D&D 5E Archetypes to add to 5e

[Greg K]

I know it seems more like a variant, but more official rules on an Urban Ranger would be nice, subclass or otherwise.

Mearls was working on an urban ranger subclass for his Happy Hour. He also was creating some new urban features for the Ranger class to support a player feeling like they were playing an urban ranger prior to taking the subclass and, thereby, not break WOTC's class design guidelines..

 

[Parmandur]

The Pact boon is better as a separate thing. It is good for the class that you can be a Fiend, Fey, or Cthulhu, Warlock with an imp, a book of rituals, or a magic sword.


It doesn’t need a fix, it’s better design than relying on klunky multiclassing rules. Multiclassing is more often a kludge than not, and the spellcasting warrior is iconic enough to be represented without any option rules that don’t really work all that well.

Mearls made some good points about how it shackles their ability to make more of either pact or patron options, which is seen in controversy over the Hexblade.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Actually, the Bard makes a great shaman.

A psionic healer Bard subclass could double down on shamanic flavor, in tune with the minds of nature.

Huh. I can see that. Another case, though, where a dedicated subclass with a couple of flavorful abilities would really bring it to life, instead of having to refluff everything in your own head.

 

[BookBarbarian]

A non-magic barbarian that doesn't incur exhaustion though class features or has to wear spiky armor. Okay that's more mechanic splitting than new archetype, but I want something more satisfying than the berserker.

Kensai is a Monk archetype.

Yes, the kensei ("kensai" is a mistransliteration/typo) is a monk subclass in XGtE.

Kensei while a fine monk subclass fails as a sword-saint/master-of-one-weapon for me, on account of getting multiple weapons as Kensei weapons, and still being a monk will always emphasize unarmed strikes.

 

[Parmandur]

A non-magic barbarian that doesn't incur exhaustion though class features or has to wear spiky armor. Okay that's more mechanic splitting than new archetype, but I want something more satisfying than the berserker.




Kensei while a fine monk subclass fails as a sword-saint/master-of-one-weapon for me, on account of getting multiple weapons as Kensei weapons, and still being a monk will always emphasize unarmed strikes.

The point of the Kensai, though, is that the weapons get the bonuses of unarmed strikes for Monk purposes.

 

[BookBarbarian]

The point of the Kensai, though, is that the weapons get the bonuses of unarmed strikes for Monk purposes.

Sure but does that make it a Sword Saint or a master of one weapon?

Apart from getting 5 Kensei weapons the Kensei still gets can't flurry of blows with Kensei weapon, and agile parry actively encourages unarmed strikes again. The are also restricted from using an Ōdachi or Naginata.

It's a fine monk, but doesn't scratch the specific itch that say the Baldur's Gate Kensai did. I would much rather have seen a fighter archetype with unarmed defense and a weapon focus than a Monk archetype picking up certain limited martial weapon types.

I would still love to see that.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Sure but does that make it a Sword Saint or a master of one weapon?

Apart from getting 5 Kensei weapons the Kensei still gets can't flurry of blows with Kensei weapon, and agile parry actively encourages unarmed strikes again. The are also restricted from using an Ōdachi or Naginata.

It's a fine monk, but doesn't scratch the specific itch that say the Baldur's Gate Kensai did. I would much rather have seen a fighter archetype with unarmed defense and a weapon focus than a Monk archetype picking up certain limited martial weapon types.

I would still love to see that.

Yeah, I could get behind that. Especially if it were seriously MAD. I don't really mind that they get to pick several weapons, although I would happily trade the ranged abilities for increased melee abilities. But maybe that would be too OP? However I agree with you about the unarmed strikes. I'm currently making it work, but I'd really prefer something that had no martial arts, no Ki, etc.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Yeah, I could get behind that. Especially if it were seriously MAD. I don't really mind that they get to pick several weapons, although I would happily trade the ranged abilities for increased melee abilities. But maybe that would be too OP? However I agree with you about the unarmed strikes. I'm currently making it work, but I'd really prefer something that had no martial arts, no Ki, etc.

To put it strictly in terms of archetype, like the OP asks for. The Archetype that I see that missing is someone who focuses so much on wielding one weapon perfectly that the wont even wear armor for fear of interfering with that focus.

The 5e Monks base features like Flurry of Blows, Tongue of the Sun and Moon, Timeless Body, Empty Body, etc don't really represent sometime with that single weapon focus. They more represent someone who has focused on improving their body.

 

[gyor]

bounty hunter and archeologist does seem more like a background to me. Archeologist especially seems to fit a fair few classes that I wouldn't want to make a specific subclass just for one. I could see it as a subclass for rogue, bard, wizard, or even an artificer digging up the past.

To do them right requires more mechanical meat then the backgrounds offer.

 

[Parmandur]

To do them right requires more mechanical meat then the backgrounds offer.

For example?