D&D General Nearly Finished "People of The Shadows"

doctorbadwolf · Jan 16, 2023

A 3 fold species of shadow people, Assassin class, and I'll be adding spells, items, and feats. Oh, and eventually the Binder (might rename to Invoker or Occultist or something deep cut like Dwoemerlak)

I'd love some feedback.

doctorbadwolf · Jan 17, 2023

Changes from past versions:

Dropped extra attack. Instead, the assassin gains an attack as one of its Shadow Actions (similar to cunning action) and at level 5 gains the ability to use any shadow action as a reaction when they crit on an attack, reduce a target to 0hp, or an enemy misses them.
- This means that they can’t do 3 shadow actions per turn anymore at level 5, because it’s “bonus action or in place of an attack when you take the attack action”. We will see how well this holds up.
Updated the subclasses a lot, though a lot remains to be built, such as the Wraith Guild’s spell list, and actually imputing the proper language for thier casting.
Some features still lack a proper name
Umbrylar writeups are fine but need an editing pass. If it isn’t obvious these started as variant shadarkai and Vryloka (a 4e race).

doctorbadwolf · Jan 17, 2023

I have realized that the assassin needs some kind of feature to go first (or at least early in the first round) in a fight. Maybe the ability to use a shadow move as a reaction when initiative is rolled, and a small bonus to init like +Int mod. Idk.

doctorbadwolf · Jan 17, 2023

The Binder actually has all the ideas it probably needs to really shine.

It's a summoner currently, but I think that the series of classes I'm building will be more focused than official 5e classes, so it might end up somewhere between the Witcher, an occult magician, and the Abhorsen (Garth Nix series of that name).

tier 1: pact magic with prepared spells, spellbook, ritual casting, and cantrips. You automatically know and always have prepared Find Familiar and Unseen Servant.
Ritual Tools (blade, bell, bowl), you choose one at low level, but gain a second around 11 and the third around 16. Each one has bonus spells known, and a fairly passive benefit.
Vestiges of Power. Somewhere between Invocations and Infusions.
Subclass (Seal maybe?, like Seal of XYZ), determines what you do with the power you summon and bind. Classic summoner, bind power into your body to hulk out, bind power into a weapon, etc.

Tiers 2+ Spell slots up to 5th like warlock. Must choose Vestiges to get higher level casting 1/day and unlock ability to learn that level of spells (ie, Vestige of The 6th Circle, grants 1 6th level spell slot, learn 1 6th level spell, and gain the ability to add 6th level spells you find to your book).

Most of the design space is in the tools, vestiges, and subclasses.

I'm not sure what the best other classes to develop alongside these are.
Swashbuckler, Captain, Alchemist, a few others...

dave2008 · Jan 17, 2023

doctorbadwolf said:
Changes from past versions:

Dropped extra attack. Instead, the assassin gains an attack as one of its Shadow Actions (similar to cunning action) and at level 5 gains the ability to use any shadow action as a reaction when they crit on an attack, reduce a target to 0hp, or an enemy misses them.

This means that they can’t do 3 shadow actions per turn anymore at level 5, because it’s “bonus action or in place of an attack when you take the attack action”. We will see how well this holds up.

Updated the subclasses a lot, though a lot remains to be built, such as the Wraith Guild’s spell list, and actually imputing the proper language for thier casting.

Some features still lack a proper name

Umbrylar writeups are fine but need an editing pass. If it isn’t obvious these started as variant shadarkai and Vryloka (a 4e race).

Thank you for sharing! I don't have time to review at the moment, but if i free up some this week I will take a lookk.