Creating an assassin type bard subclass and I'm trying to build an ability that is unique, and not too strong. Please give me feedback if you think its too strong, or too weak. It has its place in the lore. From a published short story Flesh for Lolth: The Secret Life of Dark Elves and a 3.5e book: Drow of the Underdark.
Garrote Strike (Homebrew Bard Ability)
Using a string from a musical instrument the bard is proficient with, they can execute a deadly silent takedown.
Garrote Attack: If the target is unaware of an impending attack from the bard, the bard gains advantage on a special attack called the Garrote Strike. This attack uses a string from a musical instrument the bard is proficient with. On a hit, the target takes 1d4 + the bard’s Dexterity modifier in slashing damage and is considered grappled.
This grapple does not rely on brute strength, but rather on agility—using the bard’s arms and legs to control the target from behind. While grappled in this way, the contest to escape the grapple is made against the bard’s Dexterity (Acrobatics) instead of Strength (Athletics).
Limitations While Grappling:
The bard cannot make additional attacks or cast spells (except for bonus actions or reactions that require only a verbal component).
The bard is considered to be concentrating (as if on a spell). • The bard does not control the target’s movement. • The target’s movement speed is halved.
To maintain the grapple and continue the garrote, the bard must spend their action each turn.
Strangulation Damage: While the garrote is maintained, the target is considered strangled, suffering increasing damage over time due to the effects of suffocation:
1st Round: 1d4 + Dexterity modifier
2nd Round: 2d4 + Dexterity modifier
3rd Round: 3d4 + Dexterity modifier
(And so on, increasing linearly.)
Scaling:
At 6th level, the damage increases to a d8:
Round 1: 1d8 + Dexterity modifier
Round 2: 2d8 + Dexterity modifier
Round 3: 3d8 + Dexterity modifier
At 14th level, the damage increases to a d12
Round 1: 1d12 + Dexterity modifier
Round 2: 2d12 + Dexterity modifier
Round 3: 3d12 + Dexterity modifier
Additionally the Bard can use their Bardic Inspiration to increase the damage.
Important Notes:
• This high damage output is balanced by the bard’s vulnerability: they must maintain concentration, remain in close quarters, and forfeit movement—leaving them exposed to retaliation or environmental hazards.
• Creatures that do not need to breathe (such as constructs or undead) are immune to the escalating damage from strangulation, though the initial grapple and base damage still apply.
I don't really like this. It is at once overly niche, and insanely overpowered. The bard can just buff their concentration saves like crazy and kill a tarrasque in 4 rounds (it's that broken). Also, the concept of a bard subclass based on misusing their instruments as weapons feels very weak to me. Finally, the wording on everything really needs to be cleaned up. For example, "...the grapple will be contested vs the attackers agility." First of all, escaping a grapple is a check and no longer a contest. Second of all, I assume you are referring to dexterity as there is no agility.
The idea that they (Bards) can use their instruments as weapons is from lore. I didn't just make that up. That's an established drow thing.
Its not just the concentration they have to maintain, but its also the grapple check. So forcing the attacker to lose concentration could work, so could breaking the grapple. Using something like misty step could also work, or a CC spell could also work.
So I could see a counter coming from anything.
I agree the damage is high. Its intended to be. Its an assassinate ability that takes several rounds to pull off, and doing so gives you loss of control of your character.
Your idea that you could kill a Tarrasque with the ability is ridiculous at best.
However you're probably right about the wording. I will improve it. Perhaps that's why you didn't seem to understand the multiple ways it could be countered. Perhaps I didn't explain it well enough. I will work on it.
The idea that they (Bards) can use their instruments as weapons is from lore. I didn't just make that up. That's an established drow thing.
Its not just the concentration they have to maintain, but its also the grapple check. So breaking the grapple would work. Using something like misty step would work, or a CC spell could also work.
So I could see a counter coming from almost any class.
I agree the damage is high. Its intended to be.
The wording is super poor.
Huh. Where is it from?
Got it, though that does illustrate my point of unclear wording.
It doesn't matter if other pcs can counter the bard, it matters if monsters can.
The damage is just way to high. It shouldn't compound over time like it does, and it shouldn't be higher than an assassin's damage. (rogue subclass)
The assassin subclass does not need to maintain a grapple, nor does it need to maintain concentration, or lose control of his movement to do his damage. The only similarity is they both require a set-up.
The multi-round payoff SHOULD be higher than a subclass that does not need to do any of that. They simply front-end their damage and move on to the next target (provided there is one).
And a monster CAN just break a grapple. Every monster has the ability to do so. And do damage to break concentration.
The assassin subclass does not need to maintain a grapple, nor does it need to maintain concentration, or lose control of his movement to do his damage. The only similarity is they both require a set-up.
The multi-round payoff SHOULD be higher than a subclass that does not need to do any of that. They simply front-end their damage and move on to the next target (provided there is one).
And a monster CAN just break a grapple. Every monster has the ability to do so. And do damage to break concentration.
Remember that this is a bard. They should not be doing super high melee damage.
If you use this ability on a tarrasque, you have a roughly 6.4% chance of killing it before it breaks the grapple, without factoring in any ways to weaken the tarrasque's checks.
The assassin subclass does not need to maintain a grapple, nor does it need to maintain concentration, or lose control of his movement to do his damage. The only similarity is they both require a set-up.
The multi-round payoff SHOULD be higher than a subclass that does not need to do any of that. They simply front-end their damage and move on to the next target (provided there is one).
And a monster CAN just break a grapple. Every monster has the ability to do so. And do damage to break concentration.
Remember that this is a bard. They should not be doing super high melee damage.
/waves at college of dance bard and tells it what its not supposed to be able to do.
And the whole thing about the Tarrasque, I could easily include a line that you cant use this ability on something you cant physically wrap your garrote wire around its neck. Or cant use against something more than one size larger than you.
Or it has to have a neck. These feel like silly things to have to mention. "You cant garrote a Flumph". Well yea, no kidding.
The assassin subclass does not need to maintain a grapple, nor does it need to maintain concentration, or lose control of his movement to do his damage. The only similarity is they both require a set-up.
The multi-round payoff SHOULD be higher than a subclass that does not need to do any of that. They simply front-end their damage and move on to the next target (provided there is one).
And a monster CAN just break a grapple. Every monster has the ability to do so. And do damage to break concentration.
Remember that this is a bard. They should not be doing super high melee damage.
/waves at college of dance bard and tells it what its not supposed to be able to do.
And the whole thing about the Tarrasque, I could easily include a line that you cant use this ability on something you cant physically wrap your garrote wire around its neck. Or cant use against something more than one size larger than you.
Or it has to have a neck. These feel like silly things to have to mention. "You cant garrote a Flumph". Well yea, no kidding.
Dance bards are completely different. They are able to do a small amount of melee damage in addition to their other abillites. This subclass would be able to do insane damage while doing nothing else at the same time.
The point is not specifically about a tarrasque, it is that you can defeat such a powerful monster so easily.
The assassin subclass does not need to maintain a grapple, nor does it need to maintain concentration, or lose control of his movement to do his damage. The only similarity is they both require a set-up.
The multi-round payoff SHOULD be higher than a subclass that does not need to do any of that. They simply front-end their damage and move on to the next target (provided there is one).
And a monster CAN just break a grapple. Every monster has the ability to do so. And do damage to break concentration.
Remember that this is a bard. They should not be doing super high melee damage.
/waves at college of dance bard and tells it what its not supposed to be able to do.
And the whole thing about the Tarrasque, I could easily include a line that you cant use this ability on something you cant physically wrap your garrote wire around its neck. Or cant use against something more than one size larger than you.
Or it has to have a neck. These feel like silly things to have to mention. "You cant garrote a Flumph". Well yea, no kidding.
Dance bards are completely different. They are able to do a small amount of melee damage in addition to their other abillites. This subclass would be able to do insane damage while doing nothing else at the same time.
My point was not to compare damage of an assassin to a bard. My point was to state how different dance bard is now compared to what we had previously.
The point is not specifically about a tarrasque, it is that you can defeat such a powerful monster so easily.
I agree that the ability does too much damage and adjusted it. I disagree that ANY monster could have been easily killed so easily with it. It doesn’t prevent the target from attacking back. From casting. From anything really.
Now it is extremely weak and extremely complicated. I think I know the flavour you are after so here's a possible mechanic:
Garrote Strike
Using a string from a musical instrument the bard is proficient with, they can execute a deadly silent takedown. On the first round of combat, the bard can make one melee attack against a creature that is Surprised (or had disadvantage on it's initiative check if using 2025 rules) and it has not yet taken a turn in combat. This attack has the Finesse trait allowing them to use either their Strength or Dexterity for the attack roll, and they are proficient in this attack.
On a hit, the target is Grappled and Restrained and begins suffocating, if it is no more than one size category larger than the Bard. A creature can survive while suffocating a number of rounds equal to 1+their Constitution modifier (minimum 1) before being reduced to 0 hp and is unable to speak or cast spells that require Verbal components. Creatures that do not have a head & neck or that do not need to breath are immune to the suffocation.
As an Action on it's turn, the target can make a Strength or Dexterity saving throw (it's choice) against the Bard's spellcasting DC, breaking free and ending the suffocation on a success. It can also be ended by any other way to normally end a Grapple (e.g. being moved beyond the reach of the Bard). Grappling a target in this way requires the use of both of the Bard's hands preventing them from using weapons, or other items that require the use of a hand, or casting spells that require Somatic or Material components.
Rationale: This version retains that Assassin type mechanics but as a trade-off it is difficult to use: the target must be Surprised, it must be no more than 1 size category larger than the bard, and it can easily escape if it has Legendary Resistances (preventing easy kill of a BBEG), and you only get 1 chance per combat. It also takes a minimum of 1 full round to get a kill, and for most enemies it will be 3+ rounds which is almost an entire combat at low levels, or at least half of a normal combat at higher levels which is pretty typical for a non-boss enemy. The trade-off is that it makes the target Restrained which means your allies can help kill them quicker so you as the Bard aren't stuck just holding one enemy for the majority of a combat. Likewise, since there are many creatures that don't need to breath or lack head/necks I wrote it such that those targets would at least still get the Grapple & Restained conditions.
Creating an assassin type bard subclass and I'm trying to build an ability that is unique, and not too strong. Please give me feedback if you think its too strong, or too weak. It has its place in the lore. From a published short story Flesh for Lolth: The Secret Life of Dark Elves and a 3.5e book: Drow of the Underdark.
Garrote Strike (Homebrew Bard Ability)
Using a string from a musical instrument the bard is proficient with, they can execute a deadly silent takedown.
Garrote Attack: If the target is unaware of an impending attack from the bard, the bard gains advantage on a special attack called the Garrote Strike. This attack uses a string from a musical instrument the bard is proficient with. On a hit, the target takes 1d4 + the bard’s Dexterity modifier in slashing damage and is considered grappled.
This grapple does not rely on brute strength, but rather on agility—using the bard’s arms and legs to control the target from behind. While grappled in this way, the contest to escape the grapple is made against the bard’s Dexterity (Acrobatics) instead of Strength (Athletics).
Limitations While Grappling:
Strangulation Damage: While the garrote is maintained, the target is considered strangled, suffering increasing damage over time due to the effects of suffocation:
I don't really like this. It is at once overly niche, and insanely overpowered. The bard can just buff their concentration saves like crazy and kill a tarrasque in 4 rounds (it's that broken). Also, the concept of a bard subclass based on misusing their instruments as weapons feels very weak to me. Finally, the wording on everything really needs to be cleaned up. For example, "...the grapple will be contested vs the attackers agility." First of all, escaping a grapple is a check and no longer a contest. Second of all, I assume you are referring to dexterity as there is no agility.
The idea that they (Bards) can use their instruments as weapons is from lore. I didn't just make that up. That's an established drow thing.
Its not just the concentration they have to maintain, but its also the grapple check. So forcing the attacker to lose concentration could work, so could breaking the grapple. Using something like misty step could also work, or a CC spell could also work.
So I could see a counter coming from anything.
I agree the damage is high. Its intended to be. Its an assassinate ability that takes several rounds to pull off, and doing so gives you loss of control of your character.
Your idea that you could kill a Tarrasque with the ability is ridiculous at best.
However you're probably right about the wording. I will improve it. Perhaps that's why you didn't seem to understand the multiple ways it could be countered. Perhaps I didn't explain it well enough. I will work on it.
Huh. Where is it from?
Got it, though that does illustrate my point of unclear wording.
It doesn't matter if other pcs can counter the bard, it matters if monsters can.
The damage is just way to high. It shouldn't compound over time like it does, and it shouldn't be higher than an assassin's damage. (rogue subclass)
The assassin subclass does not need to maintain a grapple, nor does it need to maintain concentration, or lose control of his movement to do his damage. The only similarity is they both require a set-up.
The multi-round payoff SHOULD be higher than a subclass that does not need to do any of that. They simply front-end their damage and move on to the next target (provided there is one).
And a monster CAN just break a grapple. Every monster has the ability to do so. And do damage to break concentration.
I have re-written the OP to hopefully make the ability more understandable.
Remember that this is a bard. They should not be doing super high melee damage.
If you use this ability on a tarrasque, you have a roughly 6.4% chance of killing it before it breaks the grapple, without factoring in any ways to weaken the tarrasque's checks.
/waves at college of dance bard and tells it what its not supposed to be able to do.
And the whole thing about the Tarrasque, I could easily include a line that you cant use this ability on something you cant physically wrap your garrote wire around its neck. Or cant use against something more than one size larger than you.
Or it has to have a neck. These feel like silly things to have to mention. "You cant garrote a Flumph". Well yea, no kidding.
Dance bards are completely different. They are able to do a small amount of melee damage in addition to their other abillites. This subclass would be able to do insane damage while doing nothing else at the same time.
The point is not specifically about a tarrasque, it is that you can defeat such a powerful monster so easily.
My point was not to compare damage of an assassin to a bard. My point was to state how different dance bard is now compared to what we had previously.
I agree that the ability does too much damage and adjusted it. I disagree that ANY monster could have been easily killed so easily with it. It doesn’t prevent the target from attacking back. From casting. From anything really.
Now it is extremely weak and extremely complicated. I think I know the flavour you are after so here's a possible mechanic:
Garrote Strike
Using a string from a musical instrument the bard is proficient with, they can execute a deadly silent takedown. On the first round of combat, the bard can make one melee attack against a creature that is Surprised (or had disadvantage on it's initiative check if using 2025 rules) and it has not yet taken a turn in combat. This attack has the Finesse trait allowing them to use either their Strength or Dexterity for the attack roll, and they are proficient in this attack.
On a hit, the target is Grappled and Restrained and begins suffocating, if it is no more than one size category larger than the Bard. A creature can survive while suffocating a number of rounds equal to 1+their Constitution modifier (minimum 1) before being reduced to 0 hp and is unable to speak or cast spells that require Verbal components. Creatures that do not have a head & neck or that do not need to breath are immune to the suffocation.
As an Action on it's turn, the target can make a Strength or Dexterity saving throw (it's choice) against the Bard's spellcasting DC, breaking free and ending the suffocation on a success. It can also be ended by any other way to normally end a Grapple (e.g. being moved beyond the reach of the Bard). Grappling a target in this way requires the use of both of the Bard's hands preventing them from using weapons, or other items that require the use of a hand, or casting spells that require Somatic or Material components.
Rationale: This version retains that Assassin type mechanics but as a trade-off it is difficult to use: the target must be Surprised, it must be no more than 1 size category larger than the bard, and it can easily escape if it has Legendary Resistances (preventing easy kill of a BBEG), and you only get 1 chance per combat. It also takes a minimum of 1 full round to get a kill, and for most enemies it will be 3+ rounds which is almost an entire combat at low levels, or at least half of a normal combat at higher levels which is pretty typical for a non-boss enemy. The trade-off is that it makes the target Restrained which means your allies can help kill them quicker so you as the Bard aren't stuck just holding one enemy for the majority of a combat. Likewise, since there are many creatures that don't need to breath or lack head/necks I wrote it such that those targets would at least still get the Grapple & Restained conditions.