The individual Invocations themselves are fine. What I really like is the way you approached the question. Analyzing prior invocations to determine what is a good template for other Invocations. I think anyone can take that template and ask their DM for homebrew Invocations, so long as there's reasonable justification for taking them.
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Considering how few spells warlocks get, incantations that cast spells at will are very valuable for them. This makes me wish there were more of them.
Based on these precedents, I discern the following guidelines:
- spell level can be up to the level 4, higher level spells require additional restrictions
- no damage dealing spells
- no area effect spells except illusions
- strong preference to spells that target self, but targeting other creatures is also possible
- spells with combat application require higher warlock level or additional restrictions
So, what would be good candidates?
- permanent spider climb and climbing speed on self, required level 5 or 9?
- you automatically know if you are being lied to, required level 2
- Cause fear or Fear centered on self, flavored to magically assumed hideous appearance like sea hag? Required level 9 for cause fear, 15 for Fear
- Charm person with a range of touch, required level 9, Arch fey only
- Command but only on charmed or frightened creatures, required level 9, Arch fey only
- Longstrider on self, required level 2
- Thunder wave, required level 9, Djinn patron only
- Create or destroy water, required level 9, Marid patron only
- Earth tremor, required level 9, Dao patron only
- Faerie fire, required level 9, Efreeti patron only
- Shield, required level 9, if you are hit despite using your shield it breaks and you can't use it until your next short rest
- Enlarge/reduce on self, required level 15
- Gentle repose, required level 9
- Hold person, required level 15
- Misty step, required level 12
- Suggestion without verbal or material components with a range of touch, required level 15
- Dominate beast, required level 12
- Detect thoughts, required level 5, GOO patron only
Do these ideas seem reasonable?
defenetly not at will shield, that is an bad idea since the shield spell lasts until the start of your next turn, so with some decent armor you can put your armor class well above 20 practically forever, i made this mistake once
most DM's judge the verbal component for suggestion as being well, the suggestion itself and so removing that might be weird, it depends
earth tremor and thunderwave both deal damage, and thunderwave might deal enough damage at that level for it to risk significantly outperforming other characters damage wise if you manage to trap more than two creatures in the 15 foot area
dominate beast is already available as an pact spell for the archfey warlock
other than that it seems to be perfectly reasonable
I'd really like to be able to change the damage type for my eldritch blast. Yes, I know force is aaaaaamazing. I have some concepts I'd like to play that are cold or fire based. yes, they are a strict downgrade over force, but it's something I'd like to be able to do.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
I'd really like to be able to change the damage type for my eldritch blast. Yes, I know force is aaaaaamazing. I have some concepts I'd like to play that are cold or fire based. yes, they are a strict downgrade over force, but it's something I'd like to be able to do.
I would also like that. Adding some kind of rider could could balance it out. For example:
Master of hellfire:
Your fire magic burns the soul of your enemies instead of their bodies. Your eldritch blast takes the form of ethereal fire and deals Psychic damage instead of force damage. If you cast spells that deal fire damage, you can choose to deal Psychic damage instead.
Fiendish chains:
Your eldritch blast takes the form of animated chains that lash out towsrds your enemies. The range of your eldritch blast is reduced to 60 feet and the cantrip deals magical bludgeoning damage instead of force damage. Targets hot by your eldritch blast must make a Strength saving throw or be restrained until the beginning of your next turn.
defenetly not at will shield, that is an bad idea since the shield spell lasts until the start of your next turn, so with some decent armor you can put your armor class well above 20 practically forever, i made this mistake once
But then again, Wizard can do this already? So, with higher level requirement as IamSposta suggested, it should be fine?
At will spells don't scale with levels, so thunderwave would be just 2d8 damage. I don't you would be out damaging anyone at level 9 with that. The reason I suggested it for djinni patron warlock is that djinnies cast it at will. I agree that it would be overpowered if you used your pact spell level for it.
This is probably why there aren't any direct damage at will spell invocations: of it doesn't scale, cantrips start to outperform it quickly, and if it scales, it is overpowered. I was trying to select some spells that would be particularly useful for this purpose, but on second thought, even they don't work this.
Casting dominate beast at will is still quite different from casting it with pact slots. Alternatively, Animal friendship at will, available at level 2. That could be pretty interesting combination with Beast speech and high charisma.
As for the verbal component of suggestion, many dms still require magic words that make it clear that you are casting a spell. I was thinking about suggestiok where the only required verbal component is the suggestion itself. Usually a level dip to sorcerer for subtle spell is needed for this.
At will spells don't scale with levels, so thunderwave would be just 2d8 damage. I don't you would be out damaging anyone at level 9 with that. The reason I suggested it for djinni patron warlock is that djinnies cast it at will. I agree that it would be overpowered if you used your pact spell level for it.
This is probably why there aren't any direct damage at will spell invocations: of it doesn't scale, cantrips start to outperform it quickly, and if it scales, it is overpowered. I was trying to select some spells that would be particularly useful for this purpose, but on second thought, even they don't work this.
I don't think at will thunderewave would be broken. It would be powerfull, but hitting party members would be a problem.
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A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
I'd really like to be able to change the damage type for my eldritch blast. Yes, I know force is aaaaaamazing. I have some concepts I'd like to play that are cold or fire based. yes, they are a strict downgrade over force, but it's something I'd like to be able to do.
Font of Energy (Eldritch Invocation) When you gain this invocation, select one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, or radiant. When you deal damage with a warlock spell or any warlock class ability or invocation that deals damage, you can deal your chosen damage type instead of the effects normal damage type. source: Eldritch Insights 5E - Mage Hand Press
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Considering how few spells warlocks get, incantations that cast spells at will are very valuable for them. This makes me wish there were more of them.
Currently there are:
- Invisibility, level 2 spell, required level 15.
- mage armor, level 1 spell, required level 2
- levitate only on yourself, level 2 spell, required level 9
- speak with animals, level 1 spell, required level 2
- Hold monster only on outsiders, level 5 spell, required level 15
- detect magic, level 1 spell, required level 2
- False life only on self, level 2 spell, required level 2
- water breathing + swim speed, level 3 spell, required level 5
- magic weapon without concentration and can target magical weapons, level 2 spell, required level 2
- Alter self, level 2 spell, required level 15
- silent image, level 1 spell, required 2
- jump, level 2 spell, required level 9
- arcane eye, level 4 spell, required level 15
- speak with dead, level 3 spell, required level 9
- truesight limited to 30 feet and creatures, level 6 spell, required level 15
Based on these precedents, I discern the following guidelines:
- spell level can be up to the level 4, higher level spells require additional restrictions
- no damage dealing spells
- no area effect spells except illusions
- strong preference to spells that target self, but targeting other creatures is also possible
- spells with combat application require higher warlock level or additional restrictions
So, what would be good candidates?
- permanent spider climb and climbing speed on self, required level 5 or 9?
- you automatically know if you are being lied to, required level 2
- Cause fear or Fear centered on self, flavored to magically assumed hideous appearance like sea hag? Required level 9 for cause fear, 15 for Fear
- Charm person with a range of touch, required level 9, Arch fey only
- Command but only on charmed or frightened creatures, required level 9, Arch fey only
- Longstrider on self, required level 2
- Thunder wave, required level 9, Djinn patron only
- Create or destroy water, required level 9, Marid patron only
- Earth tremor, required level 9, Dao patron only
- Faerie fire, required level 9, Efreeti patron only
- Shield, required level 9, if you are hit despite using your shield it breaks and you can't use it until your next short rest
- Enlarge/reduce on self, required level 15
- Gentle repose, required level 9
- Hold person, required level 15
- Misty step, required level 12
- Suggestion without verbal or material components with a range of touch, required level 15
- Dominate beast, required level 12
- Detect thoughts, required level 5, GOO patron only
Do these ideas seem reasonable?
Faerie fire for efreeti? No. It's less fire and more magic light. Otherwise, seems ok.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
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Another option I was thinking was Burning hands. So, Burning hands for Efreeti and Fiend?
Yeah. That, or access to the cantrips fire bolt and control flames.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Faerie fire is definitely an Archfey thing.
The individual Invocations themselves are fine. What I really like is the way you approached the question. Analyzing prior invocations to determine what is a good template for other Invocations. I think anyone can take that template and ask their DM for homebrew Invocations, so long as there's reasonable justification for taking them.
May the gentle moonlinght guide you to greater wisdom
defenetly not at will shield, that is an bad idea since the shield spell lasts until the start of your next turn, so with some decent armor you can put your armor class well above 20 practically forever, i made this mistake once
most DM's judge the verbal component for suggestion as being well, the suggestion itself and so removing that might be weird, it depends
earth tremor and thunderwave both deal damage, and thunderwave might deal enough damage at that level for it to risk significantly outperforming other characters damage wise if you manage to trap more than two creatures in the 15 foot area
dominate beast is already available as an pact spell for the archfey warlock
other than that it seems to be perfectly reasonable
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
I'd really like to be able to change the damage type for my eldritch blast. Yes, I know force is aaaaaamazing. I have some concepts I'd like to play that are cold or fire based. yes, they are a strict downgrade over force, but it's something I'd like to be able to do.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
If you are gonna do one for Shield it would have to be level 15+
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I would also like that. Adding some kind of rider could could balance it out. For example:
Master of hellfire:
Your fire magic burns the soul of your enemies instead of their bodies. Your eldritch blast takes the form of ethereal fire and deals Psychic damage instead of force damage. If you cast spells that deal fire damage, you can choose to deal Psychic damage instead.
Fiendish chains:
Your eldritch blast takes the form of animated chains that lash out towsrds your enemies. The range of your eldritch blast is reduced to 60 feet and the cantrip deals magical bludgeoning damage instead of force damage. Targets hot by your eldritch blast must make a Strength saving throw or be restrained until the beginning of your next turn.
They sound cool. Make sure to do it for all patrons.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
But then again, Wizard can do this already? So, with higher level requirement as IamSposta suggested, it should be fine?
At will spells don't scale with levels, so thunderwave would be just 2d8 damage. I don't you would be out damaging anyone at level 9 with that. The reason I suggested it for djinni patron warlock is that djinnies cast it at will. I agree that it would be overpowered if you used your pact spell level for it.
This is probably why there aren't any direct damage at will spell invocations: of it doesn't scale, cantrips start to outperform it quickly, and if it scales, it is overpowered. I was trying to select some spells that would be particularly useful for this purpose, but on second thought, even they don't work this.
Casting dominate beast at will is still quite different from casting it with pact slots. Alternatively, Animal friendship at will, available at level 2. That could be pretty interesting combination with Beast speech and high charisma.
As for the verbal component of suggestion, many dms still require magic words that make it clear that you are casting a spell. I was thinking about suggestiok where the only required verbal component is the suggestion itself. Usually a level dip to sorcerer for subtle spell is needed for this.
I don't think at will thunderewave would be broken. It would be powerfull, but hitting party members would be a problem.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
Font of Energy (Eldritch Invocation)
When you gain this invocation, select one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, or radiant. When you deal damage with a warlock spell or any warlock class ability or invocation that deals damage, you can deal your chosen damage type instead of the effects normal damage type.
source: Eldritch Insights 5E - Mage Hand Press
playing since 1986