• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 02:58
CEST 08:58
KST 15:58
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call7[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2915Serral wins Maestros of the Game 244ByuL, and the Limitations of Standard Play3
Community News
New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery!16Weekly Cups (August 17-23): Zerg dominate the week0Weekly Cups (August 10-16): SHIN doubles2GSTL Returns in 2026!45Weekly Cups (Aug 3-9): Protoss get shut out7
StarCraft 2
General
SC4ALL II: SC2 Player Announcement 6/8 - Maru PhD study /w SC2 - help with a survey! How would you feel about frequent/monthly balance patches for SC2? Weekly Cups (August 17-23): Zerg dominate the week Geoff 'iNcontroL' Robinson has passed away
Tourneys
IntoTheTV X SOOP SC2 League : Weekly & Monthly PIG STY FESTIVAL 8.0! (13 - 23 August) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament WORTEX 2026 - Hungarian SC2 Finals Budapest SC2 AI Tournament 2026 Fall
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
Mutation # 540 Dodge This The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 539 Thunder Dome Mutation # 538 Media Blackout
Brood War
General
New 3v3 BGH Ladder (and more) on ShieldBattery! BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ [ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call BW General Discussion Pros React To: First 'Fastest' Map in ASL History
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro24 Group E [ASL22] Ro24 Group D Toronto invitational lan 22 august [Megathread] Daily Proleagues
Strategy
Replay Review Process - What do you do? Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Fighting Spirit mining rates Any training maps people recommend?
Other Games
General Games
General RTS Discussion Thread Nintendo Switch Thread Anyone here play Quakeworld back in the day? Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread EVE Corporation
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish TSM pausing esports and CLG Dead
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Power Rank TL Mafia Community Thread NeO.D_StephenKing vs This Guy From 1 Million Dance
Community
General
Russo-Ukrainian War Thread US Politics Mega-thread Dating: How's your luck? Canadian Politics Mega-thread Artificial Intelligence Thread
Fan Clubs
The Creator Fan Club MarineLorD Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Simple Questions Simple Answers FPS when play League Of Legend on laptop
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Northern Ireland Global Starcraft
Blogs
Young Players Exit Esports E…
TrAiDoS
LOCKPICKING NOOB
LUCKY_NOOB
Cathedral Of CS And NY pizza a…
FuDDx
Please support my new stand…
Peanutsc
Hello guys!
LIN1s
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 3943 users

Madness Cleric for 5E

Blogs > AsmodeusXI
Post a Reply
AsmodeusXI
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States15536 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-26 14:07:28
September 26 2015 13:16 GMT
#1
I’m sure there are many homebrewed examples of a Madness Domain for the 5e Cleric out on the internet. Even if we’re not playing Call of Cthulhu, we RPG nerds tend to be invested enough in Lovecraftian mythos to want to that flavor in more classes than Warlock. After all, what could be more sinister than one who not only draws power from madness, but seeks to spread the joys of eldritch insanity across the mortal realm?

Madness Domain
It is the faint whisper, constant and inscrutable, yet doubtlessly malicious. It is the infinite fog in which countless shadows tremble, just far away enough that you cannot be quite sure they are there. It is the relentless pulse of liquid dripping from the canopy of an unfathomable cave or the maw of a ravenous horror. It is the eyes, bloodshot and quivering, staring into the abyss, and knowing that it stares back, not with two eyes, but with thousands.

Most flee from this sinister call, screaming and frothing, unable to dislodge the cursed memory from their addled minds until death frees them from their torment. Yet there are those who embrace the eldritch touch with a sickening grin, who allow the whispers purchase, who exalt Madness in all its nefarious forms. In return for their sacrifice, the gods of insanity bestow the authority to enforce their dark wills, to spread their gospel of unravelling to all those to whom it has not yet beckoned.

Clerics of Madness worship at the Altar of the Abyss, choosing for their god one of the unnameable horrors which lurks within. These bearers of eldritch evil unleash their gibbering tongues upon the realm of mortals, poisoning the innocent and the just with their vile scriptures. As more souls writhe and wail under the twisting tones of discord and chaos, the gods of madness grow greater and greater. In the realm of Iris, the Mad pantheon includes Krosesophin Undone, The Lady of the Silent Song, Elophreshuk the Thousand-Fold, and One Among Many Among None.

Madness Domain Spells
  • 1) Dissonant Whispers, Arms of Hadar
  • 3) Crown of Madness, Phantasmal Force
  • 5) Hunger of Hadar, Fear
  • 7) Confusion, Evard’s Black Tentacles
  • 9) Dominate Person, Seeming


1) Eldritch Awakening — You may let your madness flow through you to unsettle your enemies. During your turn, you may choose to froth and cackle wildly as a free action. Your skin-crawling distraction grants you ADV on your next attack roll. You may use this ability a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier until your next Long Rest.

2) Channel Divinity: Encroaching Horror — You unleash the foul whispers from beyond the Abyss when your weapons strike true. When you expend a use of Channel Divinity for this feature, any attack roll you make that successfully hits forces your target to make a WIS save against your Spell Save DC. On a failure, your target is Feared. While Feared in this way, creatures utilize all of their actions to run from you so long as there is a safe way to do so. Furthermore, the target will not willingly come within 15 ft. of you. While it is Feared, the creature will suffer 1d6 Psychic damage at the start of each of its turns as the whispers try to claw their ways out. The Feared creature can repeat the WIS save at the end of each of its turns. Once a creature has saved against this attack, that creature cannot be subject to this Fear effect from you for the next 24 hours.

6) Vile Transformation — As their gods tunnel deeper into the recesses of their minds, Madness Clerics employ dark rituals to mimic their foul deities, aping the gods' profane perfection by desecrating their mortal flesh. You acquire a mutation that many will find disturbing and hateful. A Vile Transformation can be hidden for 24 hours by liberally applying a vial of holy water. Hiding your Transformation causes you to lose the benefits it provides. Otherwise, a Cleric with a Vile Transformation has DADV on Deception, Performance, and Persuasion checks. Choose your mutation from the following list:
  • Stygian Rattle: Your tongue transmutes into a foul worm that speaks in a voice much like your own once did. You are Proficient in Intimidation and you double your Proficiency Bonus to Intimidation checks. You also receive a ranged spell attack (60 ft.) that deals 1d6+WIS Psychic damage on hit (use Cleric spellcasting modifiers).
  • Willful Tentacle: One of your arms (choose which) stretches into a slimy tentacle that seems to act of its own will, a will that tends toward violence. You gain a melee attack (5 ft., single target) with a natural weapon (tentacle) that uses STR for the attack roll and damage roll. On a hit, this attack deals 1d6 Bludgeoning damage and Grapples the target.
  • Fungal Oculus: One of your eyes buds into a horrific mass of eye-topped stalks, some of which obey your commands, others of which see things none are meant to see. You are Proficient in sight-based Perception checks and you double your Proficiency Bonus to such checks. You gain Darkvision of 60 ft. As a Bonus Action, you may use this trait to give yourself ADV on a ranged attack. You may gain ADV in this way a number of times equal to your WIS modifier per Long Rest.
  • Insectoid Limbs: Your legs bifurcate into spindly bug-like limbs that dance with eldritch excitement, constantly itching to run toward screaming and blood. Your Speed increases by 10 ft. and you can perform a long jump or high jump without a running start. If you move 20 ft. or more before your Attack action, gain +2 to your attack and damage rolls.
  • Voracious Maw: Your gut splits into a drooling maw, filled with concentric rows of hideous teeth. It perpetually hungers for the flesh of the untainted. You gain a Bite attack (Melee weapon attack, 1d10 Piercing damage) with which you have Proficiency. This attack can be used as a Bonus Action a number of times equal to your WIS modifier per Long Rest.
  • Foul Feelers: Your fingers bend and flex without regard for the bones within, and, when they grasp for prey, they extend far from their former master. You gain a Claw attack (Melee weapon attack with a 15 ft. reach, 1d8 P) with which you are Proficient. This attack may be used as if it were an off-hand weapon.

8) Fell Smite — When you hit with a weapon attack, you deal an additional 1d8 Psychic damage. This damage increases to 2d8 at level 14.

17) Gospel of the Unspeakable God — Your demented whispers now beckon others into your god’s eldritch embrace. When a creature is under the effect of your Encroaching Horror, you may Charm it by making a successful attack against the same creature. While Charmed in this way, the creature will attack the nearest visible creature other than yourself as its senses are consumed by unearthly visions. If no creatures meet these conditions, it attacks itself instead. A number of creatures equal to your WIS modifier can be Charmed in this way at once.


If you want to read these thoughts on D&D, as well as any of my other random musings, you can do so at the N3rd Dimension.

***
WriterTL > RL. BNet: Asmodeus#1187 - LoL: DJForeclosure - Steam: asmodeusxi | www.n3rddimension.com
DinosaurJones
Profile Joined February 2012
United States1000 Posts
September 26 2015 21:34 GMT
#2
This is pretty cool. So Vile Transformation is permanent?

I'm just getting into D&D over the past few weeks.
AsmodeusXI
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States15536 Posts
September 26 2015 21:37 GMT
#3
On September 27 2015 06:34 DinosaurJones wrote:
This is pretty cool. So Vile Transformation is permanent?

I'm just getting into D&D over the past few weeks.


Yeah, permanent for sure. I tried to make them worthwhile because you take a hit to your "role-playing skills" when you take them on, but if your PC is a Madness Cleric, they're probably evil and don't care anyways. That being said, this Domain is a lot like the Death Domain in that it's mostly intended for baddies (though I don't think Death is as inherently evil as Madness is, but that's an alignment tangent I won't venture down).

D&D's a ton of fun and I've really enjoyed what I've DM'd of 5E so far. Hope you're having fun and have a good group to play with!
WriterTL > RL. BNet: Asmodeus#1187 - LoL: DJForeclosure - Steam: asmodeusxi | www.n3rddimension.com
vOdToasT
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Sweden2870 Posts
September 27 2015 02:54 GMT
#4
I've only played version 3.0 and 3.5

Do clerics still universally have "cure wounds" or "inflict wounds"?
And if so, which one does the madness cleric have? Inflict?
If it's stupid but it works, then it's not stupid* (*Or: You are stupid for losing to it, and gotta git gud)
AsmodeusXI
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States15536 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-27 12:12:59
September 27 2015 12:12 GMT
#5
On September 27 2015 11:54 vOdToasT wrote:
I've only played version 3.0 and 3.5

Do clerics still universally have "cure wounds" or "inflict wounds"?
And if so, which one does the madness cleric have? Inflict?


Clerics in 5E have access to all Level 1 spells in the Cleric spell list and can choose to prepare any {Cleric Lvl. + WIS modifier} number of them per day. Cure Wounds and Inflict Wounds are both on that list, so the Madness Cleric, like all Clerics, can cast both. But what would they cast? Probably the painful one.
WriterTL > RL. BNet: Asmodeus#1187 - LoL: DJForeclosure - Steam: asmodeusxi | www.n3rddimension.com
vOdToasT
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Sweden2870 Posts
September 27 2015 18:30 GMT
#6
Hehe, thanks.

The original post was a good read, too.
If it's stupid but it works, then it's not stupid* (*Or: You are stupid for losing to it, and gotta git gud)
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 3h 3m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft: Brood War
Rain 2478
GuemChi 1320
Mind 50
Bale 26
NotJumperer 7
Icarus 7
League of Legends
JimRising 546
Counter-Strike
Coldzera 1277
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King153
Other Games
WinterStarcraft465
singsing397
Happy254
C9.Mang0212
ceh9197
Sick152
NeuroSwarm115
trigger5
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH367
• practicex 47
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki31
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota2321
League of Legends
• Rush1528
• Stunt443
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
3h 3m
Soulkey vs PianO
JyJ vs sSak
GSL
4h 3m
PiGosaur Cup
17h 3m
Afreeca Starleague
1d 3h
Mini vs Calm
Queen vs EffOrt
Replay Cast
1d 17h
The PondCast
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
Escore
3 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
3 days
Korean StarCraft League
3 days
[ Show More ]
GSL
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
WardiTV Weekly
5 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-08-24
PiG Sty Festival 8.0
META DYMY #4

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
K-JUNGMAN
ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
CSL Season 22: Qualifier 1
CSL Season 22: Qualifier 2
RSL Revival: Season 6
Light Tournament 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
Esports World Cup 2026: LCQ
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026

Upcoming

BSL 2026 LAN: Kraków
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Acropolis #5 - TRS
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Acropolis #5 - GSA
Acropolis #5 - GSB
HSC XXX
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Calamity Invitational
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.