Witcher Class - 5e [PDF]

Zitiervorschau

Witcher

W

itchers are professional monster slayers who belong to an ancient order created to protect humankind from creatures of nightmare and legend.

The Witchers recruit human children into their ranks by adopting orphans, receiving unwanted children, and thru an old practice known as The Law of Surprise, in which a Witcher collects on a life debt sworn by a hapless soul - the traditional words are “that which you already have but do not know”, which refers to their unborn child. In rare cases, unscrupulous or desperate Witchers have kidnapped children. Upon joining the Witchers, a child faces three trials which mutate their body and mind. First, during The Choice they consume a diet of mushrooms, mosses, and herbs and must endure grueling physical training - this is cleansing for the mutations to come. They also begin their study of monsters, herbalism, and sword-fighting at this time. Those who fail this trial (and don’t die from organ failure) usually leave the Witchers with some form of madness, such as excessively aggressive tendencies. Second, the young would-be Witchers are subjected to the Trial of the Grasses involving consumption of alchemical compounds that alter the nervous system and boost reflexes. It is a painful process that only half the children survive. One of the effects of this trial is to remove memories of the child’s life before becoming a Witcher. Third, the Trial of Dreams involves mutation of the eyes allowing for night-vision, bone marrow, and hormones, though it also results in infertility. Supposedly this trial finishes removing the prospective Witcher’s emotion, though that remains debatable. In rare cases when a child’s mutation seems incomplete a fourth trial is given, the Trial of the Mountains, a sort of vision quest which serves primarily to test whether the new Witcher’s memories have truly been removed. When the apprentice completes these trials they become a fullfledged Witcher and set forth from the stronghold of the school where they trained to begin their monster-hunting career. Witchers in a Party

The Witcher class can fill in for a fighter in most scenarios, though they are more versatile and worse at tanking. It’s also possible to play a party entirely composed of Witchers, as the class is more complex than the PHB classes; characters can be differentiated by choice of Witcher school, Signs, Advanced Mutations, equipment, feats, and multi-classing.

Witcher Level

Proficiency Bonus Features

Focus Cap

1th

+2

Alchemy, Mutations

—

2nd

+2

Focus, Signs

1

3rd

+2

Witcher School

2

4th

+2

Ability Score Improvement

2

5th

+3

Extra Attack, Sign (3)

3

6th

+3

Studious Eye, Meditation

3

7th

+3

Witcher School Feature

3

8th

+3

Ability Score Improvement

3

9th

+4

Empowered Signs, Sign (4)

4

10th

+4

Witcher School Feature, Mutations Improvement

4

12th

+4

Ability Score Improvement

4

13th

+5

Quick Wits, Studious Eye Improvement, Sign (5)

5

14th

+5

Witcher School Feature

5

15th

+5

Evasion

5

16th

+5

Ability Score Improvement

5

17th

+6

Foil

5

18th

+6

Alchemy Expertise, Mutations Improvement

5

19th

+6

Ability Score Improvement

5

20th

+6

Adrenaline Rush

5

The Witcher "Feel" Witchers exist in a dark fantasy setting where most monsters have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from non-silver weapons. Thus, they carry silver swords for hunting monsters. Additionally, the monsters in the world of the Witcher often require investigation and research to be found and defeated. Witchers can call upon an assortment of tools in their hunt, including Witcher potions, poisons, blade oils, bombs, and traps. Though Witchers are well-versed in monster lore, they gain no specific lore class feature (unless they belong to the Owl School), rather the player and DM are left to roleplay it.

Class Features

Only humans and half-elves have the physiology needed to become Witchers. As a Witcher you gain the following class features Hit Points

Hit Dice: 1d8 per Witcher level Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + Your Constitution Modifier Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per Witcher level after 1st Proficiencies

Armor: Light, medium armor Weapons: Simple weapons, martial melee weapons, and hand crossbow Tools: Herbalism kit Saving Throws: Choose two from: Constitution, Dexterity, or Intelligence Skills: Choose two skills from: Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Nature, Perception, Stealth, Survival. Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background: (a) scale mail, (b) chain shirt, or (c) studded leather (a) a martial weapon and a shield or (b) two martial weapons A silver weapon of your choice (a) dungeoneer’s pack or (b) explorer’s pack (a) a hand crossbow or (b) simple Weapon

Alchemy

At 1st level, you have been trained in the specialized alchemy used by witchers to prepare themselves for combat. During a short rest, you can use Alchemist's supplies to craft a potion, oil, or bomb if you have the required ingredients and know the appropriate recipe, a list of which are found at the end of this class description. You can carry 2 alchemy products at any given time, and only you can use the products you create. The number of recipes you know is equal to your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier. At the DM's discretion, other recipes may be available for purchase or found in the world.

Mutations

As a witcher, you have undergone mutations to your body including the perilous Trial of the Grasses. Starting at 1st level, you gain the following benefits: Your walking speed is increased by 5 feet. At 10th level, this bonus increases to 10 feet. At 18th level, this bonus increases to 20 feet, and you gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. You have darkvision, up to a range of 30 feet. At 10th level, this range increases to 60 feet. At 18th level, this range increases to 120 feet, and you also gain blindsight to a range of 30 feet. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) and Wisdom (Survival) checks based on smell. You are immune to natural diseases.

You are completely sterile - you can have no children through natural means. Your lifespan is extended dramatically - you age at a rate 10 times slower than regular members of your race.

Focus

At 2nd level, you have learned the art of reading your opponent and the battlefield, allowing you to enhance your attacks and use powerful abilities. Your focus is set to 1 when you roll initiative, and you gain 1 focus each time you successfully hit with a weapon attack, up to your focus cap, which is detailed on the witcher class table. You lose all focus after combat ends. When you make a weapon attack, you can spend 2 focus to grant yourself advantage on that attack; if you do so, that attack cannot generate focus. Starting at 11th level, your focus is set to 3 when you roll initiative instead of 1.

Signs

Starting at 2nd level, you are able to channel your focus to cast a few simple but practical magic hexes used by witchers called signs. You can cast a sign in place of a weapon attack when you take the Attack action on your turn. Casting a sign costs 1 focus, and you can only cast one sign on your turn. You can't cast a sign while holding something in each hand or wielding a weapon with the two-handed property. Signs are considered level 1 evocation spells with somatic components for the purposes of other magical effects, and are not considered weapon attacks. You learn two signs at 2nd level, and another at 5th, 9th, and 13th level. Sign Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier Igni

You blast flames at a creature within 15 feet. It must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 2d6 fire damage on a failed save or half that on a successful save. When empowered, all creatures in a 15 foot cone are affected instead. This damage increases by 1d6 at 5th, 11th, and 17th level. You can also cast the Control Flames cantrip at will. Quen

You place a protective shield on yourself. For the next minute, the first time you take damage from a weapon attack, that damage is reduced by 1d8. When empowered, you can cast this as a reaction to being attacked. This reduction increases by 1d8 at 5th, 11th, and 17th level. Yrden

You place down a magical circle with a radius of 10 feet around you that lasts one minute. Inside the circle is difficult terrain for hostile creatures and enemies resistant to only nonmagical damage lose this ability. When empowered, all ranged attacks from hostile creatures made into the circle from without are made with disadvantage.

Aard

You blow a powerful burst of air at a creature within 15 feet. It must make a Strength saving throw or be pushed 10 feet back and knocked prone. When empowered, all creatures in a 5 foot radius sphere around you are affected instead. You can also cast the Gust cantrip at will. Axii

You attempt to cloud the mind of a creature within 15 feet. It must make a Wisdom saving throw; on a failed save, the creature has disadvantage on the first attack it makes until the end of its next turn. A creature immune to being charmed automatically succeeds on its save. When empowered, the affected creature loses its first attack entirely. You can also cast the Friends cantrip at will.

Witcher Schools

At 3rd level, you choose a witcher school whose techniques and style you wish to employ. Choose between the Wolf, Bear, Cat, Griffin, or Viper schools, detailed at the end of this class description. The school you choose grants you features at 3rd level, then again at 7th, 10th, and 14th level.

Ability Score Improvement

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

Extra Attack

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Studious Eye

By 6th level, you have learned to identify certain traits and characteristics in creatures you fight. By either observing a creature for 1 minute or spending 1 focus as a bonus action, you learn one aspect about the creature of your choice: Creature Type, Armor Class, Senses, Damage Vulnerabilities, Damage Resistances, Damage Immunities, or Condition Immunities. At 13th level you may learn two aspects of your choice instead. Additionally, choose one of Intelligence (Investigation), Wisdom (Perception), Wisdom (Insight), or Wisdom (Survival) that you are proficient in; your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check that uses the chosen skill. At 13th level, you can choose another proficiency from the list.

Meditation

At 6th level, you can manipulate your metabolism to deeply meditate and stave off both hunger and exhaustion. You can enter a trance-like state for any number of hours. During this time, you accumulate hunger and thirst ten times slower than normal, and do not require sleep. After 6 hours of largely uninterrupted meditation, you receive the benefits of a long rest, as well as those of a lesser restoration spell.

While meditating you cannot see and are less aware of your surroundings. You have disadvantage on any Wisdom (Perception) checks but are otherwise conscious, although excessive mental activity will halt meditation.

Empowered Signs

Starting at 9th level, you can use signs in new, more powerful variants for an enhanced effect. By consuming 2 additional focus, you can cast an alternative form of each sign as detailed in their descriptions.

Battle Signs

At 11th level, you can incorporate signs more easily into your assault. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can cast a sign without forgoing any of your weapon attacks. Additionally, at the end of each of your turns, if you haven't cast a sign this turn, you gain 1 focus.

Quick Wits

Starting at 13th level, you are quick to act and ready to leap into combat at an opportune time. When you roll initiative, you may roll the d20 twice and choose which roll to use.

Evasion

At 15th level, you can nimbly dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a red dragon’s fiery breath or a lightning bolt spell. When you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Foil

Starting at 17th level, you are capable of interrupting the spells and abilities of your opponents. When a creature forces you or a friendly creature to make a saving throw, you can use your reaction to make a weapon attack against it. If your attack successfully hits, any creature affected automatically succeeds on their save against the effect. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest.

Alchemy Expertise

At 18th level, you have mastered efficiently using materials and recycling components in your alchemical crafts. You ignore crafting components when creating Alchemy products. Additionally, you can carry 3 products at a time, instead of 2. When you gain this feature, you learn 4 new Alchemy recipes of your choice.

Adrenaline Rush

At 20th level, you can utilize your adrenaline to burst into a rush of action. At the end of your turn, if you have 5 focus available, you can choose to immediately take another turn; at the end of that turn, you lose all focus. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest.

Witcher Schools Wolf School

Based in Kaer Morhen, the Wolf school is perhaps the most renowned and populous school still around, although still home to few students. The school focuses on mastering the basic witcher techniques, complementing them with new maneuvers to deal with any kind of monstrous prey. Battle Trance

Your razor sharp focus guides your attacks in combat. Starting at 3rd level, your weapon attacks deal additional damage equal to your current focus. Spins and Pirouettes

Starting at 7th level, you can nimbly leap across the battlefield to engage opponents. Before making a melee weapon attack or casting a sign, you can move 5 feet without spending any of your movement. If this movement provokes an opportunity attack, it is made with disadvantage. Arrow Deflection

By 10th level, you have learned to defend yourself from projectiles by parrying them. When a creature makes a ranged weapon attack against you, you can use your reaction and spend 1 focus to make an attack roll with a melee weapon you are holding; if your total is higher than the creature's attack roll, their attack misses. Aggressive Maneuvers

At 14th level, you can use your focus to execute especially aggressive attacks. You learn the following maneuvers, which you can use as an action by expending 3 focus.. Whirl - You whirl around, attacking all creatures around you. Make a melee weapon attack against each creature of your choice within 5 feet. Rend - You take a wide, heavy swing at a creature. Make a melee weapon attack; if it hits, the attack automatically critically strikes and the target creature must make a DC 20 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature's AC is reduced by 2 for one minute. This reduction does not stack.

Viper School

Based in an unknown location and possibly dissolved, the Viper school is a secretive organization, its students few and scattered. The school is known for doing whatever needs to be done for a contract, specializing in hit and run tactics some may call dirty fighting. Dual Wielder

Starting at 3rd level, you can adopt the traditional twoweapon fighting technique of the Viper School. You can ignore the somatic requirement of signs while using twoweapon fighting; additionally, you gain the Two Weapon Fighting fighting style. Slippery

At 7th level, you are hard to keep in place and adept at escaping sticky situations. You can expend 1 focus to use Disengage or Dash as a bonus action; if you do, you can also remove the restrained or grappled condition from yourself.

Tolerance

By 10th level, you have become accustomed to metabolizing toxic materials. You have resistance to poison damage, and advantage on saving throws against the effects of poisons and venoms. Additionally, when applying sword oil you can choose humanoid as the target creature type. Killing Strike

Starting at 14th level, your strikes are specialized at finishing off weakened enemies. Once per turn, when you hit a creature whose current health is less than half its max health with a weapon attack, your attack deals an additional 3d6 damage of your weapon's type. Additionally, once per turn when you kill a creature, you gain 2 focus and can make an additional weapon attack as a part of your Attack action.

Bear School

Honorable and stout, the witchers of the Bear school focus on holding their ground rather than dancing around their foes. Through their unique training, strength, and tenacity, Bear school witchers can stand up to powerful warriors and beasts alike. Heavy Gear Training

Starting at 3rd level, you can ignore the somatic requirement of signs while using weapons with the two-handed property. Additionally, you gain proficiency with heavy armor. Vitalic Blows

At 7th level, you can imbue your strikes with your own vigor; when you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can expend 2 focus to spend one of your hit dice and add it to your damage on that attack. Starting at 14th level, you can choose to expend 2 hit dice instead. When you use your Vitalic Blows feature, you can make a Shove attack as a bonus action for the rest of the turn. Thick Skin

By 10th level, you have developed natural defenses on your body to defend you from the elements; you are resistant to adverse effects due to extreme weather and temperatures, and have resistance to fire and cold damage. Ursine Endurance

By 14th level, your ability to withstand damage and resist malignant effects has been improved through intense conditioning. You gain proficiency in Constitution and Strength saving throws; additionally, when you fail a saving throw at which you are proficient, you can choose to succeed instead. Once this feature is used, it cannot be used again until you complete a long rest. Deadly Flurry

At level 14, you can use your focus to unleash a flurry of blows. When you take the attack action, you can expend 3 focus to make two additional weapon attacks as part of that action. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest or critically strike with a weapon attack.

Cat School

The only school known to accept contracts on humans, the Cat school has largely become ostracized by their fellow witchers for this breach of their honor code. The school's effectiveness, however, cannot be doubted. Aggressive and flexible, the school focuses on landing many strikes to exploit weaknesses while avoiding damage through mobility.

Improved Critical

Starting at 3rd level, you critical strike on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. Additionally, when you critically strike you gain focus up to your cap.

Quick Reflexes

Starting at 7th level, you are quick to respond to threats and retreat. When a creature makes an attack roll against you, you can choose to consume 1 focus and use your reaction to impose disadvantage on that attack. As a part of the same reaction, you can move 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.

Quen: A creature that triggers your Quen shield with a melee attack is pushed back 5 feet. If the attack's damage is reduced to zero, the attacker is also knocked prone. Yrden: Hostile creatures take 1d12 force damage when they start their turns inside or enter the circle. Aard: Creatures that fail their saving throw against your Aard sign also take 1d10 cold damage and have their movement reduced in half until the end of their next turn. Axii: A creature that fails its saving throw against your Axii sign has disadvantage on all saves to maintain its concentration on a spell until the end of its next turn. Opulence

At 10th level, you can channel the royal pride of a griffin to command an air of authority. You gain proficiency in the Persuasion skill. Additionally, when you make a Charisma saving throw, you can expend 2 focus to grant yourself advantage. Elemental Flow

At 10th level, your instincts prevent you from being caught flatfooted. You can add your proficiency bonus to initiative rolls, and cannot be surprised. Additionally, when you make a Dexterity saving throw, you can expend 2 focus to grant yourself advantage.

Beginning at 14th level, your mastery of signs allows you to use the energy they release to charge your weapon with arcane power. After you cast a sign, you may charge a weapon that you are holding provided it is not already charged with this feature. The next time you hit with a weapon attack using that weapon, that attack deals an additional 1d6 fire, lightning, or cold (your choice) damage and generates an additional 1 focus. If unused, this effect fades after one minute.

Deadly Flurry

Alchemical Recipes

Impeccable Instinct

At level 14, you can use your focus to unleash a flurry of blows. When you take the attack action, you can expend 3 focus to make two additional weapon attacks as part of that action. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest or critically strike with a weapon attack.

Griffin School

With honor and dignity, members of the Griffin school pride themselves on dispatching enemies and fulfilling contracts with utmost efficiency. Witchers of the Griffin school focus on enhancing their utilitarian magical spells and weaving them into their combat techniques. Total Focus

At 3rd level, you can close out all irrelevant sensory information to take in the battlefield. As a bonus action, you can mark a creature; the marked creature has disadvantage on saves against all your signs. You can only mark a new creature after either killing the currently marked creature or removing the mark as an action. Additionally, your focus cap increases by 1. Sign Intensity

Starting at 7th level, you can channel additional energy into your signs to grant them new applications. When you cast a sign, you can expend 1 extra focus to add an extra effect as listed below. Igni: Creatures that fail their saving throw against your Igni sign drop any weapons or held items made of metal or flammable materials. Creatures resistant to fire damage are unaffected by this.

Potions Swallow

Ingredients: The brain of a creature with the monstrosity or abberation type, various herbs worth 10gp, 5gp of alcohol. A light red, sweet liquid. When consumed as a bonus action, your maximum health is reduced by your level until your next short or long rest. For one minute, so long as your health is not reduced to zero, you recover 4 + your Constitution modifier (min 0) hp at the start of each of your turns. Starting at 9th level, you can double the max health reduction and healing of this potion when crafting it. Thunderbolt

Ingredients: Flesh of a creature with the undead type, various herbs worth 10gp, 5gp of alcohol. A transparent green, sour liquid. When consumed as a bonus action, your maximum health is reduced by your level until your next short or long rest. For one minute, so long as your health is not reduced to zero, your weapon attacks deal an additional 1d4 damage. Starting at 9th level, you can double the max health reduction and and increase the attack bonus of this potion to 1d8 when crafting it.

Petri's Philter

Dimetrium Bomb

Ingredients: Dust from the remains of a creature that has resistance or immunity to nonmagical damage, various herbs worth 10gp, 5gp of alcohol. An opaque white, tasteless liquid. When consumed as a bonus action, your maximum health is reduced by your level until your next short or long rest. For one minute, so long as your health is not reduced to zero, your signs' effects act as if you were 6 levels higher.

Ingredients: Salts worth 5gp, an enchanted stone worth 100gp When lobbed up to 30 feet as an action, the bomb detonates releasing grains of magic-nullifying Dimetrium into a cloud of radius 10 feet. Creatures inside the cloud cannot cast spells, and magic items inside the cloud temporarily lose their magical properties. Any ongoing magical effects from spells of 6th level or lower are dispelled within the cloud. The cloud disperses after 1 minute.

Tawny Owl

Moondust

Ingredients: Blood of a creature with the beast type, various herbs worth 10gp, 5gp of alcohol. A bitter, deep purple liquid. When consumed as a bonus action, your maximum health is reduced by your level until your next short or long rest. For one minute, so long as your health is not reduced to zero, you gain 1 focus at the start of each of your turns. Starting at 9th level, you can double the max health reduction and focus generation of this potion when crafting it. Blizzard

Ingredients: Remains of a creature with the elemental type, various herbs worth 10gp, 5gp of alcohol. A refreshing and cold, clear blue liquid. When consumed as a bonus action, your maximum health is reduced by your level until your next short or long rest. For one minute, so long as your health is not reduced to zero, your AC increases by 1. Starting at 9th level, you can double the max health reduction and AC bonus of this potion when crafting it. Sword Oil

Ingredients: Remains of a creature of the desired type, various herbs worth 5gp. You can create and apply to one of your weapons an oil for slaying creatures of a specific type (besides humanoid). Until your next long rest, when attacking creatures of that type, your weapon attacks with that weapon deal an additional 1d4 damage of the weapon's type. Applying another oil replaces any oils previously applied. This bonus damage increases to 1d6 at 9th level. Bombs Dancing Star

Ingredients: Salts worth 10gp When lobbed up to 30 feet as an action, the bomb detonates dealing 2d6 fire damage to each creature within a 10 foot radius or half as much damage on a successful DC 14 Dex save. The bomb creates a 10 foot radius patch of fire, dealing 1d6 fire damage to creatures that enter it or start their turn in it. The fire lasts 1 minute or until extinguished. Devil's Puffball

Ingredients: Salts worth 5gp, herbs worth 5gp When lobbed up to 30 feet as an action, the bomb detonates releasing poisonous gas in a cloud of radius 10 feet. Creatures that enter or start their turn in the cloud take 2d8 poison damage, or half as much on a successful DC 14 Con save. The gas disperses after 1 minute.

Ingredients: Salts worth 5gp, 10gp of Quicksilver When lobbed up to 30 feet as an action, the bomb detonates releasing finely powdered silver into a cloud of radius 10 feet. Creatures inside the cloud cannot transform, and shapechangers affected by this revert to their normal form. The dust disperses after 1 minute. Northern Wind

Ingredients: Salts worth 5gp, a pearl worth 5gp, acidic solution worth 5gp When lobbed up to 30 feet as an action, the bomb detonates releasing freezing cold gas in a cloud of radius 10 feet. Creatures that enter or start their turn in the cloud take 1d8 cold damage, or half as much on a successful DC 14 Con save. Creatures that take this cold damage have their movement reduced by half until the end of their turn. The gas disperses after 1 minute. Samum

Ingredients: Salts worth 5gp, herbs worth 5gp When lobbed up to 30 feet as an action, the bomb detonates in a bright flash. Creatures within 10 feet of the explosion take 1d8 radiant damage and must make a DC 14 Con save or be blinded until the end of their next turn. Crafting Costs These costs may not be appropriate for the income level in your game; your DM may adjust >the price of Alchemy ingredients and where they are found.

 

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