D&D 5E [UPDATED] DMG - Villainous Classes Preview

[Gladius Legis]

Other than the emphasis on necrotic damage and maybe a couple of the domain spells, which aren't necessarily "evil" damage and spells, I fail to see how the Death domain is particularly "antisocial." All Clerics are capable of casting Animate Dead, so the Death domain isn't any more special in dealing with undead besides having that spell permanently prepared as a Domain spell.

 

[Zhaleskra]

The first paragraph on the righthand side of the first page is insulting: it's talking down to readers. The class example, however; I like.

 

[Sacrosanct]

The first paragraph on the righthand side of the first page is insulting: it's talking down to readers. .

Are you serious?

 

[Paraxis]

The first paragraph on the righthand side of the first page is insulting: it's talking down to readers. The class example, however; I like.

Are you serious?

I don't often agree with Sacrosanct and even less does he agree with me, but yeah are you serious?

It explains to DM's that they can use the rules for creating player characters to make NPC's, if you are new to D&D or to DM'ing this is good information to have.

I dislike npc's made using PC classes tremendously, the only "Fighters" in my game world are the PC's with that class. Also if you look at the MM the NPC's are built sorta kinda like a PC class but not exactly, so it is something that needs to be stated someone would assume that since the Mage in the MM is not the same as a level X Wizard PC you don't use the same rules to make them.

 

[hardvice]

I may be completely losing my mind here, but wasn't there supposed to be a third villain-only subclass in the DMG? Am I completely misremembering that? I can't for the life of me think what it was supposed to be, so chances are I'm just high on Cheeese.

And it also suddenly occurs to me, looking at the TOC for the DMG, that it's not altogether clear where the sort-of-promised Kender and Warforged would go. Creating New Character Options on 285-290 seems likely, but that's not a ton of space to cover two races plus other content in any real detail.

 

[Gladius Legis]

Paladin Pet list :

Ogre Zombie (CR2, Wis+0)
Minotaur Skeleton (CR2 Wis -1)
Mummy (CR3 Wis +2)
Wight (CR3, Wis +1)
Ghost (CR4, Wis +1)
Banshee (CR4, Wis +2)
Flameskull (CR4, Wis +0)
Wraith (CR5, Wis +2)
Beholder Zombie (CR5, Wis +2)
Vampire Spawn (CR5, Wis +3)
Vampire (CR13, Wis +7)
Mummy Lord (CR15, +9 Wis)

Paladin Control Undead DC = 8 + Proficiency + Charisma Modifier

Level 5, DC ~ 14
Level 10, DC ~17
Level 20, DC ~19

How to get your pet?
Cast bestow curse (ability score: wisdom) before Control Undead. The minion then has disadvanatage on his save.

You might want to denote which ones have Legendary Resistances. I know Vampire does, and I think Mummy Lord does, too. That makes it much harder to put them under control since they can auto-succeed 3 times a day.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I may be completely losing my mind here, but wasn't there supposed to be a third villain-only subclass in the DMG? Am I completely misremembering that? I can't for the life of me think what it was supposed to be, so chances are I'm just high on Cheeese.

And it also suddenly occurs to me, looking at the TOC for the DMG, that it's not altogether clear where the sort-of-promised Kender and Warforged would go. Creating New Character Options on 285-290 seems likely, but that's not a ton of space to cover two races plus other content in any real detail.

We don't know but according to the Table of Contents there is one more page on Villainous class options.

 

[BigVanVader]

How about if they just use this preview?




And regards the whole 'oh, no, death isn't evil' thing: this is a presentation of a clearly antisocial death domain.

And I hardly think there's any doubt that there are cultures, not to mention fantasy tropes (including D&D) where death is represented as evil.
Does anyone think that there should only be a good/neutral* death domain?


As for neutral death divinities being worshipped, well, not many in reality. (Some who try to placate death, like in santeria, though.)
And they had better be represented by quite another 'death' domain. (Perhaps a more gothy one.)
A different domain less concerned with undead.



* Chibi death?

I want to make like a 'Death Warlock', or a Necromancer or something, and have that Chibi Death be my Familiar. That would rule.

 

[Zhaleskra]

[MENTION=15700]Sacrosanct[/MENTION] and [MENTION=13009]Paraxis[/MENTION]: yes, I'm entirely serious. "you can make villainous NPCs with classes and levels using the rules from the Player's Handbook" follows the "most people are stupid" model I felt with 4e, which I also avoided. To me it promotes the idea that people don't use their own imaginations. Games that talk down to their audience DIE.

 

[TrippyHippy]

Right up to the point where uncle Robert is brought back to help build the new obsidian temple.

Yes - that would be quite a Good thing to do!