I've noticed that every charm/dominate ability in 5e is nerfed all to [expletive]. Just for kicks, I looked up the vampire's charm, to see what a nerfed vampire charm looks like:
Lo and behold, the 5e crew is capable of writing a proper charm effect; it's just much too effective for players to have.
Seriously, this is hilarious:
So, cast with a 9th level slot, Dominate Person lasts 1/3 as long as a vampire's charm, requires concentration, and the target gets a new save every time it takes damage. So, what level spell would a vampire's charm be? 15th? Lol. And it's an at-will ability.
This is just egregiously bad. Just screaming to be house-ruled.
Charm. The vampire targets one humanoid it can see within 30 feet of it. If the target can see the vampire, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw against this magic or be charmed by the vampire. The charmed target regards the vampire as a trusted friend to be heeded and protected. Although the target isn't under the vampire's control, it takes the vampire's requests or actions in the most favorable way it can, and it is a willing target for the vampire's bite attack.
Each time the vampire or the vampire's companions do anything harmful to the target, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success. Otherwise, the effect lasts 24 hours or until the vampire is destroyed, is on a different plane of existence than the target, or takes a bonus action to end the effect.
Lo and behold, the 5e crew is capable of writing a proper charm effect; it's just much too effective for players to have.
Seriously, this is hilarious:
Dominate Person
5th-level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 action; Range: 60 feet; Components: V, S; Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You attempt to beguile a humanoid that you can see within range. It must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be charmed by you for the duration. If you or creatures that are friendly to you are fighting it, it has advantage on the saving throw.
While the target is charmed, you have a telepathic link with it as long as the two of you are on the same plane of existence. You can use this telepathic link to issue commands to the creature while you are conscious (no action required), which it does its best to obey. You can specify a simple and general course of action, such as “Attack that creature,” “Run over there,” or “Fetch that object.” If the creature completes the order and doesn’t receive further direction from you, it defends and preserves itself to the best of its ability.
You can use your action to take total and precise control of the target. Until the end of your next turn, the creature takes only the actions you choose, and doesn’t do anything that you don’t allow it to do.
During this time you can also cause the creature to use a reaction, but this requires you to use your own reaction as well.
Each time the target takes damage, it makes a new Wisdom saving throw against the spell. If the saving throw succeeds, the spell ends.
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a 6th-level spell slot, the duration is concentration, up to 10 minutes. When you use a 7th-level spell slot, the duration is concentration, up to 1 hour. When you use a spell slot of 8th level or higher, the duration is concentration, up to 8 hours.
So, cast with a 9th level slot, Dominate Person lasts 1/3 as long as a vampire's charm, requires concentration, and the target gets a new save every time it takes damage. So, what level spell would a vampire's charm be? 15th? Lol. And it's an at-will ability.
This is just egregiously bad. Just screaming to be house-ruled.