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Notes from the Finger: I’ve always liked the concept of high nobility, and the sort of ruthless backstabbing and plotting that came with it (Even though Game of Thrones isn’t cool anymore). So, while you’ve been distracted by this speech, you take 12d6 damage.

While those in polite society would like to pretend that they have risen above skullduggery and backstabbing, the truth is that they merely take a different tact. Nobles and socialites have raised speechcraft to an art form, diplomatically weaving together compliments, threats, insults, and lies into their everyday cadence. All the while, they sharpen their daggers for the moment their foes turn their backs.

Rogue Archetype: Socialite

Gracious Demeanor

Starting when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, attacks on the first round of combat against you have disadvantage. If you attack, cast a spell that affects an hostile creature, or deal damage to another creature, this effect ends early. You can’t use this feature when you are surprised.
      Additionally, on the first round of combat, you don’t need advantage on your attack roll to use Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you.

Casual Mockery

At 3rd level, you learn the vicious mockery cantrip. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell. You can use the bonus action granted by Cunning Action to cast this spell.

Veiled Conversation

Also at 3rd level, you can hide secret messages in your everyday speech. Using thieves’ cant-like idioms and slang, you can communicate a secret message to a creature that can hear and understand you. Only that creature understands the meaning of your secret message, and can understand it even if it wouldn’t normally understand thieves’ cant.

Innermost Secrets

By 9th level, you can delve into the minds of those around you, plundering their beliefs and secrets. You can cast the spell detect thoughts without using a spell slot or spell components. When you attempt to probe deeper into a creature’s mind, the target doesn’t know that you were probing its mind and can’t attempt a contested Intelligence check to end the spell early.
      Once you use this feature to probe deeper into a creature’s mind, you can’t use this feature to probe into that creature’s mind again until you finish a long rest.

Seeds of Doubt

At 13th level, you can use your action to instill seeds of doubt in a creature’s capabilities, conviction, or cause. Choose a creature you can see within 60 feet of you, which must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier). The creature must be able to hear you and understand you.
      On a failed save, the creature is incapacitated and can’t willingly move for 1 minute. This effect ends early if you or your companions do anything harmful to it. The incapacitated target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. Once you target a creature with this feature, you can’t target that creature again using it until you finish a long rest.

Devoted Valet

Starting at 17th level, you can magically sway a creature’s allegiances. You can use your action to touch an incapacitated Humanoid, which must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier). A Humanoid with a challenge rating greater than half your rogue level automatically succeeds on this saving throw.
      On a failed save, the creature is charmed by you until a remove curse spell is cast on it, the charmed condition is removed from it, or you use this feature again. The creature regards you as a noble employer, and obeys your commands as a loyal servant.

 

One Comment

  • AlanthePaladin says:

    Thematically it’s like a bardic Inquisitive. I really like it. It sells the scheming noble bit pretty good. It would also be really good for a James Bond Style spy character, seducing the enemy’s agents while also stealthily getting the drop on them in a way the bard doesn’t quite sell perfectly.

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