This series will be 5th edition D&D characters I make up, just for the fun of it. I haven't played the game in 1.5 decades but like to keep up with nerdly news and I do really like this new edition. I'm hoping to make at least one character of each class, probably spread out over the long term as time and inspiration allow.
My character creation policy goes like this:
My character creation policy goes like this:
(1) Ability score are rolled on 4d6, discard the lowest.
(2) Create them to d3+2 levels in the chosen class.
(3) Give them an appropriate magic item, possibly two (at 3rd and maybe 5th levels).
(4) I believe the PCs are the heroes of the story, so I generally give them max hit points, no rolling. Though I do like the 5thedition roll or take better-than-half system.
(5) While I like the personality traits, bonds, etc. of the background portion of the new creation process, I figure the write up I'm doing covers that stuff.
(6) I've also taken a shine to the optional "speed factor" rules in the new DM's guide, so you'll see those modifiers applied to combat initiative values.
(6) I've also taken a shine to the optional "speed factor" rules in the new DM's guide, so you'll see those modifiers applied to combat initiative values.
I. THOR, GODLING OF THUNDER
I have been reading the Marvel trade paperback of the God Butcher series from the title Thor: God of Thunder. And it has inspired me to make a 5th edition D&D character! I thought, what if someone wanting to play Thor, or as close as they could get, how would I help them go about shaping that character’s stats and abilities? Then I thought, What if the character himself mostly just believes he is Thor? And we don’t know for sure if he is or not?
From there I also came up with a three-part series of short novels, which I’ll add to the queue for whenever I can get free of these day-job shackles and just write for a living (or maybe even before that). The first novel’s first line might be something corny like this: “It began with his death…”
Without going too far into it, let’s just say that he started out as a Barbarian among his tribe of raging raiders, fighting some “civilized” army or something on the tundra of their nomadic homeland. In a battle, he is mortally wounded and appears to eventually succumb to his wounds. He seems to die. Or perhaps he does die, who’s to say for sure? After a brief bit of being dead, like minutes or an hour, he comes back and eventually makes a pretty remarkable recovery. But when he comes back, this barbarian is convinced he is Thor, god of thunder. Thus begins his experience as a 1st level player character. His life up till now has been pretty mundane: hunt, kill, fight, drink, etc. But now he’s inspired. He believes he may be more than he has thus far been.
Fast forward to 5th level, where I have made this character now. He’s multi-classed at Barbarian (2), Cleric (3). Barbarian was his first class. I’ve tweaked some of the standard stuff to befit the character, as described below.
II. Game StatsTHOR, Godling of Thunder
Class: Barbarian (2nd), Cleric (3rd)
Align: NGSTR | 19 | +4 |
INT | 9 | -1 |
WIS | 16 | +3 |
DEX | 12 | +1 |
CON | 15 | +2 |
CHAR | 13 | +1 |
HP: 58
AC: 16 in half-plate, 14 unarmoredPROF: +3
SAVES: STR (+7) CON (+5) WIS (+6) CHAR (+4) DEX (advant)
INIT: +1
SPD: 30 ft
COMBAT:
War Hammer +1 | Init +1 | +8 to hit | D8+5 dmg | Versatile (d10), Rage +2 dmg |
Thrown 20/60, crit spell | ||||
Battle Axe | Init +1 | +7 to hit | D8+4 dmg | Versatile (d10), Rage+2 dmg |
Short sword | Init +3 | +7 to hit | D6+4 dmg | Light, Rage +2 dmg |
Spells | Init +1 (- lvl) | +6 to hit | Save DC 14 |
RACE: Godling (modified from Dragonborne)
* Str +2, Wis +1* Languages: Common, Celestial
* Resistant to Lightning Dmg
* Throw Lightning: 2D6 dmg, Dex Save DC (13) for half, 5x30 straight line. Short/Long rest to recover ability.
BACKGROUND: Folk Hero
* Event: Returned from the dead and became badass who helped repel invading army* “Hospitality/Following”
BARBARIAN:
* Rage (x2): Advant on Str checks/saves; +2 dmg; Resist weapon-type dmgs; cannot cast spells while raging.* Unarmored Defense (10 + Dex + Con)
* Reckless Attack: gain advantage on hit roll for 1st round, but so do they
* Danger Sense: Advant on Dex saves
CLERIC, TEMPEST:
* Channel Divinity (x2): Turn Undead, Destructive Wrath (max out lightning/thunder dmg instead of rolling)* Wrath of the Storm (x3): reaction in combat to deal 2d8 thunder/lightning dmg
* Can prepare 6 spells (+ domain spells)
* Spell DC (14) Spell Attack Mod (+6)
* Spell Slots: 1st (4) 2nd (2)
* Domain Spells: Fog Cloud, Thunderwave
* Known Cantrips: Light, Thaumaturgy, Resistance
SKILLS:
* Animal Handling +6* Survival +6
* Athletics +7
* Intimidation +4
* Brewing proficiency
* Land Vehicles proficiency
GEAR:
* Half-plate armor* basic survival gear, wolf pelt coat, and clothing
* “Mjonir” – The magic Warhammer formerly known as “Thunderclap” was recovered by the self-named Thor and renamed Mjonir by him. It is a Warhammer +1 with two magic properties.
- Throwing: it can be thrown 20/60 range and automatically returns to the wielder. The wielder then has a -5 Initiative penalty on the following round as it returns and is caught.
- Thunderclap: On a critical hit, the hammer automatically casts Thunderous Smite (2d6 thunder dmg, Str save (10+Str mod = 14) or be knocked back 10 feet and prone)
III. Design
I figured this kind of Thor D&D character would be part Barbarian and part Cleric of the Tempest (storms, lightning, and such). For background I was thinking Outlander, as I was envisioning a barbarian of the tundra, but then I read the description of Folk Hero and decided I liked that one. (For some reason I keep breezing over that one when I look through the Player’s Guide – I hadn’t even seen it in there for the first few months I owned the book. Must be the weird low position on the page it starts at…?) For the race I wanted to kind of make my own, but noticed that the Dragonborn was pretty darn close to what I wanted for this Thor anyway: Str+2, Char+1, and “breathes” lightning. Doesn’t get much better than that! So I modeled my “godling” race on that for sure, mostly removing the idea that he’s a reptilian and just sticking with the stats and abilities.
All three of these Thor images come from Marvel, though I noticed some nice indie artist ones too.