Path of the Whole (5e Subclass)
Path of the Whole[edit]
Barbarian Subclass
To be a barbarian is to be strong, be swift, be solid. Their bodies are their weapon and their armor. For some barbarians, these traits are separate. For others, they are the same. This sameness of might, coordination, and fortitude is the ideal behind the Path of the Whole; the idea that one physicality can compensate for another, perhaps even for the mind; that a centered physique can accomplish what training alone cannot; that sacrifice is not weakness but power.
- Physical Versatility
At 3rd level, you gain the ability to use one physical trait to enhance another. Once on your turn while raging, you can use a bonus action to take a -1 penalty to your Constitution, Dexterity, or Strength modifier in order to receive a +1 bonus to one of those three ability modifiers. The bonus and penalty both last until the end of the rage.
At 11th level on this class, you can use this feature twice during the same rage.
- Rage Recuperation
At 6th level, you can draw on your recuperative potential to instead bolster your rages. During a short rest, if you are below your maximum number of uses of your Rage feature, you may expend a hit die to attempt to regain one expended rage. When you do this, roll the hit die. If you roll a 6 or higher, you regain one use of your Rage feature. The hit die is expended whether the roll was successful or not. You may expend any number of hit dice this way, but once you succeed, you cannot regain another rage until you complete a long rest.
Conversely, unused rages can help you recuperate while you rest. The moment you begin a short or long rest, you can expend a use of your rage feature to gain a benefit of the Lesser Restoration spell. Once you reach 11th level in this class, you can instead expend two uses of Rage to gain the benefit of the Greater Restoration spell. In either case, you can only target yourself with this feature and the benefit occurs at the end of the rest.
- Skill Exertion
At 10th level, your physical skills are enhanced by your physical demeanor. You may use your reaction to add your Constitution bonus to any Strength or Dexterity check. You may choose to add this bonus after you know the results of your attempt, potentially turning a failure into a success.
You can use this feature once without penalty. Subsequent uses without rest each add 1 level of exhaustion. If you have no levels of exhaustion, you regain this ability at the end of a short rest. Otherwise you regain it at the end of a long rest.
At the end of a short rest, one level of exhaustion acquired through this feature can be removed by expending one hit die. Once this has been done, you can't recover another level of exhaustion this way until you finish a long rest.
- Stubborn Core
At 14th level, your physical sturdiness starts to enhance your mental sturdiness. When you make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw, you may use your reaction to add your Constitution modifier to your roll (minimum +0). You may decide to use this reaction after the saving throw is rolled but before you know the result of the saving throw. You can do this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses at the end of a long rest.
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