Swarm Master

Your connection with nature is personified in a swarm that you have watched over since it's birth, this swarm could manifest as animals touched with fey magic or simply a huge collection of mundane small and tiny beasts.

Your swarm is a part of you, and you are a part of it, as such you are always connected to one another. At your whim your swarm can descend upon your enemies in battle, or aid in exploration during your adventure, after all, many hands makes light work. Outwardly the appearance of you and your swarm can appear intimidating as your swarm is always in your space, crawling through your clothing and on your person but those who understand the true symbiosis of nature know the true power of a Swarm Master

When you pick this subclass, choose from one of the following two Swarm types, this will confer benefits at later levels and effect the features that you gain;

Airborne Swarm: Your swarm is a collection of airborne creatures, such as bats, bees or tiny birds.

Crawling Swarm; Your swarm is a collection of creatures that crawl,skitter and slither, such as spiders, rats and snakes.

 

Hive Mind

You have learned how to communicate fully with your swarm like no one else could ever hope to. To others this communication is nonsensical clicks, coos and chirps but you and your swarm understand each others intent and tone fully. As such you can ask your swarm to disperse and undertake simple tasks, such as watching over your group when you rest or helping you forage for food. Your swarm will attempt to do these tasks to the best of their ability, but they cannot undertake complicated tasks like picking a lock for example.

When you learn this feature you also gain proficiency in the Animal Handling skill, if you already have proficiency in that skill, your proficiency bonus is doubled.

Swarming Magic

You learn additional spells when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Swarm Master Spells table. These spells count as ranger spells for you, but don’t count against the number of ranger spells you know.

 

Ranger Level 3rd 5th 9th 13th 17th

Spell  Animal Friendship Animal Messenger Fear Giant Insect Insect Plague

Mark of Infestation

As a bonus action, choose one target that you can see within 30ft, that your swarm will descend upon. 
For 1 minute, until the target dies or you choose to recall your swarm, at the start of each of their turns they suffer 1D6 Piercing Damage from your swarm as it bites, claws and stings them.

This feature can be used a number of times equal to your Wisdom Modifier (minimum of +1), you regain all uses of the feature after a long rest.

The damage caused by this feature increases to 2D6 at 8th Level, 3D6 at 13th Level and 4D6 at 18th Level.

While your swarm is attacking the target, they can be removed by external means such as fire or submerging the target in water for example.

Swarming Shield

At 7th Level, when a creature targets you with an attack, you can use your reaction to call your swarm to your side to defend you. This feature consumes 1 use of your Mark of Infestation ability.

Roll 1D6 + your Wisdom Modifier and subtract the total from the targets roll to hit, you can choose to use this feature after the creature’s roll, but before the DM determines whether the attack roll succeeds. 

If this feature causes the attack to miss, the target is immediately under the effect of your Mark of Infestation, if another creature was under the effect of your Mark of Infestation the new target replaces it for the full duration. 

Collective Movement

At 7th Level, when your swarm isn't actively engaged with a creature, they cluster around you and assist your movement, you can no longer be affected by difficult terrain and you also gain the following benefits based on your Swarm type;

Airborne Swarm; You have a flying speed of 20ft and can hover in place, while moving this way you can still attack as normal provided you don't send your swarm to attack a target with your Mark of Infestation, you still provoke opportunity attacks if you move out of a creature's range.

Crawling Swarm; You have a climbing speed of 20ft and can climb sheer cliff faces and walls with no issue, while moving this way you can still attack as normal provided you don't send your swarm to attack a target with your Mark of Infestation, you still provoke opportunity attacks if you move out of a creature's range.

Improved Mark of Infestation

At 11th Level, your swarm has learned how to better hinder your enemies in combat, depending on the swarm type you have picked, the following effects now apply to targets of your Mark of Infestation;

Airborne Swarm; When a creature is affected by your Mark of Infestation, their vision is now Heavily Obscured as your swarm concentrates around their head and eyes, creatures that use Blindsight or Tremor Sense are immune to this additional effect. Additionally if the creature attempts to cast a spell with verbal components while under the effect of your Mark of Infestation they must make a Constitution Saving throw against your spell save DC, on a pass they can cast the spell as normal, on a fail they are unable to complete the verbal component of the spell as your Swarm interrupts them doing so.

Crawling Swarm; When a creature is affected by your Mark of Infestation, their movement speed is now halved, as your swarm concentrates around their legs and feet, creatures that move by flying are immune to this additional effect. Additionally, if the target uses more than half of their movement while under the effect of your Mark of Infestation they must make a Dexterity Saving throw against your spell save DC, on a pass they can continue to move, on a fail they are knocked prone as your Swarm skitters around their feet and trips them.

 

The Seething Swarm

At 15th Level, your swarm has grown considerably in size. When you use your Mark of Infestation feature, you can choose to have it's damage split among multiple creatures, such as 3D6 on a single creature, or 1D6 split across 3. Using your Mark of Infestation this way still only consumes 1 use of the feature.

Additionally, when you start combat and have no uses of your Mark of Infestation remaining, you automatically regain 1 use of the feature.

Finally, your swarm has become strong enough to resist being dispersed by your targets, external effects such as fire or submersion in water no longer removes your swarm from their targets, and the duration of your Mark of Infestation is extended indefinitely until the target dies or until you call your swarm back.