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

[SkidAce]

I'm disappointed by the line that NPCs gain class levels using the same rules rules as in the PH. I was hoping for some more simplified approach for DMs who don't have tons of time (especially since we clearly won't have a digital tool any time soon). I like most of 5E, but there are a lot of little things that make the DM's job harder than they need to be.

RAW, I can understand your disappointment.

However, as a DM, my NPCs only get as much detail as they need. either as world flavor or to last 5-10 rounds of combat.

The arch-master dwarf craftsman? 1st level npc with 20th level proficiency bonus for crafting only.

BBEG? Maybe full stats, key proficiencies (like NPCs in the MM) and whatever unique abilities he has. Might be class based (most of the time), might not.

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

I am pretty disappointed that the Oathbreaker is just a Blackguard and not something new. I was eagerly anticipating a ronin-style "grey" paladin, for world-weary paladins who have lost some of their luster but not completely gone over to evil.

So... we should make one.

I will second "GM4PG"s "awesome sauce" xp... if you get something together I would love to see it.

I kind of wish Paladins in the game head a bit more interaction with the Inspiration mechanic, though I totally understand why they kept class features and feats in a different silo. Paladins just seem a natural fit for expanding that mechanic into other areas given the nature of their oaths.

 

[TrippyHippy]

I don’t think a Death worshiping Cleric should inherently be evil. There are plenty of cultures that see death as a fundamental part of the natural world. Indeed, Death is the ultimate statement in Neutrality!

 

[BigVanVader]

Yeah, the 'Death is Evil' attitude is a bit silly to me. One of my 4e ideas that I never made was a Deva Paladin of the Raven Queen, so technically he was worshiping the Goddess of Death, yeah.

But I put in a lot of work into him and just retooled everything, so that his view on death was this really, like, pseudo Buddhist/Hindu kind of thing. It was very awesome, and completely not-Evil-Mwuahahahaha.

 

[Evenglare]

Awesome, this is what I was looking most forward to. Also it clearly says that PCs can take these options along as the DM agrees. Infact I have an antipaladin in my campaign so I had to make up some stuff until this came out. Yes, very excited. Also the facebook D&D page has the non cut off version. Also, free protip, rule 0 states you don't have to be evil. rules are guidelines! Happy gaming.

 

[Kaychsea]

I don’t think a Death worshiping Cleric should inherently be evil. There are plenty of cultures that see death as a fundamental part of the natural world. Indeed, Death is the ultimate statement in Neutrality!

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

 

[Henrix]

Not without buying a DMG or borrowing mine they can't.

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?

 

[ppaladin123]

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?

Since D&D has Wee=Jas, the Raven Queen, and Kelemvor (possible others) they could have put a non-evil death domain in the PHB since this one is, as you noted, clearly anti-social and more appropriate for evil NPCs.

 

[Henrix]

They could have put quite a few other domains in there, but there's not room for everything.

Beauty, fertility, suffering, sea, night/darkness, magic, cats, farming, wanton destruction, hearth & home, smiths, to name a few of the top of my head that could have been in there.


But when there's an evil death domain in the section about evil NPCs in the DMG the complaints are all about there not being a nice death domain.

I'd like to see a god of cats, beauty and the night, but no such luck.

 

[Piratecat]

I am sure that a player supplement will have a ton of cool new domains; in the mean time, the DMG is focusing on options that are more under the DM's purview.