the Scholar, Revisited

I feel like gaining two Erudite Applications, Sage Advice, and Well Educated all at the same level is a little too much. At 2nd level, gaining 4 skill proficiencies and 4 tool proficiencies or languages (at least 1 of which must be a language) from just a class is a little overbearing, especially considering the Expertise with 2 of those proficiencies. I feel as though Doctor's Orders needs to be limited at early levels. Considering the average ConMod is +1 and the average Scholar IntMod is +3, a Rogue would regain 12 hit points and gain 3 temporary hit points any time the Scholar uses his or her action. Considering that is more powerful then the maximum for a 1st-level Cure Wounds (which can only be used at the level 4 times) from a 20-Wis Cleric, it's a little bit overpowered. This feature also completely invalidates the taking of short rests for most parties since using Doctor's Orders several times is a strictly better method of healing than using hit dice over a short rest. Tactician's Orders also seems incredibly overpowered as a bonus action, especially considering that is also has unlimited uses. I realize that it competes with Sage Advice for that bonus action slot each turn, but Tactician's Orders will almost always be the superior usage in combat. Overall, I think the Scholar just gets too many features at each level for the first 3 levels. They get 3 at 1st-level, which is fine because the Rogue does as well, but they get the equivalent of 4 features at level 2 (2 Erudite Applications + 2 other features), which is utterly unheard-of in other classes, and 3 unlimited use or passive bonus features from their Field of Study, which is also entirely unheard of. I understand that the Scholar doesn't really do much damage, and that it's competing with Bards for that support slot, but it just seems like it can do far too many things at early levels. Also, I'm not sure whether this was intentional or not, but, as written, the Scholar can currently target itself with Critical Analysis, Strategic Advantage, and Tactician's Orders. Overall, I really like the theming of the Scholar and all of the features are really flavorful and fun, but I feel like too much is jam-packed into the first few levels, and they may actually be overpowered outside of combat due to that fact.

Ah! Wow...sometimes really basic system concepts slip by when I think I'm doing something clever or creative and the situation with using proficiency bonus possibly encouraging multiclassing is definitely one of those things. I will consider that possibility as I develop the levels higher than 5 and either ensure there is enough good stuff that there are good reasons for staying Scholar all the way or create a new column on the Scholar class chart that provides a "Scholarly Insight" bonus equivalent to proficiency bonus if you stay Scholar the whole way up. Thanks so much for pointing that out!

Benjamin Huffman

Advantage on initiative is probably enough of a benefit for Keen Senses, even without the darkvision. That being said, an advanced Erudite Application with a higher level prereq that gives Blindsight (a la Daredevil) would be pretty cool. Also, using proficiency bonus instead of an increasing die tilts the class features in the direction of favoring multiclass; is that intended or a byproduct of the design? Not saying it's a bad decision, just curious.

Matthew Gesus

Yeah, I wasn't too sure about that change to Keen Senses either. I was originally going to go with, "You have advantage on initiative rolls and saving throws against illusion." Then I got to thinking about an Insight Application and thought advantage on saving throws against illusions and enchantments could easily be packaged there and tried to come up with something else for Keen Senses.

Benjamin Huffman

First of all, I like that you made Critical Analysis and Sage advice two different feats. With them both being a level one feature, with an unlimited amount of uses within the minute of usage, it definitely felt too strong. This way, limiting it to 3-6 uses of each depending on your Int mod, it feel quite a bit more balanced. My only issue is that now, Critical Analysis feels like a weaker Bardic Inspiration (except as a reaction). The changes you made to Cunning Linguist were great. Listening to a language for one minute and becoming fluent is absolutely superhuman. Listening for an hour and becoming fluent? A bit more within the realms of possibility for D&D. The change to Keen Senses however, I dont think really fits. Granting darkvision to a wholly nonmagical class seems a bit off to me. It doesnt matter how keen of eyes a human is, they still aren't gonna be able to see in the dark. I guess, to me, darkvision isnt really something you can "learn" through books and apply to your life, its gotta just be a natural part of your eye structure.