Homebrew Class Shadow Master v1.2

Shadow Master Class v1.2

Shadow Masters are descendants of an entity known as The Formless. Not much known about this entity other than it is the beginning of the bloodline of those with affinity with shadows. Many have used this affinity to improved their innate talents and push themselves be known to the world as powerful individuals. However very few have truly delved deep into the true essence of shadows and the role in the world. They don't fight for fame. They don't fight for acknowledgment. They don't fight to be unique. They are Shadows, trailing behind other heroes and villains. Becoming formless to shadow another's. Their identity is not to become the head of the party, but the one that gives opportunities for others to push ahead. However this creed is not known to all Shadow Masters, leading to outliers. Whichever legacy they choose to hone their capabilities, it all comes from the one that takes on all forms and is none.

Primary Ability: Charisma
HP Die: D8
Saving Throw Proficiencies: Charisma and Dexterity
Skill Proficiencies: Choose 2 - Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Intimidation, Perception, Survival or Stealth
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple and Martial Weapons
Armor Training: Light Armor

The following is a chart showing all features gained per level

Level | Features | Essence Die | # of Shades

1 | Essence, Weapon Mastery, Shadow Manifestation - Shade | D4 | 2
2 | Shadow Manifestation - Augmentation | D4 | 2
3 | Subclass Feature | D6 | 3
4 | ASI | D6 | 3
5 | Subclass Feature | D8 | 3
6 | Shadow Manifestation - Expanded Augmentation, Shadow Drain | D8 | 3
7 | Essence Proficiency | D8 | 4
8 | ASI | D8 | 4
9 | Subclass Feature | D8 | 4
10 | -- | D8 | 5
11 | Subclass Feature | D10 | 5
12 | ASI | D10 | 5
13 | Shadow Manifestation - Hidden Manipulation | D10 | 5
14 | -- | D10 | 6
15 | Essence Recovery | D10 | 6
16 | ASI | D10 | 6
17 | Subclass Feature | D12 | 6
18 | -- | D12 | 7
19 | Epic Boon | D12 | 7
20 | Lord of Shadows | D12 | 7

Level 1 Feature: Essence
"You gain access to a magical source of power within shadows to augment your capabilities"

You gain Essence Dice based on your PB + CHA mod. The scaling of your Essence Dice is detailed in the following:
Level 1-2 | D4
Level 3-4 | D6
Level 5-10 | D8
Level 11-16| D10
Level 17+ | D12
You regain all Essence Dice 1/long rest.

Level 1 Feature: Weapon Mastery

Your training with weapons allows you to use the mastery properties of two kinds of Simple or Martial weapons of your choice. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can practice weapon drills and change one of those weapon choices.

Level 1 Feature: Shadow Manifestation - Shade

You gain 2 Shades that can manifest themselves in various ways. They can be described as additional shadows stretching from your body or tattoos that animate around your skin at will. They can be commanded in the following ways:

• Hidden Presence: While in dim light or non-magical darkness, you gain advantage to stealth checks as long as you have 1 Shade attached to you. Additionally, if you attack with the Invisible status active, you can expend 1 Essence Die to add the roll onto your attack roll. You also gain Darkvision for 60 ft while having a Shade attached to you.
• Shadow Sense: You can ritually cast this ability to perceive through the senses of nearby shadows. Detach and send 1 Shade to a specific non-creature's shadow is casted for 10 minutes. It cannot willingly move and will always stay within that shadow as long as one is casted from it.

During this time, you can perceive through the senses of your Shade simultaneously to your own. Through your Shade you gain Blindsight for 60ft. and have advantage to perception rolls. Your Shade must roll a Stealth check to be and remain hidden, and you use your CHA instead of DEX for the Stealth roll.

Additionally, you can use your bonus action to expend 1 Essence Die to use this immediately for 1 minute. If the Shade goes beyond 120 ft. away from you or if the ability ends, it disappears. However, if the ability ends while being up to 5 ft. away from you, it reattaches to you instead.

• Shadow Step: Expend 1 Essence Die to use a bonus action to teleport up to 30 ft. to a Dim Lit area. The area you teleport to must have enough space for you to appear in. Additionally if your Shadow Sense is active, you can instead teleport to where your Shade is located regardless if its more than 30 ft. away from you.

You regain all Shades 1/long rest. Also, you gain additional Shades at level 3, 7, 10, 14, 16.

Level 2 Feature: Shadow Manifestation - Augmentation

You can use a bonus action to augment the following by using your Shade. Each Augment only uses 1 Shade and cannot be used for other Manifestations. Shades used this way are still considered to be attached. You must have at least 1 Shade 5 ft. near you to use one of the following Augments.

• Body: Augment your body to enhance your physical prowess. You have Advantage when it comes to STR/DEX Saving Throws, Athletics, and Acrobatics skill checks. As an reaction, expend 1 Essence Die and roll to add to the defined saving throws.
  
  • Watchful Gaze: Additionally, as a bonus action, you can expend 1 Essence Die to target a creature 30 ft. from you. The target must make a WIS saving throw of a DC = 8 + CHA mod + PB. On a failed save, the target is now frightened by you. At the end of each of its turns, the Frightened target repeats the save, ending the effect on success, or after 1 minute passes.
• Weapon: Augment a weapon you are currently equipping and are proficient with. Your weapon can now deal psychic or necrotic damage if you choose to. In addition, as part of your Attack action, you can expend 1 Essence Die and roll to add to your damage roll.

Level 3 Feature: Shadow Master Subclass

You choose a Shadow Master Legacy as a subclass of your choice. Blade Legacy, Beast Legacy, Curse Legacy or Soulbound will be available to choose from. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass's features that are of the according level. Subclass Features are given at 3, 5, 9, 11, 17.

Level 4 Feature: Ability Score Improvement

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Shadow Master Levels 8, 12, and 16.

Level 6 Feature: Expanded Shadow Manifestation - Augmentation

You gain the following augmentations

• Sight: Gain advantage on Perception checks and against being Blinded. Consume 2 Essence Dice to gain the effects of See Invisibility for 1 hour.
• Mind: Gain immunity to being Charmed and gain advantage to Investigation and Arcana checks. Expend 1 Essence Dice as a reaction and roll to add to INT/WIS Saving Throws.
• Shadow Sense: As part of cast of Shadow Sense, expend 1 Shade to augment the according Shade for 10 minutes. The Augmented Shade can now be used as a point of origin for Watchful Gaze. When using Shadow Step on the Augmented Shade, gain total Temp HP = Shadow Master Level + CHA mod. Additionally, expend 2 Essence Dice to gain the effects of the Invisibility Spell for 1 hour.

Level 6 Feature: Shadow Drain

You gain the ability to gain additional Shades not counting against your Shade total by stealing the shadows of your environment. PB/Long Rest you can use an Action to obtain an additional Shade by stealing a non-creature's shadow for 10 minutes, after which, the shadow returns to the non-creature. You can only obtain additional Shades from Shadow Drain equal to your CHA mod at the same time.

Level 7 Feature: Essence Proficiency

1/Short Rest, you can spend 10 minutes to regain half of your Essence Dice Total.

Level 13 Feature: Shadow Manifestation - Hidden Manipulation

PB/Long Rest you can manipulate shadows casted by creatures to control the essence of their being. You can now do the following:

• Shadow Strike: You can use your Attack Action to teleport 5 ft. near a target within 60 ft. and make your attack. Additionally, you can expend 2 Essence Dice and use the rolls to add Necrotic or Psychic damage(your choice) to your damage rolls.
• Implode Essence: As an action, choose a target with a shadow and have them make a WIS saving throw against a DC = 8 + PB + CHA mod. On a failure you implode their shadow and deal 2d8 psychic or necrotic damage (your choice). Additionally for 1 minute, the target casts no shadow and has disadvantage to CON and WIS saving throws. On a success, they only take half damage and no other effect.
• Shadow Restraint: As and action, choose a target with a shadow and have them make a STR saving throw against a DC = 8 + PB + CHA mod. On a failure, the target is has their movement halved and have disadvantage to DEX Saving Throws. At the end of each of it's turns, the target can use their Action to repeat the save, ending the effect on success or after 1 minute passes. However, you can expend 1 Essence Die to increase the DC by your CHA mod. Shadow Restraint ends early if they are no longer casting a shadow.

You can also expend 1 Essence Die to use Hidden Manipulation if you run out of uses.

Level 15 Feature: Essence Recovery

Whenever you gain an Essence Die(Dice), regain HP equal to the total of Essence Dice gained + Shadow Master Level.

Level 19 Feature: Epic Boon

You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.

Level 20 Feature: Lord of Shadows

1/Long Rest you can use your Action to use Lord of Shadows feature for 10 minutes. You gain the following benefits:

• Manifest an aura in a 30 ft. emanation originating from you. The area within is considered as being under Dim Light and target creatures have disadvantage on WIS saving throws.
• All damage done by your Shadow Manifestations gain additional 3d10 psychic or necrotic damage(your choice).
• Add your CHA mod to your DEX/STR checks
• You can use your reaction to use Shadow Step when you take damage
• Gain resistance to Radiant, Necrotic, Psychic, Cold and Poison damage.
• Gain Immunity to being unwillingly forced into Prone or Moved.

Changelog v1.2

• Removed Shade Travel and modified its ability to fit within Shadow Sense. This was done to avoid making a stat block and making this a bit of a half-summoner class
• Adjusted all abilities that interact with Shade Travel accordingly 
• Added a new Level 6 feature called Shadow Drain
• Replaced Level 13 feature Unkown Presence with Hidden Manipulation. This was done to have the player have more intractability to their surroundings. Demonstrating growth with their power to control Shadows.
• Level 13 feature Unknown Presences was retrofitted to the feature Lord of Shadows.