Songblade (5e Class)

Work In Progress

Songblade

This is an adaptation from a 3.5e homebrew. For the 3.5e version, look at [1]

A songblade has been called many things, warriors, fighters, ninjas, mad men, murderers, even fools. But what a songblade truly is, is a believer, a believer in the philosophy that he who gains the first word usually gets the last laugh, that it is better to strike true than to strike strong, and that even though it is they who are called fools, it is even more foolish to get hit and soldier on, than not get hit at all.

Songblades are only truly limited by the ignorance of others. While songblades are sometimes accepted as town guards or soldiers, they are often scoffed at for their supposed foolheartedness in wearing no armor. An experienced songblade will eventually get used to the phrase "Fine don't wear armor, it's your funeral." Though usually equipped with light and versatile weapons, songblades have been known to wield greatswords and such heavy weapons, being equally effective against their opponents as their light counterparts.

Legendary Songblades

There are two particular notables in the history of the Songblade martial art, who happen to be the founders of it. Though their true names are a mystery to the communities of those actually interested in the knowledge, they are known today as Iaido and Dementia. Knowing nothing but racism and oppression from the day they were born Iaido and Dementia sought a way to end their subjugation. Being half elves in a repressive human community Iaido and Dementia were second class citizens, and thus were subject to backbreaking work, abuse, and the loss of rights. Including the restriction of all weapons and armor. After being bereaved of their respective mothers Iaido and Dementia sought to rebel against their oppressors. Hearing tales of evasive, graceful monks, who could fight in no armor whatsoever they decided that in order to effectively rebel against their oppressors they would need to be as evasive as these monks, but without their training. In order to do this they began to study. As one would entice the guards into a mercilessly beating, the other would look on and study, study how the guards acted in a fight. They studied every single aspect of the human psyche in a fight and eventually created a map of instincts and tactics. From there they would begin to practice against one another using table legs as swords and disguising there martial art as a dance. After their insurgency they traveled, spreading their martial art to those in similar situations as they, and eventually gaining a following. This is the origin of the songblade. However when Iaido and Dementia aged they grew apart in their beliefs, Iaido believed that people were fundamentally good, and that the sword should only be used for defense, Dementia believed the opposite, that people were fundamentally evil, and if given the chance they would turn on them in the batting of an eyelash. This dispute boiled down to a duel in which both swordsmen lost their eyes. They parted ways after this duel and Iaido has since ascended to godhood, Dementia still wanders, slaying those unlucky enough to cross his path.

Creating a Songblade

When creating a songblade, ask yourself how did you learned this ancient combat tradition? Have you been trained by a solitary master, or on a school of songblades? Is this part of your cultural tradition, or have you encountered this style of combat as a secret, forgotten in the sand of times?

Quick Build

To create a Songblade quickly, you can follow the following suggestions. First, Dexterity should be your highest ability score, followed by Intelligence and Constitution. Then, choose the Entertainer background.

Class Features

As a songblade you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per songblade level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + Constitution modifier per songblade level after 1st

Proficiencies

Armor: None
Weapons: Simple weapons, shortsword, longsword, greatsword, scimitar, rapier.
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Skills: Choose three from Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Insight, Perception, and Performance

Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a shortsword or (b) any simple weapon
• (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
• 5 daggers

Table: The songblade

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Unarmored Movement
1st	+2	Unarmored Defense, Proactivity	—
2nd	+2	Songblade Arts (1/rest), Unarmored Movement	+10 ft.
3rd	+2	Songblade Style	+10 ft.
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	+10 ft.
5th	+3	Extra Attack	+10 ft.
6th	+3	Sword Mastery, Songblade Arts (2/rest), Songblade Style Feature	+15 ft.
7th	+3	Contingency	+15 ft.
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	+15 ft.
9th	+4	Tactical Grounding	+15 ft.
10th	+4	—	+20 ft.
11th	+4	Songblade Style Feature	+20 ft.
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	+20 ft.
13th	+5	—	+20 ft.
14th	+5	Blindsense	+25 ft.
15th	+5	Uncanny Dodge	+25 ft.
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	+25 ft.
17th	+6	Songblade Style Feature	+25 ft.
18th	+6	Blindsight, Songblade Arts (3/rest)	+30 ft.
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	+30 ft.
20th	+6	—	+30 ft.

Unarmored Defense

Beginning at 1st level, while you are wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Intelligence modifier.

Songblade Arts

The songblade is well-trained with the art of the blade and therefore is agile and efficient with all weapons classified as swords. Swords are: the shortsword, longsword, scimitar, rapier and greatsword.

You can use a sword to create songs from the movements of the blade. When you use your Songblade Arts, you choose which effect to create.

Some of your songblade abilities require a saving throw.

Songblade Arts save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.

Beginning at 6th level, you can use your Songblade Arts twice between rests, and beginning at 18th level, you can use it three times between rests. When you finish a short or long rest, you regain your expended uses.

You start knowing one songblade art: deathly song.

Songblade Art: Deathly Song

When wielding a sword, you can use your action to create an eerie song produced from the various movements of your blade. Roll 1d4 to determine the deathly song penalty. Creatures you choose in a 30-foot cone must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target's next attack roll, ability check or saving throw they make before the start of your next turn is reduced by the deathly song penalty.

Creatures immune to the frightened condition automatically succeed on the saving throw.

Proactivity

A Songblade depends on proactivity in battle to deal and avoid damage. When combat starts, after initivative order has been determined, you are being proactive.

While proactive, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. Furthermore, if you hit with a melee weapon attack, you deal an additional 1d6 damage. The additional damage increases to 2d6 at 5th level, 3d6 at 9th level, 4d6 at 13th level and 5d6 at 17th level.

You are proactive until the end of your turn or you hit with an attack.

Unarmored Movement

Starting at 2nd level, your speed increases by 10 feet while you are not wearing armor or wielding a shield. This bonus increases when you reach certain songblade levels, as shown in the Songblade table.

Songblade Style

At 3rd level, choose a songblade style.

Your choice grants you features at 3rd, 11th and 17th levels.

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Sword Mastery

At 6th level, a songblade has become so adept with the use of his sword that he uses any part of the sword other than the blade. When you make an attack with a sword, you can choose to cause slashing, piercing or bludgeoning damage.

Contingency

Evasive as a songblade is, they are ever aware of the possibility of a well placed arrow, or a lucky sword, and have contingent reserves of endurance.

At 7th level, a songblade have advantage on Constitution saving throws against effects it is able to see.

In addition, whenever you are reduced to 0 hit points, you can spend 1 hit die as a reaction to be reduced to 1 hit point instead.

Tactical Grounding

Starting at 9th level, a Songblade has become adept at being the first to attack in any situation. After you make an initiative check, you may make another initiative check using your Wisdom modifier (instead of Dexterity). Use this result if it is greater than your first check.

Improved Tactical Grounding

At 13th level a Songblade has near perfected the art of moving and striking, delivering blows from all distances around the battlefield. You no longer provoke opportunity attacks from creatures you make a melee weapon attack against.

In addition, opportunity attacks against you are made at disadvantage.

Blindsense

Starting at 14th level, if you are able to hear, you are aware of the location of any hidden or invisible creature within 10 feet of you.

Uncanny Dodge

Starting at 15th level, when an attacker that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack's damage against you.

Blindsight

At 18th level, you have blindsight with a range of 30 feet. Within that range, you can effectively see anything that isn't behind total cover, even if you're blinded or in darkness. Moreover, you can see an invisible creature within that range, unless the creature successfully hides from you.

Songblade Styles

Style 1

Focuses on magic.

Songblade Art: Horrid Song

Starting at 3rd level, you can use your Songblade Arts to produce a horrid song that plays on a creature's worst fears.

This has the effect of the fear spell. The effect ends early if you are no longer wielding a sword.

Sonic Step

From 11th level onwards, you can tap into vibrational forces to enhance your movement.

You have a pool of sonic movement equal to twice your unarmored speed bonus.

When you move, you can use sonic steps, expending sonic movement equal to the distance you moved.

While moving with sonic steps, you gain the following benefits:

• You are unaffected difficult terrain
• You can move on the surface of liquid
• Opportunity attacks cannot be made against you.

You regain expended sonic movement when you finish a long rest.

Style 2

Focuses on tactics.

Songblade Art: Blade Dance

Starting at 3rd level, you can use your Songblade Arts to weave around your foes, making many strikes.

On your turn, each time you make a melee attack against a creature with a sword, you also make a melee attack with the sword against any number of other creatures within 5 feet of you.

Battle Focus

From 11th level onwards, a songblade uses his superior knowledge of tactics to analyze the battlefield, the soldiers, and the tactics being used by the enemy to formulate an effective strategy he then shuts out all other distractions and focuses intensely on his enemies.

As a bonus action, you can enter a state of battle focus, and gain the following benefits for 1 minute:

• You have advantage on Dexterity checks and saving throws.
• You add your Intelligence modifier to the damage of your sword attacks.
• Any damage taken by you from an attack or failed Dexterity save is reduced by your Dexterity modifier.
• You can take the Search action as a bonus action.

You can't use battle focus again until you have finished a long rest.

Multiclassing

Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the Songblade class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Dexterity, 13 Intelligence.

Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the Songblade class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple weapons, shortsword, longsword, greatsword, scimitar, rapier.

0.00

(0 votes)

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Classes