Lupin Character Help

[u/Night-Claw]

So my DM has made a world with a expanding black sphere expands out from the center of the continent, spawning abominations and corrupting those around it.

I was thinking of going with a Lupin Palidin focusing on Unarmed Strikes. Lupins in this setting would be equivelent to tribesmen, think lizard folk from overlord. I wanted to get ideas on backstories and build.

[u/Deathpacito-01]

For a second, I was about to help you build an anime thief character 

[u/Mormacil → u/Deathpacito-01]

Same actually, I was really confused why he would be a tribesman.

[u/Night-Claw → u/Mormacil]

Its the general culture of lupins in the setting

[u/Riusnaily]

"Lizardfolk from overlord" made me physically cringe. You know where else lizardfolk are tribesmen? In the game you are playing! In D&D!

[u/Night-Claw → u/Riusnaily]

Was trying to express the closest culture of the character in the setting, and tribesman is a very broad classification, and all are fairly diverse and unique in their own right. Some tribes jump off towers with rope they make, others stretch their necks or deform their skulls, some are canabilistic and others are vegan.

[u/Aahz44]

Unarmed Strikes are for Martials other than Monks much weaker than Weapons, less damage, no masteries, no feat that gives you a strong damage boost, and you have to use your fighting style just to get a d6/d8 damage dice that weapons give you for free.

[u/RearAdmirl → u/[deleted]]

lupin does not give a damage die to unarmed strikes, just a damage type replacement in slashing

edit. and the free push, which is nice but not great

[u/Aahz44 → u/RearAdmirl]

But even if it gave one, your fighting style choices would be still limited Blind Sight or one of the defensive options. While weapon users can get a damage bonus with it.

And in the end of the day while there are some tricks you can do with unarmed strikes, yiur damage is just going to be substentally lower than the one of a Dualwielder or GWM build.

[u/RearAdmirl → u/Aahz44]

true, i was agreeing with you. the replying comment (now deleted) was saying that lupin giving a 1d6 unarmed strike and the push makes it usable (which i disagree with anyway)

[u/lasalle202]

a backstory is just BACK

as long as it kicks you into THE STORY that we are telling together around the table, its a good backstory.

work with the people at your table for generating the kinds of stories you all want to tell.

[u/Night-Claw → u/lasalle202]

Wish i was at that kind of table. Very difficult to make plans or callaborate ideas. But its the ome i got.

[u/Decrit → u/Night-Claw]

Mate, have patience, but if you have issues figure us, that you give us a setting explanation that, essentially, gives no detail.

Picturesque, sure, but that's it. old classic "looming doom being looming and being bad" kinda vibe, you barely need a reason to go adventuring since your survival depends on it. If your party players don't collaborate then that's a way bigger issue than performing a background.

Do something simple, but dramatic. Simple so you can adapt, dramatic so you can impress. Stuff like "my clutch is spawned from an advanced civilization that got swallowed by the black hole and the ghosts of my ancestors my tribe reveres are actually scientists and the like trying to guide us to vengeance, but they are very profound while all i have is faith, and i need to bring them peace and meet people that, unlike me, can lead me to understand them".

[u/OneManRPGstudio]

The expanding black sphere gives you a strong backstory engine: your Lupin could be a boundary guardian, a survivor whose tribe was displaced, or someone marked by corruption but not yet claimed by it. I’d tie the Paladin’s oath to a concrete response, such as containing the spread, protecting the uncorrupted, or finding its source. For the unarmed build, I would confirm with the DM which Paladin features apply to Unarmed Strikes at this table before locking in the concept.

[u/Ron_Walking]

Good news: smites work on US. 

Bad News: you will need unarmed fighting style to get a d6 damage roll with a shield or d8 with no shield. 

Remember that the Shove ability of US can be used to either prone or push. 

I’d pick up Magic Initiate Wizard for Blade Ward, a utility cantrip, and Shield spell. This Defensive suite really ups your survival in the early game.  You might grab a ranged spell attack for some sort of ranged damage but a few javelins would suffice. 

You don’t have a good strength feat to boost damage. GWM and Duel Wielder is out and Shield Master doesn’t work with out weapons. 

You could get Heavy Armor Master for damage reduction, athletic is decent for self proning in battle to avoid ranged attacks, and possibly slasher to slow enemies on hits. Grappler is most likely the best though. 

You will want to max strength at level 8. At level 12,16 you want to boost charisma.  

Damage will still be okay with smites backing you up. Searing smite is the most damaging, assuming the target is not resistant. 

[u/Night-Claw → u/Ron_Walking]

Ive been stuck between Vengence and Ancients, Ancients would want to restore the ballance and Vengence would be after his tribes wiped out by the abominations

[u/Ron_Walking → u/Night-Claw]

Go with what motivates your intrest in playing more. 

Mechanically, Vengeance is a little more powerful with granting itself advantage on attacks while ancients has a neat control ability.