Circle of Ages (Druid)
PDF Link | D&D Beyond Links: Circle of Ages, Foretell, Forewarn, Twist Fate
Art Credit: https://www.deviantart.com/bumhand/art/Moonstone-redesign-Stonehenge-203553597
Though druids are often pigeon-holed into shapeshifters in 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons, across other games, genres, and settings, druids specialize in a wide variety of magics and themes. One of the oldest druidic themes is prophecy and ancient secrets, especially when drawing from real-life sources, and this preview from our final D&D compendium, Legends of Prestige & Prowess, plays into those themes of divination and legend. This homebrew subclass, the Circle of Ages, allows 5e druids to exchange animal shapeshifting for augury and spirit-fueled visions.
This druid subclass, like several other official and homebrew subclasses for druids, provides an alternate way to use the Wild Shape resource that druids recharge on short and long rests. The 2nd-level features for the Circle of Ages are modeled after the official Circle of Spores druid (just as the D&D Unleashed Circle of Storms and Circle of the Hybrid are), giving the druid extra spells and a slight passive combat boost, and allowing the druid to gain a large pool of temporary hit points and activate special abilities with the use of an action. These features provide a similar defensive boost as the wild shape for the official Circle of the Moon subclass (or the D&D Unleashed Circle of the Swarm), and just like a powerful wild shape, the offensive power of the feature can end early if the druid takes too much damage. For the Circle of Ages, the druid uses their predictive power to defend themselves and empower their allies in a kind of supporting role that is unique among druid subclasses.
The 6th-level feature for the Circle of Ages also fits into a support role, allowing the druid to impart a warning or prophecy to aid another party member each long rest. Because of how this feature interacts with the Prophecy of Peril 2nd-level feature, it encourages the druid to support their allies rather than buffing themselves. When they reach 10th-level, the Circle of Ages gains an assorted grab-bag of minor features and bonuses that fit into their wider thematic purpose. There are some combat benefits in the 10th-level feature, but most of the benefits are seen when interacting with the other pillars of the 5e game, exploration and interaction. At 14th-level, the druid gains a boost to the power of the reaction granted by their Wild Visions 2nd-level feature, making it even more potent as a supporting tool.
PDF Link | D&D Beyond Links: Circle of Ages, Foretell, Forewarn, Twist Fate
