The Touch of Death Dark Gift is kind of like the scaling melee cantrips from SCAG, but it's not attached to any particular class. I can't wait for these features to make it into DDB, for the ultimate Grim Reaper build. The synergy with death domain's CD seems idea.
Thoughts? I mean, I know that for a STR cleric, my spell DCs aren't going to be amazing... Still worth it, I'm thinking.
As WallineDungeonMaster says it's not really up to you if you get a Dark Gift or not; you can fish for it of course, but your DM may want to enact some kind of price for it which we can't factor in here, especially since this is the only dark gift that doesn't seem to have a penalty built into it (unless I've missed it somewhere?). It will need to make sense for your character, and/or be offered as part of some kind of bargain that may or may not be of benefit long term.
But yeah, it's a strong gift for any kind of necrotic build; having what is essentially a free inflict wounds punch alone is fantastic, but being able to ignore necrotic resistance when you deal necrotic damage with an attack roll is huge, as it means the various undead etc. that can resist necrotic are no obstacle to you. Is there even another way to ignore necrotic resistance in 5e?
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Re: ignoring necrotic resistance... Sorta/kinda a little bit. The Grave Cleric CD can grant vulnerability, effectively canceling resistance. But it's just for one attack, so not really comparable.
In general, I'd agree that any time you can nullify resistance to a damage type, it's a really big deal. Even bigger if that damage type is a major part of your character's offense. In this case, it is probably not as big as it seems. Most of the undead and fiends that are at issue have immunity rather than resistance. I mean, I'd take any boost. But, this is kind of like the Poisoner feat, in that it sidesteps a small issue but doesn't affect the bigger issue.
As to the issue of your DM needing to provide it to you. Nope. Or at least, not if the DM is allowing the content from the book. In the opening section on Dark Gifts it says, "Dark Gifts are intended for starting characters, but characters who don’t choose one might be presented with opportunities to gain a Dark Gift as their stories—and desperate circumstances—unfold." I don't think anything that specifies that it is part of character creation can be said to require a DM to provide it, since it would occur before play. This would fall into the same category of world specific races, subclasses or spells that may or may not be part of the world that your DM is running. But within whatever limits that the DM sets, character creation is the player's domain.
Also, the Touch of Death Dark Gift most assuredly does have a penalty associated with it. It affects anyone you touch, not just those you intend to attack. Now, it only gives us mechanics for the attack. But the fact that the penalty isn't carefully quantified is no different than what directives a symbiote might compel you do follow.
The only thing that makes that particular gift specific to this build idea is that it is a thematic version of the melee cantrips like BB or GFB. In fact, in man cases it would be weaker. But the Death Cleric can make better use of it, and it is thematic as hell.
The Touch of Death Dark Gift is kind of like the scaling melee cantrips from SCAG, but it's not attached to any particular class. I can't wait for these features to make it into DDB, for the ultimate Grim Reaper build. The synergy with death domain's CD seems idea.
Thoughts? I mean, I know that for a STR cleric, my spell DCs aren't going to be amazing... Still worth it, I'm thinking.
I mean this requires your DM giving you the dark gift. Just use inflict wounds
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As WallineDungeonMaster says it's not really up to you if you get a Dark Gift or not; you can fish for it of course, but your DM may want to enact some kind of price for it which we can't factor in here, especially since this is the only dark gift that doesn't seem to have a penalty built into it (unless I've missed it somewhere?). It will need to make sense for your character, and/or be offered as part of some kind of bargain that may or may not be of benefit long term.
But yeah, it's a strong gift for any kind of necrotic build; having what is essentially a free inflict wounds punch alone is fantastic, but being able to ignore necrotic resistance when you deal necrotic damage with an attack roll is huge, as it means the various undead etc. that can resist necrotic are no obstacle to you. Is there even another way to ignore necrotic resistance in 5e?
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Re: ignoring necrotic resistance... Sorta/kinda a little bit. The Grave Cleric CD can grant vulnerability, effectively canceling resistance. But it's just for one attack, so not really comparable.
In general, I'd agree that any time you can nullify resistance to a damage type, it's a really big deal. Even bigger if that damage type is a major part of your character's offense. In this case, it is probably not as big as it seems. Most of the undead and fiends that are at issue have immunity rather than resistance. I mean, I'd take any boost. But, this is kind of like the Poisoner feat, in that it sidesteps a small issue but doesn't affect the bigger issue.
As to the issue of your DM needing to provide it to you. Nope. Or at least, not if the DM is allowing the content from the book. In the opening section on Dark Gifts it says, "Dark Gifts are intended for starting characters, but characters who don’t choose one might be presented with opportunities to gain a Dark Gift as their stories—and desperate circumstances—unfold." I don't think anything that specifies that it is part of character creation can be said to require a DM to provide it, since it would occur before play. This would fall into the same category of world specific races, subclasses or spells that may or may not be part of the world that your DM is running. But within whatever limits that the DM sets, character creation is the player's domain.
Also, the Touch of Death Dark Gift most assuredly does have a penalty associated with it. It affects anyone you touch, not just those you intend to attack. Now, it only gives us mechanics for the attack. But the fact that the penalty isn't carefully quantified is no different than what directives a symbiote might compel you do follow.
The only thing that makes that particular gift specific to this build idea is that it is a thematic version of the melee cantrips like BB or GFB. In fact, in man cases it would be weaker. But the Death Cleric can make better use of it, and it is thematic as hell.
Death Clerics can ignore necrotic resistance with their spells and channel divinity at level 6. But that's pending DM approval.
Can a character with a natural weapon use it for this attack instead of the listed unarmed damage?
Yes
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