Creating a custom class with the system is nonetheless far simpler than creating one entirely from scratch, and automatically creates classes that are more (if not entirely) balanced. The system might seem unintuitive at first glance if so, ask your DM for help in realizing your character concept in the mechanical parameters that the system offers. The point-buy class system works poorly when combined with non-point-buy classes, so mixing baseline D&D classes and point-buy classes is not advised. Nonetheless, the point-buy nature and equal beginnings means that point-buy classes tend to play nicer together. This doesn't mean each class made with the system is equal in power: a well-built class is a well-built class. Since each class in a game using point-buy classes had the same options presented to them from the beginning, the system can serve to balance the vastly unbalanced classes of baseline D&D. With the point-buy class system in place, each character has a single class that it follows from level 1 all the way to level 20 - there is no need for multiclassing or prestige classes, as the player has had the chance to tweak their class to their liking from the start. In effect, it allows a player to customize a class to fit their character concept, not the other way around. Ultimately combining all of his skills, sword fighting, spell casting, and dance, to develop his very own unique style, he became the first Bladesinger.This variant rule creates a system for creating point-buy classes to use in your D&D game. Now saddled with a tremendous amount of debt from his wizard college days, he sets forth to find his fortune, or mainly to just make his student loans payment.
After telling his parents that he just wanted to be a dancer, they laughed and told him there was no future in it and forced him to finish college. While at the wizard college, he took an extracurricular in dance and fell in love. If sword fighting didn’t work out, he could fall back on his education. His father trained him in sword fighting in hopes that he would follow in his footsteps, but his mother insisted he go to college. Herbert is a high elf whose father is one of the most renowned fighters in the land, and his mother is one of the best wizards. If it’s what you want to do, do it! Here’s an example of something I came up with while writing this article. Trying to write a role-playing section is always hard because, ultimately, you should play the character that you want to play. Spells – Plane Shift, Simulacrum Level 14įeatures – Arcane Tradition, Bladesinger – Song of Victoryįeatures – Spell Mastery – Shield, Misty Stepįeatures – Signature spells – Counterspell, Haste Spells – Disintegrate, Mass Suggestion Level 13 Spells – Chain Lightning, Contingency Level 12 Spells – Wall of Force, Rary’s Telepathic Bond Level 11 Spells – Cold Monster, Steel Wind Strike Level 10įeatures – Arcane Tradition, Bladesinger – Song of Defense Spells – Arcane Eye, Dimension door Level 9 Spells – Banishment, Greater Invisibility Level 8 Spells – Counterspell, Hypnotic Pattern Level 7 Spells – Burning Hands, Absorb Elements Level 3įeatures – Ability Score Improvement: +2 to INT or DEX (Max 20)Ĭantrips – Green Flame Blade, if you don’t already have it, or Sword Burstįeatures – Arcane Tradition, Bladesinger – Extra Attack Spells – Shield, Find Familiar, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Thunder Wave, Expeditious Retreat Level 2įeatures – Arcane Tradition: Bladesinger – Training in War and Sword, Bladesong However, Bladesingers seek out combat and thus require more hitpoints.Ĭantrips – Booming Blade, Mirror Illusion, Firebolt, High elf bonus cantrip: Green Flame Blade This is usually not a problem because they are very rarely found in combat. Coming in at 1D6, which is the lowest in D&D 5E, it is no surprise that Wizards are a bit squishy. Hit points are a big problem for Bladesingers. That brings us to another issue hit points. Though you are granted light armor proficiency through “ Training in War and Song,” allowing you to raise your armor class a little, your AC will not be particularly strong enough at higher levels to avoid being hit. Also, as you become higher level and are granted access to more powerful spells, most of the time you will find your spells would be more effective than your weapon.Īrmor class will also be an issue. However, the Bladesinger must raise both intelligence and dexterity. Usually, Wizards only have to focus on raising one ability score, their intelligence. Though the Bladesinger is undoubtedly a fun class to play, it is not the most powerful.