Addition to Barbarian Animal Totem Path

Hyena Totem

Maddening Laughter (3rd Level)

Starting at level 3, when you enter your rage, or as a bonus action while raging, you can laught maddeningly. All enemies within 30 feet that can hear you must make a Charisma saving throw or be frightened until the end of your next turn. The save DC is 8 + your proficiency modifier + your charisma modifier. Creatures who pass this save are immune to your maddening laughter until 24 hours have passed, or until you reduce a creature they can see to 0 HP.

Scavenger's Maw (6th Level)

Starting at level 6, you gain the power of the hyena's maw. Your ability to smell is enhanced, allowing you to track by scent, and have advantage on wisdom(perception) and wisdom(survival) checks involving scent. In addition, you are immune to poison and the poisoned condition, and disease from eating food. Finally, you can make a bite as an unarmed attack, dealing 1d4+strength modifier damage; if you hit a creature no more than 1 size larger than you with such a bite, you may also grab the target with your maw.

The Pack Gathers (14th Level)

Starting at level 14, when you use Maddening Laughter, instead of causing fear you can summon a Spectral Hyena that appears in an unoccupied space within 15' of you. The Spectral Hyena lasts until reduced to 0 HP, you leave rage, or you summon another Spectral Hyena.

At the end of your turn, the Spectral Hyena can move up to its speed and make an attack on the closest creature to it you have attacked or who has attacked either you or the Spectral Hyena. The Spectral Hyena has the following stat block and counts as a creature and ally:

Spectral Hyena

Medium Fey, Neutral

  • Armor Class 10+Proficiency Bonus
  • Hit Points 3 per Barbarian class level.
  • Speed 50 ft.
  • Proficiency Bonus Your proficiency bonus.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
16 (+3) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 2 (-4) 12 (+1) 7 (-2)
  • Condition Immunities Charmed, Diseases, Exhaustion, Frightened, Poisoned
  • Damage Immunities Poison Damage
  • Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing Damage
  • Skills (Add Proficiency Bonus to All) Perception +1, Stealth +2, Survival +1
  • Languages Understands your Languages

Keen Scent: Has advantage on scent based Wisdom(Perception) and Wisdom(Survival) checks.

Rampage: If you or the Spectral Hyena reduces a creature to 0 hit points on your turn, the Spectral Hyena can move up to half its speed and make a bite attack. This is in addition to the normal actions it takes at the end of your turn.

Actions

Bite Melee Attack: reach 5 ft., one target
Attack Bonus: 3 + Proficiency Bonus
Damage: 2d6 + 3 + Proficiency Bonus

Change Log

This project was based on a long ago made version found here: (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthre...36-Hyena-Totem) by this talented individual: (https://forums.giantitp.com/member.php?90632-Ralanr). I have added some more modern touches to it and with the original inspiration, my remake, and the help from Yakk on this forum: (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?635873-Hyena-Totem-2-0), I believe this is in nice working order!

v1.0

  • This is the first publishing of this Homebrew Option and I am using this space to explain my own concerns and what my ideas were.

  • Inspiration: As above, this was inspired by the original Hyena Totem by Ralanr.

  • Homebrew Ability Explanations: The idea behind this was to allow the barbarian to act as a violent controller-esq class by afflicting enemies with the frightened condition and bypassing the normal lock-out timer by downing foes. This will make frightened a more build defining option and should also add some unique flavor to how the barbarian can RP out of combat as well.