a shield for an early 19AC.
3 Cleric – Knowledge:
Skills 2 of Arcana/Religion/Nature/History whichever expertise you want on them. Arcana seems like the most important so far in EA, so I will probably pick it and Religion.
Reasoning: Guidance, Skills, and support spells. You are now able to guidance yourself through all the insight and conversation checks with your companions without having to depend on the amulet.
4 Bard:
Skills: any one you don’t have - probably an INT skill to shore up your -1, but Medicine may come in clutch along the way so it is a consideration.
Reasoning: Extra skill, Extra spells, Bardic Inspiration
5 Warlock – Fiend:
Reasoning: Level 5+ Eldritch blast is the best damage cantrip even without invocations because you get two separate attacks which drastically increases your chance to hit enemies. Shield spell is a great pickup, but you may have to wait until next level depending on how Larian configures spell lists.
6 Wizard:
Reasoning: Find Familiar is great action economy and we want as many spell slots as we can get now. Scribe all the support and utility spells you can get your hands on. + Spell Slots
7 Druid:
Reasoning: Wildshape is basically a great bonus action self heal in emergency situations. + Spell slots.
8 Sorc – Wild Magic
Reasoning: It is probably better to pick draconic bloodline for the HP, but this build is insane anyway so Wild Magic it is! +Spell Slots
9 Pali – Whichever
Reasoning: Lay on Hands is nice for clearing diseases, but importantly it’s our 2nd half caster level so hopefully we are getting the spell slot. The subclass doesn’t make much of a difference at this point since their damage/healing numbers are so tiny at this stage in the game. Pick whichever oath you are less likely to break (or most likely if you want to be an oathbreaker).
10 Fighter
Reasoning: Defense +1 and another bonus action self heal.
11 Barb
Reasoning: More HP than Monk
12 Monk
Reasoning: We have to.
Let me know what you think!
Last edited by benbaxter; 13/07/23 08:26 PM.
