New Subclasses in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft! | Nerd Immersion

[@NerdImmersion]

Thanks again to the DM's Guild for sponsoring this video! If you pick up any content using the Ravenloft filter use coupon code DMGRAVENLOFT to get 10% off $10+ through the end of May! Playing Dead: www.dmsguild.com/product/357681/Playing-Dead&affiliate_id=756269 DM's Guild Coupon 01:03 Spirits Bard 02:25 Undead Warlock 17:27 Pickup a copy of Van Richten's for yourself (affiliate link): amzn.to/2ZIbayL

[@jgr7487]

could you fix the Undying Warlock? as the Undead has an "I'm becoming my patron" feel, the Undying feels more like an "I will never die" character, which makes them different enough.

[@Tomrash]

Mommy, I want Undead Warlock! Mommy: We've got Undead Warlock at home! Undead Warlock at home: *Undying Warlock rotting away in some corner*

[@playtoyx]

I like the undying warlock. It tapers off but hey. 😅

[@oOPPHOo]

I like that both can still exist. They are quite mechanically distinct which also makes them thematically distinct.

[@nulllex0099]

I feel super bothered because I made an Undying fix that I got quite attached to, and the Undead one is too similar. I really wouldn't want to see both, and I'd rather give this warlock's skills to the necromancy wizard.

[@lordvectra7821]

@@nulllex0099 Wizard is strong enough lol

[@fidly4]

I like how it implies that all the powerful lich-gods have two separate warlock contracts, and they must just use the Undying one for people they need something from but really don't like.

[@soreg666alex]

Honestly I liked more when you did side-by-side comparisons with UA. It was easier to follow.

[@ligerdrag20]

Same honestly

[@codiethompson3401]

Ditto

[@yat282]

I understand that, although I personally prefer this style. I don't keep up to date with unearthed arcana, since I rarely run into an opportunity to use it. So this book it the first time that this stuff really exists in the game to myself, and anyone who's DM is strict about using only stuff that's in the books.

[@johnh9661]

I must say, yes, the side-by-side comparisons were nice and made it more engaging to follow along with; However, his use of dndbeyond alone makes it more understandable to newer players since they're less likely to know about UA and just makes them more confused. That said, I like this change. I like how he still goes in the details on the differences between UA and published material. Remember to subscribe to NerdImmersion!

[@Nildread]

I remember when I first found Ted's content it threw my off a bit. But then it kind of became what I watched his content for aha. I get why some people might complain about it, it can seem like he's just reading nearly the same thing twice and that if he did that in prep and wrote out the differences before hand he could make a more comprehensive video. But that's not why I watch Ted. I don't watch for high quality edited things, I watch Ted because he's one of us with a camera. Yeah he could take the time to write out a script, but his content is the time he has when he's not working doing the thing we all would do anyway. Pouring over books and comparing the differences between ua and published content, the balance of classes and subclasses and races. it's just that unlike me, he records himself doing it. It's something he'd do anyway, and we're just getting to watch.

[@digitaldevil696]

I'm going to reflavour "the tale of a clever animal" into "the tragedy of Darth Plagueis The Wise"

[@danku1122]

I've not heard of this tale

[@digitaldevil696]

I thought not. It's not the story a barkeep would tell you. It's a Bard legend. Darth Plagueis was a wizard, so powerful and so wise he could use the Weave to influence the living energy to create life... He had such a knowledge of magic, that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying. Vast knowledge of the Weave is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. He became so powerful... the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Ironic... He could save others from death, but not himself.

[@danku1122]

He could actually...save people from death?

[@SkullLad21]

Don't 'Magical Secrets' spells count as Bard Spells when you choose them?

[@SkullLad21]

As per PH - The chosen spells __count as bard spells for you__ and are included in the number in the Spells Known column of the Bard table.

[@NerdImmersion]

yes they do, my point was that I wasn't counting them because you can't determine what folks will choose for Magical Secrets.

[@mylesdrake2949]

Yes

[@yeissonvelandia699]

The one that not count are "advance magical secrets" from the bard of the college of lorr

[@JLawrencium]

Healing word is very common for Bards to take

[@Thiccremoch162]

At least thematically, a multiclass between the two would be an interesting concept, like your patron could be the ghost of a dead author who was never able to release their work so in return for telling their stories they give you magical power

[@Nildread]

And they're both charisma classes so it's not MAD, but ya I don't know what the best LVL split would be or if it would actually be useful. Other classes that work thematically but I don't know how actually useful they'd be: phantom rogue and path of the ancestral warrior barbarian.

[@jacobdavis6604]

@@Nildread I'd take at least 5 levels in bard to improve bardic inspiration (d8, back on short rest). Overall, a 10/10 split would probably work pretty well. I'd probably mphasize warlock level 10 first, just for the survivability.

[@captainthorrek262]

Nice concept!

[@carsonrush3352]

@@jacobdavis6604, it also depends heavily on the kind of warlock you're playing: bladelock or blastlock. Bladelock won't come online until warlock level 5, but you can use bard slots for Eldritch Smite. A blastlock only needs agonizing blast to be effective, which it gets at level 2.

[@whynaut1]

I love how you always seem to be the first person on the scene

[@nielsvanoosten]

I feel the nerf of grave touched ability of the Undead Warlock makes a lot of sense. I feel like it's still powerfull this way, but not as gamebraking as it was in UA.

[@kylacox6690]

Playing an Undead Pact of the Tome Warlock in a buddy's game of Curse of Strahd and so far, it's been pretty fun!

[@nagekilamentation]

Doing the same in my friends Out Of The Abyss game

[@nikolex7]

Do you play melee or ranged

[@nagekilamentation]

@@topogigio7031 yes, but the flavor of undying goes down a completely different road, I prefer Undead to Undying

[@nagekilamentation]

@@nikolex7 Ranged, I'm playing a caster warlock

[@bowlinbowlinbowlin]

Gonna be playing a Reborn lineage one in a few months! Really excited to see how she does x)

[@Sibula]

Honestly neither of those seem great. Flavorful, definitely, but clunky and/or weak.

[@StateBlaze1989]

I don't see how people will get bummed out by the rng nature of the college of spirits bard feature when so many players seem to swear by the wild magic sorcerer.

[@getthegoons]

Because those people don't actually like WM sorcerer they like the memey bullshit on the table like turning into a plant or TPKing the party at level 2 with a fireball casting Mage Armor first thing in the morning.

[@MaMastoast]

Probably not the same people.

[@joelsasmad]

@@getthegoons Is that not what the wild magic sorcerer is all about though?

[@getthegoons]

@@joelsasmad eh kinda. Which is why it's a really obnoxious subclass. But the people I'm referring to usually want surges all the time, or they want to use some d1,000,000 table or some shit where half the options are stuff like 'You become a god.' Stuff that just ends the campaign.

[@joelsasmad]

@@getthegoons Ah, I understand.

[@MrBlancify]

The Spirit Focus only affecting spells with material components is something that probably was not intended by Wizards. It is also something I'm sure most tables wont even know they're using wrong and even within the tables that know its limits will ignore it.

[@NerdImmersion]

Agreed, still dumb it made it in from UA to published

[@Samhain_III]

@@NerdImmersion Wait, does that mean, that any +1/+2/+3 Effekt from a focus is only used on spells with a material component? I thought this Effekt just meant, that you could not use another focus for your spells.

[@anix712]

@@Samhain_III iirc, weapons/foci that provide+1/2/3 to spell attack/save are generally worded "while you hold/wield this item" you get the bonus. Spirits bard specifically says "when you use the focus to cast a spell" and you only *use* the focus if a spell has a material component.

[@jjsquidbeard4831]

Seems like adding the d6 to all healing is RAI, given the lack of spells otherwise

[@anix712]

@@jjsquidbeard4831 I agree, and would rule as such myself, seems like an obvious oversight.

[@carsonrush3352]

For the warlock, they could have separated the the damage type change from the damage once per turn. I'm glad they left the wording that gave a bonus to Vampiric Touch and Inflict Wounds spells.

[@carsonrush3352]

The 14th level ability of the Undead Warlock, this pairs really well with the invocation that lets you look through solid objects. You could dash into a mountain and look for a cave. If an ally is healing you with aura of vitality or healing spirit, you could go a long way, as long as you maintain concentration.

[@liammeisgood8665]

I believe you *CAN* use a spell casting focus for any spell even if is dose not have a material component.

[@NerdImmersion]

I can't remember where it is, but Jeremy Crawford definitely expressed that it is indeed only spells that require a material component.

[@ProjectTenva]

From the way the feature is written the intent seems to be for it to apply to all spells. Otherwise I feel like they would have clarified that it only applies to spells with material components.

[@Indestructoboy]

@@NerdImmersion It was in a 2016 Tweet that he has since deleted: www.sageadvice.eu/2016/04/09/if-attuned-to-an-instrument-of-the-bards-does-the-target-make-its-save-with-disadvantage/

[@spencerbryan226]

A focus is the same as a component for mechanical purposes. If there is no component the focus would not be used as it is not required for the casting

[@sovelisholimion2680]

@@spencerbryan226 but required does not mean you can't use it.

[@gaminreasons8941]

I mostly like the new Undead Warlock, my only problems with it are the 1d4 long rests for Necrotic Husk (just make it 1 long rest, it really isn't a big deal especially since you already get a point of Exhaustion as a negative) and the general clunkyness of Spirit Projection, first it takes your concentration, which limits your spellcasting quite a bit as a Warlock, then it specifies that your spirit doesn't have the benefits of your items since they're on your body, so fuck your magic items, spell focus/component pouch, and armor. Like, seriously wtf, plus since it's Concentration you can be knocked OUT of this form by some goblin that threw a rock at you.

[@sillvvasensei]

Spirit Projection: you replicate your game statistics, but not your possessions; in other words, you're naked.

[@dnddetective]

Undead warlock is a crazy dip for a conquest paladin (because of the level 7 aura).

[@mylesdrake2949]

For sure.

[@Booklat1]

archfey ain't half bad either

[@GoddessShiva]

I feel like Grave Touched should be a two part then. The first part allowing you to switch your damage type to be done at any time making it similar to a monk's magical weapon. The additional damage die being once per turn is understandable and fine. It would otherwise be way to exploitable. I can already see a Sorlock with a quickened eldritch blast and another eldritch blast per turn. The damage potential is way too high and probably could roll through most encounters till the DM throws necrotic immunity against you just to make you switch back to normal blasting.

[@orionar2461]

Magical items that give +1 to spell attack or dc apply to spells that dont have material components, so the college of spirits healing boost would apply in the same way. It just add a M component effectively.

[@colespaulding6490]

Tale of the clever animal appears to be useless in combat until you realize this means once they get couterspell they’re adding a bardic roll to every counterspell and dispel magic

[@adriangil8682]

so charisma+half proficiency+bardic inspiration, thaaaats a nasty counterspeller

[@abcrasshadow9341]

How I would handle what is being talked about here: 26:50. Maybe you could rewrite the undead warlocks 10th level to: "Once you use this reaction, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest that you started with no levels of exhaustion." Aka 2 long rests cooldown unless you can be targeted by a greater restoration spell or more long rests if your body/husk is more exhausted from say extreme conditions.

[@gromaxe]

I would let do it with any level of exhaustion. Why limit this?

[@Deal101]

Weak, underwhelming...that is all I have to say..undead warlock is here to be abused and dipping 1 level or 2 of warlock as a conquest paladin changes the game and make the conquest paladin SS subclass. I know that they shouldnt think of multiclassing when they design a subclass because it will make it unreasonably stupid but i cant see this without thinking of conquest paladin. I wonder if WoTc even know that conquest paladin exists lol. { once per turn charade has gone too far, they really turned me off when i saw that, they could have gone with ( When you make an attack roll u could change the damage type to necrotic period, then twice per turn u could add an additional die to ur necrotic damage that uses an attack roll ) its so easy fix because what the hell ? changing the damage type to necrotic is not really that strong in the first place and wizards/sorcerers could change there damage type all day long so its not really that OP.

[@abcrasshadow9341]

I more or less agree, but just wanted to say that sorceres can't really do it all day since they are limited by their sorcery points and only one wizard subclass can do it.

[@NotsoNaisu]

They changed it because this isn’t supposed to necessarily lean better towards eldritch blast like the UA, they wanted more options that could do what hexblade does for bladelocks but realized they made this ability too strong for EB. Basically many of us pointed out the potential abuse and they patched it. I’d call it a patch before a nerf since it was UA and I really don’t recommend changing it back as it was kind of dumb good.

[@imakuniaw]

Which is a shame, Undead had potential for the best blaster over hexblade. But now that it is nerfed, we're back to dealing the most damage with that one subclass, be it weapon or spell based.

[@NotsoNaisu]

@@imakuniaw sure but making more broken subclasses isn't the answer. Undead is still a great option and much better than most of these other options

[@Infovorousness]

I don’t know about the official ruling, but most DMs I’ve played with just allow you to cast non-material spells through a focus. So you may as well ask if you can use abilities regarding a focus on all spells as none of them are particularly game breaking.

[@andreitagaro9578]

I think the problem with that are spells like Healing Word which would make healing be 1d4 + 1d6 + your spell modifier

[@NerdImmersion]

Why though? The only purpose for a spellcasting focus is to removal the need for a component pouch, which again is only for material component spells

[@spencerbryan226]

The materials that are replaced with the focus are only materials that do not have a value listed in the spell (ie. Identify requires a pearl worth at least 100 gold pieces). This would not change for the feature here. Focus is the same as a component pouch as Ted already said

[@19superD]

"An arcane focus is a special item designed to channel the power of arcane spells. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus, as described in the Spellcasting section." From the wording I'd figure you can just use them when casting any spell. Though it would have no benefit normally, I can't think of a reason to not allow someone to cast all spells through their focus.

[@TheZandaz]

@@19superD Spellcasting Focus is a catchall for Arcane Focus, Holy Symbol and Druidic Focus. When you read each of the specific descriptions, their only function is described as replacing the cost free non consumed M components in a spell. The reason Artillerist Artificers get the extra damage on all their spells, is that their spellcasting stipulates that their tools/arcane firearm is necessary to cast any of their spells, essentially giving all Artificer spells the M requirement (so even if a spell just has S components, Artificers require tools to cast it). No other class's spellcasting stipulates that a spellcasting Focus is required for their spells, just that it can be used instead of the M components on their spells (so they can cast VS spells without equipment or components). I reckon it was an oversight by Wizards as they probably forgot how specific their previous wording is, how they got around it with Artificer. Also I would agree, its hardly broken to allow them to use it on their very limited selection of damage and healing spells (maybe Healing Word giving on average 12hp is overpowered?)

[@engilaru]

Pretty sure you can still use a spellcasting focus, even when a spell doesn't require it. Just take spellcasting focuses that adds to hit chance for example.

[@NerdImmersion]

Well the spellcasting focii that add to hit do that regardless, if possible they state: "this can be used as a spellcasting focus" meaning if you need the focus it applies, so unfortunately it doesn't change much. A reminder spellcasting focus in the phb states under material components: A character can use a component pouch or a spellcasting focus in place of the material components specified for a spell.

[@orionar2461]

@@NerdImmersion you would logically be able to use a Spellcasting focus even if it's not required. Fire bolt or toll the dead doesn't need a material cost, but you can still cast it through your staff

[@NerdImmersion]

@@orionar2461 for flavor yes, but mechanically no

[@orionar2461]

@@NerdImmersion Then why would they have only regeneration be applicable. They seem to have designed it around the healing be applicable to non material spells

[@fullmetalpotato1258]

I think with the spirits bard 6th level upgrade, its saying you can choose to cast a spell through your focus (regardless of it needing a material component or not) and get the bonus.

[@marshalll4w359]

only one bean of EB gets converted to necrotic with grave touched since the beans are separet attacks i really don't like the new version especially since the extra damage does not scale

[@lustykong7591]

In my interpretation you only NEED a focus if a spell requires a material component, but you CAN cast spells through a focus even if you dont need to

[@nickschile4807]

That's how I've always run business casters at my table. Having a dedicated focus can be a great RP tool for people.

[@dragonhearthx8369]

Grave touched can change poison spells. That's a big deal.

[@sheepmans]

Necrotic Husk could have instead made use of the recharge mechanic. Like “when you finish a long rest, roll a d6 and on a 5 or 6 you can use this feature again”. That way you don’t have to remember a roll you made a few in-game days ago

[@ViktorTheMusician]

Honestly I was about to say you could just roll the d4 during each long rest and regain it on a 4 (or a 1, I kinda like low rolling). But it keeps tracking out of it, though I personally love abilities that require a bit more effort than a long rest to regain.

[@Raoul9753]

Honestly, regarding the Guidance Feature of the new bard, I think while it sounds cool, it will in the end just be a free cantrip. (Which is still awesome, and Guidance is a great Cantrip) Since its still an action, there is basically no time you would use it in combat over the help action, even with 60 feet range, and honestly, how often do you need Ability Checks in Combat? Out of combat, the 60 feet range will barely make a difference other than in very niece situations. You can already give someone guidance and have that person walk ahead if there is a dangerous situation. a 60 feet range would mabe be usefull to help someone climb out of a pit or sth, but again, just using the help action (for example lowering a rope) would be much better. In my opinion, they should have made it so the range is just 30 feet, but you can use it as a bonus action, making it some kind of mini inspiration. That way you could actually use it to for example help someone to break a grapple or get out of sticky terrain like Web, without basically giving up your turn.

[@fluffball6142]

Barbarian subclass I think would be cool that I made Path of the spears fury =At level 3 Fury of the eye Your furousity and might travels through the might of the things you throw. The primal skills that evolved humanity's hunting prowess continues within you. °when raging your rage bonus dmg is applied to ranged strength based attacks °you may apply your reckless attack on strength based range attack rolls Guarding strike °when raging, as a bonus action make a melee weapon attack roll against an enemy, on hit the target takes no dmg but if one size larger or less, is pushed 5 feet away from you =At level 6 Bolsterious draw °when raging, twice per round it takes no action to draw a strength based weapon Strength and stride °when raging, once per round when you move 10 feet in the direction of the target of your next attack, add 1d6 to the weapon dmg °when jumping you can increase the height or length distance by 10 feet Enhanced guarding strike °your guarding strike now does unarmed strike dmg =At Level 10 Brutal impalment °when rageing you can expand 5 feet of movement from yourself into a strength based attack. If the attack lands then a target maximum of two sizes larger is knocked back 10 feet and make a strength saving throw (8+strength+proficiency) or be knocked prone °brutal criticals apply to strength based range weapon attacks Fallen pray °When an enemy target is prone you ignore disadvantage on ranged attack rolls to that target °Guarding strike moves opponents 10 feet away and is effective against creatures two sizes larger =At level 14 Guard lord °If the target of your brutal impalement skill is knocked into another enemy. All enemies its knocked into with equal or lower AC than the attack roll takes half dmg and make brutal impalement saves °Opponents of your guarding strike must succeed a strength saving throw (8+strength+proficiency) or be knocked prone °proned creatures hit by a brutal impalement have their movement speed reduced by half until the end the round

[@_stonhinge]

With Spirit Projection showing damage and effects on both body and spirit means that you potentially could have a team of *unassailable* healers keeping you up while you infiltrate/attack a place. Oh and effects go both ways too, so an invisible hasted spirit with barkskin, shield of faith, beacon of hope, and whatever other concentration buffs you could stack up on one person, provided you had enough casters. The spirit wouldn't be casting the spells, so the concentration spells can't drop unless the support team was attacked. This gives me an idea for a "haunted" castle where there's a necromantic cult hiding deep within supporting their undead warlock leader - or more than one undead warlock. Heroes are continually harried by this seemingly invulnerable "ghost" as they try and either escape or find the inner sanctum where all the spellcasters are - who might not have that many spells left, as they've been using them all in support of the ghost. Would also let me go, "HA! And you guys said Chill Touch was worthless!" as the unable to regain hit points goes both ways as well.

[@dakubatto]

Finally got my book today! Very excited to dig into it this week. Planning on created a medium as a character using the College of Spirits subclass :P

[@jamilortiz1]

Something as a DM I’d consider doing to change Necrotic Husk is that as long as you have that point of exhaustion you cannot use that ability again (maybe specify that you can’t remove it with greater restoration or just say that it must be removed via long rest)

[@dilsoncamacho4100]

I believe that the people that wrote the phb and SOMEHOW still keep writting stuff for d&d STILL don't know how spell focus works related to material and somatic components. They wrote the rules, but keep treating it as if the spell focus could somehow be used for somatic components even if there were no material - as if that "exception" was an oversight. IMHO they should just errata the phb into allowing spell focus to be used for somatic components even if the spell has no material component.

[@dungeondojo]

The 1d4 long rest mechanic on necrotic husk really sucks. It's an interesting ability but the damage isn't that great. There's absolutely no reason it shouldn't be once a long rest instead of d4 long rests. The d4 goes from making this interesting to probably not interesting and not really something I want to play.

[@Euanbuddie]

Dont understand the 10th level warlcok ability being withheld for several days potentially. Especially not when the half orc racial feature effectively provides the same thing once a day, minus the damage. I dont know what player would risk dropping to 0 just to do 2d10, especially at 10th level with great spells. And if they do want to do that? Just let them, if that's how they want to style their play. It seems unnecessary to push it for 1d4 days and I imagine most DMs will just change that for once a day.

[@superj1010]

Isn't Necrotic Husk just worse Searing Vengeance from Celestial?

[@Gary-yq5hx]

For the bard spirit session it couldn't be a cantrip as the wording is equal to the number of creatures which means minimum 1 for a first level spell

[@sillvvasensei]

If the spiritual focus is an oversight, then they don't listen to UA feedback, because this was an issue then as well.

[@mylesdrake2949]

Man I want to play an undead warlock bad. A fallen aasimar tomelock or bladelock would be amazing especially if you dipped in fighter or cleric for heavy armor, or 2 level dipped into paladin for smites(Becoming the angel of death) and heavy armor or wizard for grim harvest to make healing potential stupid. However, Human variant( war caste most likely or magic initiate or shadow touched), 1st lvl shadow sorc dipp rest undead tomelock, later getting sentinel and maybe tough, might be where it's at. Primal savagery + spirit shroud+amor of agythys+cloak of flies with your dread form active turns you into an absolute world beater especially with sentinel because there would be no escape 1v1. Especially when you add death wards, and gift of the protectors and a full soul cage into the mix. Needing to drop someone potentially 4 times while they can heal or give themselves temp hp and output stupid damage while you take damage for hitting them is stupid destructive. That's not even getting into the rest of their bag of tricks like bane+mindsliver for example. Honestly I love the flavor of this subclass, just wish it had some more undead raising options in the mix. Their innovation for animate dead and a nightcaller can keep things cool with a small but weak posse till finger of death. Also finger of death plus the capstone ability makes a very good assassination build especially since it's just a feat away to get expertise in stealth. There's to much spoiling for options lol.

[@ShankMugen]

Gotta have to come back a bit later, very excited for this video

[@GigaDrillBreak32]

do i like necrotic husk as it stands? no. it sucks getting exhaustion from a class feature is bad enough but adding the d4 long rests makes it worse. its just bad

[@gabrieldeazevedolopes7171]

I am excited to hear what you have to say about the Unded Warlock! Only another Eldritch Blast vessel or does the extra dice from the lvl6 feature enables something else? Maybe a Pact of the Blade Greataxe or Lance user?

[@mylesdrake2949]

Considering the qualifiers are attack rolls you can do a lot of mean things with the six level but honestly there's a lot of potential in the tool kit. Like Primal savagery on a tomelock becomes extremely potent. 3d10 necrotic with a fear effect if your form is active, combined with spirit shroud you become a world beater that prevents healing that fears and makes it hard to run. Chill touch becomes extremely good to shut down healing and dealing alright damage(3d8) while again fear effect potential. Vampiric touch becomes outstanding especially at high levels when you get spirit form, 6d6 damage heal for full.Considering all the inbuilt abilities to heal and get temp hp a "hit me build" with armor of agythys and shadows of moil. Blade of disaster becomes an extremely potent kill heal spell with the capstone ability. Also let's not forget you can also mindsliver, and bane an enemy for a massive debuff to saving throws. We also haven't got to the subject of races and multiclassing, fallen aasimar is damn good with all this, you become death reaping life energy especially if you dip for grim harvest. Shadow sorc is also synergizes really well with a 1 level dip. Death cleric getting rid of resistance to necrotic is also really good to multiclass for. I don't know man there's so much to do with this subclass besides pew pew eldritch blast.

[@mylesdrake2949]

@ Yeah, my hype got the better of me stopping me from realizing the concentration conflict lol. Honestly the primal savagery popped in my head because I was thinking of shillelagh for a melee cantrip but remember primal touch was much better past level 4. Also you're right, it is basically inflict wounds on demand I didn't even realize that lol.

[@greybearddnd2417]

Why on earth would you go pact of blade and NOT be a hexblade?

[@mylesdrake2949]

@@greybearddnd2417 plenty of reasons. Hexblade isn't patron with good melee benefits, and multiclassing helps offset deficiencies

[@R.E.E.D.]

@@greybearddnd2417 Why on earth would you go Pact of the Blade as a Hexblade instead of any other Pact that gives more utility while you use Eldritch Blast?

[@accidentalhero3051]

On top of the latest 5e content! Thanks for the breakdown

[@PFBCmaster]

The Grave Touched change is to bring it in line with the cleric features that is there to make a melee build function like Divine Strike. The way it was before was extremly overtuned borderline broken.

[@ungabungacaveman9021]

Meh. Hex blade trailed behind it only slightly at lower levels and has better damage output at higher levels. I think they could have just changed it from “an additional damage dice” to a D6 and left it as is. Or made it so you get 1 form of dread per short rest so it’s not an always on ability. As of now in terms of damage output nothing in the subclass past getting 1d10 damage per turn at level 6 actually increases your damage. Also you need a 3 way stat split to make this viable for damage and since you’re not getting heavy armor proficiency you can’t make a strength build.

[@rafaelcalmon2858]

Quick math on Grave Touched with one extra die once on Eldritch Blast: (Disclaimer: I might be wrong as I don't do much math as often nowadays) *Taking a target with 18 AC and a warlock with +4 CHA, you'd get +7 to hit.* That means you gotta roll 11-20 on the d20 to hit, so let's say 50% chance (or 0.5) to hit the attack and 50% not to. Eldritch Blast does 2 attacks on lvl 6. So you get 0.5(hit) * 0.5(hit) = 0.25 to hit both and 0.5(miss) * 0.5(miss) = 0.25 to miss. *That means 25% to hit both, 50% to hit only once and 25% to miss both.* If you only hit once, the extra die is a 100% (1) increase to your average damage. If you hit both, a 50% (0.5) increase since you go from 2d10 to 3d10. If you don't hit, a 0% increase. So, using the chance as weights (make chance * damage increase) to calculate the average damage increase across all combinations, we get 0.25 * 0.5(2 hits) + 0.5 * 1(1 hit) + 0.25 * 0(miss) = 0.125 + 0.5 + 0 = 0.625. *So, for this scenario, the feature increases your Eldritch Blast average damage by 62.5%.* It's not broken, but it's a lot. And that increase should actually grow as target AC increases, since your chance to miss increases, which means the chance you hit only once instead of twice also increases. The feature will certainly lose importance as you get more attacks on Eldritch Blast or more dice on attack spells, but at lower levels it's VERY powerful for something you can essentially do for free. Oh, and I'd like to remind that crits should double that extra die too 😉 EDIT: Also, I would CERTAINLY be on the lookout for a feat like Elemental Adept for necrotic damage being brought someday. I feel like this is the only thing missing for this subclass to really shine. EDIT 2: Guess what, I've been reading the book and recently got to dark gifts. Turns out Touch of Death lets you ignore resistance to necrotic damage when "you hit a target with an attack roll and deal necrotic damage". So there is your "partial" Elemental Adept (Necrotic) if you can get the DM to let you have it kk

[@orionhibbert3045]

Would this allow Divine Smites to be increased by an extra d8? So Oathbreaker/Undead patron would be nice.

[@cynicritschris4996]

I'm pretty sure the spiritual focus ability not simply adding a d6 to one roll of ANY damaging or healing spell you cast is simply an oversight. It feels too complex and arbitrary to only be spells you need to replace the materials for. Wizards have a bad habit in 5e of simply not understanding how some of their own rules work RAW. This is far from the first time they've released official content that needs to be clarified/errata'ed immediately.

[@NerdImmersion]

It was definitely clarified somewhere that it was only for spells with material components I just can't track down that source and it's bugging me. But I agree, seems like a big oversight (though it made it in to the final product from the UA)

[@cynicritschris4996]

@@NerdImmersion Do you mean the playtest version or this released version? Having looked online it seems like this was a known issue in the community but never adressed. With its official release changing nothing I guess wizards either just isnt aware or thinks its fine? Honestly wouldn't put either option past them 😂

[@BudroThePious]

The Form of Dread interaction with Grave Touched does not specify only damage dealt due to Grave Touched. This should work with any necrotic damage you are doing, such as with Hex.

[@TheEphemeralEternity]

Tbc for spirit projection, i dont think it needs to say that you are shunted out because the spirit form requires concentration like a spell. Taking damage of any kind, including by ending your turn in an inappropriate place, will probably just snap you back to your body instantaneously .

[@CCaseyTnT]

Something that I hate about necrotic husk is that it now uses a reaction ie if you don't kill your enemy you're just standing their like a idiot with 1 hp and can't use Tomb of Levistus as a fall back

[@ariashkenazi9211]

Reverting the Undead warlock's level 6 feature is significantly overpowered, would not recommend unless OP is what your campaign is aiming for.

[@LuckDragonLair]

I'm not 100% sure but is it possible that you can use the focus for any spell but that replacing the material component portion is just an added potential benefit of using the focus? Does it say you CAN'T use the spell focus for spells not requiring a material component?

[@R.E.E.D.]

I feel like they over balanced the Undead Warlock's Level 6. tl;dr - They should've limited the extra damage to once per turn but leave the damage-type changing unlimited Being able to to not need food/drink/air has some practical benefits, yes but only in certain situations. Having resistance to a damage type or an extra meatshield from dead humanouds comes up far more often. The Hexblade Level 6 gives you basically the equivalent to an extra damage die. Same with Genie & Fathomless Level 1. So limiting to 1 extra dice once a turn was obviously going to happen. But when Genies can Fly at level 6 and Hexblades get a minion to tank some hits, I'm looking at the Undead Warlock's Level 6 and it's like it's missing 1/3 of it's kit. Genie and Hexblade get the equivalent of a free 3rd Level Spell... and Undead just don't get anything. The damage-type change to Necrotic was more flavor than anything. I don't know why it was changed. To bypass resistance/immunity to weapon damage types or nonmagic resistances? They're Warlocks, they have Eldritch Blast which is Force Damage to do that, among other things. Was this to not step on the toes of the Dark Gift? The one that gives you Necrotic touch or something? That makes sense but not much. You nerf a sublclass to force people to look at a completely optional ability? They're both for flavor with different connotations, which is somethe 5e does a lot. There's a big flavor difference between doing Necrotic Damage to *Everything/one* you touch And doing Nerotic Damage to things *you choose* to hurt. Im really a bit disappointed in that change. I knew it was a big reason why I liked the subclass but I didn't know how much that mattered to me til now. Kind of a bummer. The Level 1 is still fun though so I'll probably on take 1 Level dips for it and get out, maybe 2 for invocations.

[@T0beyeus]

* WARNING * Incoming wall of text. I am not a fan of the College of Spirits, I like the theme and the concept, but I think the Tales from Beyond feature is not as fun as you might think. It is a Surge mechanic that replaces another mechanic. It would be like having a Wild Magic Sorcerer choose between using Tides of Chaos, Casting a Spell or rolling on the Wild Surge table instead of Wild Magic Surges happening as part of Casting a Spell or using Tides of Chaos. In additional it costs your entire turn to roll for a Tale and then tell the tale. You don't get to pick the tale, and you can only prepare one tale at a time which only stays prepared until you complete a Short Rest so you cannot spam Bardic Inspiration to prepare the tale ahead of time and then rest to regain Bardic Inspiration. In many cases normal uses of Bardic Inspiration will be better since it is guaranteed. This gets slightly alleviated at 14th level, but most campaigns don't even make it to 14th level and it still isn't guaranteed. Additionally I think the Spiritual Focus should have worked for Material and Somatic components. It would have been much better and worked similarly to an Instrument of the Bards. Spirit Session IMO is pretty bad, it is limited to party size or being able to get NPCs to help and then also to Divination and Necromancy spells. Divination is mostly out of combat or ribbon spells and Necromancy is a pretty weak spell school except for resurrection spells. I like the concept but it might have been better if they let you cast any Ritual spell but the maximum level ritual you can cast is based on the number of players who help cast the Ritual and your Proficiency Bonus and let you pick one Divination or Necromancy spell you learn for the day the level cannot be higher than your Proficiency Bonus, removing the ritual for the additional spell known. It would have kept the thematic ritual but opened up the utility more since Divination and Necromancy are pretty limited spell lists. I will always be salty about the Undead Warlock since it is the improved Undying Warlock. I would have rather seen the Undying Warlock republished with some tweaks like the Bladesinger and Circle of Spores Druid got. As for the Undead Warlock itself, while the Form of Dread is powerful it is a little sad to see that it did not get a secondary 1st level feature. Something that would always be there so that at level 1 you are visually an Undead Warlock when not using Form of Dread. Grave Touched is a little meh... Force Damage is a superior damage type then Necrotic and why is worded to only turn one Eldritch Blast bolt Necrotic but all others stay Force? Why not just give them the option to turn all damage that turn Necrotic much like how the Barbarian's Reckless Attacks are all or nothing. Necrotic Husk is cool but sucks! First it requires a Reaction, if you don't have a Reaction then you cannot use it to save yourself the Oath of Ancients Paladin and Half Orc do not need to use a Reaction. And then if you do use it you get penalized with taking a level of Exhaustion and cannot use it again for 1d4 Long Rests. They could have lowered the damage, added a Saving Throw to the damage, removed the damage, etc. if they felt it was too powerful instead of adding a penalty. I mean think about how much people complain about the Berserkers Frenzy giving Exhaustion, why did they think it would be a good idea on another subclass? Spirit Projection is pretty bad for a capstone. You cannot concentrate on any other spells while in this form, since the feature requires Conc. so no Hex + Eldritch Blast. You cannot cast any non-Conjuration/Necromancy spells that have Material components unless you carry your focus with you which means you then cannot pass through creatures and objects since the possessions are still physical. That means you are limited to non-Conc. Conjuration or Necromancy spells without Material components gold costs. Most Conjuration spells require Conc. so it leaves you with 12 spells you can cast. Yes you get Resistance to physical damage, but you could still drop Conc. from damage. Honestly it seems to me like they should have swapped this with the 10th level feature. To your comment that you don't get shunted backwards and thus can walk through solid objects and just keep moving taking Force damage, remember even if your roll a 1 and only take 1 Force damage you would have to pass a DC 10 Conc. Save each round potentially ending the Spirit Projection. So it isn't even a capstone worthy scouting and infiltration tool. Don't forget your physical body is left on the floor, unless guarded you can take damage from two sources. Which makes it poor for combat, since it is another body to protect except this body cannot move out of danger and suffers all of the negative effects of the Unconscious condition. The only positive thing about this subclass and this Capstone is that it actually makes you want to use Chill Touch instead of Eldritch Blast since the healing would be half of 5d10 for Chill Touch compared to 2d10+5 from Eldritch Blast.

[@Rockalanche]

Thanks for the great video. For the Undead Warlock, it seems you can use the Form of Dread while using your Spirit Projection correct? I also think the 1d4 long rests for the Necrotic Husk seems clunky. I wouldn't find myself being happy having the active part of my level 10 addition of the subclass being out of commission for days.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

I suspect the intent isn't to limit the use of the Spiritual Focus to only those spells with a material component. This is because, even if you consider ALL healing spells across ALL classes, Regenerate is still the only one that would be eligible -- and you'd be adding just 1d6 to 4d8+15. I bet the intent was that a bard can _choose_ to use their Spiritual Focus together with any spell that's otherwise eligible to yield those effects (like Healing Word, Cure Wounds, and Mass Cure Wounds).

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

The change to Grave Touched eliminates any form scaling with level, adding 1d damage per turn doesn't mean much at level 20.... It probably would've been better to limit the number of uses (proficiency bonus times per long rest?) allowing a few fun nova turns with double damage Eldritch Blasts or weapon attacks. As is, Grave Touched feels like it'll become a fiddly and annoying detail - an ability the player dreads forgetting to take advantage of, instead of one the player actually enjoys using.

[@foolycoolytheband]

I don't know man abusing that 10th level warlock warlock feat for damage seems pretty suboptimal, I mean at most that only gonna be like what 50 points of damage at 20th level? Like you were probably doing pretty similar damage every round with just your Eldritch blast with hex up and agonizing blast just doesn't seem like a good option for abuse, especially with that exhaustion too.

[@jjsquidbeard4831]

It sounds like grave touched may be encouraging warlocks to use a different cantrip than just Eldritch Blast. Toll the dead/poison spray has a higher die (d12) so you would instead be dealing potentially more damage by using something other than Eldritch blast. Although I'm not sure how it would ultimately compare to agonizing blast (but you wouldn't have to choose that invocation if you leaned into this ability) Toll the dead would also fall under the Necromancy school requirement outlined in the 14th level ability, aaaand you would regain way more hit points per turn using the 14th level ability if you used toll the dead. Edit: forget what I said. It says when you hit with an attack roll.

[@kajetanmazurkiewicz5459]

About the 14th level ability for the Undead warlock: since you can end your turn inside an object and not be pushed out AND you can teleport your body to the location of the spirit... How would that work? Would this RAW allow for eviscerating someone this way? Would both people take massive damage? Would they grow together? Or is there anything that stops this as described?

[@chiloutdude5130]

Does the Grave Touched feature only apply to the necrotic damage from the attack you changed, or the necrotic damage you deal regardless of source? Because while it IS a bit of a downgrade from the UA being able to apply to every EB, if it applies to all of your Necrotic damage, that's still fantastic synergy with Hex.

[@sadiesparks9535]

I feel like a quick fix to the Spirit Focus healing spell problem is to include any bard spell that uses Somatic or (focus replaceable) Material components. The concern was probably that they didnt want to give healing word an additional 1d6 which would be kind of busted especially early on, but by including Somatic components you get cure wounds, mass cure wounds, and so on and the damage spells are still not crazily expanded upon since vicious mockery also doesn't have somatic or material components.

[@zagoing]

The 1d4 long rests for Necrotic Husk is not the best mechanic. Definitely there to prevent abuse, but I dont think it can be reliably abused anyway. Nobody is going to purposefully try to drop to 0 hit points just to deal 2d10 + X damage. Especially when you are only getting revived for 1 hp and you take a point of exhaustion. Thats a pretty dangerous situation to be in.

[@airdragon11studios]

The once per turn for extra dmg is fine but should have been buffed another way. Because multi class will break it if it was every time. Example: action surge 8 blasts at double dmg. Sorcerer feat for quicken as well for 12. There are tons of ways to make eldritch blast broken. This just made it beyond busted.

[@kbeazy_3050]

For Undead Warlock Level 6 it says that changing the damage type to necrotic can be done once per turn. It DOES NOT say you can add a damage dice once per turn. It says "While you are using your form of dread, you can roll one additional damage die when determining *the* necrotic damage the target takes." If the attack was already necrotic damage, wouldn't you be able to do it for each. The "the necrotic damage" wording doesn't seem specific enough of to only limit it to necrotic damage gained from this feature. Not sure if it's intended. It still blocks a majority of use cases, but a Zealot Barbarian could roll their necrotic dice twice on their first attack, and then make their second attack deal only necrotic damage and deal the second dice of damage. Something like spirit shroud would probably be easier to optimize this with if it does work this way.

[@zeterzero4356]

I...don't think they intent for the Focus on the Spirit Bard was JUST spells that need the spell focus, but I could be wrong. For instance arcane firearm on Artillerist Artificer boosts spells like firebolt and shocking grasp even though neither needs a spell focus. Might be it was just poorly worded but I think the intent is for is to be a bonus to all damage and healing spells, otherwise it seems not good?

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

I would say just completely take away the limit from Necrotic Husk, exhaustion is plenty enough to keep people from abusing it, if they keep using it they will fully die after 6 uses. And exhaustion goes down by 1 each long rest, so the more they abuse it, the more they have to LR to fully recover from it.

[@MoarCheeseBirb]

The Spiritual Focus screwup (at least I think it is, your average player would expect healing word to get bonus healing from that subclass ability) is pretty bad considering there are similar issues on Alchemist artificer using an Enhanced Arcane Focus instead of alchemical tools, and every artificer spell even uses a material component for that class from their spellcasting feature! It really should read "cast a bard spell while holding your spiritual focus".

[@devodo1]

I hate the 1d4 days recharge of the warlock ability as well. Say you are playing a weekly game and in each session you are playing about half a day in game time (very possible in my own experience). That would mean that on a 4, you arent able to use your 10th lvl feature for 2 real life months! That just feels bad.

[@kradwolf5719]

Just saying with a level of exhaustion you already have enough issues for the rest of a session till your next long rest. I'm use to most campaigns being up to level 15 so I often look to my level 10 or 11 abilities when I pick my subclass so in a campaign where 4 long rests could be 2-4 sessions I would rather gather up more exhaustion points than keep track of how many long rests.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

I like the College of Spirits theme, but am disappointed with the clunky feel of its Tales from Beyond mechanics. You select a tale in a bonus action -- okay, fine -- but then you _tell_ that tale in just a single action? What kind of tale can you possibly tell within one 6-second turn?!?

[@derelictdragon2550]

I understand why they did what they did to grave touched, it made undead warlock just strictly better in damage department over even hexblade, and I don't think we should try and top hexblade, that just screams power creep imho, but I do wish you could still change everything into necrotic still, just only add the extra damage once per turn

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

A spellcasting focus can be used instead of a material component (that is neither consumed nor has a cost specified), nothing says it can't be used to cast other spells, there's just no benefit to doing so. I see no reason Spiritual Focus wouldn't boost spells lacking a material focus requirement.

[@optimus2200]

tbh I quite disappointed by all the player options in this book. they are not tuned. some are broken some are weird some are clunky and some are bad. the bard is clunky and takes huge time in table play I playtested it. the races are bonkers. dampier is clearly never had any thought into the bite . you can get 10+ in an attack roll ... without any shenanigans. you can get +30 with shenanigans thats just an auto hit at that point. the undead just becomes trash at level 10 and after that !

[@minibuscus2]

I suppose Grave touched wouldn't work with MAgic missile since it doesn't need an attack roll and only rolls dmg, also necrotic husk is being changed to per long rest at my table, I like tracking stuff when the mood calls for it but this is just boring.

[@NerdImmersion]

Agreed, gating that ability seems dumb

[@X20Adam]

Can you not just cast spells using your focus anyway? Is 1d6 bonus damage or healing really gonna break anything? No. It really won't

[@ZXracsoZX]

A spell does not need a material component to be cast through a Magical Focus. A Magical Focus replaces a material component in the event that the material component does not have a cost and is not consumed or both. You can still cast healing word through a focus without issue. This means this ability affects any spell that deals damage or heals that counts as a Bard spell, such as healing word, mass healing word, cure wounds, thunderwave, shatter, so on and so forth.

[@feed-backl6876]

Currently playing a campaign where I'm a damphire Udead warlock. Most fun I've had playing dnd in a while

[@nulllex0099]

I tried to fix the Undying pact warlock myself, and, seeing the Undead coming along....... It hurts. It really hurts in a personal way.

[@rcthehighdwarf4573]

Personally not a fan of any class features that take longer than a single long rest it is almost an instant no for me with that. I understand balancing but limitations like that make a character feel weak to me I mean if you look at zealot barbarian or the long death monk they can both stem off deaths multiple times during the same day with this I understand it doesn't a decent amount of damage but your still at 1 HP afterward and if battle is still going on the next hit is likely to put you down so I feel once per long rest would not be overpowered

[@kaiman3178]

While I understand the purpose of a focus is to replace all the minor material requirements for spells, I think the majority of people use focuses and the sole way they cast their spells and that means ALL healing and damage spells that a bard casts gets the d6 as they all are cast through the focus. Unless they swap to their lyre for some reason

[@djmor693]

Here's a concept for you, a little homebrew for the bard if you will. Keep it rng, BUT you roll them all and keep them in a pool. The concept, is that the spirits told of several tales while you were focusing/rest, you the bard can choose which you want to use. If you use your bardic inspiration, you lose the magic of a tale you heard, but you choose. This would allow you to at least know what you're going in with.

[@Capt.Thunder]

That only works until you get dice back on a short rest. I'd say that giving them the capstone feature right away would be better. Rolling twice and pick one, and if you get the same number twice, you choose. That's a dope mechanic imo. You would then have to switch out the actual capstone for something else fairly minor.

[@artzivon]

I just start to play Dhampir Undead Warlock. There is a nice synergy at least in lover levels. Waiting to see if I want to multiclass later on.

[@MarcLucksch]

Hmm, spirit projection is just a crappier version of the shadow sorcerer capstone.. At least you can do the same hide in a wall come out to blast and hide back tactics.

[@loganterranova4999]

Tale of the renowned duelist is a 30 foot melee attack. You just have to role-play it as a very, very, long lance.

[@trevisus3228]

I disagree with the spiritual focus limiting spells, I think it's meant to be similar to how Artificer has to cast spells through a tool of some kind.

[@SgtSpartyPaints]

For Spirits Bard, does the wording for the Spirit Session ability mean any of those spells work with the Spiritual Focus feature as long as they're attack or healing?

[@Nildread]

Hmmm interesting. it might still need a material component though? The whole class is a bit confusing

[@johnquiett1085]

Those Bard Tales are interesting. I'm not sure I like the random aspect. I like to know what my character(s) are going to do on any given round.

[@MarcLucksch]

Since you essentially preroll this, you can still choose when to use it, thus controlling what your character does. The only random aspect is what additional options you have on a given turn

[@johnquiett1085]

@@MarcLucksch perhaps I misheard...I thought you rolled and got to choose based on the roll. So one rest I Telenor and the next might be something different. I would prefer to know exactly what my character can do. Like...if it learned your choice of story at certain levels. Like a fighter with maneuvers or a Warlock invocation.

[@MarcLucksch]

@@johnquiett1085 I mean, sure I get that, but what your character can do depends entirely on the situation anyway. Like if you expect to burn down the enemy with radiant damage and then face off against celestials. This just adds one more option you wouldn't have had before.

[@johnquiett1085]

@@MarcLucksch but you could still wind up in that situation..loaded out with radiant damage vs. celestials. However, as a DM, I avoid that possibility when I can. I mostly homebrew my stories, but if I ran a module where celestial were the main enemy type, I'd warn my players not to invest heavily in that damage type. Or offer up an alternative. Maybe change it to cold or something. Not a vulnerability, but a neutral type. This gets down into DM styles. I can see how some would like it, it's just not my favorite approach to class building.

[@espantalho4141]

ugh, once again an awesome subclass gets nerfed to the point where the lack of dammage output just outwheigths the fun to be had on roleplay

[@wally-squid7069]

Play Spirit Bard as a Ghost Hunter but he hunts them like how they hunt ghost in ghost hunting TV shows.

[@nateobean]

"Yo ghost it's me your boy!" lol

[@shea42]

The titles of the Spirits Bard tales are much worse, because it means that the extra little bit of flavour that was present in the UA has been completely cut

[@blackfang0815]

Does spirit session going up with proficiency bonus mean it makes it harder to conduct the session the higher your level?

[@Lordserpentus]

i do not like necrotic husk, i think it should be once per long rest. also i dont like the wording, i think this ability should be able to be used even if you get disintegrated, so you dont have to fear disintegrate.

[@DM_Bluddworth]

Isn’t 5E up to about 4000 sub classes now? If everyone is a special snowflake, then no one is a special snowflake.

[@NerdImmersion]

If by 4000 you mean 114, then yes

[@Mezza_Runa]

Yet another fail at making a warlock subclass better than Hexblade, kekw

[@VelascoAnastasi]

I just wanted a viable bladelock that isn’t hexblade and we were so close :(

[@greybearddnd2417]

@@VelascoAnastasi why though?

[@VelascoAnastasi]

@@greybearddnd2417 I think eldritch blast spamming warlock is so boring and hexblade is the best warlock subclass and way too overplayed, so it makes me not want to play warlock at all

[@joelsasmad]

@@VelascoAnastasi I houserule that Warlocks get an additional spell slot each level they get new patron spells that can only be used for their patron spells. I had to screw around a little with some lists but it does help add more actual variety to the patrons, though I I did have to make them come back on a long rest.

[@Johnnyhitman411]

I'm so interested in both of them honestly (with the undead Warlock i'm just imagining an innocent almost child like person turning into a Spector straight from your nightmares) I only feel that with the Warlock I would change it to be (essentially) "When you hit a creature with an attack roll and roll damage against the creature, you can replace the damage type with necrotic. While you are using your Form of Dread once per turn you can roll an additional damage die when determining the necrotic damage the target takes from the die rolled." I feel that pretty well balances the feature between being interesting still and keeping it balanced and if I ever get around to playing that class I will bring that up to DM...Also just imagine going phantom form with Spirit Projection and combining it with Form of Dread to go into a king's castle to just scare the shit out of him. I imagine the Form of Dread just looking like a Dementor from Harry Potter or just the Grim Reaper, You could probably scare him into helping your party.

[@godless_comedian6667]

You could twin spell that if you take sorcerer levels. Much DPS.