Maybe homebrew class creation is a bit discouraged in D&D because of the delicate balance the rules navigate... but DUDE... I want to create a home brew class for my next game and I am super excited about it. The class I have in mind does not work with the classes they have. My group and I would love to continue using D&D Beyond, but if I can't add my homebrew class to this site it won't work.
Is it still not possible to add homebrew classes? I feel like I am missing it or something, because it just seems like something that should be integrated into the homebrew section. :)
I'm afraid it's not possible, though you could create an assortment of different Homebrew things like a sub-class, magical items, weapons, and spells that, when used together, could give your character some semblance of this new class that you're workshopping. For example, if your new class is a spellcaster that also uses weapons, you could make a Sorcerer subclass that gives you proficiencies in simple or martial weapons, special weapons designed to be used by this subclass, magical armor that could be used as an arcane focus, and a few spells that give serious martial vibes.
I'm afraid it's not possible, though you could create an assortment of different Homebrew things like a sub-class, magical items, weapons, and spells that, when used together, could give your character some semblance of this new class that you're workshopping. For example, if your new class is a spellcaster that also uses weapons, you could make a Sorcerer subclass that gives you proficiencies in simple or martial weapons, special weapons designed to be used by this subclass, magical armor that could be used as an arcane focus, and a few spells that give serious martial vibes.
The class I have created is extremely unique. It has its own power structure and unique abilities. These abilities follow the same path of progression that is similar to aspects of other classes, and of course draws upon the resources of the magic and method of D&D. However, via D&D Beyond there is no way to use the classes from the base rules to even closely emulate what I have created. I did try though :)
I know it seems like a pretty complicated ask, but I also feel like there might be an easy solution too. If they set up sort of series of "blank slates" that you could fill in with class abilities, allowed for the basic selection of hit dice for the class and then allowed you to choose a possible spell progression based using one of the available progressions, I feel like this would work. Just something super basic. It would yield incredibly unbalanced classes. But then people could discuss how to fix home brew classes in the forums. It would be FUN!
It would also allow for the opportunity to use home brew classes that people sell and buy on The DM's Guild.
I also have a custom race and class for one of my players in our current campaigns.
It would be an extremely helpful to be able to create a class with editable levels and abilities.
I came to look for a post of this nature myself.
I really think with the evolution of the game and a new iteration on the horizon, that it would be really great if they allowed for the ability to create home brew classes here.
I feel like it would allow for people like us to breath more life into the game. Especially for those of us who have either played for a long time, or were used to the days before D&D Beyond, where making a home brew class wasn't stifled by the limitations of an online system. D&D Beyond is fun and convenient, but this is where we see it's limitations!
Agreed. Trying to implement a system that could handle the infinite number of possibilities for homebrew classes just would work. Or just very hard to code. And for it to link in with the existing character builder seems a lot of work. Maybe there are programs out there that do this already, I’ve never looked.
You want a homebrew class then you are stuck with pen and paper or digital format like a google document or something. You can still use DDB dice rolling or macros on a VTT
In a world where AI is becoming actual (when it was previously a notion of science fiction), where Teslas are shot into space at the sun, where cloaning humans is an inevitable reality, where the future predicts space elevators will exist, and where dreamers who play D&D come to breath life into their stories, it is sad to see that people truly don’t believe in the idea that something as simple as adding a place to have custom classes in D&D Beyond is just too challenging of an endeavor LOL
In a world where AI is becoming actual (when it was previously a notion of science fiction), where Teslas are shot into space at the sun, where cloaning humans is an inevitable reality, where the future predicts space elevators will exist, and where dreamers who play D&D come to breath life into their stories, it is sad to see that people truly don’t believe in the idea that something as simple as adding a place to have custom classes in D&D Beyond is just too challenging of an endeavor LOL
Well, when WotC has the R&D, workforce and budget of Tesla and the future company that will build that space elevator then they probably will. Until then, don’t hold your breath.
The current builder can’t handle the existing classes 100% as it is.
Well first there would have to be rules for creating a class.
And as soon as those rules are written and published on line someone will complain that it does not let them do what they want. It would be a never ending cycle.
Some people are just not happy with the toys they are given to play with and instead of making their own toys want someone else to make those new toys for them. Exactly like they want. Today.
There used to only be three classes and no sub classes. Then there were four classes then 5 and so on. Until we have what we have today.
I want to play a psionicist but I’m willing to ditch DDB if they won’t allow us to homebrew a class. I can find amazing free character record sheets if I’m forced too.
WoT is woke so they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed and make a LOT of poor creative / business choices so this idea isn’t on their radar I’m thinking.
I want to play a psionicist but I’m willing to ditch DDB if they won’t allow us to homebrew a class. I can find amazing free character record sheets if I’m forced too.
WoT is woke so they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed and make a LOT of poor creative / business choices so this idea isn’t on their radar I’m thinking.
The only update is, don’t hold your breath. If we see this in DDB in the next five years I would be totally shocked. Personally I don’t think it will ever happen, unfortunately.
You say they make poor business choices. But how would being able to make your own classes that WotC can’t profit off of make good business sense.
I want to play a psionicist but I’m willing to ditch DDB if they won’t allow us to homebrew a class. I can find amazing free character record sheets if I’m forced too.
WoT is woke so they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed and make a LOT of poor creative / business choices so this idea isn’t on their radar I’m thinking.
The only update is, don’t hold your breath. If we see this in DDB in the next five years I would be totally shocked. Personally I don’t think it will ever happen, unfortunately.
You say they make poor business choices. But how would being able to make your own classes that WotC can’t profit off of make good business sense.
I’m sure there are other ways that you could make money off of allowing people to create home brew content. But the one that comes to my mind is that the by allowing this you are drawing more interest in the platform. The SRD is probably a great example of how open source actually helps drive sales. With homebrew content I imagine it could have similar effects because people still need the base rules to do it. In fact, it pulls more people away from only using the physical books to create home brew content when it is available here on dnd beyond. But my guess is that it won’t happen because it’s too complicated.
just thoughts I have based on what I feel though :)
Eh? How do you imagine DDB would generate profits by diverting their staff into creating a homebrew class system? It's a huge task for a free feature. Are you arguing that there are armies of people not buying legendary bundles because they can't currently make a homebrew class? Idk.
Eh? How do you imagine DDB would generate profits by diverting their staff into creating a homebrew class system? It's a huge task for a free feature. Are you arguing that there are armies of people not buying legendary bundles because they can't currently make a homebrew class? Idk.
+1 to this comment. I'd love if this functionality existed, but I certainly get why there are not a lot of resources being put into something that would clearly be complex for what seems like limited payback.
Eh? How do you imagine DDB would generate profits by diverting their staff into creating a homebrew class system? It's a huge task for a free feature. Are you arguing that there are armies of people not buying legendary bundles because they can't currently make a homebrew class? Idk.
+1 to this comment. I'd love if this functionality existed, but I certainly get why there are not a lot of resources being put into something that would clearly be complex for what seems like limited payback.
The other homebrew tools partly (mostly?) exist because they're what they use to input content themselves.
Since classes are vastly more complicated than anything else, I strongly suspect that they require direct programming to implement, which means there are no user-facing data entry tools.
I respectfully disagree that the payback would not be worth the resources.
The very foundation that D&D was built upon has allowed people to inject their own creativity into the system. Why would we not want to see homebrew class creation allowed as option where fans create it in their own space here. D&D started as a miniature war game that people started altering to make their own fantasy stories. I wonder if the war gaming community originally rejected the idea of D&D in the beginning. Contributing your own creations is the most exciting aspect of D&D IMO because it allows you to shape this malleable dream! To stifle it is the only limitation. It isn’t like a video game, this is a tool of imagination and D&D Beyond should be trying to heed the call of this expectation, not sigh like an exhausted curmugeon and shrug because its too hard to even think about.
Maybe homebrew class creation is a bit discouraged in D&D because of the delicate balance the rules navigate... but DUDE... I want to create a home brew class for my next game and I am super excited about it. The class I have in mind does not work with the classes they have. My group and I would love to continue using D&D Beyond, but if I can't add my homebrew class to this site it won't work.
Is it still not possible to add homebrew classes? I feel like I am missing it or something, because it just seems like something that should be integrated into the homebrew section. :)
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
I'm afraid it's not possible, though you could create an assortment of different Homebrew things like a sub-class, magical items, weapons, and spells that, when used together, could give your character some semblance of this new class that you're workshopping. For example, if your new class is a spellcaster that also uses weapons, you could make a Sorcerer subclass that gives you proficiencies in simple or martial weapons, special weapons designed to be used by this subclass, magical armor that could be used as an arcane focus, and a few spells that give serious martial vibes.
I also have a custom race and class for one of my players in our current campaigns.
It would be an extremely helpful to be able to create a class with editable levels and abilities.
I came to look for a post of this nature myself.
imo they should never even try
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
The class I have created is extremely unique. It has its own power structure and unique abilities. These abilities follow the same path of progression that is similar to aspects of other classes, and of course draws upon the resources of the magic and method of D&D. However, via D&D Beyond there is no way to use the classes from the base rules to even closely emulate what I have created. I did try though :)
I know it seems like a pretty complicated ask, but I also feel like there might be an easy solution too. If they set up sort of series of "blank slates" that you could fill in with class abilities, allowed for the basic selection of hit dice for the class and then allowed you to choose a possible spell progression based using one of the available progressions, I feel like this would work. Just something super basic. It would yield incredibly unbalanced classes. But then people could discuss how to fix home brew classes in the forums. It would be FUN!
It would also allow for the opportunity to use home brew classes that people sell and buy on The DM's Guild.
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
I really think with the evolution of the game and a new iteration on the horizon, that it would be really great if they allowed for the ability to create home brew classes here.
I feel like it would allow for people like us to breath more life into the game. Especially for those of us who have either played for a long time, or were used to the days before D&D Beyond, where making a home brew class wasn't stifled by the limitations of an online system. D&D Beyond is fun and convenient, but this is where we see it's limitations!
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
And there could be templates as well if your class is similar to a different one. Or if it has similar abilities
Don’t hold your breath, it’ll likely never happen.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Agreed. Trying to implement a system that could handle the infinite number of possibilities for homebrew classes just would work. Or just very hard to code. And for it to link in with the existing character builder seems a lot of work. Maybe there are programs out there that do this already, I’ve never looked.
You want a homebrew class then you are stuck with pen and paper or digital format like a google document or something. You can still use DDB dice rolling or macros on a VTT
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
In a world where AI is becoming actual (when it was previously a notion of science fiction), where Teslas are shot into space at the sun, where cloaning humans is an inevitable reality, where the future predicts space elevators will exist, and where dreamers who play D&D come to breath life into their stories, it is sad to see that people truly don’t believe in the idea that something as simple as adding a place to have custom classes in D&D Beyond is just too challenging of an endeavor LOL
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
Well, when WotC has the R&D, workforce and budget of Tesla and the future company that will build that space elevator then they probably will. Until then, don’t hold your breath.
The current builder can’t handle the existing classes 100% as it is.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Well first there would have to be rules for creating a class.
And as soon as those rules are written and published on line someone will complain that it does not let them do what they want. It would be a never ending cycle.
Some people are just not happy with the toys they are given to play with and instead of making their own toys want someone else to make those new toys for them. Exactly like they want. Today.
There used to only be three classes and no sub classes. Then there were four classes then 5 and so on. Until we have what we have today.
Any update on this?
I want to play a psionicist but I’m willing to ditch DDB if they won’t allow us to homebrew a class. I can find amazing free character record sheets if I’m forced too.
WoT is woke so they aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed and make a LOT of poor creative / business choices so this idea isn’t on their radar I’m thinking.
The only update is, don’t hold your breath. If we see this in DDB in the next five years I would be totally shocked. Personally I don’t think it will ever happen, unfortunately.
You say they make poor business choices. But how would being able to make your own classes that WotC can’t profit off of make good business sense.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
I’m sure there are other ways that you could make money off of allowing people to create home brew content. But the one that comes to my mind is that the by allowing this you are drawing more interest in the platform. The SRD is probably a great example of how open source actually helps drive sales. With homebrew content I imagine it could have similar effects because people still need the base rules to do it. In fact, it pulls more people away from only using the physical books to create home brew content when it is available here on dnd beyond. But my guess is that it won’t happen because it’s too complicated.
just thoughts I have based on what I feel though :)
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
“But the one that comes to mind is that by allowing this you are drawing…”
This
And the guy you’re replying to doesn’t understand business and the importance of network effects on company profits obviously…
Eh? How do you imagine DDB would generate profits by diverting their staff into creating a homebrew class system? It's a huge task for a free feature. Are you arguing that there are armies of people not buying legendary bundles because they can't currently make a homebrew class? Idk.
+1 to this comment. I'd love if this functionality existed, but I certainly get why there are not a lot of resources being put into something that would clearly be complex for what seems like limited payback.
The other homebrew tools partly (mostly?) exist because they're what they use to input content themselves.
Since classes are vastly more complicated than anything else, I strongly suspect that they require direct programming to implement, which means there are no user-facing data entry tools.
I respectfully disagree that the payback would not be worth the resources.
The very foundation that D&D was built upon has allowed people to inject their own creativity into the system. Why would we not want to see homebrew class creation allowed as option where fans create it in their own space here. D&D started as a miniature war game that people started altering to make their own fantasy stories. I wonder if the war gaming community originally rejected the idea of D&D in the beginning. Contributing your own creations is the most exciting aspect of D&D IMO because it allows you to shape this malleable dream! To stifle it is the only limitation. It isn’t like a video game, this is a tool of imagination and D&D Beyond should be trying to heed the call of this expectation, not sigh like an exhausted curmugeon and shrug because its too hard to even think about.
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings