Finally getting to play, need advice on possible builds

[micka190]

Hi guys. Until now, I've always been my group's DM. Two of my players told me they'd like to DM, so for our next few sessions, I'll be a player in their small-medium adventures. Having never played as a PC before, I discovered something about myself: I'm apparently an optimizer over roleplayer guy. Because I've never been limited by player choices before, making "cool" characters with said limitations is kind of new to me.

Important Information:
- Everything in the PHB (errata'd), DMG, EEPC, and SCG are legal.
- Feats are allowed (so are Human Variants).
- I'm starting at level 5 (which removes most good multiclass options  )
- First adventure is politics heavy, second is encounter heavy.
- We'll be level 6 at the end of the first adventure, and we'll end at the 7th level up (so I'm not playing further than level 6)
- Multiclassing is legal.
- We're playing with the optional disarm rule from the DMG.
- Things that are only on the Unearthed Arcana (see Favored Soul Sorcerer) are illegal (except the Warforge race.
- We play with Point Buy using this calculator http://1d8.blogspot.ca/2014/04/point-buy-calculator-for-d-next-5e.html for stats. We allow up stats up to 16 instead of 15.
- We rule for balance instead of for fun. This means things like Goodberry Clerics don't work.
- Warlocks, Clerics, and Paladins are allowed to use the Find Steed spell.
- My character starts with 750 gold, and one uncommon magic item that is reasonable (Bag of Holding is ok, Gauntlets of Ogre Power are not).


Currently, I'm torn between a few builds:

Devilish Lawyer
Tiefling Bard of Lore 3 / Divination Wizard 2 w/ Charlatan or Courtier background. Great for political adventures. You get the two divination dice and Cutting Words to force social interactions to go the way you want them to. Only take wizard utility spells/cantrips and level up Bard for more bonuses/feature uses/no MAD. Using things like Charlatan's forgeries with Mending to fuse seals to forged letters, social out of encounters, etc. Tons of fun as long as I'm creative about it. Will become a problem for the other adventure (I might just retire characters between campaigns to remedy this).

The Duelist
Roleplaying a "famous" duelist that's set his sight on the world and wants to make a bigger name for himself. Swashbuckler Rogue 5, probably taking the Defensive Duelist feat. This one's pretty straight forward. Incredible damage, can stand up for himself, reliable in combat, etc.

The Living Weapon
Warforged Open Palm Monk 5. Strongly considering the Athlete feat since I won't make it to level 9 for that climbing bonus. High mobility, high damage Monk. Can't be unarmed, can't be unarmored, will actively try to disarm opponents and push them away from their weapons with Open Palm's pushing.

The Woodland "Prince"
Forest Gnome Fey Chain Pact Warlock 5. Think's he the prince of the woodlands (feys are weird, ok?) and is out to find a bride to "become his queen". Has a Pseudodragon, mostly uses Eldritch Blast with the Agonizing Blast Invocation. Probably going with the Inheritor background from SCG to have some sort of fey mark on him and let the DMs decide what it does.

What are some interesting or fun builds I can do for a 5th level character that'll eventually get to level 6? Preferably good at social and combat encounters.

[sambojin]

This? It offers great RP, still pretty good in combat by 5/6/7, heaps of non-combat, charmy/hexy/stealthy stuff, and the normal kitchen sink that Druids bring. Stat'ed at 27pts on your calc. Could chuck the Warcaster feat on if you don't want +2 charisma at 4th lvl.

Probably about 500g of stuff, mostly just for the dragon scale armour. Magic claws and teeth at lvl 6. Sexy hexy claws.

Has the Hex+E.Blast combo, in case you run out of wildshapes or need ranged combat. Has shillelagh too, for no good reason. Could probably sub something in for that.

The skills/background could use some work. Completely unoptimized. But stealth+PwT is kind of worth it, even without dex to back it (until you wildshape, which backs it). Sneaky Giant Poisonous Snake....... Or horribly charismatic spiders that can stealth climb anywhere. Stealth is worth it, even if it looks crap in "caster" form.

(click to show/hide)

Male Human Sailor Druid 5
Neutral Good

Strength   8   (-1)
Dexterity   10   (+0)
Constitution   14   (+2)
Intelligence   8   (-1)
Wisdom   16   (+3) +1 v.human
Charisma   18   (+4) +1 v.human, +2 at 4th lvl
      Size:   Medium

Maximum Hit Points: 38
*(Standard/average rolls. Assumed max HP at lvl 1, 5 HP every level afterwards, +2 Con bonus every level)

 Speed: 30 feet

 Armor Class: 17 = 10 + 5 [dragon scale] + 2 [wood shield]
Proficiency bonus:   +3   
Initiative modifier:    + 0    = + 0 [dexterity]
Attack (handheld / thrown):    + 2    = -1 [strength] + 3 [proficiency]
Attack (missile / finesse):    + 3    + 3 [proficiency]
Strength save:   -1    = -1 [strength]
Dexterity save:    + 0   
Constitution save:    + 2    = + 2 [constitution]
Intelligence save:    + 2    = -1 [intelligence] + 3 [proficiency]
Wisdom save:    + 6    = + 3 [wisdom] + 3 [proficiency]
Charisma save:    + 4    = + 4 [charisma]
Insight (passive):   16   (21 with advantage)
Investigation (passive):   9   (14 with advantage)
Perception (passive):   16   (21 with advantage)


 Carry: 120 lb maximum

For groups using the optional encumberance rules:
If carrying more than 40 lb, encumbered -- -10 on speed

If carrying more than 80 lb, heavily encumbered -- -20 on speed, disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saves involving strength, constitution, and/or dexterity

*^This actually can become important sometimes, even if it's just played as 15xStrength in your group. You'll have to occasionally drop stuff for utility forms.

********
Languages:   Common Druidic Sylvan


Unarmed strike [+2 to hit; 1-1 bludgeoning]

 Club [+2 to hit; 1d4-1 bludgeoning, 3 lb, light]

 2 Daggers [+3 to hit; 1d4 piercing, 1 lb, finesse, light, thrown (range 20/60)]

 Quarterstaff [+2 to hit; 1d6-1 bludgeoning, 4 lb, versatile (1d8)]

 Sling [+3 to hit; 1d6 bludgeoning, 1 lb, ammunition (range 30/120)]

 Scimitar [+3 to hit; 1d6 slashing, 3 lb, finesse, light]

 Dragon scale [medium; + 5 AC; max dex + 2; stealth disadvantage; 50 lb.]

 Wood Shield [+2 AC; 6 lb.]
******* Ignore. You use wildshape and E.Blast for everything. It's more of a fashion statement then anything. Other than the armour/shield, anyway.


Feats:Magic Initiate -- Warlock   Two cantrips and a first level spell from this spellcasting class. You chose Hex and Eldritch Blast. Pick either Mage Hand or Minor Illusion after that. They're both good.


Acrobatics   Dex   0 =    +0      
Animal Handling   Wis   3 =    +3      
Arcana   Int   -1 =    -1      
Athletics   Str   2 =    -1    + 3   
Deception   Cha   4 =    +4      
History   Int   -1 =    -1      
Insight   Wis   6 =    +3    + 3   
Intimidation   Cha   4 =    +4      
Investigation   Int   -1 =    -1      
Medicine   Wis   6 =    +3    + 3   
Nature   Int   -1 =    -1      
Perception   Wis   6 =    +3    + 3   
Performance   Cha   4 =    +4      
Persuasion   Cha   4 =    +4      
Religion   Int   -1 =    -1      
Sleight of Hand   Dex   0 =    +0      
Stealth   Dex   3 =    +0    + 3   
Survival   Wis   3 =    +3      

**** Guidance gives +d4 to any of your skills. Or anyone else's for that matter. Works for initiative checks too.

*******
As a magic initiate, this character knows two Warlock Cantrips.
Mark this character's Warlock Cantrips here:

Eldritch Blast
Mage Hand

As a magic initiate, this character knows one First Level Warlock spell.
Mark this character's Warlock spell here:

Hex ******
 

*******
Druid spells:
First-level castings:   4/day
Second-level castings:   3/day
Third-level castings:   2/day
*** This is a lot, considering that a bear deals with most things. Or summoning a heap of creatures. Or just Hexing something and deciding what to do to it (claw or blast or RP/mindfuck?). Or Charming them. Or Passing without Trace around them. Or giving goodberries to unfortunates. Or just talking to them, under Guidance. You can even turn into something else than a bear. You have lots of spellcasting available.

At druid level 5, this character knows 3 druid cantrips.
Mark this character's Druid Cantrip(s) here:

Druidcraft *** For funsies.
Guidance *** Absolutely fucking vital. Makes things work.
Shillelagh *** Not even for funsies. Sub in an EE one.
 *******

This character's level and wisdom allow him to prepare 8 Druid spells daily.
*There's ******'s beside the most common.
Mark this character's prepared First Level Druid spells here:


Animal Friendship
Charm Person ********
Create or Destroy Water
Cure Wounds *******
Detect Magic
Detect Poison and Disease
Entangle
Faerie Fire **Better than Hex for the group, but f'them!
Fog Cloud
Goodberry ******
Healing Word
Jump
Longstrider
Purify Food and Drink
Speak with Animals
Thunderwave
 

Mark this character's prepared Second Level Druid spells here:


Animal Messenger
Barkskin *******
Beast Sense
Darkvision
Enhance Ability
Find Traps
Flame Blade
Flaming Sphere
Gust of Wind
Heat Metal ******
Hold Person ********
Lesser Restoration
Locate Animals or Plants
Locate Object
Moonbeam
Pass without Trace *****
Protection from Poison
Spike Growth
 

Mark this character's prepared Third Level Druid spells here:


Call Lightning
Conjure Animals ****
Daylight
Dispel Magic
Feign Death
Meld into Stone
Plant Growth
Protection from Energy
Sleet Storm
Speak with Plants
Water Breathing
Water Walk
Wind Wall
 

*******
Human

The variant rule is in effect. Humans add a point only to two abilities, and get an extra skill and an extra feat.

This Human chose +1 on wisdom (already included).

This Human chose +1 on charisma (already included).

Humans learn one extra language.

********
Sailor
You can secure passage for yourself on a vessels and have contacts in the seafaring community.

If you were a pirate instead, your bad attitude can intimidate others.

In any case, this character knows how to sail a ship (water vessel) and can navigate.

*********
Druid

Proficient in using a herbalism kit.

Ritual caster.

Two cantrips; druidic language.

The DC to resist your spells is 8 + proficiency bonus + your wisdom modifier.

Level 2: Wild shape (2x, regain uses with short rest); challenge rating 1/4, no fly or swim speed.

Level 4: Wild shape now can have challenge rating 1/2, can swim, no fly speed.

Level 4: Three cantrips.

******
Druid of the Moon (circle)

Level 2: Combat Wild Shape -- shape change is bonus action rather than main action; may expend a spell slot to regain 1d8 hp/level of the slot expended.

Level 2: Moon shapes -- can have challenge rating one.

Level 6: Battle shapes -- can have challenge rating as high as your druid level divided by three rounded down.

Level 6: Magic weapons while wildshaped.

********
First Ability Score Improvement: +2 charisma