• The VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!

D&D 5E Interest In A More Esoteric 5e?

doctorbadwolf

Heretic of The Seventh Circle
I was very sad when the Leadership feat was yanked after 3E.

The noble background has an allusion to that sort of thing, and there are the sidekick rules and patrons that could be scavenged for a more robust system of followers, assistants and sycophants.
There is a lot of unused room there, to be sure.
I’d also be interested in a sort of gunslinger class for more high magic campaigns; maybe start at a “wandslinger” base with add-ins for those campaigns more open to firearms and the like.
Wandslinger definitely has legs, as well.
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Fenris-77

Small God of the Dozens
Supporter
I have more ideas for a Gunslinger class than could ever be practical to use all at once. :D My initial thought would be to base the class on the warlock chassis but bumped down to a half caster (3/4 caster? IDK) to make room for something that looks something like the Paladin's Smite ability and some other abilities (in my case based loosely on ideas directly from the Dark Tower books). Invocations is the design space for both spell-like abilities and perhaps some combat related goodies similar to Blade Pact and/or some of the combat Feats (modified, obviously).
 

doctorbadwolf

Heretic of The Seventh Circle
I have more ideas for a Gunslinger class than could ever be practical to use all at once. :D My initial thought would be to base the class on the warlock chassis but bumped down to a half caster (3/4 caster? IDK) to make room for something that looks something like the Paladin's Smite ability and some other abilities (in my case based loosely on ideas directly from the Dark Tower books). Invocations is the design space for both spell-like abilities and perhaps some combat related goodies similar to Blade Pact and/or some of the combat Feats (modified, obviously).
What would the subclasses be?
 


Fenris-77

Small God of the Dozens
Supporter
What would the subclasses be?
I hadn't even begun to think about subclasses yet. My initial goal would be (is) to assemble some moving parts I liked, maybe more like brainstorming. Then I'll start sorting those bits into the various mechanical silos the class offers and start to think about how to change or alter those mechanical silos and their contents to do exactly what I want them to do, and also to start weighing the class options as a whole. Once I get that far I'd have a better idea about what groups of abilities and options might group usefully into subclasses (if any). I'm far more interested in building a good class than I am worried about subclasses for it. If the subclass thing doesn't look obvious I might not even bother. I'd prefer a broader set of class options generally to siloing those options behind subclasses for no reason other than I thought I should have them.

Off the top of my head though, the subclasses I'd look at, broadly speaking, would be Diplomat, Judge, and something more magical. Those are based entirely on the DT books though, not any specific thoughts about mechanics or anything. I'd probably work them like the Warlock where there are pact-specific invocation equivalents. IDK, something like that anyway. Comparing them to Paladin Oaths is conceptually the direction I'd head in, yeah.
 

Tales and Chronicles

Jewel of the North, formerly know as vincegetorix
Some idea for archetypes:
  • Pistolero: nimble quick shot and trick shot, super fast reload.
  • Gunblade: use a special bladed gun that allow a mix of melee and range.
  • Hex-slinger: based on the trope of the cursed, undying gunslingers.
  • Gun Knight: questing knight with a pistol, uses smites spells and have an eye for deceit and trickery.**


**bonus point for features called Knight of the Rounds (where you have infinite bullet against fiend or undead or whatever) and Ex-caliber (where you deal extra lightning damage on a hit).
 

Fenris-77

Small God of the Dozens
Supporter
Some idea for archetypes:
  • Pistolero: nimble quick shot and trick shot, super fast reload.
  • Gunblade: use a special bladed gun that allow a mix of melee and range.
  • Hex-slinger: based on the trope of the cursed, undying gunslingers.
  • Gun Knight: questing knight with a pistol, uses smites spells and have an eye for deceit and trickery.**


**bonus point for features called Knight of the Rounds (where you have infinite bullet against fiend or undead or whatever) and Ex-caliber (where you deal extra lightning damage on a hit).
Either as a class feature or an 'Invocation' I was going to give the class that feat bonus where you can fire a missile weapon within 5' of an enemy without incurring a penalty. So Gun-Fu. Some John Wick style grappling shenanigans would be fun too.
 

Tales and Chronicles

Jewel of the North, formerly know as vincegetorix
Either as a class feature or an 'Invocation' I was going to give the class that feat bonus where you can fire a missile weapon within 5' of an enemy without incurring a penalty. So Gun-Fu. Some John Wick style grappling shenanigans would be fun too.
yeah I was thinking that could be a good archetype/feature/invocation but cant seem to find a better name than ''gun-fu'' !
 

Fenris-77

Small God of the Dozens
Supporter
yeah I was thinking that could be a good archetype/feature/invocation but cant seem to find a better name than ''gun-fu'' !
I'd call it Gun-Fu, 'cause it's cool, and worry about changing it much later in the design process.

As a feature, something that combines a grappling attempt with a round from the pistol. Maybe the grapple as a bonus action? Especially if you can use the grappled creature as cover that gets hit if incoming missile fire misses by X or less.
 

doctorbadwolf

Heretic of The Seventh Circle
Some idea for archetypes:
  • Pistolero: nimble quick shot and trick shot, super fast reload.
  • Gunblade: use a special bladed gun that allow a mix of melee and range.
  • Hex-slinger: based on the trope of the cursed, undying gunslingers.
  • Gun Knight: questing knight with a pistol, uses smites spells and have an eye for deceit and trickery.**


**bonus point for features called Knight of the Rounds (where you have infinite bullet against fiend or undead or whatever) and Ex-caliber (where you deal extra lightning damage on a hit).
“Death, But Not For You” -shoot someone when you hit 0, as a reaction.

“Big Iron” -You can use your pistols as a finesse bludgeoning weapon, 1d4 damage.

“And The Gunslinger Followed” -Some sort of endurance based benefit, ignore extreme weather, move at a forced March without exhaustion.
 

Remove ads

Top