These Characters Live Rent-Free in My Head: 10 Characters I’d Love to Roleplay (Part 1)

My day job in the gaming industry, running games for Open Heart Games, hosting game nights for local friends, and other side projects all keep me very busy. So busy that like the cobbler whose children run around without shoes or the carpenter whose roof is never finished, I never really find the time to commit to playing in a campaign of my own. However, this does not prevent me from having a healthy flow of new character ideas. . .especially when new content comes out. So, I have compiled a list of my top 10 Characters that live rent-free in my head. I will likely not be able to play them anytime soon, but I think they are really neat.

10. Echo Knight Fighter

Here is an admission: I love casters. They are why I play the game. The nearly endless options that spells offer always keep me coming back for more [there is a reason that there is only one non-caster in the mix] but the Echo Knight is one exception due to how cool it is. Here is how it works. As a bonus action, you can magically manifest an echo of yourself that you can use to attack, make opportunity attacks, and you can switch places with it. At higher levels you can transfer your consciousness into the echo and see and hear from its location. You can also use it to mitigate damage, gain temporary hit points and–at level 18–you can create two more echoes. The ability of this character to really control the battlefield cannot be understated, especially with the Sentinel feat. Imagine using a polearm to create two 10 foot circles that you can use to slow your opponent’s movement. Plus the ability to swap with your echo gives you a whole new level of flexibility. I never feel like I have enough choices as a fighter but I would play an Echo Knight in a heartbeat.

9. Drakewarden Ranger

Next up is a Drakewarden Ranger because who doesn't love dragons? So here is the cool thing about a Drakewarden–you get your very own pet dragon! That’s right; this is your chance to recreate the touching scenes from How to Train Your Dragon! The drake starts off pretty good with a 16 armor class and 15 hit points; it deals 1d6+3 damage and can boost one person’s attack using its reaction. Plus, you can sacrifice a spell slot to summon it again if it gets knocked out. At higher levels your dragon can fly, gains a breath weapon, and grows large enough that you can even ride it! I think there are some really cool synergies and roleplay opportunities as the drake starts out small but grows very powerful as time goes by. As someone who has had a bond with several animals in my time, there is something special about raising an animal, watching it grow, and developing a special relationship. I think that Drakewarden Ranger is easily one of the most powerful ranger builds out there, plus dragons are cool; what else is there to say?

8. Multiclass Kensei Monk/Warlock Hexblade

I really like the synergy between the Monk and a Warlock Hexblade, especially with the extra damage from Hexblade’s Curse. My inspiration for this character is Prince Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke as he is one of my favorite characters from one of my favorite movies. Ashitaka is a character who was unfairly banished from his village after suffering a curse saving his village. I really like the idea of a noble warrior bearing the burden of a cursed blade that he is reluctant to use. I would probably play this character without using the sword as much as possible so that when he makes use of it, it is a big deal for him character wise. Mechanically, you also gain proficiency with two weapons such as a Rapier and a Longbow for maximum damage potential. Plus you can use your deflect missiles and long bow to do cool stuff like this:

7. Circle of Shepherd Druid

I mentioned earlier that I am an animal lover and despite that fact, surprisingly, I have never played Druid, but I have always really wanted to. They combine several of my favorite archetypes, elemental spells, crowd control, heals, and support. Most of all I like the affinity towards animals that Circle of the Shepherd offers, especially their ability to communicate with animals starting at level 2. I realize it is campy but I love the idea of having a rough and tumble Druid who was actually raised by wolves and maybe finds it easier to form a connection with animals than people. At higher levels this allows them to summon tougher summons and powerful Spirit totems to help shelter their party. Perhaps this Druid will form a new pack and lead their party into battle with the might of the forests at their back.

6. Peace Domain Cleric 

It has long been a desire of mine to play a pacifist character who helps others do their thing better. While combat is the main focus of conflict in RPGs I always appreciate a class that lets me do something other than damage to the monster, and allows me to help everyone else do the cool thing that they do better. The Peace Domain Cleric allows you to form an emboldening bond and also allows you to walk among your party to distribute some healing without provoking attacks of opportunity. I especially like the ability of Protective Bond which allows you and other members of the party to take the damage instead which could save important characters with lower hit points, like the wizard for instance. I also like the idea of putting some points into charisma so they can try to talk their way out of conflicts and then taking The Inspiring Leader feat so that they can distribute some additional temporary hit points.  I always like to have characters have a drastic change in their life, perhaps this character was once a soldier and after witnessing the horrors of war decided there must be a better way and devoted themselves to peace. Now that the land is in danger once again, they gather their weapons once more and hope that they will have no use of them. Check back next week as I will talk about the next five character ideas I have bouncing around in my head! We haven't even talked about my favorite class yet. . .Wizards!!!

‘Til then, 

Take Heart!

Karington Hess

Game Master and Founder of Open Heart Games