1st level (4 slots): identify, speak with animals
2nd level (3 slots): gentle repose, detect thoughts, hold person
3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, speak with dead
4th level (3 slots): divination (ritual), polymorph
5th level (2 slots): geas, raise dead
6th level (1 slot): circle of death
Note that hag coven spells can only be cast when all three members of the hag coven are within 30 feet of one another. This guided my spell selection. Most likely, the hags would be encountered together in their lair. The lair intentionally is 30 feet in diameter; cramped, but for a very good purpose.
The spell list includes three offensive spells: hold person, polymorph, and circle of death. Potentially, each hag could cast one of these offensive spells during the first round of combat.
The speak with animals spell would be used on ravens that are trained to scout and spy.
The gentle repose spell would be used on a dead person brought to the hags by someone wanting the hags to restore the dead person to life. The hags would demand a service in return, giving the person up to 10 days (the duration of the gentle repose spell) to complete. Upon completion, the hags would fulfill their bargain by casting raise dead on the dead person. If the person fails to fulfill the service, the hags animate the dead person's corpse, commanding the zombie to return to the village as a warning to others.
In furtherance of this sort of leverage, hags endeavor to remove--or have removed--from the local village(s) any person capable of restoring life.
When negotiating, one hag casts detect thoughts on the person negotiating with the hags.
The target of the geas spell could willingly fail its saving throw. Hags usually will coerce the target into agreeing to fail this saving throw.
The circle of death spell is very effective against the stereotypical village mob brandishing torches and pitchforks.
As known purveyors of information, hags will use the divination, speak with dead and/or identify spells when they are approached by people seeking answers.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Lolth's Spider Domain (available only to Drow females)
Lolth's Spider Domain (available only to Drow females)
Lolth's Spider Domain Spells
Cleric level 1: Find Familiar (spider only), Jump
Cleric level 3: Spider Climb, Web
Cleric level 5: Blink, Conjure Animals (spiders only)
Cleric level 7: Guardian of Faith (spider form), Freedom of Movement
Cleric level 9: Conjure Arachnoloth, Hold Monster
Bonus Cantrip
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you learn the Poison Spray cantrip.
Bonus Proficiency
Also at 1st level, you gain proficiency with the Stealth skill.
Channel Divinity: Spider Swarm
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to call for the aid of a host of spiders. As an action, you present your holy symbol and conjure a swarm of spiders within 30 feet of you. As long as you maintain concentration on the conjured swarm (as if concentrating on a spell), the swarm obeys your verbal commands (no action required by you), and in combat, it acts on your turn each round. If you don’t issue any commands to it, the swarm defends itself from hostile creatures, but otherwise takes no actions. The swarm disappears when it drops to 0 hit points, when your concentration is broken, when you use an action to dismiss it, or after 1 minute. For every two cleric levels you have above 2nd level, you can conjure an additional swarm of spiders.
Poison Takes Its Toll
Starting at 6th level, when you deal poison damage--via weapon or spell--to a creature, that creature is subject to the poisoned condition until the end of your next turn.
Divine Strike
At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes with poison. Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to deal an extra 1d8 poison damage to the target. When you reach 14th level, the extra damage increases to 2d8.
Drider
At 17th level, Lolth grants you the blessing normally reserved for matron mothers. You are transformed into a drider. As such, you retain your drow traits and class features, but also acquire the following drider racial traits:
Strength. You gain a Strength of 16 if your score isn't already higher.
Constitution. You gain a Constitution of 18 if your score isn't already higher.
Size. Your size becomes large.
Armor Class. You gain natural armor of 16 (plus any Dexterity modifier).
Speed. You gain a climb speed of 30 ft.
Spider Climb. The drider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the drider knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The drider ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Shapechanger. You can can use an action to polymorph into your drow form for up to one hour. Other than your strength and constitution scores, you lose your drider racial traits when you are in your drow form. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying isn't transformed. You can use a bonus action to revert back to your true drider form. If you die in drow form, you revert to your true drider form. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
ACTIONS
Claw. You can use your claw to make a melee weapon attack. You can use either your Strength or your Dexterity for its attack roll and damage bonus, and this attack deals 1d8 piercing damage.
Extra Attack. When you use your Claw attack, you can attack twice instead of once.
Web. You shoot sticky strands of webbing from your abdomen. Make a ranged weapon attack roll against one creature. On a hit, the target is restrained by the webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 17 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 15; hp 10; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage). Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Lolth's Spider Domain Spells
Cleric level 1: Find Familiar (spider only), Jump
Cleric level 3: Spider Climb, Web
Cleric level 5: Blink, Conjure Animals (spiders only)
Cleric level 7: Guardian of Faith (spider form), Freedom of Movement
Cleric level 9: Conjure Arachnoloth, Hold Monster
Bonus Cantrip
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you learn the Poison Spray cantrip.
Bonus Proficiency
Also at 1st level, you gain proficiency with the Stealth skill.
Channel Divinity: Spider Swarm
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to call for the aid of a host of spiders. As an action, you present your holy symbol and conjure a swarm of spiders within 30 feet of you. As long as you maintain concentration on the conjured swarm (as if concentrating on a spell), the swarm obeys your verbal commands (no action required by you), and in combat, it acts on your turn each round. If you don’t issue any commands to it, the swarm defends itself from hostile creatures, but otherwise takes no actions. The swarm disappears when it drops to 0 hit points, when your concentration is broken, when you use an action to dismiss it, or after 1 minute. For every two cleric levels you have above 2nd level, you can conjure an additional swarm of spiders.
Poison Takes Its Toll
Starting at 6th level, when you deal poison damage--via weapon or spell--to a creature, that creature is subject to the poisoned condition until the end of your next turn.
Divine Strike
At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon strikes with poison. Once on each of your turns when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can cause the attack to deal an extra 1d8 poison damage to the target. When you reach 14th level, the extra damage increases to 2d8.
Drider
At 17th level, Lolth grants you the blessing normally reserved for matron mothers. You are transformed into a drider. As such, you retain your drow traits and class features, but also acquire the following drider racial traits:
Strength. You gain a Strength of 16 if your score isn't already higher.
Constitution. You gain a Constitution of 18 if your score isn't already higher.
Size. Your size becomes large.
Armor Class. You gain natural armor of 16 (plus any Dexterity modifier).
Speed. You gain a climb speed of 30 ft.
Spider Climb. The drider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the drider knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The drider ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Shapechanger. You can can use an action to polymorph into your drow form for up to one hour. Other than your strength and constitution scores, you lose your drider racial traits when you are in your drow form. Any equipment you are wearing or carrying isn't transformed. You can use a bonus action to revert back to your true drider form. If you die in drow form, you revert to your true drider form. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
ACTIONS
Claw. You can use your claw to make a melee weapon attack. You can use either your Strength or your Dexterity for its attack roll and damage bonus, and this attack deals 1d8 piercing damage.
Extra Attack. When you use your Claw attack, you can attack twice instead of once.
Web. You shoot sticky strands of webbing from your abdomen. Make a ranged weapon attack roll against one creature. On a hit, the target is restrained by the webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 17 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 15; hp 10; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage). Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Staff of Flying
Simply put, I would reskin the Broom of Flying into a Staff of Flying. The staff would serve both as an arcane focus and as a quarterstaff.
Primeval Awareness (new, not old)
I am quite fond of the new Ranger class, introduced in Unearthed Arcana: The Ranger, Revised (2016 September). A portion of one class feature in particular, Primeval Awareness, seems well suited for the Druid class, and I would add it to the Druid class as follows:
Primeval Fauna Awareness
Beginning at 3rd level, your mastery ofranger druid lore allows you to establish a powerful link to beasts and to the land around you.
You have an innate ability to communicate with beasts, and they recognize you as a kindred spirit. Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas to a beast as an action, and can read its basic mood and intent. You learn its emotional state, whether it is affected by magic of any sort, its short-term needs (such as food or safety), and actions you can take (if any) to persuade it to not attack.
You cannot use this ability against a creature that you have attacked within the past 10 minutes.
Beginning at 3rd level, your mastery of
You have an innate ability to communicate with beasts, and they recognize you as a kindred spirit. Through sounds and gestures, you can communicate simple ideas to a beast as an action, and can read its basic mood and intent. You learn its emotional state, whether it is affected by magic of any sort, its short-term needs (such as food or safety), and actions you can take (if any) to persuade it to not attack.
You cannot use this ability against a creature that you have attacked within the past 10 minutes.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Treant and Treant Druid
Here are some modifications I have made to treants that I think are appropriate:
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 13
Speak with Plants. The treant can communicate with plants as if they shared a language.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach5 10 ft., one target.
Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Note: an awakened tree (CR 2) has a Slam attack with a reach of 10 feet.
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Treant Druid (Circle of the Land)
Use the treant template with the following modifications:
WIS16 (+3) 18 (+4)
Challenge9 (5 ,000 XP) 10 (5,900 XP)
Wild Shape: max CR of 1/2; includes beasts with a swimming speed; can stay in beast shape for up to 3 hours per Wild Shape use.
Land’s Stride: Moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs the treant druid no extra movement. The treant druid can also pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard. In addition, the treant druid has advantage on saving throws against plants that are magically created or manipulated to impede movement, such as those created by the entangle spell.
Spellcasting. The treant druid is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following druid spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): control flames (see Player's Companion - Elemental Evil), druidcraft, mending (applicable to plants, but not plant creatures), guidance
1st level (4 slots): create or destroy water, cure wounds, entangle, speak with animals
2nd level (3 slots): barkskin, locate animals and plants, pass without trace, spider climb, spike growth
3rd level (3 slots): call lightning, conjure animals, erupting earth (see Player's Companion - Elemental Evil), plant growth, protection from energy
Senses darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 13
Speak with Plants. The treant can communicate with plants as if they shared a language.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach
Hit: 16 (3d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Note: an awakened tree (CR 2) has a Slam attack with a reach of 10 feet.
____________________________________________
Treant Druid (Circle of the Land)
Use the treant template with the following modifications:
WIS
Challenge
Wild Shape: max CR of 1/2; includes beasts with a swimming speed; can stay in beast shape for up to 3 hours per Wild Shape use.
Land’s Stride: Moving through nonmagical difficult terrain costs the treant druid no extra movement. The treant druid can also pass through nonmagical plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard. In addition, the treant druid has advantage on saving throws against plants that are magically created or manipulated to impede movement, such as those created by the entangle spell.
Spellcasting. The treant druid is a 6th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 16, +8 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following druid spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): control flames (see Player's Companion - Elemental Evil), druidcraft, mending (applicable to plants, but not plant creatures), guidance
1st level (4 slots): create or destroy water, cure wounds, entangle, speak with animals
2nd level (3 slots): barkskin, locate animals and plants, pass without trace, spider climb, spike growth
3rd level (3 slots): call lightning, conjure animals, erupting earth (see Player's Companion - Elemental Evil), plant growth, protection from energy
Ogre
The ogre has a challenge rating of 2. I think that an ogre should provide a greater challenge, so I raised its challenge rating to 3.
Challenge2 3 (450 700 XP)
Hit Points59 (7d10 + 21) 68 (8d10 + 24)
Languages Common, Giant
Challenge
Hit Points
Languages Common
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Eldritch Knight cantrips
Once an Eldritch Knights achieves War Magic at level 7, I think that True Strike (as revised below) and Blade Ward become good choices for cantrips. Here are my reasons why:
By level 5, an Eldritch Knight can attack twice with his attack action. That means 2 attack rolls and 2 damage rolls in 1 round of combat; and consequently, 4 attack rolls and 4 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat. I will continue to discuss my reasoning within the context of two rounds of combat.
By virtue of War Magic, an Eldritch Knight can use Blade Ward with the following effect: 3 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat, plus resistance against bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage for those two rounds.
Here is how I would revise the True Strike cantrip:
On Until the end of your next turn, you gain advantage on your first attack rolls against the target, provided that this spell hasn’t ended.
I believe that this revision would not provide an added benefit to most wizards; however, an Eldritch Knight, by virtue of War Magic, would benefit from this revision as follows: 6 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat.
Thus, an Eldritch Knight with both True Strike (as revised below) and Blade Ward would have 3 meaningfully different combat options:
i) Normal Attack Option: 4 attack rolls and 4 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat;
ii) Defensive Attack Option: 3 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat, plus resistance against bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage for those two rounds; and
iii) Precise Attack Option: 6 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat.
By level 5, an Eldritch Knight can attack twice with his attack action. That means 2 attack rolls and 2 damage rolls in 1 round of combat; and consequently, 4 attack rolls and 4 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat. I will continue to discuss my reasoning within the context of two rounds of combat.
By virtue of War Magic, an Eldritch Knight can use Blade Ward with the following effect: 3 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat, plus resistance against bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage for those two rounds.
Here is how I would revise the True Strike cantrip:
I believe that this revision would not provide an added benefit to most wizards; however, an Eldritch Knight, by virtue of War Magic, would benefit from this revision as follows: 6 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat.
Thus, an Eldritch Knight with both True Strike (as revised below) and Blade Ward would have 3 meaningfully different combat options:
i) Normal Attack Option: 4 attack rolls and 4 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat;
ii) Defensive Attack Option: 3 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat, plus resistance against bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage for those two rounds; and
iii) Precise Attack Option: 6 attack rolls and 3 damage rolls in 2 rounds of combat.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Drow and Scout modifications
Drow
Challenge1/4 1/2 (50 100 XP)
Hit Points13 16 (3d8 + 3)
CON10 12 (+0 1)
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The drow makes two shortsword attacks.
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Scout
Shortsword Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing slashing damage.
Challenge
Hit Points
CON
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The drow makes two shortsword attacks.
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Scout
Drider redux
Lolth eventually summons a drow house's matron mother to the Hadesweb for a test of faith and strength. Those matron mothers that pass the test rise higher in the Spider Queen's favor: they are transformed by Lolth into driders, the blessed image of Lolth. Those matron mothers that fail the test prove that they are unworthy to lead a drow house to Lolth's satisfaction. They are stripped of their role as matron mothers and remain in the Hadesweb to spend an eternity serving Lolth, rather than leading her drow. In this way, Lolth surrounds herself with powerful drow.
As the favored of Lolth, all driders enjoy considerable power and authority in drow society. The drow believe that a drow house that does not have a drider for a matron mother is experiencing the displeasure of Lolth. Such houses face stigma and disdain from the greater drow community.
DRIDER
Large monstrosity,chaotic neutral evil
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 123 (13d10 +52)
Speed 30ft., climb 30ft.
STR 16 (+3)
DEX 16 (+3)
CON 18 (+4)
INT13 (+1) 14 (+2)
WIS14 (+2) 17 (+3)
CHA12 (+1) 18 (+4)
Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +6, Cha +7
Skills Insight +6, Perception+5+6, Religion +4, Stealth +9
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120ft., passive Perception15 16
Languages Abyssal, Infernal,Elvish Sylvan [Elvish does not exist in my world], Undercommon.
Challenge6 (2,300 XP) 10 (5,900 XP)
Fey Ancestry. The drider has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put the drider to sleep.
Leap. The drider can expend all its movement on its turn to jump up to 90 feet vertically or horizontally, provided that its speed is as least 30 feet.
Spider Climb. The drider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Spider Affinity. Driders have a special kinship with spiders. Even untrained spiders recognize arachnoloths as allies and don't prey on them.
Spider Telepathy. Driders can magically command any spider of CR2 or less that is within 120 feet of it, using a limited telepathy.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the drider has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Innate Spellcasting. The drider's spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC13 15). The drider can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: dancing lights
1/day each:darkness, faerie fire, spider climb, web
Spellcasting. The drider is a l2th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The drider has the following cleric spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will) : guidance, poison spray, resistance, spare the dying, thaumaturgy
lst level (4 slots): animal friendship, cure wounds, detect poison and disease, ray of sickness
2nd level (3 slots): lesser restoratlon, protection from poison, web
3rd level (3 slots): conjure animals (2 giant spiders), dispel magic
4th level (3 slots): divination, freedom of movement
5th level (2 slots): conjure arachnoloth, raise dead
6th level (1 slot): word of recall
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the drider knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The drider ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Magic Weapons. The arachnoloth's weapon attacks are magical.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The drider makes three claw attacks, either with its longsword or its longbow. It can replace one of those attacks with a bite attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) poison damage.
Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1dl0 + 3) slashing damage if used with two hands.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 120/600 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Web (Recharge 5-6}. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 17 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 10; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).
As the favored of Lolth, all driders enjoy considerable power and authority in drow society. The drow believe that a drow house that does not have a drider for a matron mother is experiencing the displeasure of Lolth. Such houses face stigma and disdain from the greater drow community.
DRIDER
Large monstrosity,
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 123 (13d10 +52)
Speed 30ft., climb 30ft.
STR 16 (+3)
DEX 16 (+3)
CON 18 (+4)
INT
WIS
CHA
Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +6, Cha +7
Skills Insight +6, Perception
Damage Immunities poison
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120ft., passive Perception
Languages Abyssal, Infernal,
Challenge
Fey Ancestry. The drider has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put the drider to sleep.
Leap. The drider can expend all its movement on its turn to jump up to 90 feet vertically or horizontally, provided that its speed is as least 30 feet.
Spider Affinity. Driders have a special kinship with spiders. Even untrained spiders recognize arachnoloths as allies and don't prey on them.
Spider Telepathy. Driders can magically command any spider of CR2 or less that is within 120 feet of it, using a limited telepathy.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the drider has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom
(Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Innate Spellcasting. The drider's spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC
1/day each:
Spellcasting. The drider is a l2th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (save DC 14, +6 to hit with spell attacks). The drider has the following cleric spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will) : guidance, poison spray, resistance, spare the dying, thaumaturgy
lst level (4 slots): animal friendship, cure wounds, detect poison and disease, ray of sickness
2nd level (3 slots): lesser restoratlon, protection from poison, web
3rd level (3 slots): conjure animals (2 giant spiders), dispel magic
4th level (3 slots): divination, freedom of movement
5th level (2 slots): conjure arachnoloth, raise dead
6th level (1 slot): word of recall
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the drider knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The drider ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Magic Weapons. The arachnoloth's weapon attacks are magical.
ACTIONS
Multiattack. The drider makes three claw attacks
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage plus 9 (2d8) poison damage.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage.
Web (Recharge 5-6}. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 17 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 10; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).
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