D&D (2024) How do you grade Scion of the Dead Three? Green, Yellow, Red?

[Henadic Theologian]

How do you grade Scion of the Dead Three? Green, Yellow, Red?

 

[pukunui]

I think I rated it green. From a mechanical perspective, I think it's pretty solid. The final feature feels like it's missing a Myrkul-themed option, though.

That being said, I'm not sure I would allow this subclass in any of my games from a purely thematic perspective. I don't generally allow evil PCs in my games, and I don't see how anyone who has pledged themselves to the Dead Three could be anything other than a bad guy.

 

[WanderingMystic]

So you could just have traces of Bhaal's blood in you.

I think that it ne day a few weeks but a melee fear based rogue is a good thing to have.

They are as much a non evil idea as the assassin is. One of the problems that rogues have is that for some of not most your primary job is killing things which is hard to justify as anything but evil. A Scion who turned their power against the followers of the dead three would fit a neutral at least forgotten realms PC. In a non fr game you could be a gladiator style character, a ninja, an ex murderer who is redeeming themselves, a way of playing something that feels like like a light barbarian with all of the fear and extra damage.

 

[mellored]

I like it, but is there some lore reason a devoting yourself to a dead god requires intelligence? Seems like Wis would be more fitting, as this is divine. Possibly Cha if your doing fear effects. Or just drop the secondary stat.

Bloodthirsty seems like it should be 2 uses per long rest +1 per short rest.

I also feel like Chill Touch is a bad cantrip to give a rogue. Though I have no idea what else would replace it and it fits the motif. Maybe it's ok since Necrotic is the best resistance.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

I agree on the wisdom. I would rather they gave the rogue the option of the sneak attack damage being psychic, poison, or necrotic (admittedly poison probably won't see a lot of use) than the cantrips.

That being said, I like that this opens up some narrative space for the rogue. If this gets good ratings, we could see some more exotic rogues. Honestly the fighter needs that even more.

 

[Shardstone]

Red. Great idea with absolutely terrible mechanics.

 

[ECMO3]

It rocks, a couple of minor things. The main downside is the tie to intelligence. To get the most out of the class mechanically you really need to maximize Intelligence.

This puts it into a narrow build space where you are either multiclassing with Wizard or getting the Truestrike Cantrip through a race or feat. That is kind of an optimization technique for Rogue anyway so I think it works well.

The other thing is the free Cantrip from Dread Allegience should be able to be cast as a bonus action using Cunning action. It is a heavy lift to give up a Rogue action for Chill Touch or Blade Ward.

I have a pretty wicked Scion of Dead 3/Arcane Archer multiclass I want to try out. 12 Rogue/8Fighter at end.

 

[WanderingMystic]

I told them just to drop the cantrip as they don't make sense and no rogue would use them.

I agree with making it not an int class there are already 2 of those.

 

[Horwath]

red.
no need to focus on any ability except Dex for this subclass.
And we have Int subclass already.

ideas are good, mechanics behind them are bad. Well, assassin is bad also, why should this be different...

 

[Necropolitan]

The final feature feels like it's missing a Myrkul-themed option, though.

Yeah, I was wondering if the last bit of it had gotten clipped off when they posted it.

Also it should work off of Charisma, not Intelligence.

It's based on spreading fear, force of personality makes way more sense than intellect.

Plus 2/3 of the Dead Three had Charisma as their main focus (Bane for leadership/tyranny and Bhaal because insane bloodthirsty serial killer slasher villain).