Path of the Dreadnought

A Homebrew Barbarian Subclass by /u/XamosLife

Do you desire to brood in a corner with a furled brow? Do you desire to speak in low grunts and grumbles? Do you desire your death blows to send shivers down the spines of others? Do you question the efficacy of your enemies' spines? Is your Rage more refined? Cold, collected, and efficient, not loud and boorish? If you answered yes to any of these questions then this subclass is for you.

This subclass aims to provide distinct moments of conditional power in a thematic and dynamic way.

Dreadnought Features

Barbarian Level Feature 3rd Execute, (revise) 6th Shatter Their Will 10th Engine of Dread 14th Decimate

Execute

When you choose this path at 3rd level, your killing blows are delivered with such brutality that they strike fear into others. There is no surviving a death blow enacted by you.

While raging, if you strike an enemy that is at or below 10% health or 10 health (whichever value is lowest), they are immediately slain. Hostile combatants who remain and are able to see this action must roll a Wisdom saving throw against your Dread Save DC or become Frightened by you. The Frightened condition ends on targets at the end of their next turn.

Note, hostile targets who are killed from full health in one turn by you are also considered Executed.

At 10th Level, your Execute value switches from the lower value, to the higher value.

Dread Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength Modifier.

Revise

Additionally, your Intimidation checks may use your STR modifier instead of CHA.

You

Shatter Their Will

Nothing is more terrifying than when something takes a massive hit and continues its onslaught, unphased.

For your 6th Level feature, if a critical strike from a hostile target leaves you concious, the attacker immediately becomes Frightened until the end of its next turn.

The target percieves you as the greatest threat and is compelled to strike you. It must succeed a Wisdom saving throw against your Dread Save DC to target anyone other than you for the remainder of combat.

Engine of Dread

By 10th Level, your acute perception of dread that permeates people around you is something that fuels your will.

While you maintain a Frightened target, you have advantage on saving throws against the Frightened condition, Charms, and other mind altering effects.

Decimate

Finally, at 14th Level, you have achieved such mastery at delivering death blows that it has become an art. As such, the fear you inflict on others is so great that their minds begin to snap.

The first time a hostile target becomes Frightened by you, it is also Paralyzed until the end of its next turn. The target remains Frightened until the end of the turn after the Paralysis fades.