Note: This subclass was made for my Shatterfrost campaign setting, but it can be used for any setting.
SORCERER - Parasite Host
A bloodied halfling in a long coat crouches furtively over the corpse of a soldier. He places one hand on the soldier’s chest, and a mass of black tendrils slithers from the depth of his sleeve. The tendrils worm their way into the soldier’s wounds, and the halfling stands up, looking refreshed.
Standing against a horde of shambling skeletons, an elf takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. When he opens them, they are a solid black. He exhales a wave of dark spores, which writhe through the bones of his foes, pinning them to the ground.
A human lies on the ground, covered in wounds, as an orc looms above her. In a surge of green ooze, the human flies to her feet. As the orc readies his axe, the ooze grapples his legs, peeling the flesh from his bones in an instant. Once satisfied, it slithers back to the woman and disappears under the hem of her dress.
The world of Shatterfrost is home to many parasitic creatures, be they creations of a mage, beings from another plane of existence, or the young of a creature such as a slaad or illithid. Though these creatures usually end up killing their hosts, the one infecting you has not. Maybe you were given an antidote that stopped the progression of the parasite, but didn’t kill it outright. Maybe you were infected as part of an experiment conducted by a cult or a mad archmage. Or maybe you already had innate magic, which kept the parasite at bay. Whatever the case, you have survived the initial introduction of the entity that shares your body.
Most parasites in the above examples are magical. Therefore, you have learned to draw on the inherent magical energy of your parasite. Sorcerers afflicted with such a curse must learn to walk a fine line between the magical and the mundane: they risk resisting their affliction completely, and losing their powers, and are at the same time in danger of succumbing fully to the parasite.
Level
Feature
1
Symbiotic Balance
6
Altered Form
14
Narrow Balance
18
Corrupting Host
Symbiotic Balance
Beginning at 1st level when you choose this subclass, you learn to rein back your parasite at most times, and set it free at others.
You have 5 parasite points, spread between two categories: Resistant and Corrupted. When you gain this feature, you have 3 in Resistant and 2 in Corrupted. In the future, whenever you spend any number of sorcery points, you must transfer one parasite point from Resistant to Corrupted. Whenever you take damage, you must transfer one parasite point from Corrupted to Resistant. Depending on your allotment of points, the following happens every time you cast a spell that is not a cantrip:
Resistant vs. Corrupted
Every Time You Cast A Non-Cantrip Spell...
Spell Damage (applies to every target)
Damage Taken/Healed by Self (does not cause parasite point transfer)
0 vs. 5
+5
-5
1 vs. 4
+4
-4
2 vs. 3
+3
-3
3 vs. 2
-3
+3
4 vs. 1
-4
+4
5 vs. 0
-5
+5
Altered Form
Starting at 6th level, you can embrace your parasite for a temporary boost. You can spend 2 sorcery points as a bonus action to enter your Corrupted State. When you do so, keep the bonuses or detriments currently granted by your Symbiotic Balance feature.
Immediately move one parasite point from Resistant to Corrupted.
Your speed increases by 10 ft.
You gain temporary hit points equal to your sorcerer level.
You deal additional damage with all your non-cantrip spells equal to your Charisma modifier.
This effect ends when you take damage.
Narrow Balance
Beginning at 14th level, the power of your parasite grows, forcing you to work harder to keep it under control. You now have 10 parasite points for your Symbiotic Balance feature, divided between the same two categories. When you gain this feature, they reset to having 4 in Resistant and 6 in Corrupted. Your Symbiotic Balance feature functions as normal, except for the following:
Resistant vs. Corrupted
Every Time You Cast A Non-Cantrip Spell...
Spell Damage (applies to every target)
Damage Taken/Healed by Self(does not cause parasite point transfer)
0 vs. 10
+10
-10
1 vs. 9
+9
-9
2 vs. 8
+8
-8
3 vs. 7
+7
-7
4 vs. 6
+6
-6
5 vs. 5
+5
+5
6 vs. 4
-6
+6
7 vs. 3
-7
+7
8 vs. 2
-8
+8
9 vs. 1
-9
+9
10 vs. 0
-10
+10
Corrupting Host
Beginning at 18th level, your parasite begins to reach others through you. You can spend 8 sorcery points as an action to infect a creature within 5 feet of you. That creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a successful save, it takes poison damage equal to half your sorcerer level. On a failed save, it is stunned until the end of its next turn. At the end of its next turn, it must make another Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a successful save, it takes poison damage equal to your sorcerer level. On a failed save, it becomes infected by spawn of the parasite that inhabits your body. An affected creature obeys your commands. Its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores are all reduced to 3(-4). However, the parasite inside your target is more frail than the one inhabiting you. It dies within a number of days equal to its Constitution modifier, and the target is cured. The parasite can also be removed through a wish spell or greater restoration.
I am confused about what the damage taken/healed column means.
I would suggest adding a line to the 14th level feature that says something along the lines of "the parasite can be removed by a successful DC # wisdom (medicine) check or a casting of the <spell> spell"
It just seems terrible if there is no way it can be removed. Not only would this be a problem if a character gets infected, but also if an important NPC or reoccurring boss gets infected.
The damage taken/healed column means that you take or heal the number given every time you cast a spell. So the idea is, you would have to trade a damage boost for damage taken every turn.
Good point about the parasite infection. I'll do something about that.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Fen Beros - Moon Druid and reincarnated god of trees - Heroes of Aejitall
Zael Flameweaver - Tiefling warlock quick with both tongue and blade - Heroes of Aejitall 2
Selamiir, Knight of the Meadow - Chivalrous and acrobatic fey warrior - Heroes of Aejitall 2
14th-level Parasite Sorcerer: BA - Altered form, 10 Corrupted, then cast Magic Missile at say 5th level. That's 1d4+1+15 damage per dart x 7 darts = 129 damage that always hits at a cost of 2 sorcerer points, a 5th level spell, and 10 points of damage.
Note: This subclass was made for my Shatterfrost campaign setting, but it can be used for any setting.
SORCERER - Parasite Host
A bloodied halfling in a long coat crouches furtively over the corpse of a soldier. He places one hand on the soldier’s chest, and a mass of black tendrils slithers from the depth of his sleeve. The tendrils worm their way into the soldier’s wounds, and the halfling stands up, looking refreshed.
Standing against a horde of shambling skeletons, an elf takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. When he opens them, they are a solid black. He exhales a wave of dark spores, which writhe through the bones of his foes, pinning them to the ground.
A human lies on the ground, covered in wounds, as an orc looms above her. In a surge of green ooze, the human flies to her feet. As the orc readies his axe, the ooze grapples his legs, peeling the flesh from his bones in an instant. Once satisfied, it slithers back to the woman and disappears under the hem of her dress.
The world of Shatterfrost is home to many parasitic creatures, be they creations of a mage, beings from another plane of existence, or the young of a creature such as a slaad or illithid. Though these creatures usually end up killing their hosts, the one infecting you has not. Maybe you were given an antidote that stopped the progression of the parasite, but didn’t kill it outright. Maybe you were infected as part of an experiment conducted by a cult or a mad archmage. Or maybe you already had innate magic, which kept the parasite at bay. Whatever the case, you have survived the initial introduction of the entity that shares your body.
Most parasites in the above examples are magical. Therefore, you have learned to draw on the inherent magical energy of your parasite. Sorcerers afflicted with such a curse must learn to walk a fine line between the magical and the mundane: they risk resisting their affliction completely, and losing their powers, and are at the same time in danger of succumbing fully to the parasite.
Level
Feature
1
Symbiotic Balance
6
Altered Form
14
Narrow Balance
18
Corrupting Host
Symbiotic Balance
Beginning at 1st level when you choose this subclass, you learn to rein back your parasite at most times, and set it free at others.
You have 5 parasite points, spread between two categories: Resistant and Corrupted. When you gain this feature, you have 3 in Resistant and 2 in Corrupted. In the future, whenever you spend any number of sorcery points, you must transfer one parasite point from Resistant to Corrupted. Whenever you take damage, you must transfer one parasite point from Corrupted to Resistant. Depending on your allotment of points, the following happens every time you cast a spell that is not a cantrip:
Resistant vs. Corrupted
Every Time You Cast A Non-Cantrip Spell...
Spell Damage (applies to every target)
Damage Taken/Healed by Self (does not cause parasite point transfer)
0 vs. 5
+5
-5
1 vs. 4
+4
-4
2 vs. 3
+3
-3
3 vs. 2
-3
+3
4 vs. 1
-4
+4
5 vs. 0
-5
+5
Altered Form
Starting at 6th level, you can embrace your parasite for a temporary boost. You can spend 2 sorcery points as a bonus action to enter your Corrupted State. When you do so, keep the bonuses or detriments currently granted by your Symbiotic Balance feature.
This effect ends when you take damage.
Narrow Balance
Beginning at 14th level, the power of your parasite grows, forcing you to work harder to keep it under control. You now have 10 parasite points for your Symbiotic Balance feature, divided between the same two categories. When you gain this feature, they reset to having 4 in Resistant and 6 in Corrupted. Your Symbiotic Balance feature functions as normal, except for the following:
Resistant vs. Corrupted
Every Time You Cast A Non-Cantrip Spell...
Spell Damage (applies to every target)
Damage Taken/Healed by Self(does not cause parasite point transfer)
0 vs. 10
+10
-10
1 vs. 9
+9
-9
2 vs. 8
+8
-8
3 vs. 7
+7
-7
4 vs. 6
+6
-6
5 vs. 5
+5
+5
6 vs. 4
-6
+6
7 vs. 3
-7
+7
8 vs. 2
-8
+8
9 vs. 1
-9
+9
10 vs. 0
-10
+10
Corrupting Host
Beginning at 18th level, your parasite begins to reach others through you. You can spend 8 sorcery points as an action to infect a creature within 5 feet of you. That creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a successful save, it takes poison damage equal to half your sorcerer level. On a failed save, it is stunned until the end of its next turn. At the end of its next turn, it must make another Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. On a successful save, it takes poison damage equal to your sorcerer level. On a failed save, it becomes infected by spawn of the parasite that inhabits your body. An affected creature obeys your commands. Its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores are all reduced to 3(-4). However, the parasite inside your target is more frail than the one inhabiting you. It dies within a number of days equal to its Constitution modifier, and the target is cured. The parasite can also be removed through a wish spell or greater restoration.
Aaand that's it! Any feedback is appreciated!
Fen Beros - Moon Druid and reincarnated god of trees - Heroes of Aejitall
Zael Flameweaver - Tiefling warlock quick with both tongue and blade - Heroes of Aejitall 2
Selamiir, Knight of the Meadow - Chivalrous and acrobatic fey warrior - Heroes of Aejitall 2
I am confused about what the damage taken/healed column means.
I would suggest adding a line to the 14th level feature that says something along the lines of "the parasite can be removed by a successful DC # wisdom (medicine) check or a casting of the <spell> spell"
It just seems terrible if there is no way it can be removed. Not only would this be a problem if a character gets infected, but also if an important NPC or reoccurring boss gets infected.
The damage taken/healed column means that you take or heal the number given every time you cast a spell. So the idea is, you would have to trade a damage boost for damage taken every turn.
Good point about the parasite infection. I'll do something about that.
Fen Beros - Moon Druid and reincarnated god of trees - Heroes of Aejitall
Zael Flameweaver - Tiefling warlock quick with both tongue and blade - Heroes of Aejitall 2
Selamiir, Knight of the Meadow - Chivalrous and acrobatic fey warrior - Heroes of Aejitall 2
Yeah it's a really cool subclass. The Resistant/Corrupted points thing is a little confusing but besides that it's really good.
Hi Chat
Seems very easily exploitable.
14th-level Parasite Sorcerer: BA - Altered form, 10 Corrupted, then cast Magic Missile at say 5th level. That's 1d4+1+15 damage per dart x 7 darts = 129 damage that always hits at a cost of 2 sorcerer points, a 5th level spell, and 10 points of damage.