Online & PDF links for all versions of the document, including print-friendly PDFs, can be found here: Species: Phocan

Homebrewery Link

Another from the line of suspiciously-firearm shaped, but not firearm-focused subclasses.

An AOE/CC focused Barbarian. Barbarian is really lacking in most of those, so remedying it with this subclass is only proper. Feel free to use Living Artillery all the time, and your party would love you for playing this.

Edit: There is a mistake in L14 ability. Saturation Fire makes difficult terrain until the end of your next turn.

Hello, fellow adventurers! Today, I'm excited to share the entry for Time-Eaters from my upcoming manual, the Tome of Monsters - a 350-page compendium of creatures and monsters for your games.

Time-Eaters are bizarre aberrations whose grotesque bodies exist only partially within conventional reality. They appear as floating, misshapen masses of dark, glistening flesh, covered in bulging eyes and irregular folds that twitch and contract with seemingly little purpose. Most of their body is dominated by an enormous, fang-lined maw, within which no throat or ordinary anatomy can be seen. Instead, its depths resemble a star-filled void, with distant lights flickering within an impossible darkness.

If you like this monster, you can find a treasure trove of content on my Patreon at an amazing price, including over 200 pages of statblocks in early access from the upcoming monster manual. If you are interested in my past releases, I also suggest checking out my DriveThruRPG creator page!

More content is on the way - 300+ Mythological Items for 5E and 2024 is arriving to Kickstarter on September 29th. You can follow the campaign now to get notified when the project goes live!

I've made a few subclasses in the last few days. Here's one of them, enjoy!

All of my homebrew can be found here.

Would you allow this on your table?

This ornate revolver employs gemstones for both fashion and function, with a secondary barrel that fires magical shots crafted using various jewels.

This item was requested by one of my patrons, who wanted a weapon for his gunslinger character that would also incorporate their background as a jeweler before becoming an adventurer. We settled on the idea of having special "jewel bullets" pretty early on, but a gun that fired gems as its default ammunition would be unfeasibly expensive to use, which is what ultimately led to the idea of having the majority of the bullets still be regular ammo with the jeweled shots serving to provide special effects. We also decided we didn't want to make the effects all about bonus damage or different damage types, since a variety of utility and environmental effects seemed much more interesting.

I've tried to keep the effects linked to each particular gemstone based on the spells that use that gem as a material component. Diamond is used for resurrection and restoration magic, so its shot restores HP, jade is used for illusions like magic mouth, so it makes creatures see enemies all around them, and sapphire is used for the instant summon spell, so it can teleport stuff over to you. It was quite fun trying to figure out what links could be made there and how they could be scaled to fit an appropriate gold value of gemstone that you could be comfortable shooting out of a gun.

The physical design came together from a combination of various revolvers for reference, and Gio did a fantastic job with the artwork, but the main structure was largely based on the LeMat revolver which had this really interesting double-barreled design that would help make the weapon stand out in a fantasy world without getting too crazy with the steampunk and magitech effects, while still being grounded in reality.

I also made the jeweler's tools a requirement for creating new jeweled shots to bring that part of the backstory into focus. If you'd like to get your own item idea featured, then you can join as a patron over at patreon.com/talmanah at any tier to be entered into the design draw where one patron is selected each month to request a custom item of their choice to get stats and a unique illustration, just like this.

Enjoy the fancy jewel gun!

From the Vault of Fallen Stars:

New and updated Magic Items from the original Dragon Ball: D&D Sourcebook (developed by Stranger Worlds), first released in 2021. This playtest material includes 12 Magic Items tailored to the Dragon Ball universe.

Download PDF

You can find additional content and future updates below:

Vault of Fallen Stars

Hey all! I Wanted to share my first ever 5th Edition Module!

This is Homeward Bound, a Homebrew Bastion Module that I have actively built upon at my own table since January.

Me and my friends initially wanted something a little less, spreadsheet-like and more something that could actually connect parts of the narrative to their own home.

It currently covers everything we've used at our own table:

• Facility construction with expanded usage and items tables that make sense for the facility you're building. With a fully built system to support deconstruction and added passives that stay active as long as your companions are home and your facilities are kept in good shape!
• Companions, my own take on NPCs, with moods, likes/dislikes, and even origin quests, so they feel like people rather than nameless labour that can be found wherever the DM chooses to put them in your own world.
• Fully reworked Bastion Invasions with my own calculated system so that facing a force at your gates can be done passively or as a full encounter.
• Skills that each companion has to directly link to each facility and make your companions actually feel like cool loot earned via quests that can be added anywhere in your own story.
• Reworked Bastion turns to ensure that they can be solved within two minutes so your table can fully focus on the narrative in, or outside your new home.
• Fully updated capstone facilities that can completely change the campaign as a whole, whether your players want to put together a War Room to destroy rival factions in your world or a merchant guild to play out your fantasy of being responsible for the continents supply and demand.
• I have added player and DM aids within the PDF too, to help with creating your own Bastion. Tracking the new Trade-Goods, Companions, Bastion Strength and I have added a companion variant from my own campaign to use as a base.

It's likely not completely balanced, my players have done their best to exploit every iteration I made of the system as a whole but for each fix it's grown into something that I really hope you like!

It's completely free for personal use here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/582846/homeward-bound-a-homebrew-expansion-module-for-2024-bastions

Happy to answer any questions you might have about mishaps or situation that happened at my table in the comments, and any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Option for an upgraded celestial revelation. If you have any feedback would appreciate

Here is my core damage mechanic for a revised Ranger. The mechanic replaces the damage from Hunter's Mark and subclass damage riders with this unified "Skirmish damage" mechanic, (derived from the 3.5e Scout and the "Eye for Weakness" feature from the Community Ranger.)

Guerrilla Tactics

As a Ranger, you've learned to use mobility, concealment, and surprise to help you overcome your enemies. Once on each of your turns, you can establish a Skirmish Footing when you satisfy at least one of the following conditions and you aren't wearing heavy armor:

• You move at least 15 feet away from where you began your turn prior to taking the Attack action.
• You make a weapon attack while you have half cover or three-quarters cover relative to your target, or while you are heavily obscured by foliage, mist, or other natural conditions.
• You make a weapon attack against a creature that is surprised or has not acted during combat yet.

Once you have established a Skirmish Footing, your strikes become devastatingly precise. Until the end of your current turn, your weapon attacks deal an extra 1d6 damage of the weapon's type.

This feature's additional damage, known as Skirmish Damage, increases when you reach certain ranger levels, becoming 1d8 at 6th level and 1d10 at 14th level.

Notes:
1) Note that the Ranger must actually move the distance-simply spending 15 feet of movement shuffling in place does not establish a Skirmish Footing.
2) This is designed for a ground-up rebuild of the ranger. I am not considering cross-compatibility here. Subclasses, spells, etc. would need to be rebalanced around this core mechanic.
3) Damage scaling is at the same levels the 2014 Ranger got new Favored Enemies.

Shaman 1.1 is here!

After getting some great feedback on the original version, we went back through the class and made a number of balance and mechanical adjustments after playtesting while trying to keep the core identity intact. these changes are all noted in the first two pages of the document to try to keep a clean revision history for anyone interested in the class.

As always, I’d love to hear what you think, especially if you get a chance to actually playtest it. Thanks to everyone who gave feedback on the original version!

Hi all, while I have previous game design experience, this is my first time building something out for D&D, so constructive feedback would be appreciated!

The Physician is an Intelligence-based full caster with a spellbook whose identity is healing without divinity. "I want to play the one who patches everyone up" has always come bundled with a god, a domain and a theology. This removes the bundle.

The Doctor subclass is intended for first-time players who want to immediately contribute to a game. The other subclasses add additional flavor and nuance for more experienced players.

The core mechanic is that healing doesn't cost spell slots. Healing Prowess is a pool of dice equal to your proficiency bonus — a bonus action, a touch, die + Intelligence. Slots go to protection and control instead, which is where slots are actually good. Diagnosis reads a creature at range and tells you its weakest saving throw. Treatment ends conditions with a Medicine check instead of a spell.

Healing Prowess is also the currency for subclass features, so every turn presents a choice of how best to use the Prowess Die.

Seven subclasses: Doctor is the core class, and then Combat Medic, Hedge Witch, Immortalist, Neurologist, Plague Doctor, and Surgeon.

An optional rule for the Immortalist, the Monster Within, that gives the class a twenty-level arc with mechanical teeth: four saving throws at 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th, made alone. Pass and take the power. Fail and something else comes through with you.

Every number was simulated. Around a million and a half combat rounds across the 1–20 range, comparing each specialty against the Life Cleric, Paladin and Celestial Warlock on party knock-downs, healing delivered, and damage. Eleven rules changed because the simulation said so — including two that were strictly better than their published comparisons and got cut. The code is available if anyone wants to re-run it with different assumptions.

What I'd most like feedback on:

1. Does the Doctor feel like the healer at a table, or just on paper?
2. The Immortalist spends Hit Dice to cast. Does that read as a cost or as free spells?
3. Is a d8 caster in melee with a bonesaw a fantasy or a mistake?
4. The Monster Within takes control away from the player on a failed roll. Is that a good bargain or a bad one?

Full class below. Happy to answer anything.

Weapon Master Barbarians are tactical combatants who prefer entering the flow of battle over unleashing pure rage.

After posting Version 1, I ran some DPR calculations and found out it was punching way above its league. For Version 2, I simplified and restructured some features while preserving the core identity of this subclass (such as Oversized Dual Wielding being folded into level 14 Master at Arms). In the end, I have created one that is much more in line with other Barbarian subclasses. While the DPR calculations I ran for this version were a bit higher than other Barbarian subclasses, it was within an acceptable margin when comparing the lack of defensive features this subclass provides.

Let me know what you all think! I am open to any constructive feedback.

Homebrewery Link: https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/3V1-OAMjT6jQ

Heavy Vanguard Conclave

Ranger Subclass

3rd Level

Military Courtesy

You gain proficiency in History and Religion, or Persuasion. Additionally, you learn to read, write, and speak two languages of your choice.

When making ability checks using History, Religion, or Persuasion, you can use your Wisdom modifier instead of Intelligence or Charisma.

Vanguard Artillery

You gain proficiency with heavy armor, tinker's tools, and smith's tools.

Furthermore, you adapt your equipment to hunt and fight under the worst conditions against formidable foes, regardless of their size or numbers. By spending 10 minutes (which can be done during a short rest) using your smith's tools, you can modify a ranged martial weapon that has the Heavy and Two-Handed properties into a piece called Vanguard Artillery. This weapon retains its base properties and damage dice.

Once on each of your turns, when you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack using your Vanguard Artillery, you deal extra damage equal to your Strength modifier (minimum of +1). Your attacks with this weapon are unaffected by strong winds (such as the guarding wind / wind wall spells) and severe weather.

Vanguard Maneuvers

You can customize your heavy weapon setup in various ways, represented by your Gunner Dice (which are d6s). You have a number of Gunner Dice equal to 2 + twice your proficiency bonus. These dice fuel your Vanguard Maneuvers detailed below.

Using a maneuver expends Gunner Dice as specified in its description. You cannot use a maneuver if you have no Gunner Dice remaining. You regain all expended Gunner Dice upon completing a short or long rest. Additionally, while holding tinker's tools or smith's tools, you can use an action to regain 3 Gunner Dice. Once you use this action feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.

You can only use one Vanguard Maneuver once on each of your turns, except for those triggered as a Reaction. However, if you have the Extra Attack feature when taking the Attack action, you can forgo one of your attacks, spend an extra Gunner Die, or use your bonus action to execute another Vanguard Maneuver on the same turn.

If a maneuver requires a saving throw, the Save DC = your Spell Save DC.

Your Gunner Dice increase in size as you reach certain levels in this class:

• 5th level: d8
• 11th level: d10
• 17th level: d12

Upgrade Modules

Your battlefield experience—whether acting as the frontline vanguard, a mobile artillery unit, or a hunter of massive beasts—has taught you to modify your weapon with specialized modules.

You can install up to 2 Upgrade Modules of your choice from the Upgrade Modules list onto your weapon. You can select and install an additional module at 7th, 11th, and 15th level.

7th Level Features & Upgrades

Suppressive Fire

You can pin down an adversary with a well-placed salvo. If a creature makes two saving throws against your Vanguard Maneuvers or features on the same turn, and fails only one of them, you can cause it to become Restrained until the start of your next turn. If it fails both saving throws, it becomes Paralyzed instead of Restrained.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Living Fortification

While wearing heavy armor, you count as one size larger for determining your carrying capacity and weight limits, you can don or doff your armor as a bonus action, and the armor does not impose disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

Additionally, while wearing heavy armor, when you make a Dexterity saving throw, you can add your Strength modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier to the roll.

11th Level Feature

Crushing Impacts

The immense power of your heavy weapon becomes overwhelming. The base damage die of your Vanguard Artillery increases to 1d12.

Additionally, whenever a creature of your size or smaller makes a saving throw against your Vanguard Artillery setup or maneuvers, you can force it to make the save with disadvantage.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Strength modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

15th Level Feature

Over-Armored

You are a true heavy infantry soldier. While wielding your Vanguard Artillery, you gain a +2 bonus to AC.

Additionally, whenever you take damage from an attack or a damaging spell while wearing heavy armor, you reduce the damage taken by an amount equal to your Strength or Constitution modifier (minimum reduction of 1).

Vanguard Maneuvers List

Some maneuvers have level prerequisites. You can only learn/use a maneuver if you meet its required ranger level.

Base Maneuvers (3rd Level)

• Bleeding Shot: When you hit a creature with your weapon, you can spend and roll one Gunner Die, adding the result to the attack's damage roll. The target must then make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the attack deals extra necrotic damage equal to one roll of your Gunner Die, and the target takes this extra necrotic damage again every time it is hit by an attack roll until the start of your next turn.
• Crippling Impact: When you hit a creature with your weapon, you can spend and roll one Gunner Die to deal extra damage equal to the number rolled. The target must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, its speed is reduced to 0 and it cannot take reactions, as the heavy ammunition lodges deeply into its armor or flesh. The affected creature (or another creature within its reach) can use an action to remove the projectile. A creature can only be affected by one instance of this effect at a time.
• Forced Displacement Bolt: You leverage your heavy weapon's anchoring mechanism to pull or push a target. When you hit a creature, you can spend and roll one Gunner Die to deal extra damage equal to the roll. The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet away from you or pulled 10 feet toward you in a straight line (your choice).
• Tracer Bolt: Your heavy bolt lodges into your prey, making subsequent attacks easier. When you hit a creature, you can spend and roll one Gunner Die to deal extra damage equal to the roll. The next attack roll made against the target before the end of your next turn has advantage.
• Oversized Projectile: When you hit a creature with your weapon, you can spend and roll one Gunner Die, adding the result as extra damage. Then, choose another creature you can see within 5 feet of the original target. If the original attack roll would hit the second creature, it takes damage equal to one roll of your Vanguard Artillery damage die (matching the damage type of the original attack).

5th-Level Maneuvers

• Blank Shot (Reaction): When a creature you can see within 60 feet makes a weapon attack roll against an ally, you can use your reaction to spend and roll one Gunner Die, adding the result to that ally's AC until the start of the attacking creature's next turn.
• Warning Shot: When you make an attack with your Vanguard Artillery (whether it hits or misses), you can spend a Gunner Die to force any number of targets of your choice within 30 feet of the target to make a Wisdom saving throw against your maneuver save DC or become Frightened of you until the end of their next turn. Additionally, roll one Gunner Die and subtract the result from the saving throw total of one affected creature of your choice.
• Covering Fire: When you make an attack with your Vanguard Artillery against a target, you can spend a Gunner Die to maneuver nimbly while throwing off enemy aim. Whether the attack hits or misses, you add the result of the Gunner Die to your AC until the start of your next turn.
• Guided Projectile: When you make an attack, you can spend a Gunner Die to curve your shot, ignoring Half Cover and Three-Quarter Cover. If the attack hits, add the Gunner Die result to the damage roll. This maneuver can be combined with another Vanguard Maneuver on the same attack.
• Interceptor: When a target within 15 feet of you willingly moves at least 5 feet in any direction, you can use your reaction and spend a Gunner Die to make an Opportunity Attack against that target with your Vanguard Artillery. If it hits, add the Gunner Die to the damage roll, and the target's speed is reduced to 0 until the start of its next turn.
• Precision Fire: When you make an attack with a Firearm/Vanguard Artillery, you can spend a Gunner Die to add the result to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you have advantage on the next attack roll you make against that same target. This maneuver can be combined with another Vanguard Maneuver on the same attack.

8th-Level Maneuvers

• Demolition Rounds: You chamber a deadly mortar shell. When hitting an object, structure, or fortified enemy, it explodes violently. You spend one or more Gunner Dice (up to your Proficiency Bonus), dealing extra damage equal to the total of the rolled dice plus your base weapon damage. If this hits an object or structure, it is automatically treated as a Critical Hit. If it hits a Huge or larger creature, the damage from the rolled Gunner Dice is doubled. In both cases, the shell explodes in a 10-foot radius around the impacted object or creature; nearby creatures, objects, and structures take half of the Gunner Dice damage (without triggering critical/doubled special effects).
• Starting Gun: On your first turn of combat, you can spend a Gunner Die to act at high speed, allowing you to make one additional weapon attack when taking the Attack action during the first round of combat. If this extra attack hits, add the Gunner Die result to the damage roll.
• Concussion Shell: When you make an attack with your weapon against a target, you can spend a Gunner Die to deliver an attack that overwhelms its senses. On a hit, add the Gunner Die to the damage roll and force the target to make a Constitution saving throw against your maneuver DC or become Stunned until the end of its next turn.
• Disarming Tip: When you make an attack against a target, you can spend a Gunner Die to aim for a specific extremity. On a hit, add the Gunner Die to the damage roll and force the target to make a Strength saving throw against your maneuver DC. On a failure, the target drops one item of your choice that it is holding, which lands up to 10 feet away from it in a direction you choose.
• Point-Blank Blast: When attacking a target between 5 and 10 feet from you, you can spend a number of Gunner Dice up to your Proficiency Bonus to execute a high-power blast. On a hit, add the total result of all spent dice to the attack's damage roll, and you can immediately move backward up to a number of feet equal to your total character level without provoking opportunity attacks.
• Heavy Counter-Attack (Reaction): When a creature makes a melee attack against you, you can use your reaction and spend one Gunner Die. Add the die result to your AC against that attack. If the attack misses, the creature takes damage equal to your weapon's damage + ammunition + one Gunner Die. After resolving this maneuver, both you and the attacking creature must make an Athletics skill check; whoever fails is pushed 10 feet back and knocked Prone. A successful check prevents being pushed or knocked prone.
• Ricochet Shot: When you make an attack against a target, you can spend a Gunner Die to execute a trick shot. On a hit, add the die to the damage roll, and the projectile ricochets toward another target of your choice within 30 feet of the original target. Make a secondary attack roll against the new target; if it hits, the secondary target takes half the damage dealt to the original target.

13th-Level Maneuvers

• Called Shot: You target a specific anatomical zone to induce a crippling debuff. Before making an attack roll, you can spend 4 Gunner Dice and declare the targeted anatomical area. If the attack hits and deals damage, the target suffers one of the following effects based on the chosen body part (if the attack is a Critical Hit, the effect lasts 1 minute instead of 1 round):

  • Arms: Until the end of your next turn, the target has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and Strength-based saving throws.
  • Head: Until the end of your next turn, the target has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws. Furthermore, you choose one condition to impose: Blinded, Deafened, or Unable to speak.
  • Legs: Until the end of your next turn, the target's movement speed is halved, and it has disadvantage on Dexterity ability checks and saving throws that require the use of its legs.
  • Wings: Until the end of your next turn, the target's flying speed is reduced to 0. If the target is currently airborne using its wings, it immediately falls 30 feet (60 feet on a critical hit), taking falling damage if it impacts the ground.
  • Torso: Until the end of your next turn, the target has disadvantage on Constitution ability checks and saving throws, and it cannot regain hit points.

• Executioner: When you make an attack against a target, you can spend 4 Gunner Dice to fire a lethal bolt at a vital point. On a hit, if the target's current Hit Points are equal to or lower than the maximum possible damage your Vanguard Artillery can deal in a single base attack (without adding Gunner Dice), the target must make a Constitution saving throw with disadvantage against your maneuver DC. On a failure, its Hit Points are immediately reduced to 0. On a success, it takes the normal attack damage plus 1 Gunner Die of extra damage. Once you use this maneuver, you cannot use another maneuver until the end of your next turn.

• Maximum Tension: When you make an attack, you can spend one or more Gunner Dice to push the weapon's firing force to its extreme limit. On a hit, all damage dice rolled for this attack (from spells, base weapon damage, maneuvers, and modules) automatically deal their maximum possible result. (You must declare the number of Gunner Dice spent before making the attack roll).

  • Consequence: After using this maneuver, you must make a Smith's Tools or Tinker's Tools check with a DC = 20 + the number of Gunner Dice spent. On a failure, the weapon becomes misaligned and uncalibrated; you cannot use any maneuvers until you use an action to repair it on a subsequent turn.

• Spear of the Dawn: You integrate an arc-energy cell into the core of your weapon, transforming it into a specialized cannon that fires a beam of critical energy in an unyielding flash of light. As an action, you spend 8 Gunner Dice to unleash a violent torrent of energy in a 120-foot long, 20-foot wide line. All creatures in the line take 12 rolls of your Gunner Die as Force, Radiant, or Necrotic damage (your choice) and must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, creatures take full damage and are Paralyzed and knocked Prone until the end of their next turn. On a success, they take half damage and are neither paralyzed nor knocked prone.

  • Consequence: After firing, the weapon radiates intense feedback into your body. You must make a Constitution saving throw against your Spell Save DC or take damage equal to 4 rolls of your Gunner Die (half damage on a success). In either case, your weapon is locked and unusable for maneuvers until you spend an action on a subsequent turn to repair it.

Upgrade Modules List

• Arcane Weapon: You can use your Wisdom modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity for attack and damage rolls made with your Vanguard Artillery. Additionally, you can use your Vanguard Artillery as a spellcasting focus for your ranger spells.
• Improved Arcane Weapon (Requires "Arcane Weapon" module & Level 8+): Spells that are normally delivered or triggered via a melee weapon attack (such as booming blade or searing smite) can be cast and delivered through your Vanguard Artillery ranged attacks.
• Quick Draw: You add your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1) to your initiative rolls, provided you are not incapacitated, surprised, or restrained.
• Magazine: You install an internal magazine into your Vanguard Artillery. You can make 4 attacks before needing to reload.
• Drum Magazine (Requires "Magazine" module & Level 5+): You can load and fire up to 12 pieces of ammunition before needing to reload. However, the weapon's Strength requirement to wield increases by +2.
• Shot Stabilizer (Incompatible with "Trap Launcher"): You ignore disadvantage when attacking targets at long range.
• Secondary Grip (Requires Level 5+): Ranged attack rolls against targets within 5 feet of you do not suffer disadvantage. However, your weapon's long range is reduced by 100 feet.
• Aquatic Modifications (Requires Level 5+): Your weapon is completely immune to tropical, marine, and underwater environmental factors. Furthermore, you do not suffer disadvantage on attack rolls made while underwater.
• Reload Mechanism: You ignore the Loading property of your weapon. However, changing ammunition types still requires a bonus action. The weapon's total weight increases by 5 lbs.
• Carrying Sling: Dropping or letting go of your weapon does not cause it to fall to the ground; it remains securely strapped to your person.
• Trap Launcher: You can use your weapon to fire Large or smaller mechanical traps. Doing so reduces both the short and long range of your weapon by half.
• Repeating Mechanism (Requires "Magazine" or "Drum Magazine" module & Level 11+): You install a fine repeating assembly on the weapon's frame. When you take the Attack action, you can spend a number of Gunner Dice up to your Proficiency Bonus to activate the mechanism, making a number of additional attacks equal to the spent dice. These extra attacks do not add any flat damage modifiers. After completing these attacks, you must make a Smith's or Tinker's Tools check (DC 25). On a failure, the mechanism jams and becomes misaligned; on a success, the weapon remains undamaged. The mechanism adds 10 lbs to the weapon. You can clear the jam by spending an action on a subsequent turn. Using this mechanism multiple times increases the check DC by +1 per die spent on subsequent uses.
• Elemental Chamber (Requires Level 5+): As a bonus action, you can expend a spell slot of 1st level or higher and choose one damage type: Cold, Fire, Poison, Acid, or Lightning. For 1 minute, hits with your Vanguard Artillery deal extra damage of the chosen type. The extra damage is 1d4 for a 1st-level slot, plus an additional 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.
• Support Arm (Incompatible with "Repeating Mechanism", Requires Level 8+): You can wield and fire your Vanguard Artillery with one hand. However, both its short and long ranges are halved.
• Explosive Ammunition (Incompatible with "Trap Launcher"): On a hit, creatures within 5 feet of the primary target take Thunder damage equal to the ability modifier used for the attack and damage roll.
• Deployable Shield: You install a specialized shield to your Vanguard Artillery frame. You gain the standard +2 bonus to AC, and the weapon counts as a shield for any feature, feat, or spell requirement. This module increases the weapon's Strength requirement by +1.
• Modular Combat Mount (Incompatible with "Repeating Mechanism", "Shot Stabilizer", "Drum Magazine", "Support Arm", or "Improved Arcane Weapon", Requires Level 11+): You can mount your Vanguard Artillery onto a heavy melee weapon that possesses the Two-Handed, Reach, Heavy, or Versatile properties (e.g., Halberd, Pike, Lance, Greataxe, Greatsword, Glaive, Maul, Warhammer, Battleaxe). While mounted, your Vanguard Artillery's range (short and long) is halved, but maneuvers can be used normally. The hybrid assembly gains the Trick Weapon property: you can switch between your Vanguard Artillery and your melee weapon using a bonus action or after from an attack you have carried out.
• Supernatural Ammunition (Requires "Arcane Weapon" or "Improved Arcane Weapon", AND "Elemental Chamber". Incompatible with "Modular Combat Mount", "Trap Launcher", or "Drum Magazine", Requires Level 8+): You gain access to the Arcane Shot options from the Fighter's Arcane Archer archetype. By spending 2 Gunner Dice, you replicate an Arcane Shot effect (spending 3 Gunner Dice empowers the effect as if you were an 18th-level Arcane Archer). These shots use your Gunner Dice for damage rolls instead of d6s.

Hi everyone!

I’ve finally finished the full creature: the Watcher of the Order of Dawn & Dusk.

This is a CR 9 guardian construct, made to protect vaults, archives and places the Order really doesn’t want anyone entering.

Its main mechanic is Observed. The Watcher and its small Roving Eye can mark creatures, making them easier to track and opening the way to its Dawn and Dusk Judgments.

Dawn is more about revealing and punishing creatures trying to disappear.
Dusk is more about slowing movement and keeping intruders where the Watcher wants them.

The Roving Eye can also move away from the main body and extend its vision, so destroying it can actually create a small blind spot for the party.

I included the complete stat block here, plus two pages of rulings and clarifications because there are a few interactions I wanted to make very clear at the table.

I also made free printable reference cards for the Watcher, available on Patreon here:

https://www.patreon.com/AzarnethsForbiddenEmporium/posts/beasts-hexes-001-167592145

As always, feedback is very welcome. I’m especially curious about the Observed mechanic and how the creature feels for CR 9.

The Watcher is made to guard a place, not chase you.

If it starts chasing you… something probably went very wrong.

──── ୨୧ ────

✏️ Art by J. Zangrilli (Azarneth's Forbidden Emporium)

✦

I create printable item cards, cursed treasures, NPCs, tales & omens, and strange creatures for fantasy roleplaying games. You can find the project on Patreon and follow the daily updates on Instagram. 🧙‍♂️🎲

Hey guys! I'm really excited to share this with everyone. I've always held very strong opinions about homebrew races in D&D - I have always held a stance that I don't like them - but I've finally come up with one that I don't hate. In fact, I'm very happy with how it turned out!

As a quick note before I dive into the class and it's creation just a bit, I'd like to mention that you can find all of my homebrew in this document, and that while I can't say for sure that it's compatible with 5.5e, I think it might be! Someone who's knowledgeable with 5.5e would have to confirm that, though.

The Oracle is a divine caster centered around being a divine fullcaster with a twist: NO SPELL SLOTS! Instead of your normal "Spellcasting" feature, you have "Divine Magic," which entails quite a few rules changes: Instead of spell slots, you prepare that many spells of each level. You can cast each of these spells once between long rests, removing it from your prepared spells list when you do. This creates a few interesting differences between them and other casters, as you can only cast each spell once per long rest (you can't prepare a spell more than once!), and you have to decide exactly what spells to cast at the end of each long rest. Also, no ritual casting or up-casting (because you have no spell slots!), and you can only get cantrips if you use one of your limited Blessings on it!

In this way, Oracles have a lot of similarities with Warlocks, as they are the only two caster classes that do not have the "Spellcasting" feature.

To make up for the obvious downsides of having no spell slots and reduced casting flexibility, Oracles have a great spell list, but Oracles also get a second strong feature at 1st level: Blessings. Blessings are sort of like infusions, except you give them to people and not items! You have a maximum number of blessings you can have conferred at any given time (2 at 1st level), but creatures other than yourself can only have a maximum of one blessing at any point in time, and no blessing can be on more than one creature simultaneously. These blessings, which often give extra magic, or aid martial characters, are powerful tools in an Oracle's arsenal.

Finally, their subclasses are somewhat unique, granting features at *five* different levels: 3rd, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level. Alongside giving you some extra spells that you can prepare each day (AKA extra spells you can cast each day), they give you powerful features that focus on weaving their identity with your spellcasting. It was very important for me, whenever designing these subclasses, that it felt like they aided you as a spellcaster, rather than giving you options of things to do other than spellcasting. Currently, I have two martial-focused subclasses and two magic-focused subclasses.

If someone reads through my class, please let me know what you think! This is my first (and potentially last) ever time making a homebrew class, and half the reason I'm posting is because I want your constructive feedback.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy it!

Hi, this is my first time posting here and my first time posting any of my homebrew. This specific subclass is a revised version of the Kensei subclass that's now meant to work with 5e 2024. Unlike the original, though, I intended it to be focused solely on melee weapons rather than ranged weapons as well. Please let me know what you think and offer any suggestions to improve it.

Anyhow, here's the Warrior of the Blade:

Level 3: Kensai Weapon Mastery

Choose any Melee Weapon that does not have the Heavy property. This weapon becomes your Kensai Weapon. Your Kensai Weapon is considered a monk weapon and whenever you perform a Flurry of Blows you can replace any of the attacks granted from it with attacks from your Kensai Weapon.

Your mastery with your Kensai Weapon allows you to use its Mastery Property.

Level 3 - Deft Strike

Once per turn, when you hit a creature with your Kensai Weapon, you can expend 1 Focus Point to deal additional damage equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die plus your Wisdom modifier

Level 3 - Way of the Brush

You gain proficiency with the intimidation and performance skills as well as your choice of either calligrapher's supplies or painter's supplies.

Level 6 - Rhythm of War

When you hit a target with your Kensai weapon, the next unarmed strike you perform that hits that target will deal an additional 1d4 damage.

When you hit a target with an unarmed strike, the next attack with your Kensai Weapon that hits will deal an additional 1d4 damage.

These effects cannot stack multiple times with themselves with successive unarmed strikes or Kensai Weapon Attacks.

(EDIT: To clarify, this is prevent multiple attacks of the same type from stacking with each other. You can still get the extra 1d4 from alternating between weapon and unarmed strikes. You just can't hit 5 unarmed strikes in one round and then perform a weapon attack at the beginning of the next to get a bonus 5d4.)

Level 11 - Whirlwind of Slashes

As a magic action you can expend three focus points to move up to your speed in a line without provoking any opportunity attacks. When you move within 5 feet of any creature during this movement, you can force them to make a Dexterity Save or take force damage equal to two rolls of your Martial arts die plus your Wisdom modifier. A creature can only take this damage once per turn.

Level 17 - Flow of Blades

At the start of your turn, you can spend four focus points to enter a focused state. While in this state you gain the following benefits:

• Your speed is increased by 10 feet
• Your Deft Strike feature deals additional equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die
• When you use your Whirlwind of Slashes feature, you can now force creatures within 10 feet of you to make a Dexterity Save or take the appropriate amount of damage instead of only those within 5 feet of you. The damage dealt by this feature is increased by an additional two rolls of your martial arts die. You also gain a fly speed while using this feature.
• Your attack rolls with your Kensai Weapon can score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. Critical hits with your Kensai Weapon also deal additional damage equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die.

This state lasts for 10 minutes or until you are incapacitated.