The Runeblade Class

# The Runeblade

### Masters of Sword & Sorcery
Where there are warriors, training their body and technique to reach the pinnacle of martial superiority, and great magicians, unlocking the potential of mystical powers, runeblades are those who aim to walk both paths.

Runeblades aim to blend magical ability and martial prowess, both complementing the other, creating one harmonious style of combat. A runeblade's power is incomplete without one or the other.

### Glyphs of Magic
At the center of the runeblade's magical ability are mystical glyphs etched onto their signature weapon. These symbols can imbue the runeblade's arms with great power, at the same time letting the runeblade use the weapon to channel their own magic and perform spells.

As the runeblade becomes stronger, they may study, create, or discover more glyphs to etch onto their weapon, further enhancing their abilities.
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### Design Goals
* My goal was not to create an entirely new archetype, but recreate one from scratch, with mechanics that are closer to my player fantasy when I think of a gish - a player fantasy that Eldritch Knights, Arcane Archers, or Bladesingers mechanically don't completely fulfil. Therefore, you may see very familiar features taken from various classes/published material, modified to serve the class.
* Balance and seamlessly fitting into 5e's ruleset are primary design goals.
* Questions about specific abilities or interactions? You can find a Sage Advice portion at the bottom of the document! 
* Think a certain feature is OP as fuck? [Detailed design notes can be found here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/14FnbJObMHo5Iucsd7S7bt9mjEKi3mLJA/view?usp=sharing)! I go through each feature one by one, noting down my design for each of them. Hopefully it sheds light on the decisions and balancing I made for this class's features.

##### The Runeblade
| Level | Proficiency <br>Bonus | Features | Cantrips <br>Known | Spell Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 
|:---:|:---:|:---|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:--:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| 1st | +2 | Rune Weapon, Glyph of Protection | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Spellcasting, Fighting Style, Arcane Strike | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | Runeblade Archetype | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | Glyph of Power | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | Runeblade Archetype Feature | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 |  ─ | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | Glyph of Mist | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | Sword & Sorcery | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | ─ | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 
| 14th | +5 | Glyph of Focus | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 15th | +5 | Runeblade Archetype Feature | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 17th | +6 | ─ | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 18th | +6 | Glyph of Mastery | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 20th | +6 | Runeblade Archetype Feature | 4 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |

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## Class Features
As a runeblade, you gain the following class features.
#### Hit Points

**Hit Dice:** 1d8  
**Hit Points at 1st Level:** 8 + your Constitution modifier  
**Hit Points at Higher Levels:** 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per runeblade level after 1st

#### Proficiencies
**Armor:** Light armor, medium armor, heavy armor, shields  
**Weapons:** Simple weapons, martial weapons  
**Tools:** None  
**Saving Throws:** Constitution, Intelligence  
**Skills:** Choose two from Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, History, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, and Persuasion.

#### Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
 
* (a) chain mail or (b) leather armor
* (a) a martial melee weapon and a shield or (b) two simple or martial melee weapons
* (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
* A simple or martial ranged weapon and a container with 20 pieces of ammunition

### Rune Weapon
You can inscribe runes to a weapon to release its latent magical power. The weapon must be a weapon you are proficient with. The inscription of the runes takes 1 hour to complete, and it can be done during a short or long rest.

Once the inscription is complete, the weapon becomes a rune weapon, and gains the following benefits:

* The rune weapon becomes magical, if it isn’t already.
* If your rune weapon is on the same plane of existence, you can summon it as a bonus action on your turn, causing it to teleport instantly to your hand.
* You can use your rune weapon as a spellcasting focus for your spells, and you can perform the somatic components of spells with your rune weapon instead of using a free hand.

You can only have one rune weapon. If you attempt to perform the inscription on a second weapon, the magical inscripted runes of the first weapon fades.

### Glyph of Protection
When you are hit by an attack or you fail a saving throw while holding your rune weapon, you can use your reaction to gain a bonus to your AC against that attack or to that saving throw. The bonus is equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1).

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1). You regain all expended uses at the end of a long rest.

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### Spellcasting
By the time you reach 2nd level, your dedication to the study of the arcane to augment your martial skill gives you the ability to cast spells.

#### Cantrips
At 2nd level, you know two cantrips of your choice from the runeblade spell list. You learn additional runeblade cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Runeblade table.

#### Spell Slots
The Runeblade table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your runeblade spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

For example, if you know the 1st-level spell *thunderous smite* and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast *thunderous smite* using either slot.

#### Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
You know two 1st-level spells of your choice from the runeblade spell list.

The Spells Known column of the Runeblade table shows when you learn more runeblade spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 5th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the runeblade spells you know and replace it with another spell from the runeblade spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

#### Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your runeblade spells, since you learn magic through study and practice. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a runeblade spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

**Spell save DC** = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.

**Spell attack modifier** = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier.

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#### Spellcasting Focus
You can use your rune weapon as a spellcasting focus for your runeblade spells.

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### Fighting Style
At 2nd level, you adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options: Archery, Defense, Dueling, Great Weapon Fighting, or Two-Weapon Fighting. You can't take a Fighting Style option more than once, even if you later get to choose again.

#### Archery
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons.
#### Defense 
While you are wearing armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC.
#### Dueling 
When you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with that weapon.
#### Great Weapon Fighting
When you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die for an attack you make with a melee weapon that you are wielding with two hands, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2. The weapon must have the two-handed or versatile property for you to gain this benefit.
#### Two-Weapon Fighting
When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.

### Arcane Strike
Starting at 2nd level, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack using your rune weapon, you can expend one spell slot to deal force damage to the target, in addition to the weapon's damage. The extra damage is 2d6 for a 1st-level spell slot, plus 1d6 for each spell level higher than 1st, to a maximum of 6d6.

### Runeblade Archetype
At 3rd level, you choose to emulate the ideals and training of a runeblade archetype from the list of available archetypes. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 7th, 15th, and 20th level. Those features include archetype spells.

#### Archetype Spells
Each archetype has a list of associated spells. You learn these spells at the levels specified in the archetype description. The spells count as runeblade spells for you, but they don't count against the number of runeblade spells you know.

### Ability Score Improvement
When you reach 4th level, and again at 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. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

### Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

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### Glyph of Power
Starting at 6th level, when you attack using your rune weapon, it gains a +1 bonus to its attack and damage rolls, unless it already has a bonus to those rolls. The bonus increases to +2 when you reach 10th level in this class, and to +3 at 17th level.

### Glyph of Mist
Starting at 10th level, when you take the Attack action, you can teleport up to 10 feet before each attack to an unoccupied space you can see if you’re holding your rune weapon.

### Sword & Sorcery
Starting at 11th level, once on each of your turns when you take the Attack action, you can forego one of your attacks to instead cast a spell with a casting time of one action.

### Glyph of Focus
Starting at 14th level, while holding your rune weapon, you can’t be disarmed, and your concentration can't be broken as a result of taking damage.

### Glyph of Mastery
Starting at 18th level, you can use your Glyph of Protection an unlimited number of times. Additionally, once  per round, you can use your Arcane Strike without spending a spell slot, as if you spent a 1st-level spell slot.

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### Runic Knight
The origins of this archetype can be traced back to ancient giant warrior tribes, but are now associated with goliaths, who have inherited the tradition, and to dwarves who made it their own. The Runic Knight are stalwart swordsmen who learn magical glyphs to complement their martial abilities. Many go on treacherous expeditions to ruins deep underground to uncover ancient glyphs left by lost civilizations, bringing back knowledge to strengthen themselves and their homeland.

#### Archetype Spells
You gain archetype spells at the runeblade levels listed.
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##### Runic Knight Spells
| Runeblade Level | Spell | 
|:---:|:---:|
| 3rd | *divine favor* |
| 5th | *enhance ability* | 
| 9th | *glyph of warding* | 
| 13th | *death ward* | 
| 17th | *holy weapon* |

#### Flash of Steel
At 3rd level, magic releases from your weapon in a flash of light, momentarily blinding an opponent. Whenever you cast a spell of 1st-level or higher while holding your rune weapon, you can choose a creature within 10 feet of you. Until the end of your next turn, you gain advantage on your next melee weapon attack against that creature, unless that creature can't be blinded or can't see you.

#### Rune Gear
At 3rd level, you can inscribe either a set of armor or a shield using your Rune Weapon feature to create rune gear in addition to a rune weapon. You can only have one rune gear. Your magic on the first one fades if you attempt to make a second.

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Your rune gear gains the following benefits:
* While wearing or holding your rune gear, you are considered to be holding your rune weapon. 
* If you are able to wear or hold your rune gear, you can summon both your rune weapon and rune gear as a bonus action on your turn. If you do, the weapon teleports to your hand and the gear teleports equipped to you.
* When you gain the Glyph of Power feature at 6th level in this class, you can use a bonus action on your turn to transfer power from your rune weapon to your rune gear, or vice versa. If the power is in your rune gear, your rune weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls from the feature instead becomes a bonus to AC while wearing or holding your rune gear.

#### Glyph of the Mighty
At 7th level, you learn an inscription that enhances your magic with the power of warriors who have walked your path before. Whenever you use your Arcane Strike, it deals an additional 1d6 damage and you can choose its damage type: cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, or poison.

#### Glyph of the Resolute
At 15th level, you learn a glyph that channels magic into your runes, creating a resilient aura. Whenever you use your Glyph of Protection feature, you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to 2d10 plus your Intelligence modifier.

#### Glyph of the Ancients
At 20th level, you discover the inscription that lends you the tenacity and purpose of legendary heroes of old. You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage while holding your rune weapon.

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### Spellbow Archer
Although the martial tradition of weaving magic into archery was originally borne and perfected by elven masters, many others have begun to emulate the art. Spellbow Archers combine deadly aim and wicked magic to overwhelm their opponents from range.

#### Archetype Spells
You gain archetype spells at the runeblade levels listed.
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##### Spellbow Archer Spells
| Runeblade Level | Spell | 
|:---:|:---:|
| 3rd | *hunter's mark* |
| 5th | *cordon of arrows* | 
| 9th | *lightning arrow* | 
| 13th | *freedom of movement* | 
| 17th | *swift quiver* |

#### Conjure Ammunition
At 3rd level, when you make an attack with a rune weapon that has the ammunition property, you can choose to magically conjure a piece of ammunition (such as an arrow or crossbow bolt) to use with your weapon as part of the attack. The ammunition disappears at the end of the turn or after it hits or misses.

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#### Spell Shot
At 3rd level, you can infuse your arrows with the magic of your spells. While holding a ranged rune weapon, the range of spells you cast that do not have a range of self or target each creature within its range is equal to the spell’s normal range, or your rune weapon’s normal range, whichever is higher.

#### Take a Bead
At 7th level, your strikes leave a trace of magic that lets you aim at your target with ease. Whenever you use your Arcane Strike, until the end of your next turn, you gain advantage on your next attack against that creature.

#### Phasing Shots
At 15th level, spells you cast while holding a ranged rune weapon and attacks you make using a ranged rune weapon ignore cover.

#### Glyph of Hawks
At 20th level, if your rune weapon that has the ammunition or thrown property, both its normal range and long range are doubled. Additionally, when you miss with a ranged attack using your rune weapon, you can choose to hit instead. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier. You regain all expended uses at the end of a long rest.

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### Blade Dancer
The first Blade Dancers came from the secretive tribes of Zakhara, far south of Faerûn, although the exact origins are contested. Some believe that genies granted warriors of old devastating magic, while others say the gods graced those who perform worship through dance. In any case, the tradition lives on and has spread - many have adapted dances into powerful conduits of magic and graceful martial forms, mastering the use of two weapons.

#### Archetype Spells
You gain archetype spells at the runeblade levels listed.
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##### Blade Dancer Spells
| Runeblade Level | Spell | 
|:---:|:---:|
| 3rd | *longstrider* |
| 5th | *cloud of daggers* | 
| 9th | *haste* | 
| 13th | *freedom of movement* | 
| 17th | *steel wind strike* |

#### Twinned Runes
At 3rd level, you can have up to two rune weapons if both are melee weapons that don’t have the two-handed property. If you attempt to create a third rune weapon, your runic magic on the oldest weapon fades. You can summon two rune weapons as a bonus action, with one weapon teleporting to each of your hands. When you do, you can make one melee weapon attack using the same bonus action if you take the Attack action immediately before the attack.

#### Blade Dance
At 3rd level, your graceful agility makes you difficult to pin down in combat. Whenever you use a bonus action to engage in two-weapon fighting, until the start of your next turn, your walking speed is increased by 10 feet, and opportunity attacks made against you are made with disadvantage.

#### Double Strike
At 7th level, you can duplicate your magical strikes when channeling energy through your paired runes. When you use your Arcane Strike while holding two of your rune weapons, until the end of the turn, your next melee weapon attack deals an additional 2d6 force damage if it hits.

#### Feather Step
At 15th level, your movement through the battlefield is comparable to an ever-flowing dance. When you move on your turn while holding two of your rune weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to your AC and Dexterity saving throws until the start of your next turn. You lose this this bonus if you are prone, take damage, or if your speed is 0.

#### Glyph of Hurricanes
At 20th level, you master the blade dance, making you a storm of steel in battle. Whenever you use a bonus action to engage in two-weapon fighting, you can make a number of melee weapon attacks up to your Intelligence modifier until you miss, instead of making only one attack.

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### Rune Spectre
The glyphs of the Spectre are considered hidden knowledge, privy only to a select few. Kingdoms only employ a few hand selected Spectres to perform covert missions, in an attempt to keep the techniques shrouded in mystery. Those who are deemed worthy to become Spectres are trained and are taught glyphs which help them stay undetected, fight in the shadows, and gather information. Those who fail the training often become maddened by what they see.

#### Archetype Spells
You gain archetype spells at the runeblade levels listed.
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##### Spectre Spells
| Runeblade Level | Spell | 
|:---:|:---:|
| 3rd | *disguise self* |
| 5th | *pass without trace* | 
| 9th | *major image* | 
| 13th | *greater invisibility* | 
| 17th | *passwall* |

#### Glyph of the Poltergeist
At 3rd level, your first ghastly rune leaves its imprint on your weapon as well as your soul. While holding your rune weapon, you can make it invisible as a bonus action on your turn. While your weapon is invisible, ammunition it uses also become invisible until it either hits or misses. The first weapon attack you make against creatures that can see you but not your invisible rune weapon gains advantage. You can gain advantage using this feature against the same creature again after 24 hours.

You can end the invisibility at any time (no action required). It ends early when you become incapacitated, or when you die.

#### Spectre Training
At 3rd level, you benefit from extensive training in covert operations. You gain proficiency in thieves’ tools and the Stealth skill. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of those proficiencies.

#### Spectre’s Ambush
At 7th level, at home unseen in the shadows, you learn to take advantage of an opponent's defenselessness. Weapon attacks you make with advantage or against surprised creatures deal an additional 1d6 damage of the weapon’s type.

#### Ghastly Reconnaissance
At 15th level, the deathly magic of your runes binds your soul closer to the realm of the dead. You are always under the effects of a *see invisibility* spell, and you can cast the *speak with dead* spell at will.

#### Glyph of the Phantom
At 20th level, your soul is forever altered by your spectral runes and is now indistinguishable from the dead - even to the barrier between worlds. While holding your rune weapon, you can cast the *etherealness* spell at will without using a spell slot or requiring a verbal component. The spell ends early if you end it as a bonus action on your turn, are no longer carrying your rune weapon, fall unconscious, or die.

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## Runeblade Spell List

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##### Cantrips (0 Level)
- blade ward
- booming blade
- fire bolt
- frostbite
- green-flame blade
- lightning lure
- primal savagery
- ray of frost
- resistance
- shocking grasp
- sword burst
- thorn whip
- thunderclap
- true strike

##### 1st Level
- absorb elements
- armor of agathys
- command
- compelled duel
- detect magic
- divine favor
- expeditious retreat
- hail of thorns
- heroism
- identify
- jump
- longstrider
- mage armor
- searing smite
- shield
- shield of faith
- thunderous smite
- wrathful smite
- zephyr strike

##### 2nd Level
- aid
- barkskin
- blur
- branding smite
- earthbind
- enhance ability
- find traps
- flame blade
- magic weapon
- misty step
- shadow blade
- warding bond
- warding wind

##### 3rd Level
- blinding smite
- blink
- catnap
- conjure barrage
- dispel magic
- elemental weapon
- fireball
- flame arrows
- glyph of warding
- haste
- magic circle
- protection from energy
- thunder step

##### 4th Level
- dimension door
- elemental bane
- fire shield
- freedom of movement
- shadow of moil
- staggering smite
- stoneskin

##### 5th Level
- banishing smite
- conjure volley
- far step
- holy weapon
- skill empowerment
- steel wind strike
- teleportation circle

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### Multiclassing
* **Ability Score Minimum:** Strength or Dexterity 13, Intelligence 13
* **Proficiencies Gained:** Light armor, medium armor, shields, simple weapons, martial weapons

### Sage Advice
- **Does Glyph of the Resolute grant you temporary hit points before the damage?** Yes, since you gain the temporary hit points at the same time as when your AC or saving throw is increased, before any of the effects of the attack or saving throw are applied.
- **Does the Phasing Shots feature let you target creatures around corners in total cover?** Yes, although it is important to note that if you're attacking a creature behind opaque total cover, the disadvantage from your target being unseen still applies. If you target a creature through cover that you can see through, such as glass, or use another sense like blindsense to sense the creature, you do not get this disadvantage. Also important to note that this feature still does not let you target a creature that is hidden from you (as opposed to unseen by you).
- **Does the Phasing Shots feature let you target creatures behind a *wall of force* or *forcecage* spell?** You cannot target through these spells, as your ammunition or spell still needs to physically pass through the barrier, but is prevented as per the spell descriptions. The feature just lets you ignore cover. This feature does let you target creatures through invisible walls that are not conjured by those spells.
- **Does the Glyph of Power bonus apply to both rune weapons gained through the Twinned Runes feature?** Yes, they are both considered as your rune weapon and both get the bonus.

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### Art Credits
Listed in order of appearance. If you are the artist and want your art to be removed from the live version of this document, simply contact me! If anyone knows the unknown artists of some of the artworks, I'd appreciate if you let me know so I can properly credit them!
- [Pathfinder: Kingmaker Regongar Concept Art Mod](https://www.nexusmods.com/pathfinderkingmaker/mods/159?tab=description) (artist unknown)
- [The Trail by Wojtek Fus](https://www.behance.net/gallery/70458423/The-Trail)
- [Ashe Legends of Runeterra artwork](https://www.uhdpaper.com/2019/09/ashe-lol-legends-of-runeterra-4k-41489.html) (artist unknown) 
- [Bladekeeper Virve by OXAN](https://legendofthecryptids.fandom.com/wiki/Bladekeeper_Virve)
- [Dark Souls 3 Yuria of Londor by hannah Ji / Jdori](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/gNkvG)

### Feedback Requested! (v0.07)
This is an early draft, and requires more playtesting, so feedback would be very much appreciated, especially from actual play. Contact me at /u/regularabsentee for any questions/feedback.

#### Changes from v0.06
* Decreased number of cantrips known at higher levels.