Hobgoblin Sky-Pirate II (Hobgoblin Storm Herald)

When I was considering classes for building the hobgoblin sky-pirate concept, I went through a

couple of different concepts for it. So I'm going to stat out a couple of those variants here. This concept was inspired by a combination of the Pathfinder art and the GM's description of the world. I had been thinking of wanting to play a character based on that art for a while already and the world description of islands floating in air with great moons orbiting the remains of shattered world sold me on the Sky Pirate idea.


I am going to start with a Storm Herald barbarian. The description of the world setting certainly inspired me to the idea of a storm theme early. Also there was Taliesin Jaffe's portrayal of a Storm Herald Pirate in the Stream of Annihilation that also sparked my interest. Contrary to the version that's going live, using the Storm Sorcerer, this one will go for the desert storm as the Throne Moon of Jakhan she hails from is heavily connected to the element of fire.


One of the deciding elements not to go this way with Vimi was that another player was also thinking of playing barbarian. Plus I really enjoy pushing the limits of a concept, so trying to make a survivable melee sorcerer was an interesting challenge. However, it's interesting to explore some of the other concepts I had for her.


For this I am using a general 30 pt buy as allowed by the inspiring campaign.

1st Level Hobgoblin Barbarian

Str: 15

Dex: 12

Con: 17

Int: 13

Wis: 8

Cha: 12

HP: 15

AC: 14
Barbarian Save DC: 13

Speed: 30

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Darkvision 60ft
Martial Training
Saving Face

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Air)

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Goblinoid

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Pirate) +4
Intimidation (Barbarian) +3
Perception (Pirate) +1
Survival (Barbarian) +1

Background: Pirate

Rage (2 / Damage +2)
Unarmored Defense

Reasoning: This is similar to the stat build for Vimi except that some of the points that went into Charisma went into making Constitution as high as it could go and adding more points to Strength.

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Reckless Attack, Danger Sense, +10 HP (25)

3rd Level - Primal Path: Storm Herald: Desert, Storm of Fury, Rages: 3, +10 HP (35)

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +1 Str, +1 Con, +14 HP (49)

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +3, Extra Attack, Fast Movement, +11 HP (60)

Reasoning: The Sea storm would have the same elemental theme, somewhat, as Vimi, but some of the side benefits wouldn't work as well. For instance, the ability to breathe underwater probably won't come up when the vastness traveled is empty air rather than waves. I considered Tundra for staying with the cold theme, but eventually decided to go desert due to the elemental fire connection as described in the initial description of the theoretical.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level Hobgoblin Barbarian

Str: 16

Dex: 12

Con: 18

Int: 13

Wis: 8

Cha: 12

HP: 60

AC: 15
Barbarian Save DC: 15

Speed: 40 ft (if not in heavy armor)

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Darkvision 60ft
Martial Training
Saving Face

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Air)

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Goblinoid

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Pirate) +6
Intimidation (Barbarian) +4
Perception (Pirate) +2
Survival (Barbarian) +2

Background: Pirate

Rage (3 / Damage +2)
Unarmored Defense
Reckless Attack
Danger Sense
Primal Path: Storm Herald: Desert
Storm of Fury
Extra Attack
Fast Movement

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Storm Soul, Rages: 4, +11 HP (71)

7th Level - Feral Instinct, +11 HP (82)

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Con, +19 HP (101)

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, Brutal Critical (1 Die), Rage Damage: +3, +12 HP (113)

10th Level - Shield of the Storm, +12 HP (125)

Reasoning: The only real choice in this section was the Ability Score Improvement and I went with Constitution just to make sure to cap that right now and me done with it.

 

10th Level Statistics

10th Level Hobgoblin Barbarian

Str: 16

Dex: 12

Con: 20

Int: 13

Wis: 8

Cha: 12

HP: 125

AC: 16
Barbarian Save DC: 17

Speed: 40 ft (if not in heavy armor)

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Darkvision 60ft
Martial Training
Saving Face

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Air)

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Goblinoid

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Pirate) +7
Intimidation (Barbarian) +5
Perception (Pirate) +3
Survival (Barbarian) +3

Background: Pirate

Rage (4 / Damage +3)
Unarmored Defense
Reckless Attack
Danger Sense
Primal Path: Storm Herald: Desert
Storm of Fury
Extra Attack
Fast Movement
Storm Soul
Feral Instinct
Brutal Critical (1 Die)
Shield of the Storm

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Relentless Rage, +12 HP (137)

12th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Str, Rages: 5, +12 HP (149)

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus +5, Brutal Critical: 2 Dice +12 HP (161)

14th Level - Raging Storm, +12 HP (173)

15th Level - Persistent Rage, +12 HP (185)

Reasoning: Again, not much in the way of choice here and thus not much in the way of moving things about. So went with Strength as the primary focus of her manner of attack: greatsword to face.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level Hobgoblin Barbarian

Str: 18

Dex: 12

Con: 20

Int: 13

Wis: 8

Cha: 12

HP: 185

AC: 16
Barbarian Save DC: 18

Speed: 40 ft (if not in heavy armor)

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Darkvision 60ft
Martial Training
Saving Face

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Air)

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Goblinoid

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Pirate) +9
Intimidation (Barbarian) +6
Perception (Pirate) +4
Survival (Barbarian) +4

Background: Pirate

Rage (5 / Damage +3)
Unarmored Defense
Reckless Attack
Danger Sense
Primal Path: Storm Herald: Desert
Storm of Fury
Extra Attack
Fast Movement
Storm Soul
Feral Instinct
Brutal Critical (2 Dice)
Shield of the Storm

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement Great Weapon Master, Rage Damage: +4, +12 HP (197)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Brutal Critical (3 dice), Rages: 6, +12 HP (209)

18th Level - Indomitable Might, +12 HP (221)

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Tough, +50 HP (271)

20th Level - Primal Champion, Rages: Unlimited, +53 HP (324)

Reasoning: This character isn't quite as strong as a barbarian can get, ended at 22 rather than 24, but I figured the addition of these two feats at the end really fit. Though, to be honest, in theoreticals I do this, but in practice I tend to take feats early and take Ability Score boosts later. This is because feats really add to the personality of a character and Ability Score Improvements are rather dull even if they are effective.

20th Level Statistics

10th Level Hobgoblin Barbarian

Str: 22

Dex: 12

Con: 24

Int: 13

Wis: 8

Cha: 12

HP: 324

AC: 18
Barbarian Save DC: 21

Speed: 40 ft (if not in heavy armor)

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Darkvision 60ft
Martial Training
Saving Face

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: Navigator's Tools, Vehicles (Air)

Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Languages: Common, Goblinoid

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Pirate) +12
Intimidation (Barbarian) +7
Perception (Pirate) +5
Survival (Barbarian) +5

Background: Pirate
Feats: Great Weapon Master, Tough

Rage (Unlimited / Damage +4)
Unarmored Defense
Reckless Attack
Danger Sense
Primal Path: Storm Herald: Desert
Storm of Fury
Extra Attack
Fast Movement
Storm Soul
Feral Instinct
Brutal Critical (3 Dice)
Shield of the Storm
Indomitable Might
Primal Champion

Some 5e Builds