Kage (5e Class)
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This page is of questionable balance. Reason: The features need to list how many times they can be used after a long rest, and also need to include limits for opportunity attacks.
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Kage[edit]
Translating to “shadow”, Kages are unstoppable assassins and opportunists who strike while unseen. Kages gain their powers from martial skill and from bending shadows to their will.
Weapons of Death[edit]
A group of bandits are ravaging the poor area of a city, robbing and murdering the citizens there. A good-willed Kage sees a group of these bandits in an alley attacking a mother and her children. He swiftly shadow steps in, takes out a few before the rest start running away saying. A the mother starts screaming for help looking at this shadowy scene he disappears with no witness. This is what a Kage is capable of.
Creating a Kage[edit]
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| A kage, waiting for the ideal time to strike down his opponent. |
How did you come into contact with your shadow abilities? What do you use your powers for? Are you a mercenary, just looking for money, or a psychopath, who kills for the fun of it? Or are you a hero, who kills the corrupt and wealthy to help the poor, or tyrants oppressing the people? Are you possibly a revolutionist,or just an arse who can't keep friends longer than a prostitute's relationship, who wishes for a new government? Do you do this for yourself, or for others, or maybe both? Are you part of a guild, a party, a private organization, a hound for the government, or nobody but yourself? Why did you turn to the art of shadows? These are all questions you should consider when making a Kage.
- Quick Build
You can make a Kage quickly by following these suggestions. First, Dexterity should be your highest ability score, followed by Wisdom. Second, choose the Criminal Background.
Class Features
As a Kage you gain the following class features.
- Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per Kage level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + Constitution modifier per Kage level after 1st
- Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor
Weapons: Simple weapons, Finesse weapons, Ranged weapons
Tools: Thieves' tools
Saving Throws: : Dexterity and Wisdom.
Skills: choose four skills from Stealth, Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, and Sleight of Hand
- Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) Longbow with 20 arrows or (b) Hand crossbow with 20 bolts
- (a) (2) Dagger or (b) (2) Hidden blade
- (a) Burglar's pack or (b) Explorer's pack or (c) Dungeoneer's pack
- Reaper's Dojigiri, Cloak of Midnight, Leather Armor
- If you are using starting wealth, you have 3d4 x 10 gp in funds.
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | Sneak Attack Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Reaper’s Dojigiri, Sneak Attack, Thieves Cant, Cloak of Midnight | 1d6 |
| 2nd | +2 | Shadow Step, Expertise | 1d6 |
| 3rd | +2 | Life and Death, Dark Path | 2d6 |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 2d6 |
| 5th | +3 | Swift Reaction, Acute Deceit | 3d6 |
| 6th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 3d6 |
| 7th | +3 | Evasion, Dark Path feature | 4d6 |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4d6 |
| 9th | +4 | Advanced Shadowstep | 5d6 |
| 10th | +4 | Reaper's Muramasa, Cloak Archetype | 5d6 |
| 11th | +4 | Reliable Talent | 6d6 |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 6d6 |
| 13th | +5 | Dark Path feature | 7d6 |
| 14th | +5 | Shadow Body | 7d6 |
| 15th | +5 | Shadow Speed | 8d6 |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 8d6 |
| 17th | +6 | Dark Path feature | 9d6 |
| 18th | +6 | Absolute Shadow Step, True Death | 9d6 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 10d6 |
| 20th | +6 | Reaper's Masamune | 10d6 |
Sneak Attack[edit]
Starting at 1st level, you are able to strike subtly to exploit a foe's distraction. When you have advantage on the attack roll, are attacking an opponent that is surprised, or an enemy is within 5 feet of an ally, you deal extra damage as shown on the table. In order to deal this extra damage, you must be wielding a ranged weapon or a finesse weapon. You may only deal this extra damage once per turn.
Thieves’ Cant[edit]
Starting at 1st level, you have learned thieves' cant, a secret mix of dialect, jargon, and code that allows you to hide messages in seemingly normal conversation. Only another creature that knows thieves' cant understands such messages. It takes four times longer to convey such a message than it does to speak the same idea plainly.
In addition, you understand a set of secret signs and symbols used to convey short, simple messages, such as whether an area is dangerous or the territory of a criminal guild, whether loot is nearby, or whether the people in an area are easy marks or will provide a safe house for criminals on the run.
Reaper’s Dojigiri[edit]
Starting at 1st level, you have been given a special katana from the reaper himself, as proof of your killing prowess. This is a magical melee weapon that deals 1d10 slashing damage and has the finesse property. This weapon is constantly emitting shadows, no matter the light, which allows you to use your Wisdom modifier when making intimidation checks. While wielding this, you can’t be holding any other weapon or a shield, and if you do for more than 6 seconds, that weapon or shield bursts into shadows and is destroyed. You can’t cast any spells while wielding this weapon. If this weapon is destroyed, lost, or wielded by another creature for more than 6 seconds, it will burst into shadows, and reappear after a long rest.
Cloak of Midnight[edit]
Starting at 1st level, you have a cloak made of the pure darkness of the night. This cloak allows you to blend in very well in the darkness. When you are in dim light or darkness, you gain +2 to stealth checks to remain unseen. You gain darkvision up to 60 feet. If you already have darkvision, your range for this feature increases to 90 feet. If this cloak is ever damaged, lost, destroyed, or is removed against your will for more than 6 seconds, it bursts into shadows, and reappears completely intact the next time the sun sets. Starting at 10th level, the cloak increases in power to benefit a circumstance. You may choose one cloak archetype.
- Cloak Archetypes
Covert: Your cloak can blend into almost anything. You gain your Cloak of Midnight stealth bonus even in bright light. Additionally, this bonus increases to +4, and you gain this bonus when making sleight of hand checks, and checks with your thieves’ tools.
Shadow's Guard: While you are wearing this cloak, you gain a bonus to AC equal to 1/2 of your Wisdom modifier (rounded down). You can't gain a bonus to AC from this feature if you also have the Unholy Avoidance feature.
Shadow Recovery: The cloak fills you with an ability of restoring. When you deal sneak attack damage to a target in darkness or dim light, you gain temporary hit points equal to 1/2 of the sneak attack damage dealt. You don’t gain extra temporary hit points when you increase the damage of a sneak attack, like from a critical hit.
Expertise[edit]
Starting at 2nd level, you may choose any two skills that you are proficient in, or your thieves' tools and one skill. Your proficiency bonus for the selected items are doubled.
At 6th level, you can choose two more of your proficiencies (in skills or with thieves' tools) to gain this benefit.
Shadow Step[edit]
Starting at 2nd level, you have learned to walk in and out of shadows. While you are in an area of dim light or darkness, you may use your bonus action to teleport into another area of dim light or darkness that you can see within 60 ft. You then have an advantage on the first melee attack you make before the end of the turn.
After you have used this feature a number of times equal to your wisdom modifier + your proficiency bonus, you must finish a long rest to regain all expended uses.
Life and Death[edit]
Starting at 3rd level, you have sacrificed durability for attack power. Your constitution score is permanently reduced by 1, but you gain +1 to dexterity score and all dex based attack and damage rolls.
Dark Path[edit]
At 3rd level, you choose an archetype to focus your skills as a master of the shadows. At 3rd level, choose Path of the KenSai, Path of the Shikaku, or Path of the Kesshin. These paths grant you features at 3rd level, and again at 7th, 13th, and 17th level.
Ability Score Improvement[edit]
When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 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. You can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Swift Reaction[edit]
Starting at 5th level, your base movement speed is increased by 20 feet during your first turn in combat, and you have advantage on initiative rolls. You also deal +2 damage to creatures you go before in initiative order.
Acute Deceit[edit]
Starting at 5th level, you've gotten deceit down to a formula. When making a deception check, you may choose to make it with your Wisdom modifier instead of your Charisma modifier.
Evasion[edit]
Starting at 7th level, your instinctive agility lets you dodge out of the way of certain area effects, such as a blue dragon's lightning breath or a fireball 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.
Advanced Shadow Step[edit]
Starting at 9th level your Shadow Step improves. When you use Shadow Step, You can now teleport to an area of dim light or darkness, even if you are not in dim light or darkness. The range of this feature increases to 90 ft.
Reaper’s Muramasa[edit]
Starting at 10th level your Reaper’s Dojigiri has evolved into a more powerful blade: the Reaper’s Muramasa. This weapon retains all of the features of the Reaper’s Dojigiri, except its damage is increased to 1d12 slashing damage, and it scores a critical on a roll of 19-20.
Reliable Talent[edit]
Starting at 11th level you have refined your chosen skills until they approach perfection. Whenever you make an ability check that lets you add your proficiency bonus, you can treat a d20 roll of 7 or lower as an 8.
Shadow Body[edit]
Starting at 14th level your body has further merged with the shadows, making your body more vigorous. You do not age, and you can’t be aged magically. In addition, you no longer need food or water to survive.
Shadow Speed[edit]
Starting at 15th level, you have become even more merged with shadows which make you harder to hit. Your AC increases by +1, and your speed increases by 10 feet. You can only gain this benefit when you are wearing light or no armor, and you are not incapacitated.
Absolute Shadow Step[edit]
Starting at 18th level you have mastered the art of the Shadow Step. You may teleport to areas of darkness you know of within 30 feet of you, even if you can’t see the area. Now, you may use this feature if you either start in an area of dim light or darkness, or teleport into an area of dim light or darkness. You may use this feature an unlimited amount of times.
True Death[edit]
Starting at 18th level your ability to disregard defense in exchange for offense has improved further. You gain +2 to all attack and damage rolls, but your constitution score is permanently decreased by an additional 1.
Reaper's Masamune[edit]
Starting at 20th level, your Reaper’s Weapons has evolved into its final form. This weapon retains all of the features of the Reaper's Muramasa, but its damage is increased to 2d8 slashing. When this weapon is on you, you gain +4 to your Dexterity score and the maximum for your Dexterity score is increased by the same amount. Now you can summon this weapon into your hand at any time as a bonus action.
Dark Paths[edit]
Path of the KenSai[edit]
Choosing this path means devoting yourself entirely to the sword. Your goal is to become a more skilled user of the blade, by any means necessary. You focus almost entirely on improving your skills in duels.
- Solo
Starting at 3rd level, your combat style begins to focus more on dueling singular opponents. When you make an attack roll against a target, and there are no creatures within 5 feet of you other than your target, you may deal sneak attack damage to the target, as long as you don't have disadvantage on the attack roll. Additionally, if your target's size is greater than yours, you have advantage on the attack roll.
- Unholy Avoidance
Starting at 3rd level, you have mastered avoiding your opponent’s attacks in battle while you aren’t weighed down. While you are wearing your Cloak of Midnight, you gain an unarmoured AC of 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier. Additionally, if your Cloak of Midnight gets damaged, it immediately repairs itself instead of bursting into shadows and reappearing the next time the sun sets.
- Sonic Slash
Starting at 7th level, your attacks with your blade have become so fast, it almost becomes hard to see them, making them nearly impossible to dodge. You can't have disadvantage on your attack rolls if your dexterity score is higher than your target’s, and you are able to overcome resistance to magical slashing damage.
- Extra Attack
Starting at 7th level, you may attack twice, instead of once, when you take the attack action on your turn.
- Counter
Starting at 13th level, you've learned to exploit your opponent's moment off balance after a strike. When an opponent within 10 feet of you makes an attack and misses, you may immediately make an attack against your opponent as your reaction.
- The Occult
Starting at 17th level, you have learned the greatest sword technique you can master - The Occult. As an action, you may perform the Occult. You may make 5 separate attack rolls against one target. Each attack must be performed consecutively, and if you kill your target while using this feature, your action ends. You hit a critical on a roll of 17-20, and you may add an additional damage dice to your critical rolls. After using this feature, you must finish a long rest before you may use it again.
Path of the Shikaku[edit]
By taking this path, you are choosing the path of the shadows, the path of assassination, and the path of death. By choosing to go this way, you are likely condemning yourself to a path of darkness and bloodshed.
- Slay
Starting at 3rd level, when you attack a surprised creature and the attack hits, that attack is an automatic critical.
- Unbound Agility
Starting at 3rd level, you've learned to be fast to avoid prolonged conflicts. Increase your movement speed by 10 feet while you aren't wearing medium or heavy armor. Additionally, you can take the disengage, dash, and hide actions as bonus actions.
- Into the Darkness
Starting at 7th level, you've mastered the ability to strike and retreat. If you kill an enemy, you may immediately move up to your movement speed without provoking any opportunity attacks. If you end your turn in darkness after killing an enemy on the same turn, you may automatically gain the effects of taking the dodge action.
- Shadow’s Edge
Starting at 13th level, you have learned to slay an enemy using the powers of the shadows themselves. When you are in darkness or dim light and you hit a creature with an attack roll, you deal an additional 2d6 necrotic damage. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, before having to take a short or long rest to regain all expended uses.
- Invoke Shadows
Starting at 13th level, you have learned to manifest shadows into a visible form. As a bonus action, you can create the effect of casting the spell Darkness, dispelling any light created by a spell 6th level or lower. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 2 times). After you have finished a long rest, you regain all expended uses of this feature. Additionally, when you are in darkness, you gain blindsense towards any darkness within 90 feet.
- Lethality
Starting at 17th level, you have become the perfect assassin. When you hit a creature with an attack while you and the target are in dim light or darkness, you may force the creature to make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 8 + your Dexterity modifier + your proficiency modifier. If the target fails this saving throw, the damage of the attack is multiplied by 2.
Path of the Kesshin[edit]
By choosing this path, you are going down the path of the defender and the path of resilience. You must be able to dodge or take almost any attacks, as well as know healing techniques to stay alive.
- Shadow’s Safeguard
Starting at 3rd level, you’re able to take more punishment than usual. When you gain the features Life and Death and True Death, you don’t lose any points to your Constitution Score. Additionally, you gain 1 more life point for each Kage level.
- Vanguard of Death
Starting at 3rd level, you’re experienced with using the shadows to protect yourself and your allies. As a reaction, you may impose disadvantage on an attack roll against any ally within 5 feet of you. You must be wielding your Reaper’s Dojigiri to use this feature.
- Shadow’s Protection
Starting at 7th level, you have the blessing of the shadows to avoid danger. When you are not wearing medium or heavy armor, blinded, exhausted, deafened, or incapacitated, you gain advantage on all Dexterity and Constitution saving throws. Also, you gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.
- Uncanny Dodge
Starting at 7th level, you have learned to use your superior speed to dodge foe’s attacks. When an attacker you can see hits you with an attack and you aren't incapacitated or grappled, you may use your reaction to halve that attack's damage against you. If you use this feature against a Multiattack, the damage of every attack in the multiattack is halved.
- Reap
Starting at 13th level, you can use your blade to absorb the essence of other creatures and restore your own health. When you attack a creature with your Reaper’s Muramasa, after the attack roll but before the damage roll, you may choose to restore hit points equal to 1/3 the damage dealt from the attack to yourself and up to 3 creatures of your choice within 30 feet of you. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency modifier. After you have finished a long rest, you regain all expended uses.
- Grim Resolve
Starting at 17th level, you have learned to always maintain your skill, especially in the direst of circumstances. When you are below 50% of your maximum hit points, you gain a +2 bonus to your AC and saving throws, and a +3 bonus to your attack and damage rolls.
Multiclassing[edit]
Kage are beings with no regard to societal law, and a lack of mandatory personal codes to conduct themselves by. Therefore, if you wish to multiclass into kage and your alignment is lawful, your alignment immediately becomes neutral upon multiclassing. Additionally, if you had proficiency in heavy armor, you lose that proficiency.
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the kage class, you must meet these prerequisites: Dex 15
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the kage class, you gain the following proficiencies: Simple Weapons, Finesse Weapons, Light Armor, Stealth, one skill from the class's skill list
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