Armor Class
12
Hit Points
22
(5d8)
Speed
0 ft., fly 50 ft. (hover)
STR
1
(-5)
DEX
14
(+2)
CON
11
(+0)
INT
10
(+0)
WIS
10
(+0)
CHA
11
(+0)
Damage Resistances
Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, Thunder; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Damage Immunities
Necrotic, Poison
Condition Immunities
Charmed, Exhaustion, Grappled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Poisoned, Prone, Restrained, Unconscious
Senses
Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 10
Languages
Understands all languages it knew in life but can't speak
Challenge
1 (200 XP)
Proficiency Bonus
+2
Incorporeal Movement. The specter can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn inside an object.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the specter has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Actions
Life Drain. Melee Spell Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (3d6) necrotic damage. The target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the creature finishes a long rest. The target dies if this effect reduces its hit point maximum to 0.
Specters are such sad creatures, I can't help but feel pity for these imaginary beings. They make for a great plot hook, moral question, bridge into a character arc, horror monster, or unknowing guard to an evil layer though.
Doesn't do much for the class?
Ask any shepard druid. More monsters on your side is ALWAYS good. Action economy is one of the biggest factors in deciding who wins a fight. That doesn't equate to whoever has the most monsters, sure, because it's about which side takes the most actions (so if you have a hoard of goblins and 9/10 of them get fireballed and die, action economy is still on the player's side).
This thing is 25-32 free meat points for your team with anywhere between a +7 to a +9 to hit (if you're a hexblade with less than 16 charisma by 6th level I shudder at what your stats look like XD) doing 3d6 damage (which is the equivalent of a cantrip for most levels) and potentially reducing the enemies max hp which is a HUGE debuff that very few player abilities have. To my knowledge, this is the only way for players to gain access to max HP reduction.
As for your proposed replacement, I agree with a previous commenter, your replacement sounds more like a 12 or 15th level evocation not a class feature.
At some point during their progression, Hexblade warlocks can summon these out of the humanoids they vainquish.
"DC 10 Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken." This doesn't reduce the creature's current hit points further right? So 20/20hp > 5dmg > 15/20hp > 5 max hp redux> 15/15hp not 20/20hp > 5dmg > 15/20hp > 5hp max red> 15/10hp right?
Well youre in luck, its a level 6 ability not 10th :D
Multiclassing Hexblade/Paladin and I just got the ability to raise one of these at level 15. I'm excited to use it, but I doubt that it will be much help at as high a level we are.
For accursed spectre they gotta add some more durability to this thing in the long run. It's great at lower levels but soon enough it's a 1-hit kill for most creatures, has disadvantage in sunlight and the con save is dc10 so it'll literally never succeed. Make its measly 12 ac, dc10 and damage rolls go up by your proficiency bonus, take out sunlight sensitivity, double the temp HP
Am i the only one who thinks that incorporeal creatures should be able to hit creatures through nonmagical armor. Oh congratulations mr. 21Ac defensive style fighter with shield, what is your Dex Ac?
Maybe its a little evil, but it incentivises that they get something even as simple as Armor of Gleaming or Smouldering Armor. And a shield of Expression. And each of these items encourage roleplay even more.
Correct. Hit points and max hit points are two intertwined, but distinct variables, so changing one does not necessarily change the other.
plus the tough feat thats another 2 hp
Why are these not options for animate dead, they seem on par with skeletons/zombies and would imo be great for a ghost only necromancer build. Also, poltergeists. Further, create undead could give the option to create a Wraith. Seems like these are no-brainers.
I think the DM can change this at will. A werewolf entered play and fought 9 bugbears, it silly to think that enough strong creatures can’t tear apart a werewolf. Or a dragon rips a werewolf in half? (Obviously the dragon could use breath to kill a werewolf). I give were creatures 3/4 resistance to nonmagical. For incorporeal undead I’d give immunity to nonmagical/nonsilver/non fire so a torch could do some damage but still keeps the theme.
i went on a tangent there, apologies
CR level 1?
I like how the smoke oh-so conveniently covers his lower half.