Coven Casting

Prerequisites: Ability to cast spells, 3rd level

You have mastered the ancient art of coven casting, allowing you and your fellow spellcasters to combine your magical power to cast spells. Only the coven leader needs to have this feat.

Features of the Coven Casting Feat

Higher-Level Casting

• The coven can cast spells (that are capable of being upcast) together at stronger levels than they are capable of casting alone.

Accelerated Casting

• The coven can combine their effort to reduce the amount of time it takes to cast a spell.

Casting Unavailable Spells

• The coven gains the power to access spells that would not normally be available at their level.

Coven Formation

• A coven is formed of spellcasters of any class. Only the coven leader needs to have this feat. The coven leader can add any willing spellcaster to the coven at any time not in combat.
• The coven can cast any spell that is in the spellbook or spell list of any member of the coven.

Feature Explanations

Higher-Level Casting

• This only applies to spells that can be upcast to higher levels.
• Spell Slot Contribution: Each participant (including the leader) contributes a spell slot of any level they have access to.
• Casting Level Calculation:
  • Base Level: The spell is cast at the level of the highest spell slot contributed.
  • Additional Levels: Add the levels of all other spell slots contributed by additional participants.
  • Maximum Level: The spell can be cast at a maximum of 9th level.
• Example Calculations:
  • Scenario 1: One participant provides a 3rd-level slot, one provides a 2nd-level slot, and one provides a 1st-level slot toward casting Fireball
    • Base Level: 3rd level (highest slot)
    • Additional Levels: 2 (2nd-level slot) + 1 (1st-level slot) = 3
    • Total Casting Level: 3 (highest slot) + 3 (additional levels) = 6th level Fireball
  • Scenario 2: One participant provides a 3rd-level slot, and three others provide 1st-level slots toward casting Fireball
    • Base Level: 3rd level (highest slot)
    • Additional Levels: 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 (one for each additional 1st-level slot)
    • Total Casting Level: 3 (highest slot) + 3 (additional levels) = 6th level Fireball
  • Scenario 3: One participant provides a 3rd-level slot, and one other provides a 1st-level slot toward casting Fireball
    • Base Level: 3rd level (highest slot)
    • Additional Levels: 1 (one for each additional 1st-level slot)
    • Total Casting Level: 3 (highest slot) + 1 (additional levels) = 4th level Fireball

Accelerated Casting

• Faster Casting: For spells with a casting time longer than 1 Action, the time required to cast the spell is reduced based on the number of participants in the coven and the spell slots they contribute.
• Time Reduction Formula: The original casting time is divided by the number of coven members contributing spell slots, rounded down. If this results in a time of 1 Action or less, the spell can be completed in 1 Action.
• Example:
  • Scenario 1: A Coven of 4 spellcasters are casting Fabricate (10 minutes casting time).
    • All 4 casters expend a 4th-level slot and the spell is cast in 2.5 minutes (10 minutes ÷ 4 participants)
  • Scenario 2: A Coven of 4 spellcasters are casting Glyph of Warding (1 Hour casting time).
    • All 4 casters expend a 3rd-level slot and the spell is cast in 15 minutes (60 minutes ÷ 4 participants)

Casting Unavailable Spells

• Casting Unavailable Spells: The coven can cast spells that require spell slots higher than those available to any individual member of the coven. To do this, the coven uses the combined spell slots of all participants to meet the required spell slot level.
• Slot Combination: The spell is cast at a level determined by the total combined spell levels of all participants.
• Example:
  • Scenario 1: A coven made up of 4 spellcasters at 3rd-level wishes to cast Demiplane (an 8th-level spell). Each member contributes a 2nd-level slot.
    • Total combined level is 8 (4 x 2), allowing the coven to cast Demiplane at 8th level.
  • Scenario 2: A coven made up of 6 spellcasters at 3rd-level wishes to cast Demiplane (an 8th-level spell). Two members contribute 2nd-level slots, and four members contribute 1st-level slots.
    • Total combined level is 8 (2 x 2 + 4 x 1), allowing the coven to cast Demiplane at 8th level.

Coven Casting Procedure for Spells with a Casting Time of 1 Action, 1 Bonus Action, or 1 Reaction

• Initiation: A Coven member declares they are going to "Coven Cast" a spell when it would be appropriate to do so. This can be any spell that is in the spellbook or spell list of any member of the coven that could be cast at that time. They declare the spell, the level of spell slot they are going to contribute, and the target (if applicable).
  • If they could cast this spell using this spell slot AND the spell is capable of being upcast: It is considered "Higher-Level Casting" automatically. They are considered as concentrating and having readied their action. As the round progresses, other members can choose to contribute spell slots to the coven casting. If they choose to do so, they are also considered as concentrating and having readied their action. This can either go all the way around back to the initiating member or the initiating member or the coven leader can use their reaction to trigger the casting. If it goes back to the initiating member, the spell is cast automatically.
  • If they could not cast this spell with this spell slot AND the spell is capable of being upcast: It could be either "Higher Level Casting" or "Casting Unavailable Spells." They are considered as concentrating and having readied their action. As the round progresses, other members can choose to contribute spell slots to the coven casting. If they choose to do so, they are also considered as concentrating and having readied their action. Once the minimum requirements are met, the initiating member or coven leader can use their reaction to cast the spell. If they choose not to cast the spell at this time, it is considered "Higher Level Casting" and further members can choose to participate.
  • If they could not cast this spell with this spell slot AND the spell is NOT capable of being upcast: It is considered "Casting Unavailable Spells." They are considered as concentrating and having readied their action. As the round progresses, other members can choose to contribute spell slots to the coven casting. If they choose to do so, they are also considered as concentrating and having readied their action. Once the minimum requirements are met, the spell is cast.
• Concentration: All participants must maintain concentration for the duration of the casting as if they were casting a spell. If any participant loses concentration, the spell fails.
• Failure: If combat progresses back to the initiating caster and its requirements are not met, the spell fails and any spell slots are lost.

Coven Casting Procedure for Spells with a Casting Time of 1 Minute or Longer

• Initiation: A Coven member declares they are going to "Coven Cast" a spell. This can be any spell that is in the spellbook or spell list of any member of the coven that could be cast at that time. They declare the spell, the level of spell slot they are going to contribute, and the target (if applicable).

• Contributing Spell Levels: Members of the coven contribute spell slots of various levels. The coven leader determines how to use the total spell levels contributed:

  • To cast the spell with upcast options: If the total contributed spell levels equal or exceed the spell’s level, the spell can be cast with upcast options if it is capable of being upcast.

  • To reduce casting time: If the total contributed spell levels are enough to meet the requirements for halving the casting time, the time required to cast the spell is reduced accordingly.

  • To achieve both effects: If the total contributed spell levels are sufficient to both halve the casting time and use the highest upcast level, the spell benefits from both effects.

  • Example with Conjure Celestial (7th level spell):

    • 9 levels contributed: The spell is cast at 7th level with upcast options if available.
    • 14 levels contributed: The casting time of Conjure Celestial is halved.
    • 16 levels contributed: The casting time is halved, and Conjure Celestial is cast at 9th level.

• Concentration: All participants must maintain concentration for the duration of the casting as if they were casting a spell. If any participant loses concentration, the spell fails.
  
  
  

Special Rules for Cantrips:

• Ineligible Cantrips: Coven casting cannot be used for cantrips that do not increase in power depending on the level of the caster.
• Increasing Power: If the cantrip gets stronger with the level of the caster, the combined level of all the casters x the number of casters is considered for determining the cantrip's power and the number of damage dice is multiplied by the number of casters.
• Examples:
  • Eldritch Blast: With 4 level 1 casters, it will be cast as if a 16th-level (4 casters x 4 levels) caster cast it, and each beam would deal 4d10 (1d10x4) 
  • Produce Flame:  With 4 level 1 casters, it will be cast as if a 16th-level caster cast it, and the damage would be (4x3d8)

Drawbacks

• Concentration: If any participant loses concentration or is incapacitated, the spell fails and all spell slots are wasted.
• Resource Intensive: Each participant must expend a spell slot, making this method resource-heavy.

Narrative Integration

• Ancient Rituals: Introduce the feat through ancient texts or teachings from a mystical NPC.
• Collaborative Magic: Highlight the importance of teamwork and collaboration among spellcasters.