I had a simple idea that has been done over and over I am sure but I am personally unsure how to execute it myself. Hero from ancient times dies defeating the terrible evil using a powerful legendary weapon of some sort. Time and time again evil has risen to try and set the world on fire and each time the weapon chooses a new host for the soul of the hero long since dead to fight against each and every threat.
Just curious if anyone has any idea of a way to accomplish this using Dungeons and Dragons other than "Just ask your DM and work together".
I'm not sure I completely understand the question. Are you asking for a mechanical way to make this character?
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
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The closest thing that comes to mind as far as already published material is the Hexblade Warlock. The lore behind the Hexblade subclass is that you form a pact with an entity from the shadow fell that manifests as a sentient magic weapon.
If you squint just right this resembles your idea of a new host making a pact with the soul of the old hero.
But I don't know if a caster/martial hybrid is quite the feel you are going for.
I thought of the Hexblade. But the Hexblade doesn't allow for the weapon itself to take you over. Essentially the character is the weapon/spirit within. You're just borrowing a host. Like a symbiotic one sided relationship.
I don't know if that is a significant hurdle or not. It may be challenging but you could role play the two different consciousnesses that are fighting for control of the host. In talking about the character concept with your DM you could discuss if you want to add mechanics to determine or affect which consciousness is in control of the character at a given time. And if that is the crux of what you are after then it is presumably something you could do with any class, not just Hexblade Warlock.
I don't think there are any examples of something like this in the rules but I have seen homebrewed examples on actual play shows like Critical Role.
Mechanically, your best option for this might be any class or subclass that includes some sort of transformation -- a barbarian's rage, an Undead warlock's Form of Dread, a Stars druid's Starry Forms, a Rune Knight's Giant's Might, etc
The transformation could then be played/reflavored as the spirit of the weapon "taking over"
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
You aren't going to find anything in the PHB that says "this is how you get your character to be a soul from a sword permanently inhabiting a body that isn't a sword, without even needing DM approval!" That's all flavor stuff. The most you can really do is say "my character is a sword" and hope the DM says that it's okay for your character to be a sword. There isn't a Sword race.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
Mechanically, your best option for this might be any class or subclass that includes some sort of transformation -- a barbarian's rage, an Undead warlock's Form of Dread, a Stars druid's Starry Forms, a Rune Knight's Giant's Might, etc
The transformation could then be played/reflavored as the spirit of the weapon "taking over"
Thinking about it a bit more, Bladesinger might be the most fun way to approach this. Most of the time, you're a mild-mannered wizard who stays far from the front lines, but then when the weapon/long-dead hero decides it's time to step in... boom, melee fighter. You could even reflavor the Bladesong as a battle chant in some long-dead language or the like
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I thought of the Hexblade. But the Hexblade doesn't allow for the weapon itself to take you over. Essentially the character is the weapon/spirit within. You're just borrowing a host. Like a symbiotic one sided relationship.
This sounds like a job for role play. Be whatever class you like, and when the time comes, flavor your abilities, or even you basic attacks, like the sword is taking control. No need for mechanics, just describe a non-mechanical transformation looking how you like, and go for it. I can’t imagine aDM having a hard time with it if you stay purely cosmetic.
As an aside, I’d suggest the backstory include this great hero as always being a co-equal member of a team of heroes. You don’t want to slip into main character syndrome, or worry about someone else landing the killing blow and depriving you of completing your character arc.
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Hello D&D Beyond! Hope everyone is doing well!
I had a simple idea that has been done over and over I am sure but I am personally unsure how to execute it myself. Hero from ancient times dies defeating the terrible evil using a powerful legendary weapon of some sort. Time and time again evil has risen to try and set the world on fire and each time the weapon chooses a new host for the soul of the hero long since dead to fight against each and every threat.
Just curious if anyone has any idea of a way to accomplish this using Dungeons and Dragons other than "Just ask your DM and work together".
Cheers!
I'm not sure I completely understand the question. Are you asking for a mechanical way to make this character?
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
Yup
The closest thing that comes to mind as far as already published material is the Hexblade Warlock. The lore behind the Hexblade subclass is that you form a pact with an entity from the shadow fell that manifests as a sentient magic weapon.
If you squint just right this resembles your idea of a new host making a pact with the soul of the old hero.
But I don't know if a caster/martial hybrid is quite the feel you are going for.
I thought of the Hexblade. But the Hexblade doesn't allow for the weapon itself to take you over. Essentially the character is the weapon/spirit within. You're just borrowing a host. Like a symbiotic one sided relationship.
I don't know if that is a significant hurdle or not. It may be challenging but you could role play the two different consciousnesses that are fighting for control of the host. In talking about the character concept with your DM you could discuss if you want to add mechanics to determine or affect which consciousness is in control of the character at a given time. And if that is the crux of what you are after then it is presumably something you could do with any class, not just Hexblade Warlock.
I don't think there are any examples of something like this in the rules but I have seen homebrewed examples on actual play shows like Critical Role.
Mechanically, your best option for this might be any class or subclass that includes some sort of transformation -- a barbarian's rage, an Undead warlock's Form of Dread, a Stars druid's Starry Forms, a Rune Knight's Giant's Might, etc
The transformation could then be played/reflavored as the spirit of the weapon "taking over"
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
You aren't going to find anything in the PHB that says "this is how you get your character to be a soul from a sword permanently inhabiting a body that isn't a sword, without even needing DM approval!" That's all flavor stuff. The most you can really do is say "my character is a sword" and hope the DM says that it's okay for your character to be a sword. There isn't a Sword race.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
Thinking about it a bit more, Bladesinger might be the most fun way to approach this. Most of the time, you're a mild-mannered wizard who stays far from the front lines, but then when the weapon/long-dead hero decides it's time to step in... boom, melee fighter. You could even reflavor the Bladesong as a battle chant in some long-dead language or the like
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
This sounds like a job for role play. Be whatever class you like, and when the time comes, flavor your abilities, or even you basic attacks, like the sword is taking control. No need for mechanics, just describe a non-mechanical transformation looking how you like, and go for it. I can’t imagine aDM having a hard time with it if you stay purely cosmetic.
As an aside, I’d suggest the backstory include this great hero as always being a co-equal member of a team of heroes. You don’t want to slip into main character syndrome, or worry about someone else landing the killing blow and depriving you of completing your character arc.