I really think 5e could use an Oracle class, probably as an Artificer-Progression Wisdom-Based Half-Caster, (Pact Magic scaling could also work, but I personally prefer being a Half-Caster with Cantrips for this idea). They'd eventually get Truesight, get bonuses to initiative, be a support-oriented class that would grant temporary hit points instead of healing, and it would have a subclass similar to the Battle Smith Artificer, but as a Battleseer that can see the immediate future of their enemies' moves in combat and attack with weapons using their Wisdom modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity, and get similar features.
Any thoughts on this idea? I know we already have a few subclasses that get similar features (Divination Wizards, Knowledge Clerics, etc), but none of them really fit the "Chosen Oracle of the Gods" idea mechanically or thematically, IMO.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Well, nitpick, but an Oracle is someone who you're supposed to listen to because they're channeling the thoughts/words/desires of gods. With the Truesight angle I think Seer, someone who can see and identify what the divine reveals may be a better, and you already have Battleseer as a subclass. In other words, not a bad idea, but I'd switch the operable sense in the governing class from hearing/speaking to seeing/speaking.
Ooo! Brainstorm, thanks Third: I think another way of getting a similar effect would be a College of Prophecy for Bards or maybe a Prophet class (might be a little too RL religion spirituality loaded). Prophets and prophetic writing aren't just the "predictions" folks today think of when they think prophecy. Rather, prophets and most prophetic writings were very much social criticisms, one could say structural criticism ... so I could see some sort of power like "pronounce downfall" given some sort of tactical inspiration or advantage to those in the party heeding the prophet.
Having written that though, I don't know if there's enough in that prophetic trait to really make a class or subclass out of. I haven't really read VRGtR yet, but if there already isn't a dark gift related to foresight, I could see this being a way of putting say the Cassandra myth into a sort of game mechanic.
First one that comes to mind is a Theurge, that combines arcane and divine casting to be the Red Mage from Final Fantasy. Yes, I know red mages are loosely based on 1e bards, bite me. ;3 Apart from that, most of the game's bases are relatively covered unless we want to add narrowly-focused deep classes, and most of the main weak points could be filled with archetypes. The BM maneuver system is ripe for the picking, for example, and there's room for Tome of Battle-inspired maneuver rogues, barbs, and so on.
Spy- I’d like to see a combo of the Rogue , with either gadgets or magic to help with charisma based undercover or infiltration work. There could be a subclass where it’s more like Bond, no magic but heavy on melee and gadgets. Another subclass could be magic heavy: disguise, illusion, charm. I know there’s stuff baked in to other classes but one that’s dedicated to the art of undercover
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"We did kind of save the realm, a little bit" -Gravely, Knights of the Rolled Table Podcast
It isn't a Class, but I would like a replacement subclass for Way of the Four Elements Monk the way they slyly replaced Undying with Undead or just revise the subclass the way they did Bladesinger but a bit more extreme.
Spy- I’d like to see a combo of the Rogue , with either gadgets or magic to help with charisma based undercover or infiltration work. There could be a subclass where it’s more like Bond, no magic but heavy on melee and gadgets. Another subclass could be magic heavy: disguise, illusion, charm. I know there’s stuff baked in to other classes but one that’s dedicated to the art of undercover
You can already basically do that with Artificer. Just have to build feats / multiclassing as needed.
Spy- I’d like to see a combo of the Rogue , with either gadgets or magic to help with charisma based undercover or infiltration work. There could be a subclass where it’s more like Bond, no magic but heavy on melee and gadgets. Another subclass could be magic heavy: disguise, illusion, charm. I know there’s stuff baked in to other classes but one that’s dedicated to the art of undercover
Sure, spies are cool; but the problem with that is you're building a class or subclass who's focus is basically being independent of the rest of the party. It's sort of like the Assassin, a lot of that character's features are stuff it's basically made to do on its own. So to fully engage the character a DM has to pull focus from the party so the PC can go off and assassinate. I mean think of the table dynamics if one character is basically built to be undercover(uc). The character does their undercover work and the rest of the party is like what, the extraction team if things go bad? What if the UC is actually good so the rest of the party just hangs out in their green room waiting for nothing to happen? It's sort of like the Netrunner vs the rest of the character roles in earlier editions of Cyberpunk (CP Red is a bit better it seems, but I've yet to play it) it's like there's this elaborate side game the rest of the has to sit out on. So I don't know if it's intentional, but basically allowing any PC to develop skills or powers that may be useful in espionage/UC work as the things currently are is probably better for the game than a dedicated spy character with skills above present game options. Spy as background (actually an alt theme for the criminal background) or maybe some sort of feat skill is probably where that should be left. James Bond is probably an inquisitive rogue, the current Daniel Craig version being a bit more of a strength build than prior builds, especially if a DM allows cunning action to be used with vehicles.
We've already got an arcane/divine combo caster in 5E. Unfortunately, it's the Divine Soul sorcerer.
We have an archetype which combines the two, yes. However, the class is at its core an arcane class, that gets divine casting added on by a single, specific archetype. That's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about a class whose core combines the two.
We've already got an arcane/divine combo caster in 5E. Unfortunately, it's the Divine Soul sorcerer.
We have an archetype which combines the two, yes. However, the class is at its core an arcane class, that gets divine casting added on by a single, specific archetype. That's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about a class whose core combines the two.
And what would be the distinction? What do you want from such a hypothetical class that you can't get from Divine Souls (aside from being able to know more spells)? The only real difference between divine and arcane spellcasters in 5E is just what's on their spell lists- it's not like Arcane and Divine magic work differently anymore.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
We've already got an arcane/divine combo caster in 5E. Unfortunately, it's the Divine Soul sorcerer.
We have an archetype which combines the two, yes. However, the class is at its core an arcane class, that gets divine casting added on by a single, specific archetype. That's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about a class whose core combines the two.
And what would be the distinction? What do you want from such a hypothetical class that you can't get from Divine Souls (aside from being able to know more spells)? The only real difference between divine and arcane spellcasters in 5E is just what's on their spell lists- it's not like Arcane and Divine magic work differently anymore.
And even if their issue with the Divine Soul Sorcerer is that they don't prepare spells, the Arcana Domain cleric also exists to fill the "Divine and Arcane full-caster" role.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
I would also like to see a class focused on a pet. Currently there are subclasses or spells that give characters pets but they're either bad (beastmaster ranger) or a spell that doesn't really change the way the character is played much. It would be nice to see a class that gets the pet from level 1 and focuses on how pet throughout. Perhaps subclasses could focus on emphasizing the pet, the character, or both in interesting ways.
I think so many people would enjoy this. It would open up subclasses opportunities for summoners, tamers, dragon riders (or just animal riders in general), circus masters, golem crafters, homunculus creators, and so much more! The question would be how to make the basic pet both balanced and adaptable to whatever concept you wanted.
It isn't a Class, but I would like a replacement subclass for Way of the Four Elements Monk the way they slyly replaced Undying with Undead or just revise the subclass the way they did Bladesinger but a bit more extreme.
One could argue that the new draconic monk discipline kinda does this, but not exactly
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Four-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Non magical inventor, who builds things using physics and engineering not magic. Ability to invent and create things in game.
True elementalist, not a Druid, but a spell caster who is truly one with the elements.
I really think 5e could use an Oracle class, probably as an Artificer-Progression Wisdom-Based Half-Caster, (Pact Magic scaling could also work, but I personally prefer being a Half-Caster with Cantrips for this idea). They'd eventually get Truesight, get bonuses to initiative, be a support-oriented class that would grant temporary hit points instead of healing, and it would have a subclass similar to the Battle Smith Artificer, but as a Battleseer that can see the immediate future of their enemies' moves in combat and attack with weapons using their Wisdom modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity, and get similar features.
Any thoughts on this idea? I know we already have a few subclasses that get similar features (Divination Wizards, Knowledge Clerics, etc), but none of them really fit the "Chosen Oracle of the Gods" idea mechanically or thematically, IMO.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Well, nitpick, but an Oracle is someone who you're supposed to listen to because they're channeling the thoughts/words/desires of gods. With the Truesight angle I think Seer, someone who can see and identify what the divine reveals may be a better, and you already have Battleseer as a subclass. In other words, not a bad idea, but I'd switch the operable sense in the governing class from hearing/speaking to seeing/speaking.
Ooo! Brainstorm, thanks Third: I think another way of getting a similar effect would be a College of Prophecy for Bards or maybe a Prophet class (might be a little too RL religion spirituality loaded). Prophets and prophetic writing aren't just the "predictions" folks today think of when they think prophecy. Rather, prophets and most prophetic writings were very much social criticisms, one could say structural criticism ... so I could see some sort of power like "pronounce downfall" given some sort of tactical inspiration or advantage to those in the party heeding the prophet.
Having written that though, I don't know if there's enough in that prophetic trait to really make a class or subclass out of. I haven't really read VRGtR yet, but if there already isn't a dark gift related to foresight, I could see this being a way of putting say the Cassandra myth into a sort of game mechanic.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
First one that comes to mind is a Theurge, that combines arcane and divine casting to be the Red Mage from Final Fantasy.
Yes, I know red mages are loosely based on 1e bards, bite me. ;3Apart from that, most of the game's bases are relatively covered unless we want to add narrowly-focused deep classes, and most of the main weak points could be filled with archetypes. The BM maneuver system is ripe for the picking, for example, and there's room for Tome of Battle-inspired maneuver rogues, barbs, and so on.We've already got an arcane/divine combo caster in 5E. Unfortunately, it's the Divine Soul sorcerer.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Spy- I’d like to see a combo of the Rogue , with either gadgets or magic to help with charisma based undercover or infiltration work. There could be a subclass where it’s more like Bond, no magic but heavy on melee and gadgets. Another subclass could be magic heavy: disguise, illusion, charm. I know there’s stuff baked in to other classes but one that’s dedicated to the art of undercover
"We did kind of save the realm, a little bit" -Gravely, Knights of the Rolled Table Podcast
Chris
It isn't a Class, but I would like a replacement subclass for Way of the Four Elements Monk the way they slyly replaced Undying with Undead or just revise the subclass the way they did Bladesinger but a bit more extreme.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
You can already basically do that with Artificer. Just have to build feats / multiclassing as needed.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
Sure, spies are cool; but the problem with that is you're building a class or subclass who's focus is basically being independent of the rest of the party. It's sort of like the Assassin, a lot of that character's features are stuff it's basically made to do on its own. So to fully engage the character a DM has to pull focus from the party so the PC can go off and assassinate. I mean think of the table dynamics if one character is basically built to be undercover(uc). The character does their undercover work and the rest of the party is like what, the extraction team if things go bad? What if the UC is actually good so the rest of the party just hangs out in their green room waiting for nothing to happen? It's sort of like the Netrunner vs the rest of the character roles in earlier editions of Cyberpunk (CP Red is a bit better it seems, but I've yet to play it) it's like there's this elaborate side game the rest of the has to sit out on. So I don't know if it's intentional, but basically allowing any PC to develop skills or powers that may be useful in espionage/UC work as the things currently are is probably better for the game than a dedicated spy character with skills above present game options. Spy as background (actually an alt theme for the criminal background) or maybe some sort of feat skill is probably where that should be left. James Bond is probably an inquisitive rogue, the current Daniel Craig version being a bit more of a strength build than prior builds, especially if a DM allows cunning action to be used with vehicles.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
We have an archetype which combines the two, yes. However, the class is at its core an arcane class, that gets divine casting added on by a single, specific archetype. That's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about a class whose core combines the two.
And what would be the distinction? What do you want from such a hypothetical class that you can't get from Divine Souls (aside from being able to know more spells)? The only real difference between divine and arcane spellcasters in 5E is just what's on their spell lists- it's not like Arcane and Divine magic work differently anymore.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
And even if their issue with the Divine Soul Sorcerer is that they don't prepare spells, the Arcana Domain cleric also exists to fill the "Divine and Arcane full-caster" role.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
I think so many people would enjoy this. It would open up subclasses opportunities for summoners, tamers, dragon riders (or just animal riders in general), circus masters, golem crafters, homunculus creators, and so much more! The question would be how to make the basic pet both balanced and adaptable to whatever concept you wanted.
I think I'll have to give this a go now.
One could argue that the new draconic monk discipline kinda does this, but not exactly
Four-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!