I like it mostly, but I think that the capstone is way to costly to be worth it.
If you die, you can come back one minute later at 1 hp by sacrificing 3d6 levels worth of spells, nearly permanently? At that level, someone in the party should be able to cast raise dead, costing around 500 gp per cast. You however, will loose on average 12 levels of spells, costing you 300 gp worth of ink to replace and a casting of wish, which does trigger the 33% chance of never casting it again. So I'd say you have an average of 3 castings of Wish before you run out for yourself, then you have to rely on finding an npc powerful enough to cast it and who would agree to cast it for you, risking losing it themselves as well.
If I were to use it, I think taking away the wish requirement and saying 'this only works if you have a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the highest of which is expended when you use this effect'. Still costly in the moment, and you still have to go and find those spells and re-scribe them, but having to cast wish is much to costly to me.
I agree I am gonna play a OoS Wizard because I absolutely love this subclass but we are completely changing the capstone into something else entirely while keeping the little teleport because the cost is WAY too high and we don't think the resurrection thing really synergizes or makes a ton of sense with their other features and style it is a bit clunky. One idea we had was when you are downed you channel yourself through your book temporarily and a arcane version of yourself appears either taking the place of your manifested mind or within 5ft of your spellbook (if manifest mind isn't summoned). Your body would still be downed and vulnerable but your arcane self can still cast spells, this means you could add some last stand damage to the enemy maybe killing the enemy attacking you or ending the combat so your allies can help your body, or you could even cast spells on your body that might help it survive like protections or healing or ect. maybe you could do this once per longrest or maybe you expel your highest level spell slot for idk I like it better. Another idea is instead it works as like a quicksave mechanic where you can spend the time and money as a ritual to attune your current self to your book as you are and if you die your allies could resurrect you using the spell you attuned to (6 or 7 level idk) however it is a version of you which last attuned for your book. So if you haven't attuned to your book in a week and die then your resurrected version would be from a week ago. We are also playing with the idea of being able to summon a previous version of yourself this way as sort of a much weaker and temporary simulacrum but that might not be balanced we are still brainstorming and tweaking.
You are 3 levels from wish, This is a subclass that requires time, i know its hard in 5th edition it seems to ADHD. Taking 3 to 18 days to get all your spells back. No where in the description does it state that it would be a powerful thing, and it would make you roll on the chance table, if it did yeah that wouldn't be worth thats why it doesnt say it, therefore it doesnt make that happen, but maybe if you were to attempt to get them all back in one cast it would be to strong.
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"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
The subclass doesn't have to specify that the usage of wish bypasses the wording of the spell. From the spell:
The stress of casting this spell to produce any effect other than duplicating another spell weakens you. After enduring that stress, each time you cast a spell until you finish a long rest, you take 1d10 necrotic damage per level of that spell. This damage can't be reduced or prevented in any way. In addition, your Strength drops to 3, if it isn't 3 or lower already, for 2d4 days. For each of those days that you spend resting and doing nothing more than light activity, your remaining recovery time decreases by 2 days. Finally, there is a 33 percent chance that you are unable to cast wish ever again if you suffer this stress.
Because of this wording, using wish for anything other than reproducing a spell effect is very dangerous. Some uses of the wish spell, like in the Instant Fortress do have clauses in the wording specifying that the use of wish to repair the item counts as replicating a spell of 8th level or lower, while others like obtaining a Slaad's control gem, only mention that a Wish spell must be used. Since this subclass provides no specific wording against the general rules of the spell, we must interpret that the general wording of the spell stands.
This, however, would be a good fix in my opinion for a finalized version of this subclass; specifying that this use of the wish spell doesn't trigger the stress inducing portion of the spell. It is still a very costly capstone, but now you won't permanently nerf your character just for using your class features.
The subclass doesn't have to specify that the usage of wish bypasses the wording of the spell. From the spell:
The stress of casting this spell to produce any effect other than duplicating another spell weakens you. After enduring that stress, each time you cast a spell until you finish a long rest, you take 1d10 necrotic damage per level of that spell. This damage can't be reduced or prevented in any way. In addition, your Strength drops to 3, if it isn't 3 or lower already, for 2d4 days. For each of those days that you spend resting and doing nothing more than light activity, your remaining recovery time decreases by 2 days. Finally, there is a 33 percent chance that you are unable to cast wish ever again if you suffer this stress.
Because of this wording, using wish for anything other than reproducing a spell effect is very dangerous. Some uses of the wish spell, like in the Instant Fortress do have clauses in the wording specifying that the use of wish to repair the item counts as replicating a spell of 8th level or lower, while others like obtaining a Slaad's control gem, only mention that a Wish spell must be used. Since this subclass provides no specific wording against the general rules of the spell, we must interpret that the general wording of the spell stands.
This, however, would be a good fix in my opinion for a finalized version of this subclass; specifying that this use of the wish spell doesn't trigger the stress inducing portion of the spell. It is still a very costly capstone, but now you won't permanently nerf your character just for using your class features.
If it doesnt say it, then it doesnt say it. Meaning its not dangerous.
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"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
The quill doesn’t require ink. When you write with it, it produces ink in a color of your choice on the writing surface.
The gold and time you must spend to copy a spell into your spellbook are halved if you use the quill for the transcription.
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
Awakened Spellbook
You have awakened an arcane sentience within your spellbook. While you are holding the book, it grants you the following benefits:
You can use the book as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
If necessary, you can replace the book over the course of a short rest by using your Wizardly Quill to write arcane sigils in a blank book or a magic spellbook to which you’re attuned. At the end of the rest, your spellbook’s consciousness is summoned into the new book, which the consciousness transforms into your spellbook, along with all its spells. If the previous book still existed somewhere, all the spells vanish from its pages.
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
The quill doesn’t require ink. When you write with it, it produces ink in a color of your choice on the writing surface.
The gold and time you must spend to copy a spell into your spellbook are halved if you use the quill for the transcription.
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
Awakened Spellbook
You have awakened an arcane sentience within your spellbook. While you are holding the book, it grants you the following benefits:
You can use the book as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells.
If necessary, you can replace the book over the course of a short rest by using your Wizardly Quill to write arcane sigils in a blank book or a magic spellbook to which you’re attuned. At the end of the rest, your spellbook’s consciousness is summoned into the new book, which the consciousness transforms into your spellbook, along with all its spells. If the previous book still existed somewhere, all the spells vanish from its pages.
Only reason i do not like this is its lack of actual content. You remove that and the subclass is now worse then Evocation, Abjuration, and 100% Divination.
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"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
My thought was this it would work like this for all wizards, but the Order of scribes would get all the extra features of the awakened book (maybe a little bit more?) associated with the class. It would just save a lot of fuss around management of spellbooks in a cool and interesting way.
Kinda removes the fun aspect of a dm taking your book, and even if order would get more, still removes that whole feature from them. They are supposed to be the universalist.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
The quill doesn’t require ink. When you write with it, it produces ink in a color of your choice on the writing surface.
The gold and time you must spend to copy a spell into your spellbook are halved if you use the quill for the transcription.
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
The part about all spells costing half to copy seems a little out of balance compared to other subclasses. They only cut out cost for their specific type of spell, but this works for all of them
I think the Manifest Mind ability isn't where it should be. Warlocks can have a familiar 7 levels earlier, and they're useful almost as much as the awakened spellbook is. The familiar can even move further away than the spellbook, and the spellbook has less options than the familiar. Is this ability intentionally this weak?
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
The quill doesn’t require ink. When you write with it, it produces ink in a color of your choice on the writing surface.
The gold and time you must spend to copy a spell into your spellbook are halved if you use the quill for the transcription.
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
The part about all spells costing half to copy seems a little out of balance compared to other subclasses. They only cut out cost for their specific type of spell, but this works for all of them
The savant feature sucks, is thematically stupid and should always have just been either free spells or a built in class feature. Personally, I would alter it to be an additional free spell from that school each level in addition to your regular spells.
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
The quill doesn’t require ink. When you write with it, it produces ink in a color of your choice on the writing surface.
The gold and time you must spend to copy a spell into your spellbook are halved if you use the quill for the transcription.
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
The part about all spells costing half to copy seems a little out of balance compared to other subclasses. They only cut out cost for their specific type of spell, but this works for all of them
Thats part of being a universalist, The subclass itself doesn't have much, but gets spells on the cheap.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
The quill doesn’t require ink. When you write with it, it produces ink in a color of your choice on the writing surface.
The gold and time you must spend to copy a spell into your spellbook are halved if you use the quill for the transcription.
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
The part about all spells costing half to copy seems a little out of balance compared to other subclasses. They only cut out cost for their specific type of spell, but this works for all of them
Thats part of being a universalist, The subclass itself doesn't have much, but gets spells on the cheap.
My level 5 OoS now has all damage types in his spellbook. Maybe I'm still missing slashing, but that's all he's missing. At level 5. From now on out he's just going to take utility spells with maybe a few exceptions. i find that pretty strong.
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
The quill doesn’t require ink. When you write with it, it produces ink in a color of your choice on the writing surface.
The gold and time you must spend to copy a spell into your spellbook are halved if you use the quill for the transcription.
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
The part about all spells costing half to copy seems a little out of balance compared to other subclasses. They only cut out cost for their specific type of spell, but this works for all of them
Thats part of being a universalist, The subclass itself doesn't have much, but gets spells on the cheap.
My level 5 OoS now has all damage types in his spellbook. Maybe I'm still missing slashing, but that's all he's missing. At level 5. From now on out he's just going to take utility spells with maybe a few exceptions. i find that pretty strong.
Kinda makes up for wizard being shit. Look how much stronger something like a sorcerer is.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
What does everyone think?
I love this, and think that it's perfect for many people who just have a bookish wizard and don't know what tradition to go for.
'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!
So I love it, there is a character ive been wanting to do forever and this is perfect for it
I like it mostly, but I think that the capstone is way to costly to be worth it.
If you die, you can come back one minute later at 1 hp by sacrificing 3d6 levels worth of spells, nearly permanently? At that level, someone in the party should be able to cast raise dead, costing around 500 gp per cast. You however, will loose on average 12 levels of spells, costing you 300 gp worth of ink to replace and a casting of wish, which does trigger the 33% chance of never casting it again. So I'd say you have an average of 3 castings of Wish before you run out for yourself, then you have to rely on finding an npc powerful enough to cast it and who would agree to cast it for you, risking losing it themselves as well.
If I were to use it, I think taking away the wish requirement and saying 'this only works if you have a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the highest of which is expended when you use this effect'. Still costly in the moment, and you still have to go and find those spells and re-scribe them, but having to cast wish is much to costly to me.
I agree I am gonna play a OoS Wizard because I absolutely love this subclass but we are completely changing the capstone into something else entirely while keeping the little teleport because the cost is WAY too high and we don't think the resurrection thing really synergizes or makes a ton of sense with their other features and style it is a bit clunky. One idea we had was when you are downed you channel yourself through your book temporarily and a arcane version of yourself appears either taking the place of your manifested mind or within 5ft of your spellbook (if manifest mind isn't summoned). Your body would still be downed and vulnerable but your arcane self can still cast spells, this means you could add some last stand damage to the enemy maybe killing the enemy attacking you or ending the combat so your allies can help your body, or you could even cast spells on your body that might help it survive like protections or healing or ect. maybe you could do this once per longrest or maybe you expel your highest level spell slot for idk I like it better. Another idea is instead it works as like a quicksave mechanic where you can spend the time and money as a ritual to attune your current self to your book as you are and if you die your allies could resurrect you using the spell you attuned to (6 or 7 level idk) however it is a version of you which last attuned for your book. So if you haven't attuned to your book in a week and die then your resurrected version would be from a week ago. We are also playing with the idea of being able to summon a previous version of yourself this way as sort of a much weaker and temporary simulacrum but that might not be balanced we are still brainstorming and tweaking.
You are 3 levels from wish, This is a subclass that requires time, i know its hard in 5th edition it seems to ADHD. Taking 3 to 18 days to get all your spells back. No where in the description does it state that it would be a powerful thing, and it would make you roll on the chance table, if it did yeah that wouldn't be worth thats why it doesnt say it, therefore it doesnt make that happen, but maybe if you were to attempt to get them all back in one cast it would be to strong.
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
The subclass doesn't have to specify that the usage of wish bypasses the wording of the spell. From the spell:
Because of this wording, using wish for anything other than reproducing a spell effect is very dangerous. Some uses of the wish spell, like in the Instant Fortress do have clauses in the wording specifying that the use of wish to repair the item counts as replicating a spell of 8th level or lower, while others like obtaining a Slaad's control gem, only mention that a Wish spell must be used. Since this subclass provides no specific wording against the general rules of the spell, we must interpret that the general wording of the spell stands.
This, however, would be a good fix in my opinion for a finalized version of this subclass; specifying that this use of the wish spell doesn't trigger the stress inducing portion of the spell. It is still a very costly capstone, but now you won't permanently nerf your character just for using your class features.
If it doesnt say it, then it doesnt say it. Meaning its not dangerous.
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
I like it, but mostly it made me think that a cut down version of the the quill and book should actually how spell books function normally for all wizards. So my more stylish and wizard than having to maintain multiple copies - i thing it would add to the game play not abridge it. Just by removing a few things you get...
Wizardly Quill
As a bonus action, you can magically create a Tiny quill in your free hand. The magic quill has the following properties:
This quill disappears if you create another one or if you die.
Awakened Spellbook
You have awakened an arcane sentience within your spellbook. While you are holding the book, it grants you the following benefits:
If necessary, you can replace the book over the course of a short rest by using your Wizardly Quill to write arcane sigils in a blank book or a magic spellbook to which you’re attuned. At the end of the rest, your spellbook’s consciousness is summoned into the new book, which the consciousness transforms into your spellbook, along with all its spells. If the previous book still existed somewhere, all the spells vanish from its pages.
Only reason i do not like this is its lack of actual content. You remove that and the subclass is now worse then Evocation, Abjuration, and 100% Divination.
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
My thought was this it would work like this for all wizards, but the Order of scribes would get all the extra features of the awakened book (maybe a little bit more?) associated with the class. It would just save a lot of fuss around management of spellbooks in a cool and interesting way.
Kinda removes the fun aspect of a dm taking your book, and even if order would get more, still removes that whole feature from them. They are supposed to be the universalist.
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
The part about all spells costing half to copy seems a little out of balance compared to other subclasses. They only cut out cost for their specific type of spell, but this works for all of them
I think the Manifest Mind ability isn't where it should be. Warlocks can have a familiar 7 levels earlier, and they're useful almost as much as the awakened spellbook is. The familiar can even move further away than the spellbook, and the spellbook has less options than the familiar. Is this ability intentionally this weak?
The savant feature sucks, is thematically stupid and should always have just been either free spells or a built in class feature. Personally, I would alter it to be an additional free spell from that school each level in addition to your regular spells.
Thats part of being a universalist, The subclass itself doesn't have much, but gets spells on the cheap.
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
My level 5 OoS now has all damage types in his spellbook. Maybe I'm still missing slashing, but that's all he's missing. At level 5. From now on out he's just going to take utility spells with maybe a few exceptions. i find that pretty strong.
Kinda makes up for wizard being shit. Look how much stronger something like a sorcerer is.
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
is there anything preventing a wizards spell book from also being the book of shadows granted to warlocks who take the pact of the tome?
The DM, but they would have to allow something like that.
"Those who don't are like those who do, Except one Factor, There an idiot"
They don't have to. It might make sense to, but they don't HAVE to.
'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!