D&D 5E Paladin with some of the skill utility of rogues or bards

[Daniel Peterson]

What do you guys think of playing a character that either dips into rogue or bard for skills, or takes feats that grant more skills and going full pally. Specifically the skilled and burglar feats to gain proficiency in stealthy options and thieves tools. Burglar specifically because when coupled with spy, urchin, or criminal gives expertise in theieve’s tools. My party never plays pally, rogue, or bard. I’m thinking of suggestions to fill that role possibly as an npc that helps the party out because my group is small in general.

 

[mellored]

Any of those options seems fine.

Though if you want an NPC, I suggest lore bard. NPCs do better as support classes, that enhance other players spotlight.

So cast spells like bless and use cutting words, and let the PC's enjoy the bonuses. To whatever they where doing.

 

[Wulffolk]

Paladin and Bard fit well together thematically, and synergetically,, especially an Oath of the Ancients Paladin combined with Lore or Glamour Bard.

However, if you are creating a DM PC, then I would suggest a more supporting character, as [MENTION=6801209]mellored[/MENTION] already suggested

 

[Daniel Peterson]

Thanks. The primary idea is to be a dm controlled support character, but if it works out well then every now and then when I don't DM then I might play it myself. For my own character, not as a DM, If I was going for a character that was meant to fill the role of a church's assassin or spy what would you suggest? The utility of a bard is definitely needed because the other players in my group tend to play rangers, barbarians, and arcane spell casters. So needless to say the group usually lacks skill diversity, and combat enhancement. I particularly like the Vengeance Paladin and the lore bard, but I'm willing to go with another college if that college synergized well without losing to much in skill diversity.

 

[Wulffolk]

From a thematic stand-point, I would suggest an Oath of Vengeance Paladin mixed with Rogue Assassin. Using the Feat Medium Armor Mastery you could still wear Half-Plate Armor and get the benefit of up to 16 Dexterity without losing the ability to use Stealth all while having an AC equal to Full Plate Armor. That would also give you the option to start as a Rogue and pick up Paladin later, since you would not need Heavy Armor Proficiency.

 

[Leatherhead]

If it was just for a NPC, you don't have to follow any hard class rules, just give it anything you want.

College of Whispers is basically the assassin Bards. On the other hand, if it's a PC who is going to be an assassin for a church, maybe try a Trickery Domain Cleric. Or possibly a Monk, Monks are the skill-monkey religious people after all.

 

[FrogReaver]

Your idea is folly. DM pcs should not function as a pc ever. It's a conflict of interest and gives casts a shadow of unfairness around anything that happens that saves the DM pc or strengthens him.

Thanks. The primary idea is to be a dm controlled support character, but if it works out well then every now and then when I don't DM then I might play it myself. For my own character, not as a DM, If I was going for a character that was meant to fill the role of a church's assassin or spy what would you suggest? The utility of a bard is definitely needed because the other players in my group tend to play rangers, barbarians, and arcane spell casters. So needless to say the group usually lacks skill diversity, and combat enhancement. I particularly like the Vengeance Paladin and the lore bard, but I'm willing to go with another college if that college synergized well without losing to much in skill diversity.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Your idea is folly. DM pcs should not function as a pc ever. It's a conflict of interest and gives casts a shadow of unfairness around anything that happens that saves the DM pc or strengthens him.

I used to run DM controlled support PCs but Frogreaver is right is right.

If it's an NPC make it an NPC. So now I grab a statblock form the PHB or VGtM and tweak it if necessary.

NPCs don't need to be (and I now think they shouldn't be) built with the Player Character rules.

 

[Daniel Peterson]

I see your point. The intent is to fill avoid in a small group. The npc would ideally function the same as mercenary npc’s in dnd video games. Has specific abilities and takes orders only. Doesn’t interact in social situations and follows a chosen strategy when in combat. I’m willing to use character classes as a guide and do a stat block though. I just didn’t want to do abilities that don’t fit the classes that would be used if it were an actual PC., and I don’t want to make the npc any more than a support build.

 

[Satyrn]

What do you guys think of playing a character that either dips into rogue or bard for skills, or takes feats that grant more skills and going full pally. Specifically the skilled and burglar feats to gain proficiency in stealthy options and thieves tools. Burglar specifically because when coupled with spy, urchin, or criminal gives expertise in theieve’s tools.

It would be an interesting character, no matter which specific option gets picked.

My party never plays pally, rogue, or bard. I’m thinking of suggestions to fill that role possibly as an npc that helps the party out because my group is small in general.

I've played in small groups before. Back when 3e came out, for a long time there were only 3 PCs in my group, so there were always gaps in the roles we could fulfill - especially in the one game when two of us started off as paladins!

Heck, for a stretch of time we were only 2, playing a ranger and rogue. I really rather think it might've been less fun if we'd had an NPC tagging along with us, too. It would've spread the focus, changed the challenge.


It was fun. There was no need to fill gaps with NPC party members. So I recommend not trying to add in a NPC to fill gaps in the party. The game will still work fine.