[5e] Druid Circle of the Rat Swarm. Feedback needed

[prof_farnsworth]

A friend of mine want´s to play a Rat Swarm Druid. So i quickly created a Subclass for her. I´m asking you all for feedback.
As she can only transform into a rat Swarm, i tried to buff the Hit Points as well as the damage, so that the Subclass can be useful in the Midlevels and Higher levels of the Game. Furthermore, i implemented a Risk/Reward mechanic: the druid can sacrifice it´s Hit Points to cause more Damage. A slight Self Heal is also written in the class, because her AC is rather low, and even her Hit Points at Level 20 are only 84.

So here it is:



Druid of The Rat Swarm

Circle of the Rat Swarm

Improved Swarm
At 2nd level you gain an ability to Wildshape into a Swarm of Rats, as a bonus action.
This Swarm has it´s normal Hit Points (24), and gains Hit Points equal to 3 per druid level. They deal 2d6 piercing damage, at level 6 it increases to 3d6, at 10 4d6 and at 14 5d6. Furthermore the Druids Proficiency Modifier is added to the Attack check.

It has otherwise the standard abilities of a Swarm of Rats out of the MM (339):
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 24 +Druid Level*3
Speed 30ft
Str 9(-1) Dex10(+0) Con 9(-1), as usual the Druid keeps it's own Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses darkvision 30ft., passive Perception 10

Keen Smell: The swarm has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Swarm: The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny rat. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points, from outside Sources.

ACTIONS
Bites: Melee Weapon Attack: +2 +Proficiency Bonus to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm's space. Hit: (2d6) piercing damage, at level 6 it´s 3d6, at 10 4d6 and at 14 5d6.

Damage is reduced to half the amount if the Swarm has half of it´s Hit Points or fewer.


Vitriolic Explosion
At 6th level the Druid in Swarm Form can Sacrifice up to 10%, rounded down, of its Hit Points, as a bonus Action, to cause 1d4, per spent Hit Point Poison damage.
The effect stays on the target for the amount of rounds equal to the Character's Wisdom modifier. The target has to make a Con saving throw against the Effect equal to the Spell Save DC of the Druid, on a Success he isn't Poisoned.
Some Rats of the Swarm are hit with an Instant mutation, Blister and Tumors are starting to grow, shortly after those Rats are Exploding, covering the Enemy in Gore.

Vitriolic Blessing
If 10th level the Enemy that was Poisoned by the Vitriolic Explosion, dies before the Poison Effect has stopped, it will leak out of his wounds a bile Liquid. This can heal the Swarm, as long as it is on the same Square, equal to half the Amount of the poison effect, Rounded up. (I.e. Poison of 5d4, can heal the Swarm for 3d4).

Vitriolic Eruption
At 14th level the Enemy that was Poisoned by the Vitriolic Explosion, dies before the Poison Effect has stopped, explodes now in a vile Eruption, Poisonous Liquid hit´s now Everybody in a 10ft Sphere. Everybody in side of this Sphere has to make a Dex saving throw against the Druid's Spell Save DC otherwise the poisonous Liquid hits him. The target has to make a Con saving throw against the Effect equal to the Spell Save DC of the Druid, on a Success he isn't Poisoned. If he fails both rolls he takes the Poisonous Effect that was on the Creature that Erupted. If the Druid is in this Sphere of Eruption he is healed for half the Amount of the poison effect, Rounded up. (I.e. Poison of 6d4, can heal the Swarm for 3d4).

 

[Redthistle]

re Vitriolic Explosion (level 6). Per the description in Vitriolic Blessing (level 10), it appears that the poison damage should be 1d4 per Hit Die, not 1d4 per Hit Point. Whew! Much more reasonable damage with that clarified.

All that gore ... impressive - and totally gross! I'd insist on lots of extra scrolls of Create or Destroy Water if adventuring with such a druid just for the occasional urgent need to take a shower. The Prestidigitation cantrip would get a workout, too, for its cleaning feature.

Let us know if it works, and if your friend likes it.

 

[prof_farnsworth]

Thank you for your feedback,
so you think the poison damage is to high? I thought if you consider that a lot of creatures have either a resistance or immunity against poison, paired with the build in con saving throw against that effect, and considering the sacrifice of hit points it would be an adequate damage.

For example a druid level 14 has in his swarm form 24hp (rat swarm) + 42hp (3*14 druid level)=66hp. If it now sacrifice the total 10% of it´s max hp for poison damage it would be only 6d4 poison damage.

 

[Redthistle]

Professor, I took the liberty of bringing the language more in line with the official texts. I hope you don't mind.

Druid of The Rat Swarm

Circle of the Rat Swarm

Improved Swarm
At 2nd level you gain an ability to wild shape into a Swarm of Rats, as a bonus action.
This swarm has its normal hit points (24) plus hit points equal to 3 per druid level. They deal 2d6 piercing damage. At 6th level it increases to 3d6, at 10th to 4d6, and at 14th to 5d6. Furthermore the druid’s proficiency modifier is added to the Attack check.

It has otherwise the standard abilities of a Swarm of Rats out of the MM (339):

Armor Class 10
Hit Points 24 (7d8 - 7) + (druid class level x 3)
Speed 30 feet
Str 9(-1) Dex 10(+0) Con 9(-1) As usual the Druid keeps it's own Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained, stunned
Senses darkvision 30 feet, passive Perception 10

Keen Smell: The swarm has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Swarm: The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a Tiny rat. The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points, from outside Sources.

ACTIONS
Bites: Melee Weapon Attack: +2 +Proficiency Bonus to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm's space.
Hit: (2d6) piercing damage, at level 6 it´s 3d6, at 10 4d6 and at 14 5d6.

Damage is reduced to half the amount if the Swarm has half of it´s Hit Points or fewer.


Vitriolic Explosion
At 6th level a druid in its swarm form can sacrifice up to 10% (rounded down) of its current hit points as a bonus action to cause 1d4 per Hit Die poison damage.
Some rats in the swarm are hit with an instantaneous mutation. Blisters and tumors rapidly grow on those rats, and on each round that the druid sacrifices 10% of its remaining hit points, those rats begin exploding, covering the target in gore.
The effect stays on the target for a number of rounds vs. the character's Wisdom modifier. The target has to make a Con saving throw against the effect equal to the spell save DC of the druid. On a successful save, the target isn't poisoned.

Vitriolic Blessing
At 10th level, if a target that was poisoned by Vitriolic Explosion dies before the poison effect has ended, a viscous bile will leak from its wounds. This can heal the swarm, as long as it is on the same square, equal to half the amount of the poison effect, rounded up, i.e., for 5d4 poison damage, it can heal the swarm for 3d4 hit points.

Vitriolic Eruption
At 14th level, if the target that was poisoned by Vitriolic Explosion dies before the poison effect has ended, it explodes now in a Vile Eruption.
Poisonous fluid flies out in a 5-foot radius. Everyone inside of this area must to make a Dex saving throw against the druid's spell save DC. On a failed save, a creature is splattered by the poisonous ichor. Each splattered creature must then make a Con saving throw against the effect vs. the spell save DC of the druid; on a successful save there is no further effect. If the creature fails this it takes the poisoned condition that was on the creature that erupted.
A rat swarm druid in this area of eruption is healed for half the amount of the poison effect (rounded up), i.e., 6d4 poison damage can heal the rat swarm druid for 3d4 hit points.

 

[prof_farnsworth]

No, not at all.
I´m glad that you are showing some interest in this build and helping me out in the wording. As i´m not a native speaker, mistakes are bound to happen.

 

[Redthistle]

Thank you for your feedback,
so you think the poison damage is to high? I thought if you consider that a lot of creatures have either a resistance or immunity against poison, paired with the build in con saving throw against that effect, and considering the sacrifice of hit points it would be an adequate damage.

For example a druid level 14 has in his swarm form 24hp (rat swarm) + 42hp (3*14 druid level)=66hp. If it now sacrifice the total 10% of it´s max hp for poison damage it would be only 6d4 poison damage.

1d4 poison damage per hit point (your original wording) would become 55d4 (66 - 10%) poison damage in your example here. Yes, that would be too high. If you feel like rolling that many d4s - hoo boy!. Consider increasing the size of the damage die, instead. That will do more to balance it against the damage delivered by other classes at the same level.

Remember, the druid may also be imposing the poisoned condition on its target, giving it disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks for a few rounds. Since most combat encounters are resolved within about 5 rounds, d4 x level damage plus the poisoned condition is a fairly potent combination.

It is a fact that some creatures have immunity or resistance to poison. That's why having a party of adventurers is important. No one PC is going to be able to be effective against all opponents. For example, a wizard specializing in fire-based magic will run into the same type of problem against a foe having resistance or immunity to fire, and might appreciate the presence of a rat swarm druid who can attack that same foe effectively using the medium of poison.

 

[Redthistle]

No, not at all.
I´m glad that you are showing some interest in this build and helping me out in the wording. As i´m not a native speaker, mistakes are bound to happen.

Your English is without a doubt far superior to my competency in any language other than English.

I really like the concept you came up with here for your friend. I can just imagine the reaction around the gaming table the first time Vile Eruption makes its appearance.

 

[Redthistle]

Another thought:

Since the druid can wild shape into Large creatures beginning at 4th level, you might also consider working that into the Circle features. A Large swarm of rats could attack multiple targets and/or use larger damage dice.

 

[prof_farnsworth]

Thank you for your kind words.

I do see now the Problem with the poisonous Effects.

Vitriolic Explosion
At 6th level a druid in its swarm form can sacrifice up to 10% (rounded down) of its current hit points as a bonus action to cause 1d4 per Hit Die poison damage.
Some rats in the swarm are hit with an instantaneous mutation. Blisters and tumors rapidly grow on those rats, and on each round that the druid sacrifices 10% of its remaining hit points, those rats begin exploding, covering the target in gore.


if we change this part into:
At 6th level a druid in its swarm form can sacrifice up to 10% (rounded down) of its current hit points as a bonus action to cause 1d4 per sacrificed Hit Point poison damage. Once a creature is infected it can't be poisoned again.


If we take the suggested route of using Hit Die, the Subclass runs into a Problem with the variant Rules of Rest (Gritty Realism) DMG 267.

 

[prof_farnsworth]

Another thought:

Since the druid can wild shape into Large creatures beginning at 4th level, you might also consider working that into the Circle features. A Large swarm of rats could attack multiple targets and/or use larger damage dice.

Hmm as the druid gets a modified swarm, at level two, that inherently grows in the hitpoint amount as well as in the number of attack die, an option could be to modify the swarms ability points so that it is in line with a big rat (increase the armor class by 2 and pump up dex to a +2 modifier). At level 8 we could give him the option to turn into pigeon swarm (maybe reskind raven swarm)