#eye homebrew

[eyeloch]

DnD concept

Roleplay a dragonborn character like a manakete from the Fire Emblem Series:

Perhaps they were once a normal dragon, but they had to place most of their powers (along with their true form) into a mysterious dragonstone gem.  Which they’ve lost.

This might have been to escape a curse that would have killed them (or driven them mad) had they remained in their regular body, with access to their regular powers.

This might have been done to them unwillingly - perhaps a powerful wizard wanted to teach them a lesson in humility.

Alternatively, this dragonborn is the child of a dragon who sacrificed the majority of their power - never able to access their true powers or body, unless they can find some magical way.

Power often comes with a price, however...

You could use the dragonstone as a magical focus or holy symbol (more so paladin’s holy symbol than a cleric’s, but that’s just me).  The abilities and features any class gain by levelling up can be fluffed as the dragonborn finding new ways to channel their sealed power. Heck, leveling in general can be fluffed as toughening up their mind and body to handle the maddening power of the dragon within.

Alternatively, you could have the dragonstone either stolen or lost.  In this case, regaining or discovering your stone could be a character goal. (If you get it, you’d need to discuss what kinds of mechanical effects may occur with your DM.  I’d suggest re-fluffing many of your attacks/abilities to use it, and/or treating the dragonstone as a magic item that improves a few key stats for a few minutes each day.) 

Some of the dragonborn-exclusive feats could work nicely with the idea of drawing more power from your stone.  It’d arguably make more sense than growing wings after a few levels!  I know you’d normally fluff that as developing the strength in your wings to use them, but shhhh.

Alternatively, use the “shifter” (or even tiefling) stats, but keep the dragon-like fluff.  I feel that could still work.

[eyeloch]

Path of Contagion

This is the first time I’ve tried anything as complex as a homebrewed subclass, so please give feedback if you’re so inclined!  If you’re curious, this is inspired by a boss from Dragon Quest IX

Primal Path:  The Path of Contagion

Some illnesses sap both physical and mental resolve, while others drain away your self-reflection.  In hidden lodges , barbarians who follow this path are taught that that their anger is akin to a potent poison - one that can be channelled and spread through Rage.  

Many barbarians who follow this path often smell sickly-sweet, thanks to small bags of herbs and incense tied on their person.  If asked about these, the typical answer is that they’re to ward off illness and minor spirits.

Some legends say that the first adherents of this (often-unpleasant) path were both prison guards and worshippers of a sentient plague.  While they did keep the sickness imprisoned until its “death”, they also learnt from it.  Adherents of this path use commonplace herbs and ointments - when combined with a little primal magic, these unassuming materials give their rage a toxic edge!

Level 3:

Envenomate

Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level, you can deliver a toxic gift with your weapon strikes. While you're raging, the first creature you hit with a weapon attack in your turn takes extra damage equal to 1d6 + half your Barbarian level (rounded down). The extra damage is Poison or Acid; you choose the type of damage when you gain this feature.  

The damage type of this feature can be changed on a short or long rest (though finding the right herbs and other materials to do so may require a nature or investigation check, at the DM’s discretion). 

Subtle Toxicity

When you choose this path at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with the poisoner’s kit. 

Level 6:

Sickening Presence

If a foe provokes an attack of opportunity, you may instead inflict a sickness upon them.  The foe must pass a constitution saving throw (with a DC equal to 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier), or take 1d6 poison damage and fall prone.   If they succeed in the Con Save, the enemy takes half damage, but does not fall prone.

Level 10:

Acquired Immunity

Thanks to continual low doses of the various toxins you work with, you obtain Resistance to Poison Damage.  

Additionally, once per long rest, you can completely neutralise either Poison or Acid Damage inflicted on you.  This must be called before the damage roll is made, but after the attack role or saving throw.

Level 14:

At this stage of your training, your rage has moved beyond simple poison, and has become akin to a true plague.  Wounds you inflict tend to ache for the rest of the person or creature’s lifetime - however long or short you’ll let that be - and those who tend to your enemies tend to come down with minor infections themselves!

Contagious Blows

You may use your Reaction to inflict 2d6 + half your Barbarian level to any creature within 60 feet that you can see, and that you have previously wounded in the day.  When this damage is inflicted, all creatures within 15 feet must pass a constitution saving throw, or also take 2d6 + half your barbarian level.  If they pass the saving throw, they take half damage.

Alternatively:

Dehiscence

After successfully hitting a foe with a weapon attack (and after damage is calculated and applied), you may use your Bonus Action to re-open all wounds closed by magical healing.  This inflicts any damage healed since the start of the encounter, but cannot take them to below 0 hit points (unless the prior weapon attack already reduced the foe to 0 hit points).

[eyeloch]

Fogmantle

The humble darkmantle is well adapted to its preferred feeding grounds - inky caverns, either in the Underdark or slightly above.   When Drow-connected coastal smugglers tried to use darkmantles to protect their hideouts, however, their method of hunting was less successful.  A few generations of magical-enhanced selective breeding later, and the first fogmantle was born.  

Better-suited to living in tidal caves than their brethren, these creatures take on the appearance of slimy, algae-coated rocks - at least until it’s time to hunt.  Once their echolocation finds sufficiently delectable prey, they unleash the moisture they’re built up in internal vapour pockets - creating a 20-foot fog cloud, after which they attack in the confusion.

The fogmantles have bred at fast rates, and by now have spread far beyond the handful of lairs they were designed to “guard”.  Not that their creator minds this much.  

Sometimes, where and when these creatures are used as “guardians”, they’re joined by their forebears - darkmantles and fogmantles working together can form a unpredictable ambush!  (In the wild, however, the two species can get a tad territorial with each other.)

To use a fogmantle in your games, simply use a darkmantle statblock, but replace their Darkness Aura with a once-per-day casting of Fog Cloud.  Like the darkmantle’s Darkness Aura ability, the fogmantle version of Fog Cloud can remain centred on the fogmantle, even when it moves.