The Scholar Class

Question about Doctor’s Orders, the Physician feature. Should there be a cap on how many times you can use this feature per rest? Because otherwise, it seems like being able to use other people’s hit dice on them can let you forego a short rest outside of battle. This allows a third level character to heal characters as a bonus action with the only cap being the other character’s hit dice.

Don't get why this isn't you guys' most popular class. It's certainly my favorite, possibly of all 5e homebrew classes ever. There's nothing else like it.

Hi! I'm playing a Scholar right now and am loving it! I have a question though. The Studied Defense Erudite Application. It doesn't stack with dexterity modifiers, right? Does it stack with any specialty armor? Say, +1 leather armor, would AC still only be 12 + intelligence mod? If so, it feels like its powerful early game, but can't improve much as you level up and find more interesting items.

The physician's 13th level feature, Rejuvenating Technique, does this work with ki points or warlock spell slots? On a first reading I assumed it refreshes features like channel divinity or action surge only

I don't quite understand the activation/duration of this feature.
"Analyze Enemy
At 2nd level, you can size up an enemy with one look. You can use a bonus action on each of your turns to
survey a creature you can see within 60 feet. For the next minute when you attack that creature, you can add your Intelligence ability modifier, instead of your Strength or Dexterity ability modifier, to attack and damage rolls with weapons you are proficient with."
Do you have to continue to use it as a bonus action on each turn, or does it last for a minute? Or is it each turn you use a bonus action for up to a minute?

The cullinary craft ability it says raise the max hp is that permanent? or does it grant temp?

I'm intrested, does the Analyze Enemy require the uses of a Bonus Action on every turn, or does it last one min? And can it only be used on one creature or can it be achieved on multiple targets?

Do ingredients have weight?

Question about the proficiencies, when it talks about gaining proficiency in tools, be it as part of the default class proficiencies, or for Quick Study, Tool Master, or Well Educated, is it just talking about standard Tools (disguise kit, herbalism kit, etc) or do those include artisan tools (smithing tools, alchemist kit, etc)

I am absolutely loving this class, so much. I have a question about Heal Thyself, though; does it only apply when you *can* end a poisoned condition or a disease on yourself? Can you used it to just heal yourself without those conditions being applied? I'm hoping you can, it makes the most sense to me, but the wording suggests you have to end one of those conditions.

Cunning Linguist needs a new name. A euphemism doesn't seem to fit haha

I'm confused by two Erudite Applications; Academic Expertise and Expertise. I keep rereading them to see if I'm missing something, but it seems that the only difference is that AE is more restrictive about what skills you can double your proficiency bonus with. There are no prerequisites either, so a Scholar could double their proficiency bonus in four separate skills if they wanted at 2nd level. That seems like a lot, especially considering the "Expertise" features each subclass already gets. Is this the intent?

This class for the most part is absolutely amazing!

However, most of the culinarian's abilities as well as the physician's capstone are way too overpowered. There is a reason that Inspiring Leader as a feat did nothing except grant temporary HP, and limited to the character's level plus charisma. The physician grants temp hp equal to HALF the patient's max hp AND grants resistance on top of that while the hitpoints last.

The culinarian can abuse his abilities by hoarding high CR ingredients and then preparing them all at once once they get their capstone. This will make most boss fights trivial. Heck, a culinarian and a physician together will turn the remaining party members into curbstomp dispensers.

Much like how your pugilist evolved over time, I think the key is to make the abilities thematically fitting, interesting enough to want and look forward to, but limited enough that the DM doesn't have a heart attack when he has to try and figure out how his boss is going to...See more survive more than a round or two fighting these guys.

There's one noticeable error in this for the Theologian:

Under "Preparing and casting spells" it states that the number of spells you can prepare is based on the "Spells Prepared" column. However, there is no Spells prepared column. It also has a "Spells Known" column despite not learning spells.

I assume the Theologian's spellcasting is supposed to be like a Cleric's.

I'm a little confused with the Academic Discourse ability. The text states that "[o]nly another creature that knows
academic discourse understands messages spoken or written in this language...It takes ten times longer to convey
a message in academic discourse than it does to speak the same idea plainly." Does this mean that the DM can rule certain books or spoken discourses beyond the comprehension of non-scholar characters? Does the DM have to decide what is considered academic or non-academic discourse. I understand the 10x reading speed, but the rest of the test has me a little confused.

The name of the class caught my attention, but the Culinarian subclass got me to purchase the book. Now that I've read it, I have some opinions. :-)
Obviously, you can chuck out everything I say, but I'm trying to be supportively critical.

The first thing that hit me was that Analyze Enemy and the culinary arts don't mesh thematically. I don't have a solution though.
I also think the bonus to attack AND damage rolls might be too potent.

Having proficiency in all three saving throws also feels too potent.

Culinarian
Culinary Craft - I like that it's simple (feels in line with 5th Ed's level of accessibility), but it feels way too potent for a 3rd level ability. Adding to Max and Current HP feels way too good, and adding Scholar Level means it's always good (especially if your also taking Adventurous Appetizers). I'd suggest 2d8+Proficiency Bonus to Max HP as one of your options (invites synergy with other healers/potions) if not straight Temp HP. I also...See more like the idea of food being fulfilling, so I would also suggest something like removing exhaustion or ability score drops. I know you have those in Physician too, but I think the idea of having two Scholars in one party is lower than a Scholar and a healing class.
I know I said I liked this because it's simple, but I think you could have a few more little options and allow your cook to make combos (maybe add another column to the Scholar table listing the max number of ingredients per level). Basically flesh out your Hidden Attributes a little more.
Advanced Ingredients/Full Bellies Full Hearts/Heaping Helping - Again, the HP being handed out feels like way too much. I'd try to maximize synergy over abuse. If you considered removing exhaustion, maybe make it a 9th level option.

Diplomat
Politics isn't my vibe, so I can't really comment, but I don't see much that can be abused.

Physician
This and the Culinarian were the ones I liked most.
Treating Physician - Again, you're potentially doling out huge amounts of HP at 3rd level. I would probably limit the number of creatures you're treating to your INT modifier (min 1) and they get a free Hit Die. I'd keep the point pool and expend additional points for the side work, like curing disease (so 2 point to cure and gain a Hit Die's worth of HP).
Resuscitating Procedure - I feel like at 9th level, 100 GP is pretty easy to come by, but I can't think of a proper variable condition (level doesn't seem appropriate).

Ritualist and Theologian
I like that they're both here, and I think that's cool, but they seem underwhelming. I also don't know why I'd take one in a party when I could take a Cleric or Wizard. Maybe if they were combined?
Spell Slots - Ritualist slots I feel could benefit from the Warlock's way of casting (spells are cast at a max level based on class level).
Spellscribe - I wouldn't require someone to buy another book in order to use an ability in your book.

Tactician
Like the diplomat, I don't have much for this one. Seems like a watered down 4th Ed Warlord, but since that class didn't make it to 5th Ed I think people could get behind this one.