New D&D 5e Base Class Contest: Discussion Thread

[animorte]

A 4-elements monk that lets you play something out of Avatar would be pretty slick

I've worked on something like this, but I've seen it done quite a few times and now I have Avatar Legends anyway so...

• My mind first goes to Shadow Sorcerer for this theme.
• I second the "any Artificer" statement.
• Mercy Monk gives me some ideas.
• Eldritch Knight (taking some tips from Hexblade and Paladin) as a gish.
• Spirits Bard tickles my fancy daily.
• Forge Cleric (inspiration = Ornn from LoL).

[Notafish]

This one seems like it has a lot of possibilities. I have a long weekend; I might see if I can figure out something interesting to do with one of the wizard schools (necromancy seems like the most obvious candidate).

[Amechra]

So how close does the new class have to be to the original?

Like, if I made a take on a Bard subclass, does the end result need to be a spellcaster?

[animorte]

So how close does the new class have to be to the original?

Like, if I made a take on a Bard subclass, does the end result need to be a spellcaster?

I'm gonna say no. As long as your subclass has clear inspiration. I myself am also considering non-spell options for my entry which is inspired by a full-caster.

[White Blade]

I’m most of the way finished with a Mastermind base class at this point.

In terms of other ideas that are appealing, Divine Soul seems to carry some possibility for a whole class. Eldritch Knight has the heft mechanically but it’s not a broad archetype in fiction. Necromancer definitely strikes me as a good choice.

[sengmeng]

I've been toying with the idea of trying to fix one the most garbage subclasses, because for most of them, their disappointing nature partly comes from how cool the concept is and how bad the end result was. So berserker, trickery cleric, arcane archer, way of the four elements monk, a toss up of inquisitive or mastermind rogue, and wild magic sorcerer is the list I came up with. Could throw evoker in, but doing any of the wizard schools would be best done by focusing even harder on their chosen school, and the problem with evoker is that it already focuses on the worst school. Any other real stinkers I missed in the supplemental books? I mostly stuck to core, except for rogue.

[animorte]

I've been toying with the idea of trying to fix one the most garbage subclasses, because for most of them, their disappointing nature partly comes from how cool the concept is and how bad the end result was.

That's... not a bad idea. Looking forward to what you decide.

[Just to Browse]

Everything from SCAG probably belongs on that list. I would add the Assassin Rogue and Beastmaster Ranger as well.

[Just to Browse]

Double posting to say that the storm herald is finished and posted! The heart of it is an upgrade and expansion of the Barbarian Storm Herald, but it's also a love letter to Silva Stormrage's Tempest Warlord, a super cool class that I fell in love with over a decade ago (oh god I am so old). Silva, if by chance you click into these contest threads even though they're 5e material, I want you to know I still remember the Tempest Warlord and I think it's cool as hell.

[Itsfrank]

Oh no I forgot to vote on the last thing!

[BerzerkerUnit]

Here’s the Sojourner, all teleports all the time.

Any feedback is appreciated!

[MrStabby]

Hmm. I am going to jump in to this one I think with the Magician, based on the themes of the Illusionist subclass and trying to channel themes of old music-hall acts. A somewhat magical performer blending illusions and swordplay to disable and harm their enemies.

First iteration is looking... complex. It has subcasses of conjurer, clairvoyant and mesmerist.

EDI: Now I need to work out how to add pictures.

[BerzerkerUnit]

Hmm. I am going to jump in to this one I think with the Magician, based on the themes of the Illusionist subclass and trying to channel themes of old music-hall acts. A somewhat magical performer blending illusions and swordplay to disable and harm their enemies.

First iteration is looking... complex. It has subcasses of conjurer, clairvoyant and mesmerist.

EDI: Now I need to work out how to add pictures.

I use Dall-E to quickly generate stuff for fun like this. Some of what I get is great, a lot is trash, but it pops when compared to my sketchbook or nothing.

I also use Homebrewery to make the pdfs. Take a look when you can.

[MrStabby]

I use Dall-E to quickly generate stuff for fun like this. Some of what I get is great, a lot is trash, but it pops when compared to my sketchbook or nothing.

I also use Homebrewery to make the pdfs. Take a look when you can.

I used stable diffusion for the pictures, just need to work out how to add them to posts. Homebrewery is cool also - I hadn't thought of using that to add the pictures.

[BerzerkerUnit]

I used stable diffusion for the pictures, just need to work out how to add them to posts. Homebrewery is cool also - I hadn't thought of using that to add the pictures.

I save my stuff to deviant art then copy the pic address and use the picture link above the text box Like so

[MrStabby]

And I have some illusionists! I used Imgur instead, but seems to work. Thanks!

Also what's it with AI and hands? I mean I work with AI - I build algorithms for a living, and even I don't really get why its so bad.





EDIT: I have never published through the homebrewery before. I think that this should link to the content - before I review, refine etc., can someone tell me if they see it and its all in an appropriate format?

https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/fF_oeicTDUzp

[BerzerkerUnit]

And I have some illusionists! I used Imgur instead, but seems to work. Thanks!

Also what's it with AI and hands? I mean I work with AI - I build algorithms for a living, and even I don't really get why its so bad.





EDIT: I have never published through the homebrewery before. I think that this should link to the content - before I review, refine etc., can someone tell me if they see it and its all in an appropriate format?

https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/fF_oeicTDUzp

It all appears to be in order!

[MrStabby]

It all appears to be in order!

Fantastic. Thanks. I just need to polish the class.

I think my problem is too many weak abilities. I had a list of things I wanted, which were extensive.

I added them all. The result was overpowered (naturally) so I powered down so many... now I just have a sea of very situational abilities, abilities of marginal effect and a lack of the big features that really define a lot of other classes - rage, sneak attack action surge, paladin aura.

Plan for next weekend is to run some numbers then recalibrate... and then finally take a look at what other people have put up.

[animorte]

Putting in my vote to extend this Be Your Own Class contest. Some RL happenings have demanded my attention, but I have a really cool idea I need more time to finish.

[Just to Browse]

You have my support

[Snowben Gaming]

An extension would honestly be welcome in my end, so I'll throw my vote in as well.

[MrStabby]

Whilst I am mostly done, I am all in favour of an extension if it allows others to take part.

And I can still tweak and revise it in that time anyway.

[sengmeng]

I could have finished, but I could actually revise it now. If I finish it.

[MrStabby]

IÂ’m most of the way finished with a Mastermind base class at this point.

In terms of other ideas that are appealing, Divine Soul seems to carry some possibility for a whole class. Eldritch Knight has the heft mechanically but itÂ’s not a broad archetype in fiction. Necromancer definitely strikes me as a good choice.

I do agree the necromancer has a lot of potential. I would be really keen to see what you could do with that. My take is that it has to be one of the hardest options to futureproof and balance. Most necromancy spells are just bad - either you balance round typical spells of a given level or you balance round the existing power level of spells. The former is poorly balanced now, the latter gets a bit screwy if in future spells are released that bring the power level up to normal. Maybe if the class comes with some new necromancy spells and is balanced round those then it can be more robust?

In a similar vein I was tempted by spirits bard for a witch doctor class, and might still try that outside the competition.

Shadowmonk seems like it could have more core abilities. Some cleric domains seem like they could replace some elements neatly (does death domain need healing and bless or life domain need inflict wounds?) though this is probably more a homebrew fix. Circle of dreams druid appeals to me as a subclass that has some fluff/expectations not delivered on and where the base class adds features that don't feel like they fit to me. Rogues also feel rich for this - so many themes that are awesome that feel like fitting them into a subclass does them down (Phantom is top of the list, but soulknife, inquisitive, Mastermind and swashbuckler also fit, though I also feel swashbuckler can be reasonably well served by a multiclass).

So many projects for later...

[Notafish]

I'm still not sure if I will get something together in time, but my thoughts on Necromancer were more along the lines of what BerserkerUnit did with the Sojourner - moving away from spells in favor of class features. Necromancy in DnD is limited to a small set of niches - creating minions, speaking with the dead, and not dying/stealing the life force of others, and all of them could exist outside of the spellcasting system, I feel.

[Vogie]

I also based my class off of the Mastermind, and have posted it. I'm still figuring out the last subclass, but will update it soon

[White Blade]

I do agree the necromancer has a lot of potential. I would be really keen to see what you could do with that. My take is that it has to be one of the hardest options to futureproof and balance. Most necromancy spells are just bad - either you balance round typical spells of a given level or you balance round the existing power level of spells. The former is poorly balanced now, the latter gets a bit screwy if in future spells are released that bring the power level up to normal. Maybe if the class comes with some new necromancy spells and is balanced round those then it can be more robust?

My thoughts were similar to Not A Fish's, that you divvy out the class without spells at all. Minion mancy with some extra spells for panache, but mostly just "Here's your monster stat block, here's how many you get."

I will say the other class I thought of was Circle of the Moon Druid. I feel like shapeshifting is such a distinctive flavor of magic and a class that leaned into it would have a very distinct feel. I had a full on "Shapedancer" which was able to either focus into tanking or impersonating idea percolating, but it didn't come together quite right.

I'm not gonna get mine in, I was about 2/3rds through my Mastermind class (which relied on an invocation like subsystem) when it got eaten and then I either didn't have time or motivation to redo it.

[MrStabby]

My thoughts were similar to Not A Fish's, that you divvy out the class without spells at all. Minion mancy with some extra spells for panache, but mostly just "Here's your monster stat block, here's how many you get."

I will say the other class I thought of was Circle of the Moon Druid. I feel like shapeshifting is such a distinctive flavor of magic and a class that leaned into it would have a very distinct feel. I had a full on "Shapedancer" which was able to either focus into tanking or impersonating idea percolating, but it didn't come together quite right.

I'm not gonna get mine in, I was about 2/3rds through my Mastermind class (which relied on an invocation like subsystem) when it got eaten and then I either didn't have time or motivation to redo it.

Certainly a fair enough perspective. I had taken the perspective of it being really annoying inf you were The Necromancy Character and other PCs were able to do raise dead and animate dead better etc.. Giving those spells seemed the obvious solution but you are right, no reason why the tools shouldn't be class abilities.

[Gnomes2169]

I exist ONCE MORE. I definitely don't have time to make something for this one but looking forward to join in the next.

[Notafish]

Yeah, I'm not going to be able to finish the Ur-Necromancer class by the deadline. 20 levels of class features is a bit beyond my ability at the best of times and now is not the best of times for me. I'm going to paste the markup into a word doc so that I can post it once I do have time to work on it. I look forward to reading everyone else's submissions!