2023/07/09 (Sun) The importance of character building from a beginner's perspective

The other day, I had an interesting conversation with a fellow D&D enthusiast from India. We were in line for lunch and we started chatting about the best options for multi-classing in 5e, especially when it comes to spellcasting abilities.

 

We agreed that Charisma-based classes like Paladin, Sorcerer, Bard, and Warlock have a lot of synergy and flexibility when it comes to multi-classing. Wisdom-based classes like Cleric and Druid are also decent choices, but they have less variety. However, we both felt that Intelligence-based classes like Wizard are very limited and underpowered when it comes to multi-classing.

 

I decided to share our thoughts on Twitter, hoping to spark some discussion among other D&D fans. But to my surprise, I found out that there was an account that was secretly mocking our opinions, without engaging in any meaningful dialogue. They just posted empty comments like "Paladin + Sorcerer ?", as if they were ridiculing our preferences. I promptly blocked that account and wondered why they were so hostile.

 

I think this kind of attitude is one of the reasons why D&D is not very popular in Japan. Some people seem to think that there is only one right way to play the game, and that anyone who deviates from that is wrong or stupid.

 

Of course, I understand that some classes are more optimized for combat than others, and that some campaigns are designed to challenge the players with high-level encounters. I also know that some scenarios require specific skills or abilities that only certain classes can provide.

 

But I don't think that these factors should limit our creativity or enjoyment of the game. D&D is not just a battle simulator where you have to min-max your character based on combat effectiveness. It's a role-playing game where you can create your own story and personality for your character, and explore different possibilities and combinations.

 

That's why I love multi-classing. It allows me to express myself through my character and have fun with different mechanics and features. I don't care if my character is not the strongest or the most efficient. I care about how they fit into the world and the party, and how they grow and develop throughout the campaign.

 

I wish more people would appreciate the beauty of multi-classing and respect other players' choices. I think D&D would be more enjoyable and diverse if we could all embrace our differences and learn from each other.