Drunken Tactician

Adventurers League Build Guide

A 1st-20th level build guide
suitable for Adventurers League play

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. DRUNKEN TACTICIAN
1
 Drunken Tactician
Adventurers League Build Guide

A 1st-20th level build guide suitable for Adventurers League play

Writing: Ted Adams and Doug Vehovec

Editing: Doug Vehovec
Layout and Design: Doug Vehovec

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers
League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their
distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized
use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.

©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe,
4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.

2 DRUNKEN TACTICIAN Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
What if... Proficiencies
Sometimes we start with a narrative and sometimes Armor: All armor, shields
we mash different classes together out of mechani- Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
cal curiosity. In this case it's the latter. We started
Tools: None
with mechanics and built a narrative around them.
— Nerdarchy Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution

PHB +1 Skills: Insight, Perception

Languages: None
We're choosing Xanathar's Guide to Everything as
our +1 resource in addition to the Player's Hand-
book. A key component to this idea, a particular Step 3 — Ability Scores
subclass, is in the book so it's got to be our addi-
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
tional resource.
10 (+0) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 8 (-1)

Step-by-step character build guide Step 4 — Background

Each step of the way, this guide will show you the
choices made that are significant to this character
build. Choice options that are of particular impor-
tance to this character’s effectiveness are in bold.
Step 1 — Race
Human (Variant)
Whatever race choice we made had to be in the
Player's Handbook. For a non-Adventurers League
option we thought a kenku would be very fun. But
as it stands we're going with the variant human to
smooth out a few rough edges. We'll put our abil-
ity score increases into Dexterity and Wisdom, so
with a feat we'll even both those scores out at 16
to start.
Soldier
Skills: Athletics, Intimidation
Tools: Gaming set — chess, vehicles (land)
This character spent a lot of time soldiering. But
as an officer in training their military career
involved as much time learning the philosophy of
war and tactical thinking.
Step 5 — Class and Level Progression
Level Class Gains
1 Fighter Fighting Style — Dueling,
Second Wind, Skills — Insight,
Perception
2 Monk Martial Arts, Unarmored
Defense

Proficiencies 3 Monk Ki, Unarmored Movement

4 Monk Deflect Missiles, Monastic
Armor: None
Tradition — Way of the
Weapons: None Drunken Master, Brewer's
Feat: Resilient (Wisdom) Supplies
Tools: None 5 Fighter Action Surge
Skills: History
6 Fighter Martial Archetype — Battle
Languages: Common, Dwarvish Master, Maneuvers —
Disarming Strike, Riposte,
Trip Attack, Woodcarver's Tools
Step 2 — Class
7 Monk Ability Score Improvement —
1st level Dexterity +2, Slow Fall
Start with Fighter 8 Monk Extra Attack, Stunning Strike
This character received formal officer training. 9 Fighter Ability Score Improvement —
They're no stranger to the battlefield, having people Dexterity +2
under their command, issuing orders and operat- 10 Fighter
ing with a chain of command. They understand
11 Fighter Ability Score Improvement —
tactics and warfare, studying an enemy and how to
Wisdom +2
use all the implements of combat.
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. DRUNKEN TACTICIAN
3
 12
Monk Ki-Empowered Strikes, Tipsy
Sway
13 Monk Evasion, Stillness of Mind
14 Monk Ability Score Improvement —
Wisdom +2
15 Fighter Know Your Enemy, Maneuvers
— Goading Attack, Pushing
Attack
16 Fighter Feat — Martial Adept (Lunging
Attack, Distracting Attack)
17 Monk Unarmored Movement
Improvement
18 Monk Purity of Body
19 Monk Drunkard's Luck
20 Monk Feat — Tough
Conclusion
Our mechanical curiosity is satisfied, and our
thirst for a compelling narrative is quenched! This
character packs a lot of options for moving around
and controlling the battlefield. And while the
drunken style doesn't necessitate actually being
drunk, we like the idea this character incorporates
their experience with dwarven monks into their
fighting style. While they may drink to forget the
terrible things they witnessed as a soldier, as an
adventurer they apply whatever wisdom gained
through those experiences in a tactical, if unortho-
dox way.
Final Ability Scores
STR DEX CON INT WIS
10 (+0) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 20 (+5)
Proficiencies
Armor: Heavy Armor, Light Armor, Medium Armor,
Shields
Weapons: Martial Weapons, Simple Weapons
Tools: Brewer's Supplies, gaming set (dragonchess),
vehicles (land), woodcarver's tools
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution, Wisdom
Skills: Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Percep-
tion, Performance
Languages: Common, Dwarvish
Further Resources
Character creation, build, roleplaying tips and
backstory elements are discussed in a video on
the Nerdarchy YouTube channel here. In the video
description, you can find a link to this character
build on D&D Beyond.
4 DRUNKEN TACTICIAN Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
D&D Encounters
• The Roper Wrangler Monster BFF Series
• Kobold Cavalry Encounter
• The Hag's Apprentice Encounter
• Druid Circle from the Beyond
Other Character Guides
• Mind Breaker Paladin Character Build Guide
• Zen Archery Master Character Build Guide
• Sewer Ninja Tortle Character Build Guide
• Nature Possessed Warforged Character Build Guide
• Scaled Skald Character Build Guide
• Quick Strike Character Build Guide
• Night Parade Character Build Guid
• Combat Medic Character Build Guide
• Ultimate Duelist Character Build Guide
• Justicar: Path of Justice Barbarian Character
Build Guide
• Ultimate Spell Duelist Character Build Guide
• Extreme Adventurer Character Build Guide
• Whirling Devish
• Library Agent Character Build Guide
• Shadow-Haunted Rogue
• Flesh Render Character Build Guide
• Stealer of Souls (Hexadin) Character Build Guide
• Spell Savant Character Build Guide
CHA
• Master of Undeath Character Build Guide
8 (-1) • Champion of the Wild Characters Build Guide
• Adopted Trash Panda Character Build Guide
• Illusion Warrior Character Build Guide
• Storm Herald Character Build Guide
• Hell's Enemy Character Build Guide
• Purveyor of Peace Character Build Guide
• Beast Binder Character Build Guide
• Ultimate Gladiator Character Build Guide
• Slayer of Evil Character Build Guide
• Witch Doctor Character Build Guide
For Dungeon Masters
Town Drunk. No one knows what brought the
grizzled old soldier to town. If they're not holed up
in their meager cottage, they're at the tavern drink-
ing the time away. Several years ago they arrived in
town, and they seem to always have money for alco-
hol. Alternatively they make their own. In fact, they
were a very important figure in past events. After
witnessing horrific wars, they retired here. Sources
say they have information the adventurers need, but
to get it characters have got to best them in a fight or
drinking competition. Or both! The adventurers will
be impaired but the tactical drunk fights just fine.
Put Them in Their Place. The tactical drunk comes
across very belligerent, goading adventurers into a
fight. The drunk is much stronger than the party
and bests them handily, humiliating them, The tacti-
cal drunk fights to subdue, disarming adversaries
and otherwise embarrassing them.
Did I Do That? Characters see a drunk stumbling
through town using a battered sword in a scabbard
for a cane. A group of thugs tries to steal it. Char-
acters who intercede on the drunk's behalf make a
friend, or they see the drunk easily best these thugs
then wander off in a stupor. When the characters see
the drunk later and ask about it the incident, they
don't remember.
This NPC could come across humorously but could
be an opportunity for a more serious encounter.
The tactical drunk experienced severe trauma, and
doesn't want to think about the past. Getting them to
open up and share their tale could be therapeutic for
them and rewarding for the characters and players.
Tactical Drunk
Medium humanoid (any race), chaotic neutral
Armor Class 20 (none)
Hit Points 117 (18d8 + 36)
Speed 35 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS
10 (+0) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 20 (+5)
Saving Throws STR +3, CON +5, WIS +8
Skills History +3, Insight +8, Perception +8
Senses passive Perception 18
Languages Common, Dwarvish
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP)
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
Languid Movement. The tactical drunk moves errati-
cally, throwing off their opponents. Whenever the
tactical drunk is prone, it can stand up by spending
5 feet of movement. In addition, when it makes a
melee attack against a creature, it doesn't provoke
opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest
of the turn, whether it hits or not.
Strength of Spirits. As a bonus action, the tactical
drunk takes a swig of alcohol and gains 9 (2d8) tem-
porary hit points for 1 minute.
Unarmored Defense. While the tactical drunk is
wearing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC
includes its Wisdom modifier.
Actions
Multiattack. The tactical drunk makes three Immor-
tal Strikes.
Immortal Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit,
reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 +5) magical blud-
geoning damage, and the tactical drunk can choose
one of the following additional effects:
• The target must succeed on a DC 16 Strength sav-
ing throw or drop one item it is holding (tactical
drunk's choice).
• The next attack roll against the target by an at-
tacker other than the tactical drunk has advantage
if the attack is made before the start of the tactical
drunk's next turn.
• If the target is Large or smaller, it must succeed
on a DC 16 Strength saving throw or be knocked
prone or pushed up to 15 feet away (tactical drunk's
choice).
• The target must succeed on a DC 16 Wisdom sav-
ing throw or have disadvantage on all attack rolls
against targets other than the tactical drunk until
the end of the tactical drunk's next turn.
Reactions
Flowing Like Wine. When a creature misses the
CHA tactical drunk with a melee attack roll, it can use its
8 (-1) reaction to cause that attack to hit one creature of
the tactical drunk's choice it can see within 5 feet,
and the tactical drunk can move up to 10 feet with-
out provoking an attack of opportunity.
DRUNKEN TACTICIAN
5