Go for some serious intimidation. Here are the MotM Tortle traits: A Tortle's claws allow it to make unarmed strikes that deal 1d6 + Strength modifier slashing damage. This feature alone is going to allow you to disregard dexterity as a useful barbarian skill and focus everything on your strength and constitution. Tortles are one of the few 5e races to not include gendered names. However, they have this ability: While you are not wearing any armor, your Armor Class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. Fighting Spirit is the samurais main combat feature, giving me advantage on melee attacks 3 times a day. Your size is Medium. My basic Channel Divinity ability will be useful against the undead, granting me bonus abilities depending on my domain. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The main draw to this background is the Wanderer feature. He has spent a lot of his wandering days on the ocean where his cultural meal of Jelly Fish was in abundance. But, your character couldve been an enforcer for the local guard of a town or city. The Tortle is the best option for Strength-based monks. Lets get back to a background thats little more physical. 12+ AC so matching the Tortles flat 17 AC is exceptionally difficult. The Outlander DnD 5e background is probably one of the more useful options. The Barbarian and Monk's Unarmored Defense do not stack with the Tortle's natural armor; the rules require the player to select one method of calculating Armor Class. With the added benefit of the racial AC boost giving you added survivability, I don't think it's a bad choice at all. Because tortles are inherently lawful good, the class fits thematically wellespecially with Nature or Tempest Domains. I got the boots of speed so most of the time I had a 160' run speed while raging and our wizard at the time loved to put haste on me as well. quite fun. However, it doesn't count as wearing armor so Unarmored Defense is still valid. Given the nature of the Tortle, perhaps the Divine Domains of Life, Nature, and Protection work best with the Tortle Cleric. Now, because of this I could see most people not taking any armor at all. Tortle Abilities and Traits: What Characterizes the Tortle Race. But without a Unfortunately, the tortle's fixed AC won't keep up with other monks, so your AC will fall behind by level 8 when most monks will hit AC 18 with Unarmored Defense. If I run a home game, That's how I'm gonna run it. Most recently, Mordenkainens Monsters of the Multiverse re-published the Tortle. Time to do. Bonus points if you can get your DM to waive racial restrictions to let you play a Barbarian Tortle Battlerager. Your character could have had some event happen that triggers an unearthly rage such as the death of a loved one or an invading force. In essence, this makes their attacks much stronger and hit harder. by level 8 when most monks will hit AC 18 with Unarmored Defense. 2023 Wizards. You can't use armor and you don . An AC of 17 will exceed the AC of every other Druid at low levels, and AC is a massive problem for druids, especially if you're going to be in melee. And, more than likely, youll hunt them down, beat them up, and turn them in for whatever reward. The Druids best AC options provide Your character belonged or still belongs to a clan, tribe, or small settlement far away from towns and cities. The Unarmored Defense vs Natural Armor is part of the reason I am not sure about going with Tortle. While this is made specifically for the Forgotten Realms setting, you can easily use the Uthgardt Tribe Member background for your setting. But, there are a few more thematic options you might want to consider. also use) until something like 16th level when they get their 4th ability You can customize them almost anyway you like. As I level up, Ill gain enhanced fire damage and healing spells in synchronization with my Wildfire Spirit. Thanks to the Rangers expertise, Tortle Rangers may easily navigate the complex swamps and unimposing coastlines that make their home. E.G if you AC is 5 due to unarmored defence you could pump up your strength or take great weapon master without losing power. Separate AC calculations like mage armor, manufactured armor, and Edit: One idea I like is the idea of a Warlock Tortle, bladelock obv since no charisma, whose patron is a Zaratan. Their arms reflect this bulkiness and tend to be very wide, differing just enough from their feet to receive a different classification. Click to find the best Results for tortle barbarian Models for your 3D Printer. because they are bonuses rather than new AC calculations. room for feats. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thunderbolt Strike pushes Large and smaller creatures back 10 feet whenever I deal lightning damage to it. This cookie is set by Google and is used to distinguish users. While DnD has had plenty of animal-like races, this may have been the first official turtle-inspired race, and as you might expect their introduction inspired a legion of teenage mutant ninja jokes. Your email address will not be published. Youll also get proficiency in the Athletics and Persuasion skills. As with other exotic ancestries in D&D 5e, making a Tortle can be difficult for new players. Given domesticated lives, some might notice that Tortles are experienced when it comes to manual labor and living simpler lifestyles. The tortle race on it's own with it's AC calculation has learned to use it's shell to protect itself. I'll get back to yall on how that goes. The update also increased the Tortles Claw damage to 1d6 and changes the Tortles original fixed skill proficiency, instead allowing you to choose from a small list of options. Thanks to their relative peace in life, they may specialize in doing manual labor, especially over the seas. This works well for Barbarians. Paladins are going to benefit from not worrying about dexterity just as well. Your email address will not be published. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The Druids reliance on Wisdom for spellcasting matches the Tortles innate WIS Ability Score Bonus, enabling them to be more efficient with a support role. Download and enjoy! With this, Tortle Druids can tap into natures essence not only to transform into various creatures, but to discover part of their identity and purpose within the greens, the flora, and the fauna around them. Their general lack of knowledge about the world beyond them can be a great way to set up the setting. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. In their final moments, they will share their lifes knowledge with their newborn children, beginning the cycle of life again. But, the real kicker is the variant background feature; Bad Reputation. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, their respective logos, and all Wizards titles and characters are property of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the U.S.A. and other countries. My Domain spells will give me plenty of elemental choices. This would synergize really well with barbarians, as they benefit from a lack of armor. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. Or I could decide to learn a language of my choice. In turn, their beast forms can grant Druid special abilities native to the creatures they have chosen, all of which can be an asset inside and outside battle. This section assumes that youre not using the option Customizing Your Origin rules presented in Tashas Cauldron of Everything or the updated version of the race published in Mordenkainens Monsters of the Multiverse. Druids and tortles go together like fine wine and cheese, gaining an advantage from the tortles inherent survival skills and Wisdom bonus. Tortles live a relatively nomadic and simple life as farmers near coastlines, with their shells protecting them from harsh weathers. Still a fun idea, regardless :). Age. We also wont cover Unearthed Arcana content because its not finalized, and we cant guarantee that it will be available to you in your games. for Expertise in Athletics. Barbarians are free and wild. Maya Angelou. So, you gain their favor and theyll help you with minor favors. Pick up an improvised weapon that doubles as a Maul and now you can bonus action grapple with your trunk while still two-handing a weapon. Not only that, but the Rangers innate familiarity with the various creatures and plant life that live alongside them can enable them to spot threats and take care of them without having to make any direct encounters. Of all the available Paths, perhaps Ancestral Guardian, Berserker, Totem Warrior, and Wild Soul all blend well with the Tortle's innate flavor and potential in performing in combat. Good luck trying to hit them with anything. The changes here were minor, replacing the Tortles Ability Score Increase trait with the new standard for ability scores, allowing players to assign either +2/+1 increases or three +1 increases. Fantasy Horror Sci Fi Mystery Anime Pop Culture, Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Pathfinder Starfinder Monster of the Week, The Author Contact Genre Bomb Store Genre Bomb Account Exchanges and Returns. Then they would have to use it on their Heavy Plating. Now the tortle doesnt have perfect stats for barb (2str, 1 wis,) but wisdom is always good and helps against most magic so its a pretty good, Tortle shell gives a flat 17 ac, better than what you would typically have as a Barbarian and if you ever break that limit than you can just use unarmored defense. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. A tortle druid Circle of Spores uses the Wild Shape feature to fuse with a fungal spore cloud. An extra skill proficiency is nice, too. Yes, they dont have ideal stats (+2 Con, + 1 Wis) but they have some interesting features, like their Powerful Build and trunk which can be used to Grapple and throw out unarmed strikes. natural armor does a lot to address that. Strength and Wisdom are great for front-line clerics, but most such clerics The Folk Hero background is a really fun option. Perhaps most importantly, their innate Spellcasting ability allows them to offer more diverse combat options to the party unlike other melee classes. A Tortle who stumbled upon the city may end up choosing to become a Gladiator for any of these reasons, all of which could be perfectly applicable to their foreign and exotic background. point. Your name is Hecrow, a level 15 Tortle barbarian. This guide will help you build a Tortle that fits the kind of character you want to make while making room for you to add your creative flair. If you think youre turtley enough from the Tortle club use this for your next character and enjoy coming out of your shell. A Tortles Strength Ability Score Bonus easily makes them perfect for the Barbarian role, as their innate Rage taps into this primary attribute. Tortle Barbarians may tap into their inner Rage to unleash wrath to those who dare lay even a finger on their loved ones. It really makes no sense from a Realism standpoint that a racial AC and a Class based AC don't staack. You cant A few can be selfish and greedy, tending more toward evil, but its unusual for a tortle to shuck off order in favor of chaos. , which allows the Tortle to hold their breath for up to an hour. So, youre making your Barbarian for your 5e game and you want to know which backgrounds work best for you. which grant Tortle natural weapons for unarmed strikes. Watch. Tortles are a simple and friendly race of turtle-like humanoids. They are a nomadic race of humanoids with a rich culture unique from other 5e races. other ability scores. Personally I like the idea of a Tortle monk, and it has nothing to do with Kung Fu Panda, but I have a hard time making a mental image of them fighting fluidly while lugging around such a large shell. cant get their AC above 17 (without magic or a shield, both of which you can Tortles will often change their names if they no longer feel connected to it, as nomadic in their personality as they are in the physical world. Divine Strike grants me an additional 1d8 thunder damage to melee weapon strikes. Likewise, Tortle Barbarians who choose a life of adventure would easily be protective of their comrades. Once again, Ill gain access to a special list of spells. Do not steal. Remember that for Barbarian's Unarmored Defense to equal a Tortle's natural shell would required an total CON and DEX of +7, which means either a +5 and a +2, or a +4 and +3. Technically nothing is preventing you from While most druids will be using shillelagh or a wild shape to deal combat damage, the strength bonus shouldnt be enough to deter you from this class. Read More, In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by using the link Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This charm lasts for 1 minute, making the creature friendly toward my entire party. All rights reserved. Plus, Ill flex my Strength score with a mace (1d6 + STR bludgeoning) in the other hand. 2021 Wizards. Dragons are to a Dragonborn as turtles are to a Tortlein Dungeons & Dragons 5e. However, my major Strength bonus shouldnt go to waste, so Ill focus on druid circles that allow me to implement a shield/sword druid with area-of-effect spells. At level 3, Ill gain my major Samurai features, including Bonus Proficiency, Fighting Spirit and Elegant Courtier. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of bludgeoning damage . Snapjaw, The Tortle Barbarian Snapjaw, a ruthless warrior from the Misty Isles of Andraxia. I can't imagine much could kill them. mitigates them a bit, so even that isnt a huge problem. Tortle Appearance:General Looks Found Among Them, Torm: the True and Loyal Fury - DnD 5e Deity Guide, Tyr: Lawful Good God of Law and Justice - 5e Deity Guide, Tempus: the Spirit of War Embodied - DnD 5e Deity Guide, Ability Scores in 5e: Standard Array, Point Buy, Dice Rolls, D&D Session Zero The Formula for a Great Start. 17 AC with 8 Dexterity on a class with no armor proficiency. This time, Ill be able to wield a martial shield, giving me a +2 to AC. Soldiers are regimented and disciplined. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. Would homebrew something. A Tortles innate Strength Ability Score Bonus enables them to become efficient melee Fighters capable of eliminating enemies up close. By. Because the race changed so little between those two versions, I have decided to combine these two sections. And, youll probably see a lot of people choose this for their Barbarian. If a Tortle can't get a DEX bonus to AC normally, then it wouldn't get one from stacking with a Barbarian or Monk Unarmored Defense.So, a level 1 Tortle Barb with +3 to CON would have a starting AC of 20 or 22 if (s)he has a shield. Due to the Tortles isolated and homely nature, its natural for some of them to grow attached to their homes and communities. Now, why do I think this is a good background for a Barbarian? Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. Im looking at using a battleaxe (1d8 + STR slashing) to enhance my damage output. Finally, their various archetype traits allow Tortle Fighters to maximize their specialization to aid their comrades. But, hear me out. After all, Vikings were basically pirates of the northern waters in and around 11th century England. The only thing that the Tortle brings to the Paladin is a skill proficiency. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. You also gain the ability to hold your breath for up to an hour. Exploring the lands of man, the closest he has found to this delicacy is mucous. My Channel Divinity ability is enhanced with Destructive Wrath, which causes all lightning and thunder damage I deal to max out with Channel Divinity. Because nothing can ever be all good, you cant perform actions or reactions, you have a speed of 0 and you have disadvantage on dexterity saving throws. Preference cookies enable a website to remember information that changes the way the website behaves or looks, like your preferred language or the region that you are in. Tortle adults stand 5 to 6 feet tall and average 450 pounds. A level 1 Tortle with a +3 mod to Dex & Con would have a starting AC of 23, or 25 with a shield. These turtle-people spend their lives embracing the wonder in the world, traveling to new places in the spirit . Hell, if you're going to ignore obvious rules & rationality, why not just play a Heavy Plating Warforged Barbarian then? Another background thats more cerebral than your typical Barbarian. Your character could have had some event happen that triggers an unearthly rage such as the death of a loved one or an invading force. A single unexpected moment or action in a D&D session can be enough to a create lasting impact for the rest of your campaign. Whenever I use my Channel Divinity, every plant and animal creature within a 30-foot radius must make a Wisdom saving throw or become charmed. Luckily, almost any background in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition works. Of all the Ranger specializations, perhaps Beast Master, Swarm keeper, and Fey Wanderer work best for the flavor of the Tortle. Both solid skills for Barbarians since you should be used to roughing it in the wilderness. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. What Classes are Well Suited to the Tortle? For all other types of cookies we need your permission. . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Ability Score Increase. The first several are: Plus, my spore cloud grants me necrotic abilities like Halo of Spores, Symbiotic Entity and Fungal Infestation. also allows caster bards to neglect Dexterity in favor of Charisma and feats. The Tortle brings nothing to the Artificer with the possible exception of Shell Defense, and thats simply not enough to make a tortle artificer a good idea. The other defensive feature youll pick up is Shell Defense, a situation in which someone at WotC dropped the ball and missed the opportunity to name a feature Shell Shield.