Most fun, multi-classed 5th level melee-type???

[SmiloDan]

And go!

:-D

EDIT:

Paladin 2/Warlock 3 (Sir Smite-a-lot)

Ranger 3/Monk 2 (Flurry Hunters Mark

Fighter/Rogue (Action Surge + Cunning Action)

Barbarian/Druid (raging wild shape!)

Paladin 3/Cleric 2 (Channel Energy galore!)

[TheRavyn]

I think system wise, it doesn't make a lot of sense for a melee character to multi class before 5th level, but 3/2 fighter rogue should be ok as long as you're conscious of your bonus actions.

Apropos of the subject, the OotS 5e boards have a lot of detailed multiclassing discussions and player guides. They are big proponents of the Paladin-Warlock, but I suspect most smart dms would rule that only Paladin spells (not Sorcerer spells) can count toward Smite, and avoid Sir Supernova syndrome. Not to mention the whole Paladin-Witchcraft thing seems like kind of a conflict of interest, thematically. Except for maybe and Ancients Paladin / Feylock combo.

[SmiloDan]

Yeah, giving up (or delaying) Extra Attack is a big deal.

A barbarian/druid wildshaped into something with Multi-Attack might be worth it. But it's more of a dip into barbarian for a Circle of the Moon druid. All the benefits of Unarmored Defense and Rage apply while Wildshaped.

[2097]

A player in my campaign built a fighter 2 / warlock X with thornwhip (so I think it might've been a tome lock?) + armor of agathys + heavy armor. With Repelling Blast as a back up for when they wanted the foe far away

[2097]

I don't really mind it if the PCs are good or if they steam roll the opposition, I don't adapt the enemies at all. If he would've ridden that build all the way to Strahd, that would've been fine by me.

But, he died pretty quickly from a Lightning Bolt from a powerful caster. Again, that wasn't my intent. That's just what happened.

[SmiloDan]

I usually custom the encounters to the players. If they have fireball, I'll throw a bunch of minions for them to obliterate. If they have Survival, I'll throw a bunch of footprints for them to track. If they don't have a ton of healing, I'll use non-lethal combat maneuvers to spice of combats. If they have a ton healing, I can sprinkle hazardous terrain and an extra monster or two to the battlefield. If they lack all of the social skills, I don't put them on a diplomatic mission. If there are lots of lightning powered PCs, I'll throw them the occasional lightning vulnerable foe and not abuse lightning resistant and lightning immune monsters. Stuff like that.

[Quark Blast]

SmiloDan wrote:

I usually custom the encounters to the players. If they have fireball, I'll throw a bunch of minions for them to obliterate. If they have Survival, I'll throw a bunch of footprints for them to track. If they don't have a ton of healing, I'll use non-lethal combat maneuvers to spice of combats. If they have a ton healing, I can sprinkle hazardous terrain and an extra monster or two to the battlefield. If they lack all of the social skills, I don't put them on a diplomatic mission. If there are lots of lightning powered PCs, I'll throw them the occasional lightning vulnerable foe and not abuse lightning resistant and lightning immune monsters. Stuff like that.

I never pandered that much to the PCs but generally took this tack.

In general let the players play what they want to play and adapt the scenario in interesting ways to their strengths and (if thematically appropriate) occasionally their weaknesses - "their" referring to both the players and the characters.

[SmiloDan]

I find it a fun challenge to come up with fun challenges for the players and characters.

[2097]

Understood! I never do that. In many ways I'm probably the cruelest DM on this board.