American history classes are really good at drilling the highlights of U.S. History into you - pilgrims, colonies, Revolutionary War, Civil War, emancipation, reconstruction, expansion, WWI and WWII, Cold War, and then now. But what if there was more happening behind the scenes (and I don't just mean the interesting parts of history that get glossed over in such classes). What if there was a thaumaturgical war for control over America, the soul of its people, and the power hidden in its land?
This is the premise of Amercana. The world isn't some far-removed fantasy land - it's America, the place you live (if you happen to live in the United States, that is). There's magic, sure, but its hidden, behind the scenes. It's in artifacts from the Golden Age, sought after by the wandering Hoboes and the Pentagon alike. It's in the culture, in the Vox Populi who draw their power from fandom and subculture alike. It's in the media, influenced by the bizarre, often unsettling broadcasts of the enigmatic Cryptogrammaton. It's in the government, with the Pentagon's spellbinders trying their best to keep magical threats to national security under control. And it's in the history, in the larger-than-life tall tales and myths, in the legendary figures immortalized in monuments like the heroes of old. If you know where to go looking, you can find the magic, waiting to be tapped.
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| George Washington, one of the legendary American Eagle Knights. |
To start this project off, I want to develop some subclasses for D&D 5e based off of some important or interesting American figures. I have some ideas for other elements, as you can see above, but to start, I want some fun America themed subclasses. Let's start by taking a look at the two I have so far:
Paladin - Oath of Liberty
I can't possibly make American-themed subclasses without making one focused on freedom. It's one of those so stereotypically American, and there are a lot of important American figures associated with the concept, from George Washington in the Revolutionary War to Frederick Douglass fighting for emancipation.
Mechanically, there's also some great parallels in Pathfinder 2e's Champion (their version of a Paladin). It has three separate names for Champions based on whether they are Lawful Good (Paladin), Neutral Good (Redeemer), or Chaotic Good (Liberator). The Liberator is what this subclass will parallel the most, being able to stymie attempts to restrain or grapple, quash opportunity attacks, and stand alone against a horde so that your companions can make their escape.
Overall, I'm very pleased with how this subclass turned out.
Sorcerer - Appleseed Bloodline
One of America's silliest and most charming folk characters is Johnny Appleseed (who is a real person, by the way). If anything would make a good origin point for a sorcerous bloodline, it's this weird man walking the country and planting tons of orchards. Plus, we don't have a plant or fey-themed sorcerer yet, so that design space is just begging to be filled.
Mechanically, I looked to the Divine Soul Sorcerer for inspiration, granting lots of Druid and Ranger spells to the Appleseed Sorcerer. I also wanted this sorcerer to play a more support-oriented role, so it has good options for controlling enemies and healing allies. It's core feature lets you grow healing apples (or any other fruit, technically) during your sleep which act like healing potions (at least until you take another rest). This is a nice mirror to other such healing abilities (namely Celestial Warlock and Dreams Druid), but I think making the healing a physical item and limiting how much healing can be dumped into someone on a single turn is a good change.
So, what's next in terms of subclasses? What other American figures will make the cut? Well, here's my current working list. Suggestions are certainly welcome!
Artificer: A flying-themed "Aviator" subclass based on the Wright Brothers and Amelia Earhart; an Electricity-themed subclass based on Nicola Tesla (this will also rival an Edison-based Wizard subclass I plan to add, which feels like a great little nod to the real-life rivalry).
Barbarian: A big-hammer-themed subclass based on John Henry and other steel drivers; A "Tall Tale" subclass based on Paul Bunyan.
Bard: A "College of the King" for Elvis; a Bard College based around sea shanties and slave hymns (and other such working songs).
Cleric: A "Rapture Domain", based on David Koresh and other such end-of-the-world cults.
Druid: A "Preservation Domain", based on John Muir and the National Parks.
Fighter: A "Minuteman" subclass based on Paul Revere and the other Minutemen militias.
Monk: A "Way of the Butterfly" based on Muhammad Ali.
Paladin: No other ideas beyond the Oath of Liberty so far.
Ranger: A "Trailblazer" subclass based on early explorers like Lewis and Clark; a "Rough Rider" subclass based on Teddy Roosevelt.
Rogue: A "Six Shooter" cowboy subclass based on all the famous American Wild West Gunslingers, like Doc Holliday and Calamity Jane.
Sorcerer: No other ideas beyond the Appleseed Bloodline so far.
Warlock: A "Vox Populi" subclass that draws their power from a subculture or fandom; a "Raven" patron based on Edgar Allen Poe.
Wizard: A "Dynamo" subclass based on Thomas Edison (he was called the Wizard of Menlo Park).
And that's it so far for Amercana! I look forward to developing more of the world, and more of the factions. If you want to preview the Oath of Liberty and Appleseed Bloodline subclasses, you can find them on
my itch.io page.
-Rabbit
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