Night Parade Performer

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. NIGHT PARADE PERFORMER
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 Night Parade Performer
Adventurers League Build Guide

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

Writing: David Friant, Doug Vehovec

Editing: Doug Vehovec
Layout and Design: Doug Vehovec
Cover Image and Interior Image: Aaron Bonk

Nerditor’s Note: Aaron Bonk is a childhood friend of mine who I played Dungeons & Dragons with for
the very first time. When second edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons came out, we used the tools
in the Dungeon Master’s Guide to create a new class: the Whip Master. And now, decades later, Aaron
is a real-life whip master and object manipulation specialist who performs all over the world! Visit his
website to find out more about his amazing performances. Among other awards and accolades, he
holds the Guinness World Record for The Most Whip Crack Catches in One Minute.
While we were working on this content, I got in touch with him to ask some questions about whip
performance, and if he had any cool photos we could use. Thanks, Aaron!

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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
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2 NIGHT PARADE PERFORMER Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
 Proficiencies
Belly Dancer Armor: None
Weapons: Simple weapons, shortswords
Nerdarchy had a request to do a character build for
a Belly Dancer. So we took the idea to the lab and Musical Instruments: Drum (Zills)
came up with something we think fits the bill. Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
— Nerdarchy
Skills: Acrobatics, Stealth
PHB +1
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Step 3 — Ability Scores
This book is a fantastic choice for your +1 when creat-
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
ing a character for Adventurers League. There’s 31
additional subclasses beyond what’s in the Player’s 8 (-1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 13 (+1)
Handbook, and a whole bunch of spells. In particular
for this character build, we looked at the College of Step 4 — Background
Swords for the bard. It has just the flavor we’re look-
Criminal (Spy variant)
ing for — a entertainer who blends performance with
weapon skills. Skills: Deception, Perform (swapped for Stealth)
Languages: None
Tools: Gaming set (cards), thieves’ tools
Step-by-step character build guide
While developing this idea, we envision our charac-
Each step of the way, this guide will show you the ter as a mystical performer, using precise control of
choices made that are significant to this character their body, mind and spirit to accomplish incredible
build. Options that are of particular importance to feats. We leaned into the spiritual elements of belly
this character’s effectiveness are in bold. dancing and other forms of mysticism.

Step 1 — Race Step 5 — Class and Level Progression

Elf (drow) Level Class Gains
Race option from the Player’s Handbook. 1 Monk Unarmored Defense, Martial
Arts
We have chosen the drow elf from the Player’s Hand-
book for the Dexterity and Charisma ability score 2 Monk Ki, Unarmored Movement
improvements. The innate spellcasting from the drow 3 Monk Monastic Tradition — Way of
is super useful and adds more flavor to the build. the Four Elements, Elemental
Disciplines — Elemental
Attunement, Fist of Unbroken
Proficiencies
Air, Deflect Missiles
Armor: None
4 Monk Ability Score Improvement —
Weapons: Rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows +2 Wisdom, Slow Fall
Tools: None 5 Bard Proficiencies — Light armor,
Skills: Perception Insight, Flute, Spellcasting,
Bardic Inspiration
Languages: Common, Elvish
6 Bard Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest
7 Bard Bard College — College of Swords,
Step 2 — Class Expertise — Deception, Insight,
1st level Fighting Style — Dueling
Start with Monk 8 Rogue Proficiencies — Athletics,
Forgery Kit (instead of thieves’
We are aiming for Way of the Four Elements from
tools), Thieves’ Cant, Sneak
the Player’s Handbook for our Monastic Tradition.
Attack, Expertise — Athletics,
It has a mystical quality we’re looking for plus all
Acrobatics
the monk qualities of physical perfection.
9 Rogue Cunning Action
10 Rogue Roguish Archetype — Assassin,

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2d6 Sneak Attack, Assassinate,
Poisoner’s kit, Disguise Kit D&D Encounters
11 Monk Extra Attack, Stunning Strike • The Roper Wrangler Monster BFF Series

12 Bard Ability Score Improvement —

+2 Charisma
13 Bard Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Other Character Guides
Inspiration • Mind Breaker Paladin
14 Monk Ki-Empowered Strikes, Elemental • Zen Archery Master
Discipline — Water Whip • Sewer Ninja Tortle Character Build Guide
15 Monk Evasion, Stillness of Mind • Nature Possessed Warforged Character Build Guide
16 Monk Ability Score Improvement — • Scaled Skald
+2 Dexterity
• Quick Strike
17 Monk Unarmored Movement
Improvement
18 Monk Purity of Body For Dungeon Masters
19 Monk Elemental Discipline — Mist We thought it would be fun and useful to take our
Stance player character builds and create a version of them
as a creature stat block for Dungeon Masters.
20 Monk Feat — Drow High Magic
This character can be used as an ally, villain, or color-
ful NPC to engage the adventurers in your own home
games. In the video linked above we discuss several
Conclusion ways to use this character in your D&D games.
Final Ability Scores The Troupe Leader and Performers are members of
the Night Parade. This traveling troupe uses a car-
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
nival as a cover for their activities as spies, thieves
8 (-1) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) and assassins.
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor, medium armor Troupe Leader
Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbow, rapier, Medium humanoid (any race), any (usually evil)
scimitar, shortsword
Armor Class 16
Tools: Disguise Kit, Drum (Zills), Flute, Forgery Kit,
Gaming Set (cards), Poisoner’s Kit, Thieves’ Tools Hit Points 71 (13d8 + 13)

Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity Speed 40 ft.

Skills: Acrobatics (Expertise), Athletics (Expertise), STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Deception (Expertise), Insight (Expertise), Perception, 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 13 (+1) 12 (+2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2)
Performance, Stealth
Saving Throws Strength + 3, Dexterity +7
Languages: Common, Elvish, Thieves’ Cant
Skills Athletics +3, Acrobatics +7, Deception +5, Per-
formance +5, Stealth +7

Further Resources Senses passive Perception 12

Languages Common, Thieves’ Cant
Character creation, build, roleplaying tips and
backstory elements are discussed in a video on the Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Nerdarchy YouTube channel here.
In the video description, you can find a link to this Dervish. On each of its turns, the troupe leader can
character build on D&D Beyond. use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or
Dodge action.

Unarmored Defense. While the troupe leader is wear-

ing no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes
its Wisdom modifier.

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Actions Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
1 target. Hit: 7 (1d6 +4) slashing damage, and 3 (1d6)
Multiattack. The troupe leader makes three weapon poison damage.
attacks.

Performance Speciality. The performer has one of

Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
1 target. Hit: 7 (1d6 +4) slashing damage, and 7 (2d6)
poison damage.
Dart. Range Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range 20/60 ft.,
1 target. Hit: 6 (1d4 +4) piercing damage, and 7 (2d6)
poison damage.
Performer
Medium humanoid (any race), any (usually evil)
the following attack options:
Strongperson. A melee weapon deals one extra die of
its damage when the performer hits with it.
Firebreather. The performer can use its action to
exhale destructive fire. Each creature in a 15-ft. cone
must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 7
(2d6) fire damage on a failed save, and half as much
on a successful one.

Armor Class 15
Hit Points 49 (9d8 + 9) Whip Artist. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10
ft., 1 target; Hit: 6 (1d4 +4) slashing damage, and the
Speed 30 ft. target must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw or
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
be knocked prone.
10 (+0) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 13 (+1)
Saving Throws Strength + 2, Dexterity +5 Beguiling Dancer. By performing a beguiling dance,
the performer can entrall another creature. As an
Skills Athletics +2, Acrobatics +5, Deception +4, Per- action, one creature the performer can see within 5
formance +4, Stealth +5 feet that can see them must succeed on a DC 13 Wis-
Senses passive Perception 12 dom saving throw or be charmed until the end of the
performer’s next turn. The charmed creature’s speed
Languages Common, Thieves’ Cant
drops to 0, and the creature is incapacitated and vis-
Challenge 2 (450 XP) ibly dazed. On subsequent turns, the performer can
use their action to maintain this effect, extending its
duration until the end of your next turn. However, the
Dervish. On each of its turns, the performer can effect ends if the performer moves more than 5 feet
use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or
away from the creature, if the creature can neither
Dodge action.
see nor hear you, or if the creature takes damage.
Once the effect ends, or if the creature succeeds on
Actions its initial saving throw against this effect, you can’t
use this feature on that creature again until you fin-
Multiattack. The performer makes two weapon attacks. ish a long rest.

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