D&D 5E Class built around a Favored Foe

[Lanliss]

Yes I know, but not the ranger. There are a few examples of characters in books I have read that are entirely constructed around having a chosen foe, and knowing all of the important things to fight that foe. Currently I know of a book series full of "Demon hunter" type characters, although those might be called Elementals instead...There is also a book with a group of Undead hunters, and one of my players has an idea for Fey Hunters.

The basic idea of the class: Knows the weaknesses and Lore of it's chosen enemy, unique abilities based on the enemy they have chosen to fight.

Here are my Inspirations so far if you know them, from the works of Johnathan Stroud.

Lockwood & Co., Ghost hunters. Use silvered rapiers and alchemical concoctions to combat the corrupt spirits. Some of the highest level ghost hunters are able to understand restless spirits.
Things I need to work out for the class: Alchemical system, for constructing the important devices of the trade.

Bartimaeus, Where London is under the control of Magicians who are basically powerless themselves, but know the secrets of locking Demons into their servitude.
Things I need: A Find Greater Familiar spell and system for combat, in which the PC is actually the weak point and the Demon does the actual work.

Fey Hunters, a concept from one of my players. Brothers Grimm meets D&D martial classes, with a deep knowledge of folklore, and how to fight it.
What I need: Fey, and how to fight them. My Player has this one worked out on her own for the most part, so I can just consult with her if I need anything extra on it.


So, from the looks of it, the basic class should be martial, and give bonuses towards lore and fighting of your chosen enemy. The real tricky parts are the individual subclasses, almost different enough to be their own classes.

What are your thoughts on this bare bones idea? Enticing, or unnecessary?

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Lanliss]

Eh... I think that they are a wonderful concept for genre fiction, but not so much for D&D. Allow me to explain-

If you're going to have your class and your abilities so oriented toward a class of enemies, then it is likely that one of two things will happen-

1. You won't encounter those enemies very often, and you will feel like your class is squandered.

2. Or, conversely, you are going to be playing a themed campaign (OOTA, and your "favored enemy" is denizens of the underdark ... heh), that it will seem unfair to the rest of the party.

The only way to ameliorate this is to make the featured enemy a small part of the class ability, which would seem to negate what appeals to you.

Just my initial two cents.

I actually started this idea thinking of a crack team with a member for each chosen foe, who help shore up each other's weaknesses. Some sort of big thing coming that unites all sorts of baddies, and just one chosen enemy isn't enough.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=6801219]Lanliss[/MENTION]

I think it's possible to translate such concepts using the existing classes, with just a bit of reskinning.

However, if you do feel like you want a new class - say, because there are things you expect such a genre character to be able to do that they cannot do with the current classes - my instinct would be to focus on the class' versatility.

So, for example, there is a Monster Lore feature which you can change during a long rest (representing reading your monster texts / doing research). It might, among several options, allow you to knock a winged creature (e.g. gargoyle, harpy, dragon) prone with a ranged attack – something no 5e character can presently do to my knowledge. Or it might allow you to puncture the poison glands of a monster that deals poison damage, preventing that monster from dealing poison damage until it takes a long rest.

That is the direction I'd recommend, since it avoids the issue of an "undead hunter" specialist kind of sucking in encounters with goblins or dragons or hags, etc.

 

[Lanliss]

@Lanliss

I think it's possible to translate such concepts using the existing classes, with just a bit of reskinning.

However, if you do feel like you want a new class - say, because there are things you expect such a genre character to be able to do that they cannot do with the current classes - my instinct would be to focus on the class' versatility.

So, for example, there is a Monster Lore feature which you can change during a long rest (representing reading your monster texts / doing research). It might, among several options, allow you to knock a winged creature (e.g. gargoyle, harpy, dragon) prone with a ranged attack – something no 5e character can presently do to my knowledge. Or it might allow you to puncture the poison glands of a monster that deals poison damage, preventing that monster from dealing poison damage until it takes a long rest.

That is the direction I'd recommend, since it avoids the issue of an "undead hunter" specialist kind of sucking in encounters with goblins or dragons or hags, etc.

I thought of reskinning current classes for the various specialties, but felt there was enough overlap on what their common abilities would be (Monster lore for chosen enemy, increased skill in spotting and defending against chosen enemy) that they would work as subclasses for the same class. I understand it is a bit of a niche thing, just gauging possibilities right now.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Flamestrike]

I actually started this idea thinking of a crack team with a member for each chosen foe, who help shore up each other's weaknesses.

It would be even better if this crack unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. Then they promptly escape from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground.

Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, you can hire them.

 

[Horwath]

No. No. And no.

Ranger is bad enought already. They reworked favored terrains in UA ranger rewrite, so all terrains are good for a ranger.

Now we only need favored enemy reworked to some global trick.


Having that focused character is maybe good for a NPC, but never for PC.

What are you going to do when there is no favored foe around. Pull entire party towards it, nag the DM to put more cannon fodder of your choice, or simply be a liability to the party in combat if half your class features focuses on a narrow group of opponents.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Flamestrike]

I am so Mr. T, and my favored enemies are fools, who I both pity and destroy.

Reminds me of my Vengeance paladin/ Frenzy barbarian named 'Jules'.

He will strike down upon you with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers...