D&D 5E Xanathar's Guide to Everything gets the Shadow Sorcerer

[thethain]

I hope:

#1: The abilities of the class stop using sorcery points. They generally can't compete with the benefits of metamagic, so they won't get used often, rendering the sub-class mostly moot.
#2: The hound scales in power as the character advances. A dire wolf with a low AC and 37 hps will get caught up and eliminated by a lot of area damage impacts at higher level with no real impact on the game.
#3: They fix the range issues. As is in UA, you can be miles away and drop the hound on enemies.

To be fair, even if it doesn't scale at all, using 3 sorcerer points and a bonus to grant the target disadvantage on the next spell is a pretty valid use of 3 points even without the creature it summoned. Suggestion "Leave your valuables and return home to think about what you have done."

 

[jaelis]

Yes I assume they basically matched to to Heighten Spell.

 

[JPL]

I like the mechanics of the stone sorcerer, but I wasn't feeling the "stone" part all that much. He's a high-Charisma guy who can drop smites all over the place. I think this is more likely someone who has a spiritual bond to one of the various intelligent weapons floating around the multiverse. Your ancestor wielded the Axe of the Dwarven Lords, long ago . . . it's been calling to you all your life. Some of that power is inside of you, and you can channel that through your weapons. But the bad news is that there are others who hear the same call, and there is gonna be some Highlander-style single combat until only one claimant is left standing.

 

[gyor]

I suggested they change the name of the Stone Sorceror to the metal sorceror.

 

[gyor]

Weird thought, but could you mount the Shadow Hound?

 

[jgsugden]

To be fair, even if it doesn't scale at all, using 3 sorcerer points and a bonus to grant the target disadvantage on the next spell is a pretty valid use of 3 points even without the creature it summoned. Suggestion "Leave your valuables and return home to think about what you have done."

Fair enough, as long as Heighten Spell would make the cut as a metamagic feat for your PC. The hound is nearly universally superior to it, but I see a lot of twinned and quickened spells from Sorcerers.

 

[jaelis]

Weird thought, but could you mount the Shadow Hound?

The DM would have to decide, but if you can mount a dire wolf, you should be able to ride a shadow hound too. Of course you have to be small.

 

[thethain]

Fair enough, as long as Heighten Spell would make the cut as a metamagic feat for your PC. The hound is nearly universally superior to it, but I see a lot of twinned and quickened spells from Sorcerers.

Right, but this can does it as long as he is up. Hold person with disadvantage on every save? YES PLEASE! And as far as avoiding Aoe, you can always place the dog on the opposite side of the target, so that he can choose to include it or you in the blast (or both if its a surrounding effect, but those are less common) so if it does blow up your poor dog, it did save you from taking the hit.

Twinned spell is really hard to not get, concentrate on two things at once? WHA?! have to get it. But as is, the shadow lets you emulate heighten spell (with the hound), and emulate one aspect of subtle spell (being hard to counter) as you have to see the target to counter.

I would like the sorcery point version of darkness to not require concentration, but I suppose that is just wishful thinking.

 

[jgsugden]

Note the restrictions on the behavior of the hound in the UA article. It only moves towards the intended target in the most direct route and only uses its action to attack it. If that does not change, using it as a mount has reduced benefit, especially if the most direct route requires it to go through a wall - which would be painful for the rider. Bump.

 

[Oofta]

Just to be a contrarian, but ugh. Just what we need, an emo goth who hates everyone and is constantly moping around trying to make everyone else as miserable as they are.

I agree that it might be fun for the player but I just know people (some of whom I currently game with) that would just use it as an excuse to make everyone else miserable and be an anti-social a**.

Do you really want to play with this?