Campaign Trail Archives - Tribality

Underwater Spellcasting for 5e

Shawn Ellsworth — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 22:17:38 +0000

This week on the Campaign Trail, I thought I’d look at casting spells underwater. The core rules don’t worry about casting spells underwater too much and the main debate on this topic usually focuses on if can you cast a spell while holding your breath underwater. The following article provides some optional rules and support for spellcasting in an aquatic campaign with adventurers who can handle being underwater for an extended period (naturally or with magic). Spellcasting Underwater Many spells […]

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Karokans – a Crabfolk Race for D&D 5e

Shawn Ellsworth — Sat, 28 Aug 2021 02:30:32 +0000

This week on the Campaign Trail, I thought I would share a new undersea racial option I am working on for the Under the Seas of Vodari. Some of our backers mentioned they wanted to see some kind of crustacean racial option. I already had crabfolk on the top of my list of options I hadn’t been able to fit into the book. I’m working on expanding out the lore, so this is mainly stat blocks for now. If people […]

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Bard – College of Mixology (5e)

Shawn Ellsworth — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 17:36:31 +0000

This week on the Campaign Trail, I thought I’d share a subclass I created for one of my players who expressed interest in being able to play a charlatan/snake oil type character for our upcoming western fantasy-themed campaign. This bard uses this idea as a jumping-off point for what if the snake oil salesperson actually created useful tonics, tinctures, and drinks… Design Notes: It made more sense for this bard to boost allies vs. being a ranged prisoner somehow getting […]

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Save Your Campaign from the Holidays

Shawn Ellsworth — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 00:28:32 +0000

It’s Halloween this week! My campaign is taking a week off from our main campaign and we’re planning to play a Halloween one-shot. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year are all right around the corner too. Holidays can create challenges for GMs trying to run a weekly campaign during the chaos at the end of the year. Even with so many of us playing online in 2020 due to COVID-19, scheduling around holidays is still likely to provide challenges. Usually, […]

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Which 3 Classic D&D Settings are Coming out for 5th Edition?

Shawn Ellsworth — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 18:56:19 +0000

Wizards of the Coast revealed some interesting news at D&D Celebration this past weekend. During Inside the D&D Studio with Liz Schuh and Ray Winninger, they shared that they’ll be focusing a lot more attention on settings. Three settings are on a shortlist and are receiving “active attention”. While they didn’t reveal which settings, they have been listening to fans. Usually, for my Campaign Trail column I share stories, stat blocks, rules, and more, whether I’m running published materials or […]

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Bardic College of the Sunlit Seas

Shawn Ellsworth — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 15:27:03 +0000

This week on the Campaign Trail I wanted to share a subclass I am working on that is intended for our upcoming Under the Seas of Vodari. Back when we were writing the original Seas of Vodari book we looked bringing in a sea singer type bard similar to Rich Howard’s College of the Sea Singers which focuses on enchantment. For the book, we ended up going with the College of Nature and College of Shanties, but I kept this concept […]

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Cardslinger – Sorcerous Origin for D&D 5e

Shawn Ellsworth — Thu, 14 May 2020 22:34:02 +0000

This week on the Campaign Trail, I’m sharing a new sorcerous origin that I created for a weird west/fantasy mix campaign I am planning to run later this year. Sorcerers are those rare individuals who are naturally connected to the magical energies found in the universe. They only need to learn to harness their connection to unlock powerful abilities. A sorcerer with this origin uses cards to channel their innate magic and draw on magical energies of the world. Design […]

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Maverick – Roguish Archetype for D&D 5e

Shawn Ellsworth — Sun, 03 May 2020 20:26:50 +0000

This week on the Campaign Trail, I’m sharing a new roguish archetype that I created for a weird west/fantasy mix campaign I am planning to run later this year. Rogues use skill, stealth, and precision over brute force to overcome most challenges. Their focus on being cunning and nimble is well suited to surviving the dangers found out on the frontier. Design Notes: I thought it would be interesting to create a weird west character who relies on supernatural luck […]

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Way of the Pugilist – Monk Tradition for D&D 5e

Shawn Ellsworth — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 21:16:16 +0000

Monks channel ki, the magical energy that flows through all living bodies. In combination with martial training, ki can be harnessed to far exceed the capabilities of their physical body. I thought it would be interesting to create an old-timey boxer who fights with their bare-knuckles rather than gloves or a monk weapon, channeling ki to outfight and outlast their opponents. This is a playtest ready subclass for monks that is available for everyone to try out. Let us know […]

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Wrangler – Fighter Martial Archetype D&D 5e

Shawn Ellsworth — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 05:23:56 +0000

This week on the campaign trail I present a new fighter archetype that would fit well in a wild west flavored D&D fantasy adventure or any campaign where mounted combat or overland travel is a focus. Design Notes I thought it was important for the class’ iconic character to be something other than a typical cowhand on a horse, so I went with an elf and her elk. It just feels more like a Dungeons & Dragons take on the […]

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