D&D 5E 5e Eberron dragonmarks?

[Astrosicebear]

There was a recent discussion on this very topic in another thread and Keith, himself, was pondering where to go.

Upon some more thinking, feats seem like the logical choice, but then present issues with 1st level chars. Backgrounds dont work well for anything other than Member of House. And racial variants make things more meta than they need to be.

So why not break the mold and think outside the box. It is Eberron... its already out of the box.


Destiny

A character Destiny is a path of progress towards a greater end, a specific life goal, or birthright. Not all characters need to choose a destiny, as many forge their own paths. For some select few, however, the stars align, the gods converse and a path is set before them to follow as much or as little as the character chooses.

Destinies may be selected at any level, however most choose one at 1st level, and they are in addition to all normal character creation elements. Each destiny has 4 tiers of abilities with a minor and major ability per tier, and matching the tiers of advancement (level 1-4, 5-10, etc.)

Destinies have abilities the character gains as they progress in power, unlocking hidden potential, or receiving gifts from the gods, but all at a price. Every player that chooses a destiny automatically receives the minor ability when they reach that level. Usually this comes at the first level of the tier (1, 5, 11,17). The major abilities coincide with static ability score increase levels (4, 8, 12, 16) and may even cap with a legendary ability at 19th. A player may choose to take a major destiny ability in place of the ability score increase at that level. A destiny usually has an endcap legendary ability available only to those who commit to their destiny. At 19th level a player who has 2 or more major abilities from the same destiny may bypass taking the 19th level ability score increase and choose the legendary instead.

A character entering a destiny at a later level receives all minor abilities up to and including their character level, but may only choose major abilities when they reach the appropriate levels.

Example

Dragonmark of the Sentinel

You bear the Dragonmark of the House Deneith, masters at arms. You gain proficiency with all forms of armor and all martial weapons. You also gain proficiency in perception and intimidate.

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"][TR][TD]Level 1[/TD][TD]Minor ability[/TD][TD]Least Dragonmark of the Sentinel[/TD][TD]1/day you may double your proficiency bonus to a Wisdom(Perception) check or Charisma(Intimidate) check.
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 4[/TD][TD]Major Ability[/TD][TD]Lesser Dragonmark[/TD][TD]1/day Mage Armor or Shield of Faith[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 5[/TD][TD]Minor Ability[/TD][TD]Training[/TD][TD]Gain proficiency with any one exotic weapon.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]level 10[/TD][TD]Major Ability[/TD][TD]Lesser Dragonmark[/TD][TD]Protection from Energy - recovered after a short rest.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 11[/TD][TD]Minor Ability[/TD][TD]Lesser Dragonmark[/TD][TD]Resistance cantrip, increase 1st level ability to 2/day.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 16[/TD][TD]Major Ability[/TD][TD]Greater Dragonmark[/TD][TD]1/day Stoneskin[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 17[/TD][TD]Minor Ability[/TD][TD]True Sentinel[/TD][TD]Double shield bonus to AC for 1 minute - recovered after a short rest.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 19[/TD][TD]Legendary Ability[/TD][TD]Legendary Dragonmark[/TD][TD]1/day Globe of Invulnerability[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]



Obviously just a quick example. But an idea that could work outside the box, and outside Eberron.... reskinned prestige class?

 

[Darrius_Adler]

There was a recent discussion on this very topic in another thread and Keith, himself, was pondering where to go.

Upon some more thinking, feats seem like the logical choice, but then present issues with 1st level chars. Backgrounds dont work well for anything other than Member of House. And racial variants make things more meta than they need to be.

So why not break the mold and think outside the box. It is Eberron... its already out of the box.


Destiny

A character Destiny is a path of progress towards a greater end, a specific life goal, or birthright. Not all characters need to choose a destiny, as many forge their own paths. For some select few, however, the stars align, the gods converse and a path is set before them to follow as much or as little as the character chooses.

Destinies may be selected at any level, however most choose one at 1st level, and they are in addition to all normal character creation elements. Each destiny has 4 tiers of abilities with a minor and major ability per tier, and matching the tiers of advancement (level 1-4, 5-10, etc.)

Destinies have abilities the character gains as they progress in power, unlocking hidden potential, or receiving gifts from the gods, but all at a price. Every player that chooses a destiny automatically receives the minor ability when they reach that level. Usually this comes at the first level of the tier (1, 5, 11,17). The major abilities coincide with static ability score increase levels (4, 8, 12, 16) and may even cap with a legendary ability at 19th. A player may choose to take a major destiny ability in place of the ability score increase at that level. A destiny usually has an endcap legendary ability available only to those who commit to their destiny. At 19th level a player who has 2 or more major abilities from the same destiny may bypass taking the 19th level ability score increase and choose the legendary instead.

A character entering a destiny at a later level receives all minor abilities up to and including their character level, but may only choose major abilities when they reach the appropriate levels.

Example

Dragonmark of the Sentinel

You bear the Dragonmark of the House Deneith, masters at arms. You gain proficiency with all forms of armor and all martial weapons. You also gain proficiency in perception and intimidate.

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"][TR][TD]Level 1[/TD][TD]Minor ability[/TD][TD]Least Dragonmark of the Sentinel[/TD][TD]1/day you may double your proficiency bonus to a Wisdom(Perception) check or Charisma(Intimidate) check.
[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 4[/TD][TD]Major Ability[/TD][TD]Lesser Dragonmark[/TD][TD]1/day Mage Armor or Shield of Faith[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 5[/TD][TD]Minor Ability[/TD][TD]Training[/TD][TD]Gain proficiency with any one exotic weapon.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]level 10[/TD][TD]Major Ability[/TD][TD]Lesser Dragonmark[/TD][TD]Protection from Energy - recovered after a short rest.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 11[/TD][TD]Minor Ability[/TD][TD]Lesser Dragonmark[/TD][TD]Resistance cantrip, increase 1st level ability to 2/day.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 16[/TD][TD]Major Ability[/TD][TD]Greater Dragonmark[/TD][TD]1/day Stoneskin[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 17[/TD][TD]Minor Ability[/TD][TD]True Sentinel[/TD][TD]Double shield bonus to AC for 1 minute - recovered after a short rest.[/TD][/TR][TR][TD]Level 19[/TD][TD]Legendary Ability[/TD][TD]Legendary Dragonmark[/TD][TD]1/day Globe of Invulnerability[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]



Obviously just a quick example. But an idea that could work outside the box, and outside Eberron.... reskinned prestige class?

Ahhhh, or sort of like something I saw in the game Midnight, can't remember what they called it. All the PCs selected a kind of path that went along with class level advancement. I had considered allowing all the PCs created for my Eberron game to gain a feat at 1st level. Which would mean humans could get two at first level. I don't think that would skew the power levels too much.