# Death Domain Variant Features <br> ## Should this be used? Lets start off by saying I think that the death domain cleric is already a very good subclass. The damage it can put out in melee and ranged is quite impressive. It is a damage dealer that you can put in work with, and that was my problem with it. Whenever I think of the Death Domain I end up imagining a devout necromancer working alongside the dead from the afterlife of their deity, or at least something along that idea. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had these thoughts, and so these variant features are here for those who want that kind of cleric. If you want a good damage dealer then I wouldn't come looking to this version, but if your looking to be the leader of a horde of undead then I think this might just tickle your fancy. So go forth and command your legions in the name of your deity! ##### Death Domain Spells | Cleric Level | Spells | |:---:|:-----------| | 1st | *false life, ray of sickness* | | 3rd | *blindness/deafness , ray of enfeeblement* | | 5th | *animate dead, Summon Undead* | | 7th | *blight, Sickening Radiance* | | 9th | *Danse Macabre, cloudkill* | ### Reaper Variant (A) At 1st level, you learn one necromancy cantrip of your choice from any spell list. When you cast a necromancy cantrip that normally targets only one creature and doesn't have a range of self, you can target a second creature in range with the same spell. ### Channel Divinity: Servitude of the Dead 2nd Level Death Domain feature, which replaces the Touch of Death feature. Using your channel divinity you can call upon the denizens of your deity to serve you. As an action you can summon a number zombies, skeletons, or a combination of the two equal to half your level. These undead appear from the ground at any point in a 60 foot radius around you. In combat, the creature shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally command any creature you made with this feature, as well as any other undead under your control (if you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one or individual orders to each one). <colummbreak> <br> You decide what action the undead will take and where they will move during their next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the creature only defends itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete. The undead summoned by this feature disappear after 24 hours, if you use this Channel Divinity again, or once they drop to 0 HP as they are reclaimed by your deity. ### Overwhelming Hordes 6th Level Death Domain feature, which replaces Inescapable Destruction. Undead that you produce are invigorated by the power of your deity to swarm your foes. Any undead summoned or created by a feature or spell that you cast gains the following benefits: * The damage from its natural weapons is considered magical for the purpose of overcoming immunity and resistance to nonmagical attacks and damage. * Attack rolls are made at advantage against a creature if at least one allied undead is within 5 feet of the creature and isn’t incapacitated. ### Potent Spellcasting Starting at 8th level, you add your Wisdom modifier to the damage you deal with any cleric cantrip. ### Superior Servants 17th Level Death Domain feature, which replaces Improved Reaper. Your devotion has led you to being able to call upon greater servants from the domain of your deity. Whenever you use your Servitude of the Dead feature, instead of summoning zombies or skeletons you may instead summon 4 Zombie Ogres, Wights, or a combination of the two. \pagebreak ## Change Log and Updates ### Version 1.0 * Switched Domain spells Vampiric Touch, Death Ward, and Antilife Shell for Summon Undead, Sickening Radiance, and Danse Macabre. * Changed Reapers targeting requirements, from two targets withing 5 feet of each other to within the range of the spell cast. * Changed Touch of Death for Servitude of the Dead, a channel divinity that allows for undead minions early and progress in the numbers summoned. * Changed Inescapable Destruction for Overwhelming Horde, making the minions at your disposal effective against enemies with resistances and a method to grant them advantage on attack rolls whenever they swarm enemies. * Changed Divine Strike with Potent Spellcasting to better the effectiveness of Reaper. * Changed Improved Reaper with Superior Servants, allowing for a more varied horde of minions that aren't just the easily disposable grunts you may grow accustomed to. \columnbreak <br> <br> ### But what about (Y) instead of (X)? Hopefully the Variants I provided are of some worth to others, enough maybe that people might actually use this in their games. However, I know that there will always be more to improve upon, and that there may be better tweaks to these than I have suggested. So if there are any critiques or suggestions on the topic, I'd love to hear whatever you might have say on the subject. I might even come back and add on said suggestions as other alternative Variants.