How to Optimize at any D&d 5E table
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Happy new year everyone!
For those who want to see the Artichron build by Jinofcoolness:
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The true optimisation is the friends we made along the way
Hey, I know you.
@@drakeven1332 Friend!
I agree with this statement
Yep
Absolutely. My best friends, guys that stood up my wedding, were all met at the gaming table.
Here are the biggest challenges I have faced while playing D&D:
• Difficulty finding a time that works for everyone
• Players not showing up for game sessions consistently
• Players not knowing the rules, their character, or not being prepared for their turn
• Players fighting over treasure
• Players trying to tell their own character story, rather than telling a group story
• DMs trying to tell their own story, rather than telling a group story
• DMs trying to kill characters, rather than trying to challenge players
@@Piper-o4j Sure. I had a player who would write multi-page backstories for his characters, and then insist that they be possible that it be incorporated into the campaign. This was a 1st Level character. The amount of experience the character had from the backstory would have made him much older and higher level.
I had another player who would run off on his own almost every game session. This would force me to narrate separate events for that character, and the other players would just have to wait around. When it the the main parties turn, this player would try to tell them what to do. Eventually the other players yelled at him that his character was not even present to be offering advice.
I had another player who wanted his character to center stage at all times. He played up his optimized character’s role in every encounter, and discounted the other characters’ contributions.
All of these things would be fine is they did not detract away from the enjoyment of the other players.
@@Piper-o4j Precisely. It is a group telling a story together in such a way that everyone feels like a hero, not a collection of prima donnas.
I've really appreciated this channel as a homebrewer: there's a lot of helpful math here that lets me get to "white-room balance" faster and lets me focus on mechanics without worrying so much about numbers.
Remember interesting mechanics in a battle make it far more memorable then just a stright up fight.
@@deezboyeed6764 Oh absolutely. If I can't come up with at least two high utility mechanics to play around with (and a niche that the other subclasses don't fill) on the subclass then I don't think it's really worth building it.
"This was a rant. I feel like a RUclipsr" I love this line! You are the best kind of RUclipsr, Kobald.
Thank you for talking about this! As someone else said this should be covered in session 0.
Bravo.
Often, a character that is suboptimal for combat is optimal for the character you want to play. In fact, for some characters it's useful to know what's optimal in combat so you can avoid it. For others it's useful to know what's optimal in combat because your character knows more about the game world than you do and would make informed, if not intelligent decisions. But always adjusted for your character's personality, backstory, ideals, beliefs, resources and flaws.
I just pick Eldritch Knight and add my ASIs/Feats in specific ways with Point Buy + Race. Then hammer this Sub Class until all variations are found.
Eberon Warforged, Normal Human, and Variant Human are already completed.
15, 14, 14, 10, 9, 9... Point Buy is a good start for +0 to +5 Modifiers if done well.
I’m well into my 40’s and have been playing DnD and many other games with the same core group since high school, almost every week. THIS is the essence of the game. It’s awesome to gain xp and treasure and fight all sorts of threats, but the fart jokes, and laughing until someone snarfs pepsi through their nose(totally happened!), these are worth WAY more than any vorpal sword or wish granting ring! Like Kobold said, THAT’S how you win DnD. Or Melf’s Minute Meteors, just saying 🤣🤣
I'm so glad someone talked about Melf's Minute Meteors. It's so underrated just because fireball exists
@@camerontroscianiec5320 😁😁😁 better damage and no collateral! Win win
@@camerontroscianiec5320 Melf's Minute Meteors is like Fireball for people who actually love their friends' company. Lmao
This is a 12:38 masterpiece.
Exactly what we need to close out the year.
This channel is one that has inspired me to make a dnd channel I like your content and I hope that I can put out as much effort as you do in your videos
Its work. Lol, it really is.
Have fun everyone, be nice, and help your friends :)
The thumbnail is a rainbow to represent the Rainbow Connection between players in a table. 🌈
Huzzah! Lol just had this conversation with the wife. She sees me optimize/theory craft all the time, but noticed that I never play these builds in games. I told her it was simply because I see dnd as a team game, I want everyone to have their time in the spotlight. The one time I did play an optimized character (kobold gloomstalker/scout) i outskilled the pure rogue and out damaged the paladins and other players. So I retired the character from the campaign and played a cleric. Lol. While "optimized" builds are cool and all, optimized tables are the most fun. The investment in others really brings life to a game.
Shout out to Colby at the D4 network. He has a huge library of very entertaining optimised builds and is a really lovely guy and his videos are a pleasure to watch.
This is why I love your videos. You really focus in on the concept of teamwork and team play more than most "Build" videos I have seen. I also haven't seen any of the creaters you mentioned, but that is a mistake I can still rectify.
making a character that is fun to play and goes along well with the party is the most important part of optimization.
Happy new year, Kobold!
Thank you for making such good content this year. It's been so entertaining to watch you and I love the way you see the game keep up the good work. I can't wait to see what you do next year
The enthusiasm and message of this video is flippin beyond rad
Best darn advice for playing d&darn I've ever heard.
This was the most wholesome D&D video I watched this year. Bravo, little guy. Bravo!
I have met so many players that needed a vid like this, I hope it gets a ton of attention. Thanks for making it dude
My favorite video by you! Thanks for reminding everyone why we’re here
100% Agree, some of my buddies will give me shit for "min/maxing" because I even have the habit from playing MMOs but they trust me to do it because they have faith over the now year+ campaign (although our pace has been worse than the abyss but we have been speaking up about it so it's getting fixed), My rule of thumb is simple. Optimizing a character is fine, fun even. But NEVER Forget you are a CHARACTER not just a stat sheet in a video game, it keeps me in check so I can either make a build based off of a concept or do it in reverse, my current Character is based off of the Anime variant of King Arthur, Who is going to be a Paladin, Sorcercer, Warlock. BUT I made certain to give him reasons to have those abilities and classes in the first place. I even told the DM when we started that I would never iniate my own mini nuke combo of Hold Person on a bonus action to then max lvl Crit smite whatever I'm hitting cause that's no fun. Finally my only advice is to keep an Open Mind, if you notice the DM is struggling or they come up to you and say you are too powerful but you know there's weakness in your playstyle or build that they may just not see, Tell them about it or impose self restrictions to think of yourself of this Master of Magic/War who only uses their full powers when needed not because they can. Is it cliche? yeah but it is at least an effective temp Solution.
TL:DR: Remember that you are a character in a group with other people and not some stat sheet in a video game, It'll be fun!
This is like the 5th video of yours I've watched and the one that had me emphatically sub to your channel
Thank you for having fun and thank you for the reminders. Happy New Near!
This video is phenomenal! I just found your channel recently and I'm always worried about power gamers being all about the build and combos and no fun to actually have at the table, but this video showed me that you're totally doing it right :]
In a game I played for a good bit, I was playing a Chronomancy goblin who started out with "terrible" spells like False life and Unseen servant, both of which saved the party more than once and when the Optimizer of the part recognized that understood that my build wasn't for great amounts of slaughter but surviving whatever came my way, tanking hits that would've killed most other wizards and punishing multiple enemies with a single "Ice Knife"
I think this is easily your best video yet😁
And if all that doesn't work just grab the Lucky feat.
Fr great video and totally agree 👍
Out of all the games I've played in and DM'd for, I feel this.
Heck, I started a game with the premise of "Let me just start a campaign in Baldur's Gate and we'll see what happens!" and I had three totally random characters that were not optimized to each other and also weren't really optimized at all. And we had a blast. The Kobold Fighter sat down in a chair and got stuck to it. It was a mimic, he curled up in a ball and cried (which forced the mimic to ALSO curl up into a ball) it was the most hilarious thing I've been a DM for.
These things aren't said enough, you've earned my subscription.
excellent advise and great video: )
As a DM, when I (rarely) get to play my characters, I build my characters min maxing the FUN stat, so we all get an amazing time playing. Thanks for the wholesome video my draconian friend.
My group just beat curse of strahd after a year and it was so nice finally completing a game
Man, do I agree 1,000% with this video. Optimization is good, but flavor has to play a part or the game loses its soul. Also, the other players at the table are as important as you, so having a connection with them is no. 1 for having fun. nNo build is worth the trouble if you and your teammates don't mesh.
- The Innkeeper
The reason I love watching dnd optimization videos is I want to be the safety net to a tpk. I also really really love the math and strategic aspects of combats. I LOVE wargaming and dnd has one of the most widespread systems. The D4 network channel Colby somewhat recently outlined a self sacrificing healer that did stupid level of healing at the cost of their own health.
Dude you hit 20k Subscribers! You’re famous!
Cheers. To a another new year.
The true optimization is the friends we made along the way
Optimize a support character!
You can be OP in two ways, you can either be a force multiplier for everyone else or a big lump of murder that doesn't interact with the party. Be the force multiplier, use everyone else to funnel your power through, make them feel special.
I would love to join a pay to play game with Pack Tactics, he’s my favorite RUclipsr because I like Kobolds and Bagpipes are always my chosen musical instrument in DND
I might become a pay to play DM in the future.
@@PackTactics I'd join your party any day, my preferred class is Wizard.
@@PackTactics If you do, make sure you let the channel know! My DM is working towards this, and I'm sure he'd appreciate any insight you throw our way :)
Best Video about DnD optimization
Great video. Everyone needs to learn to be a team player before they start worrying about playing optimized builds
Yes!! Comunication is key, fun is the objetive, if someting is not right tell it to the grup at the end of the session, be polite, if non of the players care then leave the game.
Very important subject, excellent video 🐢
This was really good.
Look, the only group I have is of people with serious issues balancing time. We only get to meet for a few hours a week for two different campaigns in the same timeslot (alternating between which campaign is played which week). Unfortunately this usually results in someone getting the shaft a good portion of the time, just not getting to play the game at all for the week and just getting to watch other people do it the entire time. Its going to have to be someone, and I can't be 100% god-level intriguing or the meme-worthy comic relief. So I have one thing left I can do to get some time: Walk onto the battlefield like a damn atomic bomb. Shock and awe the entire metaphorical table. Thats why I try to at least make even my less optimal builds impressively strong in at least one department.
I do like optimization for a number of reasons, autistic traits means I rarely do one thing for one reason, I like that optimizing in something gives me the freedom to diversify and do fun stuff. Some optimized part means I can carry my own weight, and then I can but feats like ritual Caster since I don’t need 20 in an attribute
To me, an "optimal" character is likeable and interesting, and good at doing something useful both in combat and out of combat. That's what I aim for in my characters.
My 1 "Optimization" tip I'd recommend on the more Mechanical side of things that... I think you already went over but I wanted to hit it over the head as well. If you're going to optimize, make sure you actually know what your party needs.
Like... if you have a party that already has a Figher, a Rogue, and an Evocation wizard, They probably have *plenty* of damage to throw around, and would be better served by a Bard or a Cleric who can act as a healer and force multiplier to their abilities.
Nah. Play what you want.
@@PackTactics I mean... it's at least how I do things. Like if I'm going into a game I try to figure out what that party needs and doesn't have so that I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. Especially if I make any attempt at optimization, since I know what it's like to have the spotlight for the cool thing you're trying to do stolen by someone who does it better.
@Professor Thinker I mean again it's not even an optimization thing and more like "We don't need 3 fighters so I'm gonna play something else", and... how would you get kicked out for catering to everyone else?
@Professor Thinker ... Maybe I'm being just stupid but I honestly don't understand how "Oh, I should be something that helps the partyr" is somehow actually toxic.
Well said
The most optimal Campaign is to group text "You Win!" to all of your players since that's all that matters and you can shave months off the required playtime to get there.
honestly, having people (especially the DM) like you is way more powerful than any build
I wanted to play a gnome barbarian cause I thought "haha funny angry short guy" and dwarf seemed too common. Little did I know that this is a borken build. Adv on Int, Wis and Cha, and Prof on Str and Con. And if there is a trap that needs a Dex check: Adv on that as well. Jeez.
The focus on optimization only frustrates me when optimizers insist the rules be changed to fit optimized play, rather than accepting that flavor and RP elements make up a large part of the experience for most. That is why I like your vids, you aren't so hardline and close minded as the other optimizers tend to be.
Right Kobolds hate Gnomes
For the algorithm!
I did a railroaded one shot a while back that I wrote, still have the guide if i want to run it again. Basically the players were the figment of a child's imagination, her imaginary family, and they became real half way through the one-shot. Long story short, I made everyone at the table attached to this character, and in the end of the story she died of natural causes, and it made everyone at the table cry. Not a one-off either, I ran this twice, once for two different groups and had the same reaction each time at the end.
What is a coffee lock?
This is 100% the way, it's not true optimization unless everyone is having fun.
Rogue Paladin: "Smike Attack!"
Me: "I don't understand Rogue Paladin. But my Eldritch Knight can cast Spells."
Wizard: Dies to a 1d4 Heavy Breathing Damage.
@@absolstoryoffiction6615 Rogue Paladin sounds stupid fun for just "I do big numbers now". Might keep that in mind, sounds like a laugh and a half.
I said to my wife the other day, “This might surprise you, but many adults who play D&D are still learning basic social skills.”
She laughed. ☺️
I always annoy my fellow players by talking about balance issues in the game. I just can't help myself. When there's a certain thing that's cool, and interesting. And it's just obviously trash because WotC couldn't balance their game if their lives depended on it. That's like an itch that needs scratching.
I don't mind playing a bad character.
But I take psychic damage every time I look at bad subclasses.
@@hieronymusnervig8712 I think the game is fairly balanced, overall. Can you give me a specific example? Are you thinking of a subclass like the Four Elements Monk?
@@alanschaub147 I mean that's one example, there's also the several extremely disappointing and underwhelming sorc and warlock subclasses, there's a reason you usually see the same handful of subclasses used in every build, bc the other ones are just not useful
@@alanschaub147 I also believe that the greater part of the game is fairly balanced. But some aspects, like two weapon fighting, thrown weapons, Alchemist Artificer, Sun Soul Monk, Assassin Rogue or Champion Fighter are treated very poorly.
There's a lot of subjective strength differences everywhere, e.g. most people would say that Casters are better than Martials, but that's fine. There's different strengths and different weaknesses and my character will still shine.
But then there's these objectively weak aspects. They can still be fun to play. But I'll always know that I'm dragging the weight of my subclass or whatever else I chose around with me.
And that just hurts the game.
@@alanschaub147 compare circle of spore druid to any other druid subclass. I'm surprised your level 14 feature doesn't outright kill your character
The most important DnD optimization video on youtube. Really heart warming. Thank you Kobold and Gator, we love you. Have a great new year! Byebye!
You too! Happy new year! Bye bye!
Ultimate minmaxer's tip: always buy pizza for your party. That way, they'll depend on you. The Cleric will give you the first Healing Word, and you'll be right after them in Bless order. The Rogue will leave your possessions for last. The Wizard will make sure you're not in the blast radius before casting Fireball, at least most of the time. Even the DM might knock two or three off the enemies' attack rolls against you and saves against your spells, if they like the pizza enough.
You can't have pizza without drinks... Water or soda etc.
Pizza equals inspiration at my table.
I dm. I'm lactose intolerant and don't eat meat.
if my players started favoring the one who brings pizza (when I usually buy it for everyone else, I don't really eat pizza) I would make that player have a lot to deal with.
forge your bonds in the fires of conflicts. I am not a spiteful god, but I will test you. so long as everyone has fun, anyway.
I hate this kind of complex tbh. I want to be treated fairly, like everyone else should be treated. Do i buy food for friends, of course, but i expect nothing if it. I HOPE nothing comes of it
@@thecookiemeister5374 Sub-optimal sigma grindset there buddy
"Builds don't matter much! It's more about knowing what to do"
This. This should be written in bold with red glowing letters in the first page of the PHB.
I've seen too much people concerned about choosing the best options and always forgetting about making a creative and/or smart use of them.
This video in its entirety is good advice and I say put it at front page as featured video, every player needs to hear this or some part of this before starting to optimize.
Also, happy new year Kobold! And i'm very glad about your 20k subs, you really deserve it!
Thats actually a good idea. I might do that. Thank you! Happy new year!
I have a player at one of my tables that jas this problem. Not the interesting part, but the know what to do part. He strugles with his class powers and his turns drag out.
The point about optimized builds being non-optimal in the hands of someone who doesn't make use of them, is the most true statement of optimization out there.
That's why a lot of optimal stuff is moot to me. Conjure animals or animate objects to get as many little fiddly creatures to control might be the most optimal for damage and area control....But it's just too annoying to actually use imo. I'd rather animate objects on a nearby table and dresser than do the usual shenanigans of trying to animate 10 silver coins or whatever.
Or other cases like rest-casting where I'm just like "yeah, that's powerful and cool...But I'd never remember to do that stuff while I'm trying to roleplay as a poor schmuck who is stuck being a tour guide of the prime world for his archfey patron."
What you plan out... Vs... What actually happens... Is never the same.
I usually plan out my ASI/Feats up to lv15 Fighter/Eldritch Knight. But everything else is... Unknown... Even to me. Not even my Spell choices are optimal but fun.
Personally I take a more fluid route, picking my levels as they come, to fit the character and his experences.
Never had 'being a good player and pleasent person' explained in terms of optimizing, but hey! It works!
Keep up the great content, Pack!
It kinda reminded me of TierZoo, explaining irl concepts in gamified terms. I really like it. :D
it's a great way to draw in (some of) the people that really need to hear the message, and he isn't wrong either.
This was an important video for the health of the game. It took me years to learn all of these lessons, and i am happy players who haven't learnt them yet can find them in a video.
BuT kObOlD, you're not a small lizard man. You're a small dragon man
RAAAWWWWWWRR!!!!
Warlord in 4E D&D: super-optimal! You get to make attacks with the most optimized character's attacks and they get to shine in the spotlight for doing it. That was always a favorite of mine.
Yes! Man do I miss warlord.
@@imoj So does everyone, man. So does everyone.
@@imoj KibblesTasty made a homebrew class of it that's pretty well made if your dm allows anything like that. Obviously it's never going to be a direct translation because the editions are so different, but it brings a few iconic abilities over and definitely scratches the itch of playing a support martial character that 5e all but killed off.
I loved playing the 4e Warlord. I shined by letting other people shine!
Also it caused people to do things outside their turn, keeping them invested as other people were taking their turns.
I was so sad when 5e removed the Warlord.
Little compares to the feeling of hitting someone with a barbarian
I'm really glad that you said "you are suboptimal if.." because many people drawn to D&D can lose sight of how important it is to be a part of the party, rather than just a solo player in an open world - adjacent to some other solo players!
So, if a player wants to be truly optimal, they need to play a build and as a character that truly fits at the table you're playing at!
Even if someone else at the table doesn't measure up to this standard, you and everyone else will still have more fun when you optimize your play as more than just a solo act.
I often get flak from the other side of the community where I constantly see seething hatred for anything (perceived) optimal and effective. I once was in a server for people developing a roleplay system and I pointed out how one particular build direction (based on how the game awards XP and how characters are statted) is mathematically stronger than others. I was told the only proper fix is to smack talk the player for "trying to powergame" instead of something like houseruling the character build options or just designing the game with the expectation you arrange your stats like that.
It's kind of weird how some people have hateboner for "powergaming", even weirder are people like the ones you described because they are ready to be toxic against them. In the end it's just knowing how the game works, not some cheat code. Being fun to play with and having a strong character aren't mutually exclusive like some seem to think. And when it comes to roleplaying something weaker/silly, you can still have the stats. Like many have pointed out that you don't need 8 int to play "stupid wizard", just have proper main stat and roleplay the "stupid" part anyway.
I think there is a clear line somewhere when you get to builds that multiclass like 3+ times to do some stuff that probably wasn't intended but a lot of that stuff is the fault of game design even allowing it.
5E kinda just expects the DM to handle everything on their own because WotC couldn't be bothered, which sucks but being aware of it lets you fix it at your tables at least.
Its not the player's fault to want to be strong. At the same time each DM and Group can set their own limitations in which designate the acceptable power ceiling.
Making sure that the acceptable powerfloor and ceiling are clearly understood should be a priority at every table to avoid ugly confrontations later.
It always exists even if you just tell players "oh just bring whatever" you probably don't mean that, what you actually mean is that you haven't thought about it yet and will probably make up your mind later.
This is a positive video to end the year on.
This is the true reason spellcasters are busted. They have spells that promote teamplay.
You are actually not wrong.
"If you are fun to play with, then you are winning D&D." Well said!
RNG: "We don't do that here. Not in my Holy server."
Roles a "Natural" 1...
@@absolstoryoffiction6615 god i feel that, last session we all went on seperate spiritual journeys and (manifested as different versions of me) I had to fight my inner demons it was hell seriously six attacks in a row they hit me with crits lol.
I had a Lore Master wizard (the old busted UA) for a while and enjoyed the class, but had to leave the game because the DM unfairly targeted me in every fight, including using antimagic and counterspells at every corner. I tried to communicate but sometimes that doesn't work. All I want to say with this is no D&D is way better than bad D&D, because I'd rather spend my evenings some other way than getting my spells countered literally every fight.
Was this the subclass that let you change the damage type of spells? Most fun build I've ever played
As a DM I only use Counterspell in rare ocasions. It is easy to frustrate players with that and you can have a callenging fight by just giving healing potions for your badies.
Is that a cellphone on the table in front of kobold? SUBOPTIMAL!!
Seriously, though, this is one of your most entertaining videos with the most practical information. Thanks!!
Agreed with everything said here. i also guess i'm lucky that i play with the table that generally are the same as me (mostly optimizers, prefer the combat pillar the most, likes short campaigns/one-shots). i'm happy that i found this table (as well as a couple of others that i can guest in once in a while) and it has made leaving all those other tables in the past that didn't jive with how i want to play/have fun worth it.
only thing i'd like to add is people, especially optimizers, shouldn't feel bad if they want to have fun or have to sacrifice their fun. as long as you're generally nice, friendly, willing to collaborate and make small adjustments you're doing it correctly. you shouldn't compromise why you wanted to play to begin with just to cater to everyone at the table. it just means you weren't a fit for that table and other people weren't willing to adjust to you. find a table that shares your ideals and the fun will be tenfold. and if you can't find that table IRL, there's alot of VTTs now.
Thank you for talking about this. Speaking as a GM, I often run into players who are well versed in the technical aspects of the game, but not the human aspects that matter more.
I suspect that it’s a side effect of optimization RUclips channels, where content creators only talk about the mechanical aspects of the game, and I appreciate that you’re bucking the trend.
Optimization is a tool. It doesn’t inherently make games better or worse on its own, and the more players who learn that, the healthier the trpg community will be.
How to win DnD: have fun with people. It's a co-operative storytelling game, try being co-operative with people's storytelling.
As someone who views optimization and min-maxing as an outsider, and runs for a group who really focuses on roleplay, this is an incredible video. Having one very powerful player can be so dangerous unless they’re also lifting up the whole group as well and allowing people moments to shine as well. And that can be really really good when it’s done well, I think there’s a lot to be said for finding a table that matches you, but it can be so fun when you have disparate players who are working together to help each other have fun. Great video.
Lol I love the “play anything you want (except gnomes)” 😂😂😂
Definitely a Kobold 😂👍
What’s the timestamp?
@8:55
I’m not an optimizer, but I love to homebrew. I like learning about optimization because it gives me a better understanding of the game’s design. I’ve never heard a self-identified optimizer acknowledge the truths you acknowledge here. It endears me to you. It’s why I follow you. You bring something different to the table. Happy New Year.
When you scout ahead and tell the barbarian where the biggest enemy is and they run up and throw something heavy at it. Good times.
I had an campaign with a lot of strength characters and throwing marble tables at enemies became meta for a session XD
In Australia, this came out exactly a minute after midnight on New Years Eve
This is why I and many others love Tulok the Barbrarian's builds. He doesn't build the characters to be optimized, he builds them to be as accurate to the original character as possible.
What a good rant! You have definitely won my subscription Mr Kobold.
Also there were so many gems in this video:
"You are weird! You are getting advice from a small lizard man" it's gonna live rent free in my mind for who knows how long.
The best icebreaker video for roleplay
Thank you for this video, Kobold. It really helps to know that even when you putting out optimization videos you recognize that the spells you pan aren’t necessarily bad at every table if everyone is having fun. (Except Find Traps. That spell is irredeemable)
Reminds me of the time I created an "unoptimized" character. It was for a one-shot with one other player, and we decided our characters would work together and have a Master Blaster dynamic as a monster hunting duo. My character was Big, a gnoll runt with 7 levels in rogue thief and 2 in fighter. The other character was Tiny, a 9th level loxodon berserker barbarian. I rolled pretty meh stats for Big, but that turned out to be just fine. In the one-shot, we ended up fighting a beholder, and we each fell organically into niches in combat. Tiny was large and beefy, so they were on the front lines tanking and dealing damage. However, Big was quick and versatile, and if it weren't for his/my quick thinking and tactical usage of items, we absolutely would have lost the fight. Things that Big did in the fight that came in clutch:
-loading Tiny's siege crossbow (basically a handheld ballista) with an entire quiver of arrows with Fast Hands, then using the Help action to help her fire it straight into the main eye of the beholder, disabling it with a cloud of shrapnel and allowing our kenku phoenix soul sorcerer hireling to use his magic.
-Tossing a net onto the beholder, causing it to be locked down twice over when Tiny began grappling it.
-Using a crowbar to pry the beholder's minions (floating fleshy masks that were reskinned intellect devourers but targeting charisma) off of Tiny's face.
-Usage of a variety of weapons, including a few decent shots with a shortbow. And almost, but not _quite,_ hopping onto the beholder and chopping at its eyestalks with a shortsword like Shadow of the Colossus.
There was also a hilarious moment in the dungeon before the fight where Big convinced Tiny that loading Jericho (the kenku) into her siege crossbow and firing him up into a hole in the ceiling was a good idea. The DM asked us to make an attack roll. Nat 20. Jericho was fired up through the hole while _on fire_ and ended up hitting and instantly liquifying a miniboss that was hiding up there. I can't remember exactly what it was called, but it was one of those little baby beholder variant creatures.
Ah man, good times...
This is why being an "overpowered support" is the optimal build for going absolutely bonkers in terms of optimization. You might be carrying the team, but as long as Bob the Barbarian is getting to smack the bad guy for big damage and is happy, it won't matter to him that your character is absolutely necessary for making that possible.
The only time this isn't the case is if there's a less optimal support who will feel bad if you "support better." Even then, you can allow them to do their niche and use different, non-competing avenues of support.
Happy hunting!
I wish we saw more stuff on team optimization. Everyone is always only looking at a single character, and not how multiple characters could work together to multiply their strength. One such team build that I've found consists of an Artillerist artificer, who gives temp HP (and later, half cover) to the whole party every round as a BA using their protector cannon, a paladin (maybe Devotion for charm immunity aura), whose aura buffs everyone's saves, and a Life cleric, who heals any damage that gets through. Everyone has excellent AC, buffed saves, and gets temp HP every round. You can have everyone take HAM (if in heavy armor) to further reduce damage, and Shield Master, to get pseudo-Evasion against AoEs. I wish we saw more stuff like this.
This would be disgusting if it wasn't based in the power of friendship.
Dang, now I have a hunger for party optimization content.
One might say content like this could be referred to as...
Pack Tactics.
Our party is interesting, they develop their own skills and such (usually based on their adventure) but they tend to develop ideas together in the heat of combat. (like the ground human missile where bard poly morphs the ranger so he can yeet me as a human missile)
Was Kobold drunk in this video? Excellent advice regardless
The most important number on an optimized character sheet is the one above your proficiency bonus.
I feel like optimization is actually very important. You want someone to be a combat god in your party, so you can be a diplomat, or a con artist, or a spy, or a utility caster, or any other number of things. A good party is full of diversity, a power-gamer is part of that diversity. Combat counters are much more fun if you can rely on someone to beat the hell out of a creature.
Great video that every party should watch at session zero! Very wholesome.
That Sorcadin build from Treantmonk is what I'm playing right now :) Also his Diviner Wizard and soon Arcane Trickster. Love your videos Pack Tactics. I Appreciate the time you take to make these vids!
As Soren Johnson said about X-Com, "Given the opportunity, players will optimize the fun out of a game."
Given an informed choice between mechanical optimization and fun, I'll always choose fun. That said, D&D's an infinite game. There is no winning, and the only losing move is not to play.
In the interest of fairness, breaking a game can be its own kind of fun.
that "Don't Bottle it up" advice goes FAAR beyond D&D. Seriously if you don't express the fact that you have a problem Nothing will ever be done about it.
How you tell people is an artform in its own right.
I'm a Dragonborn Ranger/Hunter that uses dex and none of my favored enemies or terrains apear in the campain
Extremely optimal
(Jokes aside it's true that you can play almost any character you want and be good, either in battle or roleplay)
By the way the flaw of that character is being afraid of being useless
One day I'll get the chace to play it
step 1: play the support, because nobody else Will
step 2: everyone likes you :)
step 3: also supports are hilariously op so you win there too
That Artichron build is ludicrous! XD But some of the tips in there are just super fun, while others are things no DM would allow.
the best kind of powering gaming, how to optimize fun on the table