D&D 5E (2014) For the Record: Mearls on Warlords (ca. 2013)

[Remathilis]

Except the druid has to burn a second level spell slot and maintain concentration. The thieflord ability you printed above is all the time, every time. Its at-will pass without trace for three skills.

And the thieflord didn't have Stealth himself? He can't use his powers on himself? That does create an amazing image of a warlord telling everyone how to be stealthy without actually knowing how to be stealthy. Did he stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

 

[mellored]

Except the druid has to burn a second level spell slot and maintain concentration. The thieflord ability you printed above is all the time, every time. Its at-will pass without trace for three skills.

No.
+6, with 5 minimum is +6.5.
Compared to +10.

At-will, but weaker. Which is fair.

And +6.5 is a level 17+ theiflord. Somewhat smaller, but level17 druids only somewhat care about a level 2 slot.
At level 3, it's +3.15. Much smaller, but druids really care more about their level 2 slot.


And again, numbers and balance can be adjusted.
If it's still too much, you can do +1/2 proficiency.

Requiring concentration makes sense. It would prevent a druid/thieflord stacking for +16, which really would undercut the rogue. Otherwise it seems to be about right.

And the thieflord didn't have Stealth himself?

I don't know why you would assume that.
1: Your example said he had the criminal background.
2: The sub-class would also give it to him.

 

[TwoSix]

DM: OK, since the cleric died last game, Bob rolled up a thieflord.
Bob: hey guys.
[Introductions ensue]
DM: you creep into the giant's steading. It's dark and you hear footsteps.
Tim: I'll have my rogue sneak up ahead. I have expertise in Stealth, so I can't fail against these slow-witted brutes!
Bob: actually, my subclass let's us ALL sneak up. I put my high score in int, so everyone can't roll less than a 9 before modifers. Additionally, I use my bolster skill power to give everyone advantage on one skill for an hour. Nobody has a dex penalty, right?
Group: that's amazing! Tim, why can't your rogue do that?
Tim: well, all my powers make ME a good scout...
Group: well that's selfish. Now we all can sneak up on the giants and gain surprise.
Tim: well I can still pick locks...
Bob: actually, I took the criminal background...
Group: Tim, why don't you retire your rogue since he's not useful anymore and roll up a ragelord. Then we can get bonuses to damage too!
Tim...

That looks like an open-and-shut case for why spotlight balance is bad, and EVERY class should be designed more like the hypothetical warlord. Kudos.

 

[Remathilis]

That looks like an open-and-shut case for why spotlight balance is bad, and EVERY class should be designed more like the hypothetical warlord. Kudos.

When everyone is special, nobody is.

 

[mellored]

When everyone is special, nobody is.

So you don't like the criminal background?

Or that anyone can get any skill?

 

[TwoSix]

When everyone is special, nobody is.

"Never quote without attributing." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

[Yunru]

"Every quote on the internet is true" - Gabe Newell

 

[El Mahdi]

"Never quote without attributing." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

All this time, I thought my comp professor coined that...

 

[Minigiant]

GROUP QUOTING
At the Xth level, you and any willing ally who can hear you have advantage on Intelligence checks to correctly quote famous sayings, speeches, and phrases, and to attribute the correct being who coined it.

 

[Yunru]

GROUP QUOTING
At the Xth level, you and any willing ally who can hear you have advantage on Intelligence checks to correctly quote famous sayings, speeches, and phrases, and to attribute the correct being who coined it.

"Shrek is love, Shrek is life." - Albert Einstein