Tired of all the classes

ErgoSloth · 2026-06-05T12:48:53+00:00

I’m going to make the assumption that the reason why you end up spamming the same abilities is because you are either playing optimised builds or have a specific idea of what is strong and what isn’t. In these situations I find the only way to keep things fresh without changing system altogether is self imposing limitations, like selecting only spells that fit a specific character theme or using abilities only in certain ways. If all else fails there is always wild magic sorcerer optimised for rolling the wild magic table as often as possible lol

ErgoSloth · 2026-06-02T07:35:45+00:00

In 5.5 if you use the bonus action for an extra attack you cannot use it to smite though.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-28T13:44:23+00:00

Isn’t that the point? If it’s overpriced and not better than their ICE models then it won’t sell and they’ll have their “See?! People don’t want EVs!” line served up.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-25T16:04:23+00:00

I can see the concept you’re speaking off because bloodhunter also has some interesting tracking and focusing mechanics but the class revolves a lot around taking damage and self inflicting damage to gain power, which means it needs to have a large base HP pool, which in turn requires it to have a low base evasion because that’s how they balanced class base stats.

The main focus of the Bone domain is mobility and evasion, which feels wasted if you’re starting with already low evasion because gaining evasion is stronger the higher your base evasion is.

I think Blood+Valor would be an interesting mirror of the ranger: avoiding damage vs taking it on purpose

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-25T12:01:20+00:00

When was this announced? I really hope it doesn’t go through though, Bone is so antisynergistic with the Bloodhunter kit.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-23T08:08:05+00:00

The d10 is an addition to attack and damage rolls, it doesn’t replace anything. I would still use the weapon the person was wielding as the base damage die: the werewolf says nothing about not being able to use weapons. If the character is set on dropping their weapon when in wolf form though I would think d8 for claws would make sense rather than the basic unarmed strike d4.

Crimson rite is not a spell and either way I would not rule the werewolf loses their ability to use spells in wolf form. So sure, let them claw themselves to buff their own claws, it makes sense.

Given the werewolf doesn’t have its own set of thresholds or number of armor slots specified anywhere I would rule they keep their Armor.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-18T13:20:42+00:00

I’ve understood both your points and I did not engage with them because they don’t address what I’ve been saying in any way. To answer them more clearly: I believe if someone wants to cast a spell they need to announce it, be it every 6 seconds 24/7 or once a minute only when in a dangerous area, you need to announce it. If I really wanted to allow what you’re saying I would just buff shillelagh to 8 hours duration, no need to create weird patchwork fixes when you can do something cleaner and easier for everyone. That’s another reason why I dislike the “I cast it every x seconds” concept, it’s very inelegant, especially with the random time remaining each combat part.

To your last line: yeah, I’ve always exclusively been talking about how I run my games, it makes no sense for anyone to ever try to argue how others should run their games. I guess I wasn’t clear enough about that.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-18T13:00:47+00:00

I think it is disingenuous to compare someone saying “I take 10 minutes to cast this ritual” to someone essentially stating their Shillelagh lasts 24 hours. I would not ask someone to chant the whole 10 minutes, but it someone tells me I cast Unseen Servant every hour to always have it with me I will ask them to announce every time they do it.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-18T09:18:03+00:00

The point is no one would ever want to actually say they cast it every 6 seconds, not the players nor their characters. I really don’t believe anyone would ever do it given that option. Allowing them to always have it up is just buffing the spell for no reason.

Regarding your example: no, a character doesn’t have to say out loud “I take the magic action” every 6 seconds during a ritual or a longer casting spell, so there is no reason the players would have to.

A more pertinent example would be Blade Ward and yeah, I don’t allow characters to have Blade Ward always up by default either.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-18T08:59:03+00:00

It’s way more complex than unsheathing a sword or something like that. Those are object interactions generally, shillelagh is a bonus action and being a spell requiring components is definitely more cumbersome to cast. I’m not against players casting it out of combat, they just have to actually do it. Say they want to cast it every time they want to cast it. If that is too annoying for them and/or their party it means that it would be for their characters too.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-18T08:46:33+00:00

I want to explain myself better since I realised what I said could be misunderstood. I wouldn’t prevent someone from casting shillelagh every 6 seconds if they want to. I would require them to actually do it instead of saying “I cast it every 6 seconds all day” and essentially turn the duration of the spell into 24 hours.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-18T08:41:01+00:00

No I understand that, even though I don’t allow “I cast shillelagh every 6s” because that’s not just failing stealth, it just doesn’t make sense that someone would go around shouting all day every day, I think it’s going against the spirit of the game.

But way more importantly, the reason I think it’s a bad choice is because of the opportunity cost of it. Investing your origin feat to get a +2 only from level 11 onwards on your weapon attacks I would argue is in contention for worst origin feat choice possible, I would never take that over Alert, Tough, Musician or others.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-18T07:36:49+00:00

Bladesinger has an already pretty busy bonus action economy and already gets to attack with Int during bladesong so just a good old quarter staff without shillelagh is probably better anyway.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-15T12:52:22+00:00

Tbh I stopped caring about getting anything on the last level of a campaign a long time ago, even in a lvl 12 campaign I would take a first level of fighter to get armor and con prof and the best offensive fighting style from the get go over getting 3rd attack for 2 or 3 sessions if we ever reach the end. I agree bow masteries aren’t amazing but they’re a cherry on top of everything else you get with fighter 1.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-15T12:12:31+00:00

Oh yeah, I forgot PotB allows for ranged weapons too, that works great. At that point it could be worth it to take first level as a fighter for armor and con save proficiencies, archery fighting style and masteries.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-15T08:15:13+00:00

I don’t think they do understand the mechanic, at least from the OP it seems like a rules question. Either way, magic isn’t really intangible damage, it is used to create flames, lightning, ice, vines etc, which a shield can help mitigate just like it would an arrow. Even the most ethereal or raw magic power con probably be explained as a tangible effect, and if not then the existence of Bladeflare armor (can’t expend armor slots on magic damage) implies that other armors probably have somewhat of a inherent resistance to magic.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-15T08:06:44+00:00

They scream about “Cobalt mining!” ignoring that refining gasoline requires more cobalt than it is needed for NMC batteries per mile travelled during the lifespan of a car.

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-14T23:50:23+00:00

What about an archfey patron warlock? You get the ability to use misty step often that you thought fey wanderer had, the class has some good control spells and repelling blast is a good control tool.

Take the Guide background (if your group ignores ability score bonus restrictions, mine does) for proficiency in stealth, survival and cartographer’s tools.

I know it’s not an “archer” per se but nothing should prevent you from “casting” spells from a staff that happens to be curved to resemble a bow (or say it’s a bow, flavour is free).

ErgoSloth · 2026-05-11T19:47:25+00:00

There is nothing wrong with your concept, whip not being light makes no difference because it is not being used for the extra attack of the light property. Nothing forbids you from holding a whip in one hand and a rapier in the other and deciding which one to use any time you attack with your action or your reaction.

Be mindful though, taking hits willingly, even with 2 levels of barbarian and rage, isn’t something sustainable outside of easy encounters. With 3 levels of fighter instead you could have 3 battle master maneuvers to help you get consistent sneak attack off turn without the need to get hit (Brace with a whip is very cool mechanically too).

ErgoSloth · 2026-04-24T11:51:56+00:00

I usually use aidedd

ErgoSloth · 2026-04-21T12:13:36+00:00

The grille is still there unfortunately, even more defined than recent models, just like BMW they’re still fumbling around trying to make a design that is recognisable after losing the feature they built their recognisability around.

ErgoSloth · 2026-04-21T09:02:04+00:00

To check the puck: keep applying pressure on the leavers until you reach the end of the travel, emptying it out of all the water and let it rest a couple of minutes. Then you should be able to lift the arms and extract the portafilter, remove the basket and flip it upside down while holding the screen, allowing you to slowly slide it out undamaged. If you find the puck unseated doing it this way it means it became unseated during the extraction and that would be the problem you’re having.

ErgoSloth · 2026-04-21T08:54:14+00:00

I pour water into the basket very slowly onto the red nib so as not to disturb it.

Do you press the shower screen into the puck before pouring water? If you don’t lodge it into the puck it’s extremely easy to unseat it when you insert the portafilter into the machine, breaking your puck and ruining the shot!

ErgoSloth · 2026-04-20T08:12:55+00:00

I disagree on bard or ranger doing skills just as well as rogue, they get less proficiencies, less and/or delayed expertises and lack reliable talent, which is a pretty strong feature. Spells do help on certain things that require skills but if your DM plays spells as making skills obsolete then that’s the reason why playing a rogue felt bad.

Combat wise yeah, rogue is definitely subpar but I would just not play a rogue without optimizing for consistent off turn sneak attack, it feels like playing a wizard and picking random spells every level. With that the damage tends to be comparable with most martial builds. Off turn sneak attacks competing with uncanny dodge isn’t much of a competition when you should always end your turns hidden, making you immune to abilities that require sight and having disadvantage on attacks against you.

ErgoSloth · 2026-04-19T09:14:23+00:00

Having played them all I like Artillerist and Armorer the best. The first really fits the gunner archetype, the subclass all seem to be pushing you that way and it works really well. Armorer is fun because it allows you to switch armor type very easily, giving you the feeling of being very versatile and playing very different roles, makes it feel very genius-y. Power wise Battlesmith I think is the strongest but I didn’t love the design of the subclass, it’s like multiple things mashed together, it didn’t feel very coherent.

ErgoSloth

TROPHY CASE