Noble-Born Half-Orc (Half-Orc Mastermind)

This a character concept that was originally something that popped up when I was rolling up random combinations of race, class, and background. In the same batch there was a Changeling Barbarian Gladiator who was in a self-exile after some embarrassing event back home. When I was trying to figure out the half-orc noble thing, I somehow linked to the Changeling and the fact that Eberron Changelings can change so thoroughly that they can conceive/sire children as if they were the race they were shape-shifted into. This was changed over later when I carried over the character concept without bringing in the other characters.

The general concept is that the reason she is a half-orc is due to her parents experimenting with shapeshifting-aided roleplay. There are plenty of other origins that could produce a half-orc noble but this one does come with the idea of other nobles making constant snide remarks about either her parents' habits or else the possibility that there was some infidelity going on. In the course of this time growing up she learned to be more clever and agile than the average half-orc, eventually being tapped as an agent of the land.

The original background was a Noble, because that is what inspired this whole concept, but I think in the long run even though she is a noble, her overall background better fits Faction Agent or Spy. I'm settling on Faction Agent to represent her loyalty to nation.



For this I am using my typical theoretical 30 pt array of 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10.

1st Level Half-Orc Rogue

Str: 12

Dex: 15

Con: 12

Int: 14

Wis:13

Cha:12

HP: 9

AC: 13
Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Darkvision 60ft
Menacing
Relentless Endurance
Savage Attack

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords

Tools: Thieves' Tools

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Languages: Common, Orcish, Elvish, Draconic, Thieves Cant

Proficient Skills
Deception (Faction Agent, Expertise) +5
Insight (Faction Agent) +3

Intimidation (Half-Orc) +3

Investigation (Rogue) +4

Persuasion (Rogue) +3

Stealth (Rogue, Expertise) +6

Background: Faction Agent

Expertise: Deception, Stealth
Sneak Attack (1d6)
Thieves Cant

Equipment
Leather

Reasoning: This is a character I'd rather do on point buy instead of by array, but oh well. The skill set is aimed at someone who mostly operates by speech and manipulation. The stealth is there mostly due to a fairly long past of avoiding the attention of others, but my impression is that she rarely acts afraid and mostly tries to avoid the stereotypical half-orc behavior of intimidation and savagery.

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Cunning Action, +6 HP (14)

3rd Level - Roguish Archetype: Mastermind, Master of Intrigue, Master of Tactics, +6 HP (20)

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +1 Dex and +1 Wis, +6 HP (26)

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +3, Uncanny Dodge, +6 HP (32)

Reasoning: Mastermind is an interesting character type that provides some unique opportunities. Among those is the ability to use help as bonus action and help provide advantage on attacks from 30 ft away. This means that she can attack, perform some maneuver to disorient an enemy and thus give an ally advantage on their attack. I decided to start with upping Dexterity and Wisdom. Master of Intrigue gives her two more languages, so I gave her an allied tongue in the form of the dwarves and an enemy tongue in the form of goblinoids. I also upgraded her armor to studded leather.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level Half-Orc Rogue

Str: 12

Dex: 16

Con: 12

Int: 14

Wis:14

Cha:12

HP: 32

AC: 15
Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Darkvision 60ft
Menacing
Relentless Endurance
Savage Attack

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords

Tools: Thieves' Tools, Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Cards

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Languages: Common, Orcish, Elvish, Draconic, Goblinoid, Dwarven, Thieves Cant

Proficient Skills
Deception (Faction Agent, Expertise) +7
Insight (Faction Agent) +5

Intimidation (Half-Orc) +4

Investigation (Rogue) +5

Persuasion (Rogue) +4

Stealth (Rogue, Expertise) +9

Background: Faction Agent

Expertise: Deception, Stealth
Sneak Attack (3d6)
Thieves Cant
Cunning Action
Mastermind
Master of Intrigue
Master of Tactics
Uncanny Dodge

Equipment
Studded Leather

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Expertise: Insight, Persuasion, +6 HP (38)

7th Level - Evasion, +6 HP (44)

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Dex, +6 HP (50)

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, Insightful Manipulator, +6 HP (56)

10th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Observant, +6 HP (62)

Reasoning: Rounded out her expertise choices with both Persuasion to complete her ability to talk to people and Insight so that she can get a good read on people. For Ability Score Improvements I took another +2 to Dex and then the Observant feat, which allows her to read lips as well as increasing her passive perception scores.

10th Level Statistics

10th Level Half-Orc Rogue

Str: 12

Dex: 18

Con: 12

Int: 14

Wis:14

Cha:12

HP: 62

AC: 16
Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Darkvision 60ft
Menacing
Relentless Endurance
Savage Attack

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords

Tools: Thieves' Tools, Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Cards

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence
Languages: Common, Orcish, Elvish, Draconic, Goblinoid, Dwarven, Thieves Cant

Proficient Skills
Deception (Faction Agent, Expertise) +9
Insight (Faction Agent, Expertise) +10

Intimidation (Half-Orc) +5

Investigation (Rogue) +6

Persuasion (Rogue, Expertise) +9

Stealth (Rogue, Expertise) +12

Background: Faction Agent

Feats: Observant

Expertise: Deception, Insight, Persuasion, Stealth
Sneak Attack (5d6)
Thieves Cant
Cunning Action
Mastermind
Master of Intrigue
Master of Tactics
Uncanny Dodge
Evasion
Insight Manipulator

Equipment
Studded Leather

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Reliable Talent, +6 HP (68)

12th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Dex, +6 HP (74)

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus +5, Misdirection, +6 HP (80)

14th Level - Blindsense, +6 HP (86)

15th Level - Slippery Mind, +6 HP (92)

Reasoning: The only choice here was the level 12 Ability Score Improvement which I set to +2 Dex so that I could max out that stat. Everything else is pretty much rubber-stamping.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level Half-Orc Rogue

Str: 12

Dex: 20

Con: 12

Int: 14

Wis:14

Cha:12

HP: 92

AC: 17
Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Darkvision 60ft
Menacing
Relentless Endurance
Savage Attack

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords

Tools: Thieves' Tools, Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Cards

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom
Languages: Common, Orcish, Elvish, Draconic, Goblinoid, Dwarven, Thieves Cant

Proficient Skills
Deception (Faction Agent, Expertise) +11
Insight (Faction Agent, Expertise) +12

Intimidation (Half-Orc) +6

Investigation (Rogue) +7

Persuasion (Rogue, Expertise) +12

Stealth (Rogue, Expertise) +15

Background: Faction Agent

Feats: Observant

Expertise: Deception, Insight, Persuasion, Stealth
Sneak Attack (8d6)
Thieves Cant
Cunning Action
Mastermind
Master of Intrigue
Master of Tactics
Uncanny Dodge
Evasion
Insight Manipulator
Reliable Talent
Misdirection
Blindsense
Slippery Mind

Equipment
Studded Leather

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement Investigator, +6 HP (98)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Soul of Deceit, +6 HP (104)

18th Level - Elusive, +6 HP (110)

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Skilled, +6 HP (116)

20th Level - Stroke of Luck, +7 HP (122)

Reasoning: It's late in the life of the character at this level, so there will be limited use of these particular feats for the most part, but then again, there might be enough left over that these added bonuses really prove useful. This is especially true when it is in connection with the Rogue's Reliable Talent feature.

20th Level Statistics

20th Level Half-Orc Rogue

Str: 12

Dex: 20

Con: 12

Int: 15

Wis:14

Cha:12

HP: 122

AC: 17
Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Darkvision 60ft
Menacing
Relentless Endurance
Savage Attack

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords

Tools: Thieves' Tools, Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, Cards

Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom
Languages: Common, Orcish, Elvish, Draconic, Goblinoid, Dwarven, Thieves Cant

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Skilled) +7
Deception (Faction Agent, Expertise) +13
Insight (Faction Agent, Expertise) +14

Intimidation (Half-Orc) +7

Investigation (Rogue, Investigator) +14

Perception (Skilled) +8

Persuasion (Rogue, Expertise) +12

Sleight of Hand (Skilled) +11

Stealth (Rogue, Expertise) +15

Background: Faction Agent

Feats: Investigator, Observant, Skilled (Athletics, Perception, Sleight of Hand)

Expertise: Deception, Insight, Persuasion, Stealth
Sneak Attack (10d6)
Thieves Cant
Cunning Action
Mastermind
Master of Intrigue
Master of Tactics
Uncanny Dodge
Evasion
Insight Manipulator
Reliable Talent
Misdirection
Blindsense
Slippery Mind
Soul of Deceit
Stroke of Luck

Equipment
Studded Leather

Some 5e Builds