The Oath of Grief (Paladin)
This week we're previewing content from The Impermissicon, a compendium planned to release in 2021, which focuses on forbidden magic and dark forces! It will contain blood magic, lycanthropy, twisted curses, vampires, dark gods, fallen heroes, a large array of new forbidden spells, and even new prestige classes.
Art Credit: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/GKLz
Speaking of dark gods, this new paladin subclass, the Oath of Grief was originally designed for a specific god within my homebrew setting, a god of solace, madness, and pessimism (with a gravity theme), but it works just as well for other dark gods or paladin orders. These guys may seem like edgelords, but they really do believe that to ignore their tenets is to cling to false hope and only hurt more for it. Crushing Smite is only arguably a buff and might actually be a detriment, since there are only 3-4 more monsters resistant to radiant damage than there are force damage, and dealing radiant damage can be beneficial when fighting vulnerable monsters or vampires. This ability was selected for flavor and in lieu of necrotic damage, which felt wrong as did radiant. The Channel Divinity options for this Oath target Fey and Celestials rather than Fiends and Undead, giving it more of an anti-paladin feel than normal-paladin. The Aura of Paranoia is a favorite as an interesting way to make the tenets of this Oath into beneficial effects on the party. Paranoia can be good? These paladins think they can show you how! Banish Hope is a relatively simple but powerful ability that synergizes with other abilities that knock creatures prone, including ally abilities. It boosts not only the Evoke Malaise CD option, but also the 20th level capstone Dread Idol. This powerhouse feature lasts only a minute but can have devastating lockdown effects across a battlefield. The divine power of fear resonates through the paladin, striking terror in all foes except those who literally cannot be frightened.
Incidentally, this spell list contains earthbind, a spell from Xanathar's that has the following optional rule change in these compendiums:
Earthbind (XGE): When this spell affects a creature already on the ground or when a descending creature affected by this spell first reaches the ground they fall prone and they are unable to stand up until the end of their next turn. While the spell lasts, the target has disadvantage on saving throws made to avoid falling prone.
It also contains a new spell, phantasmal plunge:
Phantasmal Plunge
5th-level illusion (Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard)
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 150 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
Choose up to 6 creatures that you can see within range. You fabricate a vivid illusion around each of them that your magic has broken the ground in under them, complete with all the sensations of a sudden, horrible fall to one's death, though it only lasts a moment or two. Each target must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed saving throw, a target takes 6d10 psychic damage, falls prone, and cannot take reactions until the end of your next turn. On a successful saving throw, a target takes half damage and suffers no other effects from the spell.
PDF Link / D&D Beyond Link / New Spell: Phantasmal Plunge
