Enhancements to the Weapon Mastery feats

The Weapon Mastery feat in the PHB presents an opportunity to allow a PC to gain 4 weapon proficiency slots.

One possible enhancement to the 5th Edition system is to consider the possibility of allowing characters who are already proficient in a weapon to invest more proficiency slots in a weapon to gain better combat bonuses.

This article proposes are four tiers of weapon proficiency. A PC must already be proficient in a lower tier.

The first level of mastery is Weapon Focus which grants a +1 to hit. If the weapon is simple, it only costs 1 proficiency slot to gain Weapon focus, martial weapons cost 2 proficiency slots as they do more damage.

The second level of mastery is Weapon Specialization which grants a +2 to damage. If the weapon is simple, it only costs 2 proficiency slots to gain Weapon focus, martial weapons cost only 1 proficiency slots as the damage increment is proportionally lower.

The third level of mastery is Weapon Mastery which grants a bonus equal to weapon damage on critical damage rolls. If the weapon is simple, it only costs 1 proficiency slots to gain Weapon Mastery, martial weapons cost 2 proficiency slots as they normally do more damage.

Creating this new four-tier system of weapon proficiency allows a new fighting style for Fighters, Paladins and Rangers.

Weapon Master - You gain 4 proficiency slots to be allocated to any number of weapons of your choice.

The introduction of this system also allows the introduction of new exotic weapons to be introduced into the campaign.

Two sample fantasy weapons are as follows :

Damascus Blade ( 2,000gp, 1d8 slashing, 2 lb, Versatile(1d10), Finesse )

Proficiency: 2 slots ( 1 slot for Human / Half-Orc / Half-Elven PCs )
Focus: 2 slots
Specialization: 2 slots
Mastery: 2 slots

The Damascus blade was crafted based on an ancient technique which results in a blade which has a distinct pattern which resembles flowing water. Each Damascus is a heirloom as it requires a steel ingot based on a manufacturing process which is highly secret.

Whoever has a Weapon Specialization on the Damascus blade can increase the probability of a critical hit by 5%. ( A roll of 19 or 20, or 18-20 if the character can already perform a critical hit on a 19-20 )

Elven Warbow ( 500gp, 1d10 piercing, 3lb, Ammunition (range 180/800), heavy, two-handed )

Proficiency: 2 slots ( 1 slot for Elven or Half-Elven PCs )
Focus: 2 slots
Specialization: 2 slots
Mastery :2 slots

An Elven Warbow is a finely crafted ornamental weapon which employs a particularly heavy form of ammunition used to break the morale of Orcish Heavy infantry troops.

Whoever has Weapon Focus on the weapon can ignore piercing resistance.

Whoever has Weapon Specialization in the weapon can push an opponent 10 feet upon hitting him at a range of 30 feet.

The Knight : A new class for the 5th Edition D&D Game.

Knight

Resplendent upon horseback and fighting alongside his faithful retinue of troops, the knight rallies his forces to charge and lay waste to his enemy.  

Knights are noble warriors to were bred to wage war in the name of his noble house. Knights are trained to fight in heavy armor and are known to be able to withstand a punishing amount of damage.

Warriors and Nobles

Knights combine their combat training with that of battlefield tactics to conduct medieval warfare. Cavaliers train in battlefield tactics and lead a retinue of men to lay waste to enemy forces. Warlord are commanders who have specialized knowledge in the Art of War and employ various strategies to aid in the conquest of entire states.

Leaders and Commanders

Knights are also warriors who are accustomed to courtly politics. While certainly not as scheming or as savvy as a courtier, a knight can hold his own in political intrigues.

Quick Build

You can build a knight quickly by following these suggestions. First put your highest ability in Constitution, followed by Charisma. Second, choose the Noble background.

Class Features

As a knight, you gain the following class features.

Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d12 per knight level

Hit Points at 1^st level : 12 + your Constitution modifier

Hit points at Higher Levels: 1d12(or 7) + your Constitution modifier per knight level after 1^st.

Proficiencies

Armor: All armor, shields

Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma

Skills: Choose two from Animal Handling, Athletics, Persuasion, Insight, History, Religion

Equipment

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

•  Lance, longsword and a martial melee weapon your choice.
• A suit of medium armor
• An explorer’s pack

Weapon of Choice

Choose a melee weapon. It becomes your weapon of choice.

When fighting with a lance, longsword, bastard sword, greatsword or your weapon of choice, you may substitute your Constitution modifier for your Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls.

Armor Training

You do not suffer a 10 feet movement penalty if you do not meet the Strength score to wear a heavy armor.

Stamina

Due to the superior training that he gets, the Knight has extraordinary fortitude which comes in the form of  a pool of Stamina Points, a combination of his pool of endurance and willpower. A knight has a pool size of level x 5 stamina points which function as temporary hit points but gets expended when a knight uses his powers. This pool of stamina points fully recharge after a long rest.

At higher levels, the Knight can expend his stamina to perform various battlefield manuevers.

Knight’s Charge

At 2^nd level, at a cost of 5 Stamina points, a Knight can perform a Knight’s Charge as an action. The Knight performs a move followed by a melee weapon attack against an enemy. This attack is performed at an advantage if the Knight moves at least 20 feet this turn  before connecting with the enemy.  On a hit, the damage of this attack is increased by one weapon dice.

House Armor

Also at 2^nd level, your house commissions a set of full plate for you free of charge if you do not have already own a set of full plate armor.

Knightly Role

At 3^rd level, you choose an area of specialization. Choose the role of the Cavalier or the Warlord. Your choice grants you features at 3^rd level, 7^th level, 11^th level and 15^th level.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4^th level, and again at 8^th, 12^th, 16^th, and 19^th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability acores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

Combat Training

Beginning at 5^th level, your weapon attacks inflicts an additional die of damage.

Expert Parry

Also beginning at 5^th level, after witnessing an opponent’s attack roll against you, you may perform a reaction to raise your AC by your Charisma modifier until the beginning of your next turn.

Courtly Diplomacy

At 6^th level, your training grants you an advantage when making any Persuasion checks when dealing with courtly matters.  You also gain advantage on History checks to obtain information on heraldric symbols and important noble families in your campaign.

Staunch Guardian

At 9^th level, when an enemy adjacent to you attacks anyone other than yourself or another opponent with the Knight’s Defence power, the attack is made at a disadvantage. You also may no longer be bullrushed or shoved by an opponent in combat.

Advanced Combat Training

Beginning at 10^th level, your weapon attacks inflicts another additional die of damage.

Resilient Bulwark

At 13^th level, when making a saving throw, you may expend 10 points of stamina and perform a reaction to make the roll with advantage. Even if you fail this saving throw, the effects of a failure will only begin to affect you one round later.

Defender’s Vigilance

At 14^th level, when an opponent performs a melee attack against an adjacent ally, you may spend 5 stamina points to use a reaction to perform a melee attack against that opponent.

Triumph of the Will

At 17^th level, you recover all your stamina when you have a short rest. You may not do this again until you have completed a long rest.

Brutal Strike

At 18^th level, after you hit an opponent, you may expend 15 stamina turn this into a Critical Hit.

Flower of Chivalry

At 20^th level, you may spend a bonus action to recover all your stamina points. You may not do this again until you have a long rest. You also gain +4 to your Constitution which is capped at 24.

Way of the Cavalier

Cavaliers are powerful knights who fight from horseback. The path of the Cavalier grants the services of a Destrier and at higher levels, allows the Cavalier to gain the services of a Squire and a squad of Men-At-Arms.

House Destrier

At 3^rd level, you gain a Warhorse companion. Add your proficiency bonus to the warhorse’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls, as well as any saving throw and skills it is proficient in. It’s hit points maximum equals its normal maximum or four times your knight level, whichever is higher.

The warhorse obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your intiative, although it does’nt take an action unless you command it to. On your turn, you can verbally command the warhorse to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, Dodge or Help Action. When you have the Combat Training and Advanced Combat Training powers, an attack from your warhorse gains the additional die as described by those powers.

When your warhorse dies, you may requisition for a replacement from your noble house before the next adventure.

Squire

At 7^th level, you gain the services of a Squire, a 1^st level knight created using the standard character creation rules. Your squire has the same alignment as you and acts independently in a combat round as if he is controlled by you. He gains a level whever you gain a level.

If you squire dies, you may obtain a replacement from your house during campaign downtime.

Mounted Attack

At 11^th level, you may use a bonus action to verbally give commands to your warhorse. This allows you to attack simultaneously with your warhorse.

Men at Arms

At 15^th level, you gain the services of a squad of men-at-arms, a retinue of men of similar alignment who obey your orders without question. You may design your retinue from Appendix B of the Moster Manual. Your retinue’s combined CR must be equal or less than 4. A commoner counts asa CR of 1/16 for the purposes of this exercise.

If you men-at-arms die, you may obtain a replacement force from your house during campaign downtime.

Way of the Warlord

Warlords are powerful tactitians who study exclusively the arts of war. A warlord has the power to inspire the party into greater heights and ensure that the party as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

All of the warlord’s powers target his fellow party members or allies. Bonuses do not apply to himself.

Battlefield Assistance

At 3rd level, you gain the ability to aid your party members better. As a reaction, you may spend 5 stamina to grant the following assistance to party member :

Exploit Weakness : Target party member gains advantage on an attack roll.

Advanced Warning : Grant 5 temporary hit points to your ally when an opponent does damage to him in combat.

Trip the enemy : Target an enemy who has just been hit by an ally. Enemy falls prone unless can make a saving throw against 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Intelligence Modifier.

Battlefield Orders

At 7^th level, you gain the ability to coordinate your party to fight better. As a bonus action, you may spend 5 stamina to grant to all allies within 5 feet for each knight level that you have,  a bonus of your choice, for a number of rounds equal to your Charisma modifier. You have the following choices of bonuses to grant to your allies :

Decisive Strike : +1 to attack rolls and +2 to weapon damage rolls.

Hold the Line : +1 to AC and saving throws.

Outflank : +1d6 damage when you ally attacks with advantage against an enemy.

Unorthodox Tactics : You grant the use of a combat feat that you have to all party members for the duration of this order.

Complex Manuevers

At 11^th level, you may use a bonus action and 10 stamina points to provide a significant tactical advantage to your party.

Critical Strike : Target an enemy. The next ally which hits the enemy performs a critical hit.

Amplify Weakness : Target an enemy. Enemy loses all resistance to slashing, bludgeoning and piercing attacks  until the beginning of your next turn. All attacks against the enemy does 5 additional points of damage.

Incapacitate enemy : Target an enemy. The next ally which hits the enemy stuns the enemy for one round unless he can make a saving throw against 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Intelligence Modifier.

War mastery

At 15^th level, you gain complete mastery over the battlefield. You make take an additional number of reactions between your turns equal to either your Intelligence or Charisma modifier.

You may also perform the following bonus actions at the cost of 15 stamina points.

Winds of Battle : Target an ally. He takes an attack action immediately, resolving any multiple attacks which he might have.

Fortunes of Battle : Target an ally. Either the next attack against him automatically misses or he automatically passes the next saving throw.

Social Combat #1 - Willpower Points

A similar system can be created around the notion of Hit Points in DND5E. Recent discovery in the field of Psychology is that Willpower is also a finite resource.

Here are some points on how this system can work. This can be fully expanded into a printed product once the OGL for 5E is finalized.

Willpower Points (WP) is a function of how mentally resilient a PC is. Willpower is calculated exactly like hit points except that Charisma modifier is added to the Willpower Dice when a level is gains. A PC whose willpower is Zero loses control of his PC to the DM who will play the PC out as he see fit for the situation. The PC can also be made to automatically fail a Will save when under the control of the DM.

Class	Willpower Dice
Monk, Barbarian, Druid, Warlock	d6
Cleric, Sorceror, Fighter, Ranger, Paladin, Wizard	d8
Bard, Rogue	d10
Noble ( New Class )	d12

Recovery of WP should be similarly to rules on the recovery of HP, a short interlude can take place when no one is trying to actively influence the PC and when the PC has a meal. Willpower dice can be spent to recover WP in such a case. A long interlude, equivalent to a long rest, can only take place when the PC engages in entertainment or carousing. They recover all their WP and half of their WP in such a case.

The DM is free to implement a system of Autonomy saves when a PC reaches 0 WP to allow PCs to maintain control of their character unless they fail their Charisma saves three times.

This blog is going to showcase some D&D 5E ideas.

With the arrival of the DMG, I've started a new blog to just share with rest of the Web some D&D 5e ideas I have. My group has just concluded Hoard of the Dragon Queen and I am taking a break from DMing to play Monte Cook's Numenera ( possibly as a Mighty Glaive Cyborg ).

Before I start writing about the formal hacks I have made to the D&D5e game, I would perhaps just share some areas in which 5e can be improved which would be subject to future articles on this blog.

Here are some ideas which I think deserve some attention from DM's who home-brew their games :

a) Intrigue and Social Combat

One of the first ideas I would share on this blog is the idea that a parallel combat system can be built around social combat. Imagine Willpower Points (WP) as an analog of hit points but based on the Charisma attribute. A Disposition Class (DC) as an analog of AC based on Wisdom, and an array of taunt, rumor mongering, charm and miscellaneous insinuation social attacks base on Intelligence. Characters with 0 points of resolve lose control of their characters to the DM who then allows the NPC to successfully manipulate them towards their ends.

b) Non-magical Campaigns

The introduction of a social combat system can form the basis for a non-magical or low magic campaign such as those inspired by A Song of Ice and Fire.

c) The Noble character class

In 5e there are three non-magical classes : Fighter, Barbarian and Rogue. A non-magical wizard like class is a Noble class who has a high Resolve and have a series of intrigue powers which can bend the will of many NPCs within a campaign.

d) Fixing the Beastmaster Ranger

There is a lot of feedback on the Beastmaster and DM should be prepared to retool this archetype to balance the class against Druids who can control 16 pixies in a fight at 7th level. I would like to put some consideration into that.

e) General Wizard

I would also like to try out at creating a simpler General Wizard class which is simpler than existing specialist wizard archetypes.

f) Mage Class

Another idea which I am toying with is idea of a Mage Class which runs completely on Spell points and can convert spells into wizard spells but have some limited power to shape spell effects spontaneously like the Mage the Ascension game. As a bonus idea, I want to see if game design can be made so simple that it is possible for casual games to have a fun time instead of having only the Champion build to play with.

Over the next few months, I will shape each idea and invite feedback on what other DMs.