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TheHalfAasimar
2024-03-05, 04:57 PM
So, what are your favorite subclass names? Not subclasses, just the names. I don't care if they're third-party/homebrew or not, what are they?

Personally, I feel like Ranger gets all the cool names. Look me in the (metaphorical) eyes and tell me with a straight face that Gloomstalker or Drakewarden isn't a cool name. Such a shame they aren't actually that good...

More cool names:
Horizon Walker (I love the image it puts in my head)
Monster Slayer (simple and sweet)
Oath of Vengeance (vengeance is a fun word to say)
Oathbreaker (sounds really cool)
Eldritch Knight (eldritch is just so cool!)

Theodoxus
2024-03-05, 06:13 PM
Swashbuckler is my favorite name, despite the subclass not living up to it (it's a great subclass, just doesn't work well with a buckler...)

Alchemist is the most evocative for me. Attempting to codify magic through experimentation and rote learning.

Circle of Spores is the one that encapsulates an important aspect of the circle of life: recycling dead matter to make new life. The fact that you can lean into the death/evil aspect or the rebirth/rejuvenation of life aspect (or both as a more balanced viewpoint) is really cool.

KorvinStarmast
2024-03-05, 07:10 PM
Gloom Stalker

The Celestial

Arcane Trickster

Rune Knight

That's about it, for cool sub class names.

elyktsorb
2024-03-06, 06:06 AM
I dunno I think most of Monk subclass names are pretty cool. (way of the) Astral Self, Drunken Master, Ascendent Dragon, Sun Soul, Four Elements, Long Death.

Wildfire Druid is probably my fav druid subclass name.

Sigreid
2024-03-06, 04:14 PM
Swashbuckler is my favorite name, despite the subclass not living up to it (it's a great subclass, just doesn't work well with a buckler...)

Alchemist is the most evocative for me. Attempting to codify magic through experimentation and rote learning.

Circle of Spores is the one that encapsulates an important aspect of the circle of life: recycling dead matter to make new life. The fact that you can lean into the death/evil aspect or the rebirth/rejuvenation of life aspect (or both as a more balanced viewpoint) is really cool.

The term swashbuckler actually refers to their sword belts (swashes) and the large buckles for said belts.

Psyren
2024-03-06, 07:44 PM
Path of the Beast

College of Creation
College of Whispers

Grave Domain

Circle of Dreams
Circle of Stars

Way of Mercy
Way of the Open Hand
Way of the Long Death

Oath of the Watchers
Oath of Conquest
Oath of Glory

Drakewarden
Swarmkeeper

Phantom
Mastermind

The Fathomless
The Undying
The Great Old One

Chronurgy Magic

Schwann145
2024-03-06, 10:23 PM
Most names just seem like, "duh" descriptions to me. A few do stand out though. Stuff like:

Horizon Walker
Way of the Long Death
Etc.

Stuff that's more evocative and poetic even. Something like "swarmkeeper" for the subclass that keeps swarms is just too on-the-nose, lol.

Though I will say there's one subclass name that actively bugs me, pedantically: Eldritch Knight. There's absolutely nothing "eldritch" going on here! Should've been "arcane" ;P

JonBeowulf
2024-03-06, 10:42 PM
Though I will say there's one subclass name that actively bugs me, pedantically: Eldritch Knight. There's absolutely nothing "eldritch" going on here! Should've been "arcane" ;P
This. So much this.

Skrum
2024-03-06, 11:13 PM
Rune Knight

Echo Knight

Champion. I just love the image the word "Champion" provokes - I love the idea of a potentially tragic hero who fights the good fight no matter what. It isn't about chance of success, it's about doing the thing, even if the cause is lost. Tis a shame the class is lame lol (would've loved a class built around fighting harder the more hurt they get, and generally coming through in the clutch)

One weird naming convention - some classes have uniform subclass names, like "Path of the X" or "Oath of X." This to me reaffirms that the class is still barbarian or paladin, just a slightly different flavor. In contrast, the classes with no naming convention have more distance between them. I.e., that's not a rogue, that's a soul knife.

So...I like the fighter, rogue, sorcerer, and ranger subclass names lol. Artificers are solid too. The uniform subclass names are a lot less interesting.