Because daring feats of panache and brazen displays of sword work are what swashbucklers are all about, and synergize really nicely with the highwayman theme
I can wait a bit for an answer, I don't see the campaign starting for another month, but I want to be ready. (I also like to give a DM a heads up on my char)
@BaconyRevanant Hmm, I may be taking it just for its low level benefits - the DM does not pull punches. (Has not in the past) Part of the bit is "get through Tier 1 alive" and we generally agree that (1) best defense is a good offense and (2) only fight when you can set the terms. Scouting and movement are something our group likes ... based on past experience. I get the idea that druid will be controller ... but I have no idea what star circle looks like in play
Although, one other point to consider: rogues are literally the only class that have the advantage of gaining an actual numerical benefit from casting True Strike
@BaconyRevanant yes, but I am not sure that the DM will let me sneak up, cast the cantrip, and still be 'hidden' when I try to make that attack to start combat ... need to discuss with him
Yeah, sharpshooter gives you a way bigger advantage than XX, especially the "no disadvantage for long range"
@KorvinStarmast You don't cast prior to combat, you already have advantage for being hidden. You cast it during in situations where you would be otherwise unable to make a Sneak Attack
This means that with SS, you can sneak attack from maximum range against targets that can't see you, or against enemies that are already engaged with the fighter
Without SS, you must be within 30' of an enemy to apply SA with a hand Xbow
If you go Swashbuckler, use the stat line you already displayed. If you go AT, I think you'll want something more like Str 10, Dex 15(+1), Con 12, Int 13(+1), Wis 10, Cha 13
Since you'll want to have good saves on your spells
@Catofdoom2 Why bother having minions and henchmen if they're not going to be around to bring you your pink champagne? What if you have to stab a beast with steely knives? Minions are nice to have around for those sorts of things.
Surprise summons are an unwelcome surprise for the players. You generally get a limited number of unwelcome surprises before the game ceases to be fun for the players. I expect that is the actual limiting factor.
If you can give the players at least three to ten heads up clues that are no less subtle than a sledge hammer hitting a church bell, then you've probably got a 50/50 chance it won't be a surprise.
@Catofdoom2 Probably have it cost them an action. Magic cursed whistle or ill-advised spell. Something you can narrate easily is good. Also makes it easy for the characters to hear rumors or accounts of the ability before encountering it in person.
Do you ever find yourself having to flee from adventurers? Trap doors are dusty! teleport is expensive! and ninja smoke bombs are bad for your lungs! Try the new and improved mini-taur. It's a full sized minotaur shrunk down into a pill size. Just add water and let it do the work letting you go on your nefarious way. Just three easy payments of 19.99.
@Catofdoom2 The summon is one unwelcome surprise. You're compounding it with another unwelcome surprise. If you know your players tolerance for that kind of thing, go ahead.
People find predictability satisfying, and a bit of uncertainty adds some interest and drama. Some examples are: figuring out a puzzle, throwing the ball to where the player will be, cutting the rope holding the chandelier at the right moment, or preparing for years by building up an immunity to iocaine powder so you can match wits with a Sicilian when death is on the line.
If you build a world and situations where the players can anticipate, plan, and get good results, you'll have a satisfying sandbox to play in. Stuff happening unexpectedly all the time is a recipe for the players being disengaged and just waiting for the world to happen around them.
If you want to use both normal and undead minotaur perhaps the minions all show up as minotaur when summoned, then later at some climactic fight the minions are minotaur skeletons
@G.Moylan I like the story behind that. The BBEG returns the minotaurs as defective because they were "guaranteed against all adventurers great and small". Minions & Monsters Inc. accepts the return and gives back an "equivalent CR" substitution... it's just the undead minotaur.
@AncientSwordRage Subtle for the DM is entirely unnoticeable for the players usually. Go with subtle hints that are about as sneaky as a grenade in a drum store. Those have a chance of being noticed, remembered, and acted upon.
@Catofdoom2 Like a story by a tavern patron telling an account of why BBEG is so dangerous to cross. "A man who orders around minotaurs is a hard man to stop"
This isn't bad advice, but it may be overthinking it. Foreshadowing and Chekov's Gun are more important for giving the players an opportunity to prepare. Is there a specific threat or challenge posed by a minotaur, which the players can prepare against? Is there some weakness the players can plan to exploit?
Usually the point of cluing and foreshadowing is to give players an opportunity to prepare, so that they can feel smart for their decisions and for remembering clues. If preparing doesn't make a difference, then it's not really worth focusing on it.
I would leave that to them to figure out. If they start asking about things minotaurs are particularly weak about, that would be a tiny side jaunt to a nearby local that "might know about such things"
If the players engage in prep, good for them. Run with it. If they don't, it might mitigate or convert the experience of unwelcome surprise to something less bad.
Off the cuff, if the players were looking for something the minotaurs found repellant, I'd have a brief lite side quest to meet an interesting local, do a thing, and find out that they don't know what it is that repels, them, but by golly do they dislike.... uhh.... cinnamon. Eating a cinnabun is a good way to get a minotaur punch.
I would expect my player group would then order the tanky character a dozen cinnamon muffins to go before heading out. Make sure the tank does the tanking.
But really... I just hung a little "Yes, and..." poster behind my monitor and run with whatever they come up with the best I can.
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