so, what if you took arcane trickster and said, "Hey I like evocation!" why not change the schools to illusion and evocation via house rule/homebrew subclass? It would fit a character I have quite well but I am not sure if it is balanced, thoughts?
I know, I just imagine her hitting one thing with her sword and then blasting another thing with a magic missile, a half-decent ranged option for this character.
I know, I just imagine her hitting one thing with her sword and then blasting another thing with a magic missile, a half-decent ranged option for this character.
Keep in mind that she won't be able to do both in one turn. Magic Missile takes an Action, specifically the [Tooltip Not Found], so you wouldn't be able to hit with the sword first then cast the spell; and if you cast the spell, you won't be able to do the bonus action Two-Weapon Fighting attack, since you didn't take the Attack action.
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Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
Because its added damage at no downside, absolutely none, plus sneak attack damage can be done in any type your attacks deal and green flame blade (and booming blade at higher levels) adds a different damage type directly to your attack, allowing to dodge resistantces.
Because its added damage at no downside, absolutely none, plus sneak attack damage can be done in any type your attacks deal and green flame blade (and booming blade at higher levels) adds a different damage type directly to your attack, allowing to dodge resistantces.
There's the downside of not being able to do a bonus-action attack, since the attack with either blade spell uses the Cast a Spell action. But otherwise it's cake & ice cream.
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Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
"you won't be able to do the bonus action Two-Weapon Fighting attack, since you didn't take the Attack action."
who said anything about 2 weapons? why would anyone duel wield rapiers, could also use my action to attack and then quicken magic missile via metamagic adept feat, being able to do illusions without anyone knowing it was me would also be cool
"you won't be able to do the bonus action Two-Weapon Fighting attack, since you didn't take the Attack action."
who said anything about 2 weapons? why would anyone duel wield rapiers, could also use my action to attack and then quicken magic missile via metamagic adept feat, being able to do illusions without anyone knowing it was me would also be cool
Rapiers are the most chased dual wielded weapons. (Personally I prefer Rapier & Whip for the reach option.)
You could use shortswords, they don’t have to be rapiers. The additional 1 point of damage on average from a shortsword to a rapier is negligible once sneak attack and cantrip damage get added.
Many Rogues engage in Two-Weapon fighting in case they miss with the first attack.
You could Metamagic Feat, but hadn’t mentioned that previously. I would suggest something like the Sentinel feat instead. Sneak Attack is “per turn,” so it works on Opportunity Attacks too as long as they occur on other creatures’ turns.
Personally, for what it seems like you wanna go for is something a li’l more “magic-ey” than the basic Trickster. To that end I suggest the closest thing I have to a “build:” Take an Arcane Trickster to around 7th/8th level, dip a level into Wizard, take trickster for another 4-5 levels, then a second level in Wiz, then Trickster to close. It works with lotsa races, and lotsa Wis subclasses. You’ll be almost twice as magical as any stock Trickster, but sacrifice any potential 4th-level spells known. That means no greater invisibility, but most campaigns never make it that far anywhere so whatev. 🤷♂️ Choose wisely on your spells for one’s that upcast well, and focus on noncombat spells for at least ⅔ ¾ of your spells since most of the time it’ll be whichever blade cantrip you picked every round during combat. (That’s part of why Illusion and Enchantment are their thing.) If your campaign does go the distance, you’ll have more 4th-level slots than a straight Trickster would, and lotsa good spells to upcast (lots & lotsa spells). And you’ll be able to prepare a handful of your choice each day, and ritually cast half of them even if they aren’t prepared. Oh, and you’ll have 2 × the cantrips. (Lots and lots and lotsa spells. 😉)
I can confirm about 7-8 Trickster, then 1 Wizard. I'd also taken Ritual Caster at 4th level (we got free feats at each ASI) so that was me trying out "Wizard lite". Taking Rogue AT to 7th and later means that you have 2nd-level spell slots and spells known available. So I was able to use more nice 2nd-level illusion/enchantment wizard spells as a trickster, and round out my first-level spells by preparing them as a Wizard. And since I'd done Ritual Caster, I could treat the ritual book as my spellbook, and so all those 1st-level ritual spells I'd taken(paid for) were already available to prepare!
so, what if you took arcane trickster and said, "Hey I like evocation!" why not change the schools to illusion and evocation via house rule/homebrew subclass? It would fit a character I have quite well but I am not sure if it is balanced, thoughts?
I like character creation!
It would be balanced just fine. Those restrictions are not for balance purposes but for thematic ones.
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Oh, nice! I have always imagined her with a raven familiar casting magic missile and stabbing stuff with her rapier
I like character creation!
Remember, magic missile is ineligible for Sneak Attack.
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I know, I just imagine her hitting one thing with her sword and then blasting another thing with a magic missile, a half-decent ranged option for this character.
I like character creation!
Keep in mind that she won't be able to do both in one turn. Magic Missile takes an Action, specifically the [Tooltip Not Found], so you wouldn't be able to hit with the sword first then cast the spell; and if you cast the spell, you won't be able to do the bonus action Two-Weapon Fighting attack, since you didn't take the Attack action.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
What they said.👆Arcane Tricksters with either green-flame blade or booming blade are murder though. •whoofta•
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Why is that?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
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"real life is a super high CR."
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Because its added damage at no downside, absolutely none, plus sneak attack damage can be done in any type your attacks deal and green flame blade (and booming blade at higher levels) adds a different damage type directly to your attack, allowing to dodge resistantces.
My homebrew content: Monsters, subclasses, Magic items, Feats, spells, races, backgrounds
There's the downside of not being able to do a bonus-action attack, since the attack with either blade spell uses the Cast a Spell action. But otherwise it's cake & ice cream.
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
"you won't be able to do the bonus action Two-Weapon Fighting attack, since you didn't take the Attack action."
who said anything about 2 weapons? why would anyone duel wield rapiers, could also use my action to attack and then quicken magic missile via metamagic adept feat, being able to do illusions without anyone knowing it was me would also be cool
I like character creation!
You could Metamagic Feat, but hadn’t mentioned that previously. I would suggest something like the Sentinel feat instead. Sneak Attack is “per turn,” so it works on Opportunity Attacks too as long as they occur on other creatures’ turns.
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It just seems weird to duel wield rapiers, I just want one, sounds cooler.
I like character creation!
Personally, for what it seems like you wanna go for is something a li’l more “magic-ey” than the basic Trickster. To that end I suggest the closest thing I have to a “build:” Take an Arcane Trickster to around 7th/8th level, dip a level into Wizard, take trickster for another 4-5 levels, then a second level in Wiz, then Trickster to close. It works with lotsa races, and lotsa Wis subclasses. You’ll be almost twice as magical as any stock Trickster, but sacrifice any potential 4th-level spells known. That means no greater invisibility, but most campaigns never make it that far anywhere so whatev. 🤷♂️ Choose wisely on your spells for one’s that upcast well, and focus on noncombat spells for at least ⅔ ¾ of your spells since most of the time it’ll be whichever blade cantrip you picked every round during combat. (That’s part of why Illusion and Enchantment are their thing.) If your campaign does go the distance, you’ll have more 4th-level slots than a straight Trickster would, and lotsa good spells to upcast (lots & lotsa spells). And you’ll be able to prepare a handful of your choice each day, and ritually cast half of them even if they aren’t prepared. Oh, and you’ll have 2 × the cantrips. (Lots and lots and lotsa spells. 😉)
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I can confirm about 7-8 Trickster, then 1 Wizard. I'd also taken Ritual Caster at 4th level (we got free feats at each ASI) so that was me trying out "Wizard lite". Taking Rogue AT to 7th and later means that you have 2nd-level spell slots and spells known available. So I was able to use more nice 2nd-level illusion/enchantment wizard spells as a trickster, and round out my first-level spells by preparing them as a Wizard. And since I'd done Ritual Caster, I could treat the ritual book as my spellbook, and so all those 1st-level ritual spells I'd taken(paid for) were already available to prepare!
Helpful rewriter of Japanese->English translation and delver into software codebases (she/e/they)
I could use the bladesinger subclass, also my character is a drow follower of Eilistraee (the only good drow god, my character is chaotic good)
I like character creation!