Base Class: Warlock
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BETA VERSION 1.0c LIMITATIONS:
There is no option for a subclass to pick up a Fight Style when you reach level 03. Next version will be final when it will be possible to add the fighting style.
Its only possible to add the free spells to the prepared spells. Wrathful Smite, Summon Aberration and Banishing Smite can only be shared as part of a additional Spell List.
Minimal fixes to the writing.
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You have made your pact with a mysterious entity from the Shadowfell whose force manifests through you as shadow force.
The shadowy force can offer power to warlocks who form pacts with it. Many Shadowfell warlocks can manipulate the shadows to create magics weapons that emulate those formed in the Shadowfell. Others forgo such arms, content to weave the shadows as magic of that plane into their spellcasting.
The Shadowfell is home to a mysterious form of undead called Shadows and a race of humanoids known as Shades. Your patron could be Drasek Riven, Raven Queen, or some other Dark Powers of the Shadowfell.
Drasek Riven is a one-eyed, former Zhentarim assassin, cold-hearted and efficient killer, and never showed any sympathy towards anyone or anything other than canines. Upon the release of the remaining divinity of Mask, Riven chose to take up the task of becoming the new incarnation of the Lord of Shadows. Most Shadowfell Blades warlocks of Lord of Shadows are merciless killers that wonders on the Material Plane.
Raven Queen is known to have forged the first magical weapon, many sages speculate that she and the force are one and that the weapons, along with Shadowfell Blades warlocks, are tools she uses to manipulate events on the Material Plane to her inscrutable ends of collecting memories from the living and sometimes the souls of the dead.
Shadowfell Spells
The magic of your otherworldly patron ensures you always have certain spells ready; when you reach a Warlock level specified in the Shadowfell Spells table, you thereafter always have the listed spells prepared.
Warlock Level | Spells |
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3 | Shield, Wrathful Smite, Misty Step, Mirror Image |
5 | Haste, Lightning Bolt |
7 | Conjure Minor Elementals, Summon Aberration |
9 | Banishing Smite, Cone of Cold |
Curse of Shadows
At 3rd level, your Shadowfell Patron empowers your curses. You always have the Hex spell prepared. You can cast Hex spell without using a spell slot. Until the curse ends, you gain the following benefits:
- You don't need Concentrate on the Hex spell.
- You gain your proficiency bonus to damage rolls against the cursed target.
- Any attack roll you make against the cursed target is a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
- If the cursed target drops to 0 Hit Points, you can end the Hex spell to regain hit points or Temporary Hit Points equal to your warlock level plus your Charisma modifier (minimum of 1 hit point) or curse a new creature on your later turns. (no Action required).
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a Long Rest.
Shadowfell Shadows
At 14th level, your Curse of Shadows gains two additional benefits: you have Advantage on D20 Test against cursed creatures by your spells or warlock features and the damage of your Hex spell is now 2d6.
Shadow Warrior
At 3rd level, you acquire the training necessary to effectively arm yourself for battle. You gain a Fighting Style and proficiency with Medium Armor and Shields. When you gain a Ability Score Improvement in Strength or Dexterity, you can gain in Charisma instead, to maximum of 20. If you have the Pact of the Blade eldritch invocation, the influence of your patron also allows you to mystically gain the following benefits:
- You can use the mastery properties of your pact weapons.
- Your pact weapons can't be knocked out of the your hand, and automatically returns to you when thrown.
- As one free interaction per turn, you can create, summon or dismiss (shunting it into an extradimensional space) your pacts weapons. Shunting artifacts or a sentient weapons into an extradimensional space can be a tricky quest.
At 5th level in this class, you can create or transform up to two weapons into your pact weapons. At 11th level in this class, you can create or transform up to three weapons into your pact weapons.
Shadow Essence
Starting at 6th level, when you drop a creature to 0 Hit Points, you can drain and store three Shadow Essence. You can manipulate these essences in any of the ways described below:
- Shadow Magic: You can spend one Shadow Essence (no action required) to use Eldritch Smite or cast a spell without expending Pact Magic spell slot. Once you use this feature twice, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
- Shadow Memories: You can spend one Shadow Essence (no action required) to experience one past memory of the slayed creature. This experience is like a dream but only takes a blink of an eye to complete. You can try to perceive one specific situation like a past conversation, one last encounter, one early hunt, one last dream, etc.
- Shadow Summon: As a Reaction, immediately after you drain Shadow Essence, or as a Magic action you can spend two Shadow Essence to cast one summon spell that you know from warlocks class that has a casting time of one Magic action without expending Pact Magic spell slot. This summon spell is one level higher than your highest Pact Magic spell slot, doesn’t require concentration, the summoned creature always obeys your verbal commands and remains in your service until the end of your next long rest, at which point it vanishes leaving nothing behind. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
Once you drain Shadow Essence with this feature, you can’t use the feature again until you finish a Long Rest.
Armor of Shadows
At 10th level, if the target cursed by your Curse of Shadows hits you with an attack roll, you can to roll a d6. On a 4 or higher, you can use your Reaction to make the attack miss you, regardless of its roll.
Master of Shadows
At 14th level, your Armor of Shadows and Curse of Shadows grow stronger.
Resistant Shadows
You have Resistance to all damage from creatures cursed by your spells or warlock features.
Shadowfell Shadows
At 14th level, your Curse of Shadows gains two additional benefits:
Previous Versions
Name | Date Modified | Views | Adds | Version | Actions |
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9/6/2024 3:41:09 AM
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25
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5
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1.0
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Coming Soon
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9/7/2024 3:51:25 AM
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15
|
5
|
1.0a
|
Coming Soon
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9/25/2024 1:31:50 PM
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130
|
42
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1.0b
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Coming Soon
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Thank you for the feedback.
1) Feel free to propose better text and wording. I'm willing to improve for the next version.
2) Shadow Essence has this limitations because is very strong and flexible. Hexblade had this and the limitation of being a humanoid. Since Its only 1 creature to get 3 Shadow Essence, overall is well balance. Its not easy nor hard to get Shadow Essence. Remember, you can roleplay as you character get the final blow to consume the live essence of the living or using Its power to avenge his enemies if Its a couple of grace.
3) The next version Summon Undead will be part of Shadow Summon and Summon Aberration will be replace by a Paladin Smite.
The next and probably the final version will be publish after DND Beyond allow us to choose a Fighting Style as part of subclass. Its already possible , but only appears if you edit the champion subclass.
This subclass is very good overall, but there are some thing that I think should be changed/fixed:
1) i think that the wey the text subclass is worded is not very good and could be misleading to some players, but it could be fixed very easily.
2) I think the Shadow Essence feature could also be gained by someone else reduces an enemy within 10 feet of you to 0 Hit Points. So you don't steal kills from other players.
3) the third option of Shadow Essence, Shadow Summon, should stay the same but allow you to cast specifically the summon Shadow spawn spell