So recently I've been doing some research on cleric domains for a cleric that I've been wanting to use, and right now I have the character set up as a light domain cleric, worshiping Selûne the moon goddess.
Which feels ironic, to say the least.
In my research, I came across the 3e Moon Domain which is structured like
"The Moon domain is a deity domain that grants divine spellcasters spell powers related to the Moon, perception, and lycanthropes. The spellcaster gains the ability to turn and destroy such shapechangers as a good cleric turns undead." - Source
I would like to be able to do a conversion from 3e to 5e but I'm unsure of how to do that, and I've looked around and any other suggestions I've seen have been to replace spells with 5e ones which I would prefer not to.
Any help or ideas would be super appreciated and helpful (also I'm unsure of how credible of a source Forgotten Realms Wikia is so if this is super incorrect please let me know) ♥
I played a Moon Elf cleric of Selune in 2nd edition - good times!
My best advice to anyone looking to convert something to 5e is - don't try to be too literal in your conversion. Use existing 5e rules & spells where you can.
You can create your own homebrew subclass on D&D Beyond, using our homebrew tools.
I agree with Stormknight - don't try to get a perfect match, just zero in on the aspects of your character that are most important and find a close match. That's also the advice in the official Conversions to 5th Edition D&D guide.
5e's cleric domains are designed to be broad and cover a wide range of gods and concepts; that's why there's a Light domain that includes ideals like truth and beauty instead of much narrower domains like "sun domain" or "moon domain." While it's often associated with sun gods, there's nothing wrong with using it for a moon goddess. Alternatively, you could use one of the domains officially associated with Selune in 5th edition: Life and Knowledge (see Player's Handbook Appendix B and Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide chapter 1.)
If your DM allows it, switching sunlight with moonlight in class features or swapping some domain spells is a quick and easy way to customize the official options to your needs without breaking anything. I wouldn't recommend trying to create a whole new domain from scratch or gambling on someone else's homebrew if some small tweaks to the official options will do.
Thank you both for the help on this! Working with my DM we've been able to make something work out that still allows for the idea I had for a "moon domain" to work out.
Also, the discussion about how the cleric domains work and are designed has been super helpful in helping me understand the class better as a whole.
Recently, I've homebrewed a "Moon Domain" cleric using the existing "Light Domain" as a guideline.
Basically, I removed the "fire" damage aspects (including "Fireball", which is only fair), and adding some radiant spells that are appropriate to a moon-worshipping cleric...spells such as "Moonbeam", "Sickening Radiance", and "Destructive Wave" (Fireball equivalent, but higher level).
I also emphasized that these clerics are typically the type who guide people through extremely dark places...roadways at night to protect from bandits, stargazers who can navigate long distances, or stalwart companions who brave the Underdark...as such, these clerics also gain spells that bolster speed and stealth, such as "Pass Without Trace" or "Longstrider".
I also added the spell, "Guardian of Nature"...because it lets the cleric become a pseudo-werewolf, which is totally within a moon cleric's wheelhouse.
Also of note. TJ Storm (who has 30+ years DMing experience) played a one-shot a while back with some of the Critical Role people in which he played a Moon Domain cleric in a 5e game. He probably did the conversion himself while working with Liam O'Brien who DMed that one-shot. It seems to me that he kept a lot of it's features intact and indeed had some things that no other class does in 5e. https://criticalrole.fandom.com/wiki/Lucius_Lorelei
Anyone trying to do a 5e Moon cleric might want to check it out for inspiration.
So recently I've been doing some research on cleric domains for a cleric that I've been wanting to use, and right now I have the character set up as a light domain cleric, worshiping Selûne the moon goddess.
Which feels ironic, to say the least.
In my research, I came across the 3e Moon Domain which is structured like
"The Moon domain is a deity domain that grants divine spellcasters spell powers related to the Moon, perception, and lycanthropes. The spellcaster gains the ability to turn and destroy such shapechangers as a good cleric turns undead." - Source
1st level
Faerie fire
2nd level
Moonbeam
3rd level
Moon blade
4th level
Good hope
5th level
Moon path
6th level
Permanent image
7th level
Insanity
8th level
Animal Shapes
9th level
Moonfire
I would like to be able to do a conversion from 3e to 5e but I'm unsure of how to do that, and I've looked around and any other suggestions I've seen have been to replace spells with 5e ones which I would prefer not to.
Any help or ideas would be super appreciated and helpful
(also I'm unsure of how credible of a source Forgotten Realms Wikia is so if this is super incorrect please let me know) ♥
Hi there SuperEchoBear,
I played a Moon Elf cleric of Selune in 2nd edition - good times!
My best advice to anyone looking to convert something to 5e is - don't try to be too literal in your conversion. Use existing 5e rules & spells where you can.
You can create your own homebrew subclass on D&D Beyond, using our homebrew tools.
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If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
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I agree with Stormknight - don't try to get a perfect match, just zero in on the aspects of your character that are most important and find a close match. That's also the advice in the official Conversions to 5th Edition D&D guide.
5e's cleric domains are designed to be broad and cover a wide range of gods and concepts; that's why there's a Light domain that includes ideals like truth and beauty instead of much narrower domains like "sun domain" or "moon domain." While it's often associated with sun gods, there's nothing wrong with using it for a moon goddess. Alternatively, you could use one of the domains officially associated with Selune in 5th edition: Life and Knowledge (see Player's Handbook Appendix B and Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide chapter 1.)
If your DM allows it, switching sunlight with moonlight in class features or swapping some domain spells is a quick and easy way to customize the official options to your needs without breaking anything. I wouldn't recommend trying to create a whole new domain from scratch or gambling on someone else's homebrew if some small tweaks to the official options will do.
Thank you both for the help on this! Working with my DM we've been able to make something work out that still allows for the idea I had for a "moon domain" to work out.
Also, the discussion about how the cleric domains work and are designed has been super helpful in helping me understand the class better as a whole.
Thank you again so much for the help!
Recently, I've homebrewed a "Moon Domain" cleric using the existing "Light Domain" as a guideline.
Basically, I removed the "fire" damage aspects (including "Fireball", which is only fair), and adding some radiant spells that are appropriate to a moon-worshipping cleric...spells such as "Moonbeam", "Sickening Radiance", and "Destructive Wave" (Fireball equivalent, but higher level).
I also emphasized that these clerics are typically the type who guide people through extremely dark places...roadways at night to protect from bandits, stargazers who can navigate long distances, or stalwart companions who brave the Underdark...as such, these clerics also gain spells that bolster speed and stealth, such as "Pass Without Trace" or "Longstrider".
I also added the spell, "Guardian of Nature"...because it lets the cleric become a pseudo-werewolf, which is totally within a moon cleric's wheelhouse.
Also of note. TJ Storm (who has 30+ years DMing experience) played a one-shot a while back with some of the Critical Role people in which he played a Moon Domain cleric in a 5e game. He probably did the conversion himself while working with Liam O'Brien who DMed that one-shot. It seems to me that he kept a lot of it's features intact and indeed had some things that no other class does in 5e. https://criticalrole.fandom.com/wiki/Lucius_Lorelei
Anyone trying to do a 5e Moon cleric might want to check it out for inspiration.
Both the Light(PHB) and Twilight(UA) domains would work for a Cleric of a Moon deity.