Talk:Arcane Elite (5e Class)

What exactly do I need to change... elaborate.

You have a lack of explanation for almost everything and the class seams overpowered in some areas. --Catmanaz (talk) 10:35, 23 April 2019 (MDT)

I recommend sitting down and reading the Player's Handbook from cover to cover. A handful of issues:

• Spellcasting is not explained. I can "choose spells from any class", which itself is a problem, but how many spells do I know? How do I learn new spells? How does it interact with spell slots?
• I can presumably cast 5e SRD:Find Familiar, so what is the purpose of "Summon Familiar"?
• I cannot work out what the talisman is supposed to do. It can kill me if it's a weapon? Why would I want to do that?
• What does the mind palace do?
• "Advantage" is a circumstantial benefit. You wouldn't apply it as a flat bonus to a saving throw.
• Attunement needs to be integrated into the spellcasting feature.
• Mana manipulation would grant a +5 bonus to AC (with an Intelligence of 20), which is way too high. It needs to be limited in duration or scope.
• Full spellcasting and d12 hit dice.
• Bending introduces "chi" points which are not explained anywhere. It looks like this whole section was dragged in from some kind of monk class. I'm not sure why you would need any of this if you are already casting a lot of spells.
• Moon: How do you cast magic through a shadow doppleganger?
• Sun: What is this? Is it a ranged spell attack? Does the target need to make a saving throw? What is its range? Do I need to use an action? How often can I use this?
• Sky: Ditto
• Earth: What's our AC now? Let's say 18 Int and Dex. 12 (studded leather) + 4 (Dex) + 4 (Int, from mana manipulation) + 3 (earth) = 23. This is for a full spellcaster with 12 HD. It can possibly be higher, since you can cast mage armor and potentially have 20 in one ability score (plus magic items).
• The subclasses aren't subclasses, since I can't not have 3 out of the 4.
• For the subclasses, there is no consideration for how similar features work in 5th edition. You should look at the druid's wild shape, lycanthropes, spells such as disguise self or alter self, and... uh... I have no idea what's going on with squib.
• Check terminology. D&D doesn't have a statistic called "health". Marasmusine (talk) 05:37, 14 May 2019 (MDT)

Looks like the page got a little worse since I was last here? For example, saving throws were okay, but now its two common saves. The added explanation for Summon Familiar makes no sense... it's a feat now? (Look, if it's not a familiar from find familiar, don't call it a familiar), etc. Marasmusine (talk) 01:08, 17 May 2019 (MDT)

I see your reasoning for familiar and... well... fair enough. However I do seem to be having trouble with the spell slots table b/c as you saw when you looked at the page i'm sure that you saw that it was jacked up and now it only goes to fifth level spells. can you help?

The spellcasting field says "half". You'll want it to say "full".

I'm putting the "needs balance" message back (again) because there are still many issues.

• There are levels where you gain a new feature and a new spell slot level, and yet levels where you do not gain any feature.
• Starts with two common saves (instead of a common and uncommon) and by 5th level has all three common saves (plus Intelligence).
• Starting funds are way too high
• Spellcasting feature missing lots of information
• You can choose "spells from any class". Picking specific list of spells allows you to develop a theme for your class, it's an opportunity to characterise it. If you just say "all spells" it's both overpowered and boring.
• Full spellcasting and d12 hit dice and high AC and martial weapons.
• Check terminology, as I mentioned in the list above (it still says "health" instead of what I'm geussing should be "hit points" for example).
• Summon familiar is now even more confusing as it explicitly says it is find familiar but works in a completely different way.
• Mind Palace is confusingas it is a mix of descriptive text and incomplete mechanics. How do I "enter other people's minds"? Does it require an action? What is the range? What kinds of creatures does it work on (presumably not a swarm of bats or an ooze or a skeleton)? What is the DC of the saving throw? But most critically, you already have access to the 5e SRD:Detect Thoughts spell which does the same thing but in a mechanically clear and balanced way - it lets you "gain insight into its reasoning (if any), its emotional state, and something that looms large in its mind". If you can straight out access "memories and secrets" you can potentially ruin a mystery adventure.
• Well, I'm just scratching the surface here. If you're not sure how to improve any of this, please leave the "needs balance" template and enlist someone to help. Marasmusine (talk) 02:55, 18 May 2019 (MDT)

Finally, let's look at the class's role. It looks like it wants to be both good at fighting and spellcasting. Imagine a line, with "strong fighting" at the far left and "strong spellcasting" at the far right. On the line, we put some PHB classes, like this: "Fighter -- Fighter (Eldritch Knight) -- Sorcerer -- Wizard". Where do you want this class to be on that line? Marasmusine (talk) 03:11, 18 May 2019 (MDT)

What I was going for is a class that not only specializes in spellcasting but also can fight pretty well with melee attacks as well so that is why the things are the way they are and the thing with being able to choose spells from any class is explained and I also don't think that it is overpowered because of it having spell slots.

Okay, so tell me where on the line I described do you want your class to be? between eldritch knight and sorcerer?

The class is also no-where near to complete or balanced yet, it still needs a lot of work, I haven't even got into True Potential or Subclasses yet. Marasmusine (talk) 13:17, 18 May 2019 (MDT)

How about smack dab in the middle and also I know that this class isn't finished, that is why I want and appreciate the feedback and you have been helpful so thank you.

Consider the trade-offs: you want the spellcasting and combat features to be somewhere between eldritch knight and sorcerer. It usually means dropping to a half-spellcaster, but I do have rules for a three-quarters spellcaster here.

As the class isn't finished, I'll put up a "work in progress" message. Marasmusine (talk) 16:39, 18 May 2019 (MDT)

Simply wished to drop in and state that I have corrected much of the grammar, although I have not made many changes to the class features themselves. - Me0wFish