Cross-Class Subclasses (5e Variant Rule)

Most of you have thought of this idea before.

"Why can't my Druid have an Animal companion? That's just a Ranger thing now?"

"Can my Bard specialize in a school of Magic, like a Wizard does?"

"What if the Anti-paladin has a demonic Patron? Shouldn't that reflect in his Oath-breaker features?"

Well, normally, the answer to any of these would be "sorry, you're out of Luck". Never liking that answer, I set to work creating what follows. It was created on just the bare bones of game balance, so advice on alterations would be greatly appreciated, as would any appropriate artwork one might attach to any given section.

Most of what you'll find here is actually pretty dry. While the idea of a Rogue with Way of Shadow (Monk) class features may be exciting, the sheer breadth of material steers toward only the barest hint of that potential appearing on any given page here. Alas: you will be consigned to reading through the various lists and figures truly fit for the dusty tomes of a classical wizard. In addition to these are special considerations written for certain unusual or problematic class features, as well as how to convert those feature more in the direction of playability in non-native class use.

Table of Cross-Class Combination Names

Archetype	Primary Class
	Barbarian	Bard	Cleric	Druid	Fighter	Monk	Paladin	Ranger	Rogue	Sorcerer	Warlock	Wizard
Barbarian	—	Skald	Devout*	Shaman	Savage	Aberrant*	Warmonger*	Wild One*	Myrmidon*	Precursor*	Forsaken*	Ravager*
Bard	Maunderer	—	Pilgrim	Fochlucan	Warsong*	Voice*	Divinesong*	Gad	Troubadour*	Manipulator*	Akashic	Spellsong*
Cleric	Rage Priest*	Evangelist	—	Faithful	Templar	Theologian	Divine Avatar	Wildborn*	Radiant*	Oracle	Heretic	Ardent
Druid	Chieftain	Naturesong*	Earth Speaker*	—	Woodsman*	Naturalist	Protector*	Reeve	Concealed*	Protean	Thamaturge	Wildspell*
Fighter	Brute	Squire	War Cleric*	Protector	—	Drunken Master	Crusader*	Peacekeeper*	Cad	Warmage	Interrogator	Spellblade
Monk	Yaban*	Geisha	Disciple	Shizen*	Samurai*	—	Kensai	Sohei	Ninja	Yōjutsu	Mahōtsukai*	Wu Jen
Paladin	Zealot	Guidon	Guardian	Ancient*	Justicar	Oathbound*	—	Warden	Nightseeker*	Original*	Oathforger*	Master
Ranger	Reaver*	Charmer*	Wild Priest*	Wanderer*	Commando*	Itinerant	Watchkeeper	—	Infiltrator	Changer*	Wildpact*	Enchanted*
Rogue	Highwayman*	Dilettante	Left Hand*	Wild Knife*	Swashbuckler	Shinobi	Inquisitor	Stalker	—	Stealthborn*	Mountebank*	Beguiler*
Sorcerer	Progenitor	Maestro*	Contemplative	Greenbond	Myrmidarch	Hermit	Primordial	Natureborn	Battleborn	—	Witch	Magus
Warlock	Devourer*	Muse	Apostate	Twisted*	Ignoble*	Seeker*	Blackguard	Wildbound*	Vivicist	Prodigy*	—	Scholar*
Wizard	Chosen*	Dramaturge	Theurgist	Menhir	Mageknight*	Ascetic*	Exalted One*	Spell Bow*	Nightspell*	Psion	Pactmaker*	—

* Added by other contributors. I would like to thank everyone who helped by providing names for this table.

Class Archetype Sub-Pages

Warning: contains lists.

Primal Paths, for non-Barbarians

Bardic Colleges, for non-Bards

Cleric Domains, for non-Clerics

Druidic Circles, for non-Druids

Martial Archetypes, for non-Fighters

Monastic Traditions for non-Monks

Sacred Oaths, for non-Paladins

Ranger Archetypes, for non-Rangers

Roguish Archetypes, for non-Rogues

Sorcerous Origins, for non-Sorcerers

Warlock Patrons, for non-Warlocks

Arcane Traditions, for non-Wizards

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Using Base Classes as Subclasses (5e Variant Rule)

Archetypes with Spell Lists

While a variety of Archetypes have spell lists associated with them—normally a list of spells which the class treats as both known and always prepared—it's not fair to treat these spell lists similarly regardless of the class they are granted to.

Noncasters

Barbarians, Fighters, Monks, and Rogues do not normally receive any benefit from a bonus spell list.

Bards, Rangers, Sorcerers and Warlocks

Treat spells granted by the Archetype as spells of the character's respective class. They may be learned just as any other spells from that class's spell list. All spells known by these classes are treated as always prepared.

A Sorcerer may cast any spell granted to them by their Archetype--regardless of whether they have explicitly learned the spell--if they do so by expending an appropriate number of Sorcery points equivalent to that spell's level.

Clerics, Druids and Paladins

Treat spells granted by the Archetype to be spells known, and always prepared. They do not count against your maximum spells known, or number of spells prepared.

Wizards

Add spells granted by the Archetype to the Wizard's spellbook. They are considered 'spells known', but are NOT considered always prepared.

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