Talk:Dirge/Priest of Nihilism (5e Class)

Any questions or concerns? I would love any kind of feedback.

FAQ

Thematic Context

The Dirge is to be the debuff, I assume? Its the anti-bard, and to an extent - the anti-Cleric (having no god(s) to speak of), and a bit of warlock to make it come together from what i've seen.

Errors

Please report typos, functional or mechanics errors here

Problems

• The custom spells need to go on their own pages

The site is not very conducive to custom class spells. Some spells have been made, but they are not showing up.

Questions

Questions about the intent of the classes abilities.

Does the Meh "Ruin" have a range? I assume the target has to at least be within sight. Additionally, if the target creature drops to 0 hit points before the 1 minute is up, can the Dirge switch targets for the remainder?

Thank You

If you have helped in any way, thank you for your support.

Feedback

I know you put headers up there, but I'm just going through the class and am writing down issues as I come to them.

• What do they get at 11th and 20th level?

Answer, Nothing. Its part of the nature of the class's Nihlistic theme. At 3rd. you gain nothing, but I put name on it. Because titular functions allowed function to be pointless. 20th level is the height of this, the ultimate, so... you gain nothing upon that moment.

• Typo: various instances of "1/2" that should read "half"

Ok, that's done.

• Typo: Spellcasting. You've used ~ instead of =

Fixed

• Typo: various unnecessarily capitalized and all-caps words

The more that are pointed out, the more I'll be able to fix.

• Class names are not proper nouns.
• "spell slot", "long rest", "creatures", "character creation", "language", "ability modifier", "modifier", "attack roll", "damage", "save", "ability and skill checks", "target", spell names; none should be capitalized
• "HOWEVER", "YOU"; unneeded all-caps

• Spellcasting: You are conflating "spell points" and "spell slots". Spells don't have spell slots, they have levels. Characters have spell slots. You probably want to use a similar system to Warlocks.

No, and yes. I wanted a spell point system. But more limitedly. Unlike Warlocks the spells cast needn't be cast with a specific spell slot. Also if the character is multi-class they may cast the spells with their spell slots obtained with other classes abilites, but as with premise of warlock - the spell points are effectively different.

• I don't know what these cantrips are: distraction, rending

They are distraction and rending. (listed in the spells)

• Familiar: Doesn't explain how it works. Familiars and animal companions are different things. The first is from a spell, so if you want the class to have a familiar, you just need to add find familiar to the spell list. I don't know what you might mean by "animal companion" except something similar to a ranger's companion.

They gain an animal companion in the tradition of familiars for witches in lore. It's not a magical creature in anyway, just a conduit and AoE bait.

• Emotionally Abusive: What does "any Psychic damage source you deal" mean? Is it just "psychic damage you deal"?D&D 5e does not have critical fails on saving throws or attacks. What is the DC of the Wisdom saving throw? How long does the Frightened condition last for?

I believe there are critical hits on attacks as RAW. Some GMs do play with critical fails (ie natural 1's or failures by 15 or more points). DC's for the class are traditionally assumed to be the DC of the spell/feature ability unless separately stated. I feel compelled to point out my mirth over the irony of a homebrew section focused upon RAW stricture.

The "critical fails" makes an assumption about what optional rules the DM might be using. This isn't a spell, so we can't assume that the spell DC is used, you need to state this.

• Tough Love. Mixed mechanics and flavor text. What is the range?

It is an inverted Enervation so still 60ft. Added that to that ability for clarity. You may be called to make a general Intelligence or Dexterity Check, those are ability checks and are not skills as they are not trained and do not receive the benefits of say, expertise. I might be wrong about that, but it is my understanding of the rules that ability checks and skills and to a degree tool checks are all essentially the same, but mechanically different - tools do not necessarily use ability bonuses (RAW) but most DMs tend to include such, Untrained skills don't benefit from proficiency bonuses and you cannot train specifically your ability scores.

• Typos: "a Envervation" -> "an enervation"; "Attack roll To Hit" -> "attack roll"; "Saves" -> "saving throws"; skill checks are already ability checks. Do you decide what kind of roll gets this bonus when you use the feature?

If it is a site specific thing I can change the saves to SAVING THROWS, phb states "A saving throw-also called a save-represents an attempt ...

• The class uses the terms "Divine Path and Pact", "Divine Pact", "Divine's Path Channel and Pact", "Pact Divinity" which is all quite confusing.

I'll revisit that. (In truth I needed to reread that section and didn't take the time when I saw your response).

This is mocking the Clerical powers in a heretical sort of way and making the innuendo that they are nothing more than a pact of equal validity with the warlocks - on the Nihilistic theme of the futility of such beliefs. Ie God is dead. All Gods are no different than demons, greater fey, etc etc. I see that the naming in mockery is generating some angst and/or cognitive dissonance. While that was the intention, it is also apparently more subtle than I intended. Since the intended effect was reached I'm ok with changing the name to something less subtle. Suggestions?

• Disruptive Banter. "non friendly" -> "hostile". All these features have niggling little definition errors that on the whole make them hard to read, and paragraphs would help. "concentration spell" -> "spell that requires concentration". For the "ends early", why not make the performance require concentration.

I'll revisit - the class was intended to be confusing as its a parody, but I've been getting some feedback about its use... so apparently not completely a parody.

A hostile would be a creature in opposition or combat, a non friendly would include unaligned (as in NPCs not in support or wishing to specifically avoid such conflicts) and hostiles (anyone not friendly), I don't want to say Hostiles, because this would expand the scale of the power for noncombat to an arena of effect that is too large. What would you suggest (besides hostile - that's too inclusive of all other entities).

• Channel Divine, description refers to it as "Channel Divinity".

I'll revisit that.

• Troll's Regeneration. Why is it called this.

Because the character is akin to an online Troll, saying hurtful things for self-indulgent reasons

With "troll" also being the name of a D&D monster, perhaps you'll understand why this might cause confusion.

• Orator. Typo: "gain the ability to use Toungues" -> "you can cast the tongues spell"; "per short rest" -> "You regain the use of this spell when you finish a short rest"

fixed

• That's it for now, but there's lots to go. Marasmusine (talk) 10:11, 15 June 2016 (MDT)

So is this a joke class? Marasmusine (talk) 08:55, 17 June 2016 (MDT)

It certainly started off as one, but apparently it is being played as a real class. With people giving their time to critique and improve it (thank you fyi), I'm willing to polish it... well, to a degree. 20th level power is still going to be nothing, because that's within the scope of the comedy and the class doesn't need a 20tt level power of some great value (more so given the statistical consideration that the vast majority of campaigns end before 14th level.)

It's just that I don't find it obvious that this is a comedy page, so it just looks like the class is missing a feature. I can't see anyone taking the 20th level in this class, in fact I suspect most people will multiclass at 11th rather than gain nothing.

ok. I'm not really worried about that. But because you've taken the time, I've added 20th and 11th level features. 20th, I hope is bitingly satirical enough for anyone to get the satire behind it. 11th is pointless, but that's the point.

I just took a quick dip into the spells, I've seen a few errors, I'll go through those when I next have time.

The spell table says Dirges can learn 7th level spells, but there are no spells of that level listed at the bottom of the page.

There are now.--Vexxity (talk) 18:59, 29 November 2023 (MST)

• Also kinda wished this class was taken more seriously, really wanted to play something like this in one of the campaigns I was in.