D&D Subclass Contest Chat Thread 2: Joke Entries Win with Alarming Frequency

[Arkanist]

Great job to everyone who participated in the "Bigger is Better" competition! I really enjoy all the entries, and can't wait for the chance to vote on them -- it's going to be hard to pick three favorites!

[nickl_2000]

Lots of entries and only 4 votes. Get out there and vote people, you can't make your voice known without voting!

(wow, that first image I used was gigantic)

[Arkanist]

Lots of entries and only 4 votes. Get out there and vote people, you can't make your voice known without voting!

(wow, that first image I used was gigantic)

Do you have to have participated in the thread to vote? Before I started participating, I never knew whether it was allowed for me to vote or not if I didn't.

[MoleMage]

Do you have to have participated in the thread to vote? Before I started participating, I never knew whether it was allowed for me to vote or not if I didn't.

You can vote even if you didn't participate. In fact it is encouraged.

[Old Harry MTX]

You can vote even if you didn't participate. In fact it is encouraged.

Molemage, is there a way to write an announcement in the main page of the homebrew section, to urge people to vote in the various contests?

[nickl_2000]

You can vote even if you didn't participate. In fact it is encouraged.

Also, just because some of us give reasons why we voted doesn't mean that everyone has to. There is nothing wrong with just putting your top 3 in there with no explaination.

[MoleMage]

Molemage, is there a way to write an announcement in the main page of the homebrew section, to urge people to vote in the various contests?

In the absence of an official thread for the purposes of announcements there isn't much I can do; my options are limited to making a new thread, which I already do for the voting itself.

[nickl_2000]

Let me note that if

Hold the Line wins for the new contest (described as Stationary subclasses). I will be extremely disappointed if there isn't at least one subclass that focuses on writing strongly worded letter to their enemies.

[sengmeng]

Let me note that if

Hold the Line wins for the new contest (described as Stationary subclasses). I will be extremely disappointed if there isn't at least one subclass that focuses on writing strongly worded letter to their enemies.

Don't look at me, I'm probably doing Path of the Crimson Diaper as a semi-affectionate parody of the cinematic version of the Spartans.

[nickl_2000]

Don't look at me, I'm probably doing Path of the Crimson Diaper as a semi-affectionate parody of the cinematic version of the Spartans.

THIS! IS! THE! PATH! OF! THE! CRIMSON! diaper?!?

[Old Harry MTX]

In the absence of an official thread for the purposes of announcements there isn't much I can do; my options are limited to making a new thread, which I already do for the voting itself.

I was actually thinking of something like the "Announcement: Rules of Posting (Please Read!)" thread on the top of the section, but I don't know who can do something like that.

[nickl_2000]

I was actually thinking of something like the "Announcement: Rules of Posting (Please Read!)" thread on the top of the section, but I don't know who can do something like that.

That's a moderator only post. We would have to ask a mod nicely to do it.

[Crim the Cold]

Might have missed the vote. Work has me running myself ragged. Seems like I missed the mark with my entry. Oh well. I still like it.

[Arkanist]

Might have missed the vote. Work has me running myself ragged. Seems like I missed the mark with my entry. Oh well. I still like it.

For what it's worth, I did like your entry - there were just a lot of strong entries. You definitely should be proud of what you made, it's got a very strong concept!

[Edea]

Might have missed the vote. Work has me running myself ragged. Seems like I missed the mark with my entry. Oh well. I still like it.

At least you made an entry! This particular prompt just left me idea-less.

[nickl_2000]

At least you made an entry! This particular prompt just left me idea-less.

Fell free to ask for inspiration at any point you like. I don't know about others, but as soon as I get a theme I brainstorm ideas and usually have 5-6 I reject as not being interesting to create for me.

[MoleMage]

Alright I'm still running behind but I have tallied the votes.

In 3rd place, we have the smallest subclass in this contest of giants, it's Ilerien's Way of the Hin Fist. The halflings took home 7 points today.

In 2nd place, it's not the hulk but it's close! Damon_Tor's Path of the Troll-kin earned a total of 14 points as much as first place, but since Damon_Tor didn't cast a vote, the tiebreaker goes to...

In 1st place, sometimes crime isn't clever or suave but it's still crime. mr_stibbons's Thug roguish archetype earned 14 points as well, and won the tiebreaker to take 1st!



As for themes, Hold the Line was the winning theme with 10 points earned. Warriors of Old earned 9 points and will be in next month's voting pool again guaranteed.

Working on the new thread now. Gonna be traveling soon so this might be my last post for a bit.

EDIT: New thread! https://forums.giantitp.com/showthre...0#post25174750

[sengmeng]

Don't look at me, I'm probably doing Path of the Crimson Diaper as a semi-affectionate parody of the cinematic version of the Spartans.

Yep that's what I did lol

If anyone is having trouble with ideas, I came up with a concept for almost every class before settling on this one.

Bard: college of propaganda (basically the rallying speech aspect of bardery, "we're not going anywhere")

Cleric: protection domain

Druid: circle of stone

Fighter: Hoplite aka Historically Accurate Spartans

Monk: way of wushu (based around stances, with animal based options)

Paladin: Oath of protection

Ranger/rogue: sniper. Probably bonuses of some kind to ranged attacks made while prone and/or concealed and not moving

Wizard/sorcerer: geomancer

Warlock: spirit of nationalism (similar to the bard college of propaganda, basically Uncle Sam is your patron and he says you will not be moved)

[Kuulvheysoon]

I think that I'll wait a bit, see what other classes are picked and try to expand our options with a new class. I like me a challenge.

[Oerlaf]

I am going to try an Earth domain cleric this time. That is quite obvious, because "earth is steady and stable".

[nickl_2000]

Congratulation mr_stibbons on the thug entry and win.

And for inspiration for everyone for the next contest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htgr3pvBr-I

[Edea]

I think I have a couple of ideas this time, but I find myself repeatedly visiting the idea of pinning down others rather than being pinned down yourself, which is troublesome; mobility gets more and more important as the level range of the game increases, so finding a way to make being rooted down worth it without making something busted is going to be interesting...

[Kuulvheysoon]

The wizardly Sorceror. I like it, nickl_2000. Classy.

[nickl_2000]

First draft on the Ley Line Sorcerer, a sorcerer based on tapping into the ley lines of the ground and manipulating it. Feel free to take a look at it and review, but be nice with odd wordings and typos (I haven't proof-read much yet).

The wizardly Sorceror. I like it, nickl_2000. Classy.

Thanks, that is exactly what I was going for. With giving rituals and the ability to regain power like the wizard I wanted to give a feel of a sorcerer who channels energy from the outside as well as within.

[Old Harry MTX]

For some time now I've been fantasizing about mechanics that load up during combat, unlocking new active or passive abilities with each turn that the player manages to meet a certain requirement. I would love trying to make a version of it that increases as the character stays in place, perhaps combining it with something like this:

You deploy several bulky metal plates and wooden panels all around you, to form a portable shelter. Your walking speed drop to 5 feet, and you loose any kind of other movement speed that you may have. Also, you automatically fail any Dexterity check or saving throw you perform, but any attack against you have disadvantage and any damage you may suffer from a spell or an effect that require a Dexterity saving throw is automatically halved. Also creatures of your choice treat the space within 5 feet of you as rough terrain. The effects last until you deactivate this gadget, using 1 action.

which is taken from a gadget from an old project of mine. In addition, i would add the ability to conjure "infrastructures" such as barriers, fortifications, shelters, bridges, but also stonehenge-style obelisks and monoliths to amplify magical power.

First draft on the Ley Line Sorcerer, a sorcerer based on tapping into the ley lines of the ground and manipulating it. Feel free to take a look at it and review, but be nice with odd wordings and typos (I haven't proof-read much yet).

Nice catch, I was thinking of using ley lines as a flavour base too!

[nickl_2000]

Nice catch, I was thinking of using ley lines as a flavour base too!

Feel free to do so, I'm sure you will have a very different take on it than I did. At the end, we could even combine them together to make it even better!

[Old Harry MTX]

Feel free to do so, I'm sure you will have a very different take on it than I did. At the end, we could even combine them together to make it even better!

I would love that, but at the moment my ideas are quite incomplete, I hope to have the time to write them in the next few days, also to get an idea of their effectiveness.

[BerzerkerUnit]

First draft on the Ley Line Sorcerer, a sorcerer based on tapping into the ley lines of the ground and manipulating it. Feel free to take a look at it and review, but be nice with odd wordings and typos (I haven't proof-read much yet).




Thanks, that is exactly what I was going for. With giving rituals and the ability to regain power like the wizard I wanted to give a feel of a sorcerer who channels energy from the outside as well as within.

When I saw ley line sorcerer I had to actually go up and check the poster name bc I though I might have posted it and forgotten. Right down to the Ritual casting at 1st and ley line transport later I’d had such a similar idea.

That’s fine though, I can finally create my competitive eating monk.

[nickl_2000]

When I saw ley line sorcerer I had to actually go up and check the poster name bc I though I might have posted it and forgotten. Right down to the Ritual casting at 1st and ley line transport later I’d had such a similar idea.

That’s fine though, I can finally create my competitive eating monk.

That's crazy that they were that similar. I guess I'm glad I got mine posted early :)

[nickl_2000]

Looks like there are a few ready for reviews, so I will hop on them before I get overwhelmed.

Spoiler: Path of the Crimson Diaper

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Glistening Abs - Appropriate, effective, and makes perfect sense to me. This does happen to be a pet peeve of mine in building, I don't like it when you have to invest in a stat for 2 levels and then it becomes way less important. Sure you aren't taking away medium armor prof or anything, but the optimizer in me shudders at having to start my build at level 1 to use this ability.

Phallic Symbolism - This sucker, on the other hand is pretty powerful. You are giving a 1 handed reach weapon with 1d10 damage as a one handed weapon. This makes it vastly superior to anything else out there, especially when you add on PAM. I think it should be okay overall, but be open to changing it in playtesting if/when it gets to powerful.

It isn't wrong, but it is a little unusual that you didn't add a rage feature to a barbarian class. That is typical, but not wrong.

Slow-mo Action - Love it, cinematic, effective, and not broken really at all.

Bro Code - The extra damage is negligible at level 10. So, it's fun, but not a big deal (although my initial reaction was that it was to much). I am more concerned about the advantage at will as a reaction. I like the idea, it makes sense, but I would like to see it have limited uses. It still gives a good flavor, and it fun and helpful but ends up being less overwhelming.

Break Ranks - This needs a top limit of the bonus, you could really game the system on this with enlarge and summons to do a lot of extra damage. I would think 4d4 would be a decent maximum.


This subclass has great flavor, it has great visuals and in the end it's actually pretty simple while still giving more options of what you can do. As I said before it's a little bit of an odd choice that there is nothing to do with raging on a barbarian subclass, but whatever :)

Spoiler: Cleric: Earth Domain

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Domain Spells - Command is a bit of an odd choice for this, I might consider catapult as a level 1 spell. It's pretty fitting. For second level instead of hold person you could consider Earthbind as well. However, that does strip some power from the subclass to do that.

Bonus Proficiency - Nothing wrong with this, but I feel like you should also get the Mold Earth Cantrip. It's utility and fun and so very, very fitting.

Tremorsense - I like this, it's very fitting, it makes sense, and I like how it grows in size over the levels to make it good as a dip, but not broken.

Mountain Stance - Can you voluntarily end this early? Also, I think this is a little weak to be honest. I wouldn't mind seeing something added onto that, and extra bonus for not moving rather than others just not being able to move you. Maybe a bonus to AC, maybe an abillty to throw a rock at someone as a bonus action, maybe if they try and move you and they fail they take damage, maybe difficult terrain around you for a certain radius, just a few ideas.

Geyser - This feels weird. You are an earth domain cleric and you are doing damage with hot water? I get that water is under the earth, but it still feels odd to me. The damage also feels high to me, cool looking, effective, but high. I could be convinced of this otherwise though since it is a level 17 ability. Where did you get the numbers from?

A cool take on the Earth Cleric, I like Cleric and I like this subclass :)