D&D 5e FFT: Jobs 8

Job Creation 8

Welcome to Part 8 of Job Builds

Today we're going to take a look at how to do the Dark Knight job for 5e, using Paladin to do so.

Dark Knight

Unlike the other art I've used, which all comes from the actual game and its concept art, this one is an excellent piece of fanart made by Kajusx. His deviantart appears to have been deactivated, but you can find much of his other work on Pinterest, here

Premise — As Established last post, The Dark Knight is a Mageknight (Gish with heavy armor and access to Knightly Weapons) who fights dirty and has a selfish, mercenary, or evil theme.

Core Gameplay Abilities — Magic, Good Melee Combat, Plate Armor, Knight Weapons, Lifedrain, Mana Drain

Premise — We reviewed stuff last week, and this week we're going to see how we can make it out of Paladin. I'll reiterate last week's evaluation of Paladin, below.

Class/Subclass Options

Paladin — Good Proficiencies.

• Divine Sense: Detect strongly aligned beings and consecrated/desecrated objects/places. Eh. Not terribly useful in an human focused campaign, but its alright. He could detect the few undead and zombies that are in the setting.
• Lay on Hands: Healing and curing disease/poison. Bad fit, unfortunately.
• Divine Smite: Change the damage type (Probably Necrotic) and who you get extra damage against and it works out better.
• Spells The spell-list isn't perfect. It's got a lot of healing, white-mage-type-stuff. Could use an overhaul.
• Fighting Style Some of them work. Maybe changing up the list would be worthwhile.
• Divine Health Sure.
• Extra Attack Absolutely.
• Aura of Protection Sure.
• Aura of Courage Sure.
• Improved Divine Smite Sure, but change the damage type as per Divine Smite.
• Cleansing Touch The flavor doesn't fit super well. Would work better if you could end beneficial spells on enemies.

Oath of Conquest Paladin — One of the Better fits

• Oath: Not Terrible
• Oath Spells: All of these are a good fit thematically, though no Lifedrain or Manadrain.
• Conquering Strike: Awesome
• Guided Strike: Awesome
• Aura of Conquest: More Awesome
• Implacable Spirit: I like it.
• Invincible Conquerer: Sure why not

Oath of Treachery Paladin — A mediocre fit with a couple iconic abilities.

• Oath: N/A
• Oath Spells: Not great.
• Conjure Duplicate: Eh
• Poison Strike: Sure
• Aura of Treachery: Sure
• Blackguard's Escape: 100%. This happens in the cutscenes all the time.
• Icon of Deceit: Sure

Oath of Vengeance Paladin — A decent but imperfect fit.

• Oath: Eh. Too Vigilante.
• Oath Spells: These are a damn good fit, thematically. Still no Lifedrain or Manadrain though.
• Abjure Enemy: Fear + Slow
• Vow of Enmity: Sure, this fits.
• Relentless Avenger: This is neat
• Soul of Vengeance: Eh.
• Avenging Angel: Nope

Oath of the Crown Paladin — A terrible fit.

• Oath: No, Not for Dark Knight.
• Oath Spells: No, not really.
• Champion Challenge: Not really.
• Turn the Tide: No.
• Divine Allegiance: No
• Unyielding Spirit: Sure.
• Exalted Champion: Nope

Oathbreaker Paladin — A Decent Fit

• Oath: N/A.
• Oath Spells: Sure, good fit.
• Control Undead: Yeah, thats cool.
• Dreadful Aspect: Not so much.
• Aura of Hate: This is good.
• Supernatural Resistance: Sure.
• Dread Lord: This is cool.

ZenBear's Oath of Blood Paladin — Nothing we want in here.

So, here we go. [Its been brought to my attention that the spell list was on the strong side, so here it is, revised a bunch]

Dark Knight Conquerer/Treachery/Oathbreaker "Paladin"

"A fallen knight who has turned his back on the light of the gods. He leeches the souls of enemies with his Fell Sword."

Proficiencies

Armor: No Change

Weapons: No Change

Tools: No Change

Saving Throws: Constitution, Charisma

Skills: Choose two from Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Stealth

Class Features

Control Undead: As per Oathbreaker. This replaces Divine Sense.

Absorbing Strike: You may prevent half the total damage you deal (rounded down) with an attack. If you do, you regain as much health as you prevented. This replaces Lay on Hands.

Tainted Smite: Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one spell slot to deal necrotic damage to the target, in addition to the weapon's damage. The extra damage is 2d8 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d8 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 5d8. The damage increases by 1d8 if the target is an fey or a celestial. This replaces Divine Smite.

Fighting Style: Remove Mariner, Protection; Add Two-Weapon Fighting

Tainted Vigor: By 3rd level, the fell magics flowing through you make you immune to the poisoned condition, and you have resistance to poison damage. This replaces Divine Health.

Extra Attack: No Change.

Aura of Hate: As per Oathbreaker, except starting at level 6. This replaces Aura of Protection.

Aura of Confidence: Starting at 10th level, you and friendly creatures within 10 feet of you can't be charmed while you are conscious. At 18th level, the range of this aura increases to 30 feet.

Improved Tainted Smite: By 11th level, you are so suffused with corrupted energies that all your melee weapon strikes carry necrotic power with them. Whenever you hit a creature with a melee weapon, the creature takes an extra 1d8 necrotic damage. If you also use your Tainted Smite with an attack, you add this damage to the extra damage of your Divine Smite. This replaces Improved Divine Smite.

Steely Resolve: Once you reach 14th level, you can no longer be frightened. This Replaces Cleansing Touch.

Subclass Features

Oath of Treachery: As per Treachery. This replaces Oath of Conquest.

Conquering Strike: No Change

Poison Strike: As Oath of Treachery. This replaces Guided Strike

Aura of Conquest: No Change

Blackguard's Escape:As per Oath of Treachery. This replaces Implacable Spirit

Dread Lord: As per Oathbreaker. This replaces Invincible Conquerer.

Spell List

Dark Knight "Oath" Spells:

Dark Knight lv 3: Cause Fear, Inflict Wounds

Dark Knight lv 5: Darkness, Heat Metal

Dark Knight lv 9: Animate Dead, Vampiric Touch

Dark Knight lv 13: Confusion, Dimension Door

Dark Knight lv 17: Contagion, Dominate Person

1st Level Spells

Removed: Bless, Cure Wounds, Divine Favor (Radiant), Shield of Faith, Ceremony

Kept: Command, Compelled Duel, Detect Evil and Good, Detect Poison and Disease, Heroism, Protection from Evil and Good, Searing Smite, Thunderous Smite, Wrathful Smite, Detect Magic, Purify Food and Drink

Added: Armor of Agathys, Arms of Hadar, Bane, Hex, Puppet, Expeditious Retreat

2nd Level Spells

Removed: Aid, Branding Smite (Radiant), Lesser Restoration, Zone of Truth (4)

Kept: Find Steed, Locate Object, Magic Weapon, Protection from Poison,

Added: Alter Self, Darkvision, Hold Person, Invisibility, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shatter, Suggestion

3rd Level Spells

Removed: Aura of Vitality, Bestow Curse, Blinding Smite (Radiant), Create Food and Water, Crusader's Mantle (Radiant), Daylight, Revivify (Resurrection) (7)

Kept: Dispel Magic, Elemental Weapon, Magic Circle, Remove Curse

Added: Fear, Gaseous Form, Haste, Tongues

4th Level Spells

Removed: Aura of Life, Aura of Purity

Kept: Banishment, Death Ward, Locate Creature, Staggering Smite

Added: Elemental Bane, Evard's Black Tentacles

5th Level Spells

Removed: Circle of Power, Raise Dead (Resurrection)

Kept: Banishing Smite, Destructive Wave, Dispel Evil and Good, Geas,

Added: Contact Other Plane

Roleplay: You're in it for yourself. Your superiors (assuming you have any) likely know it, but you get the job done, and you'll do things (with discretion) that many others wouldn't even consider.

I hope you guys enjoyed reading this one, I know I enjoyed making it. It's flavorful and feels foul, tainted. A Paladin with an "evil" oath just doesn't fit the bill. Too much stuff that just doesn't fit the fluff.

So, life has gotten pretty nuts recently. As much as I'd love to continue to do 2 posts a week, it looks like I'm going to have to go down to one post a week for the next while. Expect a post next up for next Monday morning, when I'll be taking a look at how to build another Job in 5e.

— Hawkwinter