Character Build - Tumblr Posts

Path of the Beast - Mutations/Adaptations

One of my favourite things about D&D (and other mechanically dense TTRPGs) is when you get your character concept and character build to complement one another. AKA Ludonarrative Synchronicity, AKA That Good Shit (tm). And I've had an absolute blast doing that with Thrash and his Path of the Beast Barbarian build. The campaign has been a great mix of fantasy, horror and D&D shenanigans, perfect for playing my angsty, cursed mess of a character. He still hasn't discovered the true nature of the monstrous form he was cursed with (mechanically he's a bugbear), but its defining traits are instinct and adaptability. In other words, when a dangerous situation arises, he mutates involuntarily in a way that helps him survive. Technically his form only changes when he rages or takes a rest, but I had so much fun with that idea we decided that it happens in smaller ways whenever he uses another ability. A larger snout for tracking things with Perception/Survival, a more simian shape when he needs to climb with Athletics, that kind of thing.

And since I've been doing more art trades with @werelocke, I have now have some sketches to represent those changes! So here they are, mostly for my own reference but maybe other character building / monster character aficionados will enjoy :)

Swimming

"You gain a swimming speed equal to your walking speed, and you can breathe underwater."

One of the three 'Bestial Soul' options you can choose from every short/long rest with Path of the Beast, gained at Level 6.

Kinda situational but I really like being able to move through difficult environments easily. It's fun to imagine him using the 'jaws' mutation to bite and grapple an enemy, then do scary crocodile death roll.

Climbing

You gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed, and you can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

One of the three 'Bestial Soul' options you can choose from every short/long rest with Path of the Beast, gained at Level 6.

At first I was thinking lizard/gecko for climbing, but I think a more monkey-like form adds a bit more variety.

Leaping

When you jump, you can make a Strength (Athletics) check and extend your jump by a number of feet equal to the check’s total. You can make this special check only once per turn.

One of the three 'Bestial Soul' options you can choose from every short/long rest with Path of the Beast, gained at Level 6.

I'm so impressed with @werelocke's art for this one. It's so scary! Even though this form is mostly just for leaping, I think it's super cool. It may sound kinda niche, but the ability to jump 20+ feet from a standing start is really huge for getting around the battlefield quickly.

Tracking

You are particularly familiar with one type of natural environment and are adept at traveling and surviving in such regions. When you make an Intelligence or Wisdom check related to your favored terrain, your proficiency bonus is doubled if you are using a skill that you’re proficient in.

Part of the 'Natural Explorer' ability gained by Rangers at Level 1.

Thrash has decent Perception/Survival for tracking, wilderness survival, etc, but it was only recently that he got really good at them when the DM decided to give each of us an ability from a different class as a homebrew thing.

To me, this represents him finally learning to understand what his new instincts are telling him whenever he's outdoors, what all those intense sounds and smells and instincts actually mean.

Spotting Predators

Your instincts are so honed that you have advantage on initiative rolls. Additionally, if you are surprised at the beginning of combat and aren't incapacitated, you can act normally on your first turn, but only if you enter your rage before doing anything else on that turn.

As part of the bonus action you take to enter your rage, you can move up to half your speed.

Core Barbarian abilities 'Feral Instinct' and 'Instinctive Pounce', gained at Level 7.

'Fight or flight' is a big part of this character's mindset. He's a little like the Hulk; he has this side of him that he's scared of and can't really control, but it mostly just wants to protect him/itself. Except rather than anger, he's way more driven by fear. And it can be fun to play act a bit twitchy/paranoid and 'pounce' into action when a fight starts!