The sorcerer subforum is slow and was needing some input on this, so here I come to the homebrew forum!
The Concept
So, I feel like the Sorcerer's gonna get a Gish subclass at some point, so my OCD nerd-brain has fixated on what that could be. I would love to see a twist on a melee character that focuses on melee spellcasting. Since there aren't many actual melee attack spells (shocking grasp and flame blade are among the few), it turns ranged attacks into melee with a bonus for being squishy hanging out in the danger zone.
This is overpowered for sure, so I'm looking for some help scaling it back somewhat. I think the level 14 ability is both necessary (since so much of the build eats sorcery points) and overpowered. Then again, when you're near the end of Tier 3, you should start to be overpowered. I didn't include any health, armor (beyond shield), or too much in the way of resistances so the power level is balanced. You can be a tank, but you're still made of glass.
14th level - Sorcery point regeneration after taking magic damage
18th level - Saving throw AOE attacks cast on self with benefits
Needs
Aside from general thoughts, and scaling, I kinda want to include a damage-based melee metamagic. And that level 14 is... strong.
My thoughts
I like the metamagic options, but some of the options not being tied directly to spells seems to break the flavor a bit. Makes them much more like crappy versions of warlock invocations. Movement based on could be modified to be on spell metamagic, cast spell gives you disengage. Dunno how to tanky.
I think the level 6 defensive might be a good one to limit to PB/long rest, though that makes it a lot more situational. PB/short rest could be the right balance.
Overall, this subclass doesn't really have any lore to it. It just feels like a regular melee spellcaster with no flavor to it.
Honestly the additional metamagics would just be cool to be published by themselves to help with gish sorcerers except for the shield meta magic which is just an easier way to cast shield.
This subclass has no real flavor to it either. Look at all the other subclasses. You get power from dragon magic (draconic sorcerer), being exposed to aberrant powers (aberrant mind) ect. The point of sorcerer is a spellcaster who has magic within them which has some form of flavor to it. Otherwise it's just charisma wizard. I think the best flavor for it would be a sorcerer who was born prophesied to battle or something like that.
The subclass doesn't feel tanky either except with specific metamagics. It overall feels like it's too situational too and the cool level 18 ability doesn't come until level 18. Honestly I could see that being a cool earlier on ability to get.
Dang it, I wrote a lot and my phone decided to replace.
I like the idea of having the metamagic options available to all, not as part of the subclass.
I hadn't done lore yet, wanted to get the mechanics worked out and balanced. I was thinking something along the lines of barbarian, but magic, or divine, but God of war, or born over an ancient battlefield kind of thing.
Could move 18 all the way to 6, would keep up the magic in melee feel without needing to boost the level 1. Still tempted to boost the level 1 for upcast spells.
Didn't want to go with traditionally tanky. This is a sorc afterall. Would love some suggestions for some unconventional tanky twists.
Flavor flavor flavor - Let's get away from rage, combat, and war, or at least move beyond it. This subclass is now all about the power of self-worth!
Added a level 1 RP/flavor ability to cast self spells without hand wavy motions. Mini subtle spell just for targeting self.
Removed the additional metamagic options. Nano was right: all sorcs should have access to gishy metamagics
Moved the 18 all the way down to 6. Might need to nerf it to be limited in # of casts until higher levels, but this is a key component to this subclass.
14 is an immunity: defensively, this class will have to rely on spells, for the most part. Layered non-concentration aoe's would be powerful, though.
18 is a twinned spell for AOE's near and far.
Bring on more feedback!
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Edit: Feedback leads to a new flavor. See below for changes or go here to view the subclass: https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/883414-own-soul-sorcerer
The sorcerer subforum is slow and was needing some input on this, so here I come to the homebrew forum!
The Concept
So, I feel like the Sorcerer's gonna get a Gish subclass at some point, so my OCD nerd-brain has fixated on what that could be. I would love to see a twist on a melee character that focuses on melee spellcasting. Since there aren't many actual melee attack spells (shocking grasp and flame blade are among the few), it turns ranged attacks into melee with a bonus for being squishy hanging out in the danger zone.
This is overpowered for sure, so I'm looking for some help scaling it back somewhat. I think the level 14 ability is both necessary (since so much of the build eats sorcery points) and overpowered. Then again, when you're near the end of Tier 3, you should start to be overpowered. I didn't include any health, armor (beyond shield), or too much in the way of resistances so the power level is balanced. You can be a tank, but you're still made of glass.
I built it in homebrew creations here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/883006-battle-soul-sorcerer
The Rundown
Needs
Aside from general thoughts, and scaling, I kinda want to include a damage-based melee metamagic. And that level 14 is... strong.
My thoughts
Movement could teleport you within 5ft of the spell target.2 sorcery points to use
healing could cause a single target of the spell to heal instead of taking damage.1 sorcery point
tank can make you immune to the type of damage the spell uses until the start of your next turn.sorcery point
the 6th level defensive could work like the fiend warlocks fiendish resilance.
Check out my homebrew subclasses spells magic items feats monsters races
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help create a world here
Overall, this subclass doesn't really have any lore to it. It just feels like a regular melee spellcaster with no flavor to it.
Honestly the additional metamagics would just be cool to be published by themselves to help with gish sorcerers except for the shield meta magic which is just an easier way to cast shield.
This subclass has no real flavor to it either. Look at all the other subclasses. You get power from dragon magic (draconic sorcerer), being exposed to aberrant powers (aberrant mind) ect. The point of sorcerer is a spellcaster who has magic within them which has some form of flavor to it. Otherwise it's just charisma wizard. I think the best flavor for it would be a sorcerer who was born prophesied to battle or something like that.
The subclass doesn't feel tanky either except with specific metamagics. It overall feels like it's too situational too and the cool level 18 ability doesn't come until level 18. Honestly I could see that being a cool earlier on ability to get.
Dang it, I wrote a lot and my phone decided to replace.
I like the idea of having the metamagic options available to all, not as part of the subclass.
I hadn't done lore yet, wanted to get the mechanics worked out and balanced. I was thinking something along the lines of barbarian, but magic, or divine, but God of war, or born over an ancient battlefield kind of thing.
Could move 18 all the way to 6, would keep up the magic in melee feel without needing to boost the level 1. Still tempted to boost the level 1 for upcast spells.
Didn't want to go with traditionally tanky. This is a sorc afterall. Would love some suggestions for some unconventional tanky twists.
Update!
I made some pretty big changes based on feedback:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/883414-own-soul-sorcerer
Bring on more feedback!