I had a thought for an ability and I'm not sure how to best add it to a character or what power level it fits in best so I'm going to ask for suggestions.
Reflect Damage: While this is active, any damage done as an attack by the character who has it active is taken by the character instead of his opponent and any damage done to the character is taken by the source of the attack instead of the character.
This could be used by clerics who specialize in healing to protect themselves in combat and it could also be used offensively to turn an opponent's attacks against himself. I used the word attack on purpose so that area of effect spells wouldn't be affected by it.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? I'm playing a warlock right now and I could see that being a fun eldritch invocation. But it could also work as a magic item or a spell. Or a cleric ability.
I'd personally craft it as a homebrew spell, available to Clerics and Druids and maaaaaaaaaybe Wizards, I'd say. If I am not mistaken eldritch invocations are just "there" and do not really have limited uses, which something like this should have, imho. Limiting it to only Clerics, on the other hand, seems too much, as sometimes Druids can be as if not more pacifists than Clerics. Same could be said for Wizards, therefore why I suppose they could have it as well in their list.
This would obviously be an Abjuration spell, I'd say somatic and verbal components, not necessarily material ones, instant cast and range of self. The level would depend on the other factors of it. Is it lasting for a certain amount of minutes/rounds? definitely nothing lower than lvl 5, imho. Is is just a reaction spell that lasts until the end of the next turn of the caster? in this case lvl 3 could be good enough (I am no expert in spell balancing tho :P). Does it have a cap in damage it can redirect? if it does, and it is not a tremendously high amount, you can adjust the base level of the spell by lowering it by one.
In terms of wording, I think the best way to make sure no one can misinterpret what can or cannot be redirected is to just say it redirects any attack "which targets only one creature".
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Paladins definitely deserves this spell. I personally would put this as an aura effect, lasting one minute or one round. The wording of the spell matters a lot when deciding level, and there's a few way to take it.
If the attacks are weapon attacks, the average damage ranges from 2.5 to 7. This ignores modifiers, magical weapons, and class features like sneak attack. All this in mind, I would go for 2nd level.
If the attacks are spell attacks, this throws everything for a loop. The most powerful spell attack is crown of stars dealing an average of 26 damage. This creates an imbalance in the spell, having low level characters replicate a 7th level spell. However, that is ranged, if you limit it to only melee attacks, the highest is, well, Mordenkainen's Sword, not exactly the uplifting low-level spell I was hoping for.
In general, I would suggest 2nd level, melee weapon attacks, and a duration of one round or one minute.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Paladins definitely deserves this spell. I personally would put this as an aura effect, lasting one minute or one round. The wording of the spell matters a lot when deciding level, and there's a few way to take it.
If the attacks are weapon attacks, the average damage ranges from 2.5 to 7. This ignores modifiers, magical weapons, and class features like sneak attack. All this in mind, I would go for 2nd level.
If the attacks are spell attacks, this throws everything for a loop. The most powerful spell attack is crown of stars dealing an average of 26 damage. This creates an imbalance in the spell, having low level characters replicate a 7th level spell. However, that is ranged, if you limit it to only melee attacks, the highest is, well, Mordenkainen's Sword, not exactly the uplifting low-level spell I was hoping for.
In general, I would suggest 2nd level, melee weapon attacks, and a duration of one round or one minute.
I can't fathom how I did not think of Paladins as well :|
The version you propose is definitely a good alternative, maybe it could be a "lesser" version of this mirror spell? like, this one as you proposed (I'd keep it with duration 1 round though) and a "greater one, lvl 4 (so Paladins can still access it) that would reflect also ranged spell attacks with one creature target.
For both I'd still put a cap of damage that can be redirected (like 15 for the "lesser" lvl2 version and 25-30 for the "greater"), and any single attack that would surpass that (I am thinking critical hits could do it in terms of non-spell attacks) would see the "mirror" shattered and exceeding damage hit the caster.
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
A lot of spells scale with the spell slot used to cast it, so if it's an abjuration spell the amount of damage and/or the duration could scale as the spell slot increases. 1 minute concentration makes more sense than a single round for the duration. Plus, making the amount of damage that it reflects scale with the spell slot used to cast it would make the worries about more powerful attacks much less of a concern.
Paladins could definitely use it, but since it affects all attacks that the target makes as well as all attacks that hit the target, most paladins would hesitate to use it since it would prevent them from attacking for the duration of the spell.
Eldritch invocations can be always on and they can also be usable once per short or long rest. Or they can require a spell slot to use. They're all different. But the more I think about it the more I like it as a spell that multiple classes can use.
How is this?
Reflect damage, 1st level abjuration. Duration 1 minute (concentration). All attacks made by the target of this spell or made at the target of this spell are reflected back at the attacker instead of affecting the target of the attack until 10 HP of damage are reflected. When cast on an unwilling target, the target can make a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the effects of the spell. This spell only effects targeted attacks where a successful attack role is made. It reflects all incoming and outgoing attacks while it is in effect so the target of the spell can't be attacked but also can't attack anyone. When an attack does more damage than is remaining, the spell ends without reflecting the damage from that attack. When cast using a spell slot higher than 1st level the amount of damage that the spell reflects increases by 10 HP per level of the spell slot used to cast the spell.
Reflect damage, 1st level abjuration. Duration 1 minute (concentration). All attacks made by the target of this spell or made at the target of this spell are reflected back at the attacker instead of affecting the target of the attack until 10 HP of damage are reflected. When cast on an unwilling target, the target can make a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the effects of the spell. This spell only effects targeted attacks where a successful attack role is made. It reflects all incoming and outgoing attacks while it is in effect so the target of the spell can't be attacked but also can't attack anyone. When an attack does more damage than is remaining, the spell ends without reflecting the damage from that attack. When cast using a spell slot higher than 1st level the amount of damage that the spell reflects increases by 10 HP per level of the spell slot used to cast the spell.
Sounds reasonable to me, the only problem is that, short of successful charm spells or area of effect spells, nothing could technically break the concentration (unless I am missing something). It can definitely be intended, also considering the amount of damage reflected is balanced enough, imho.
The wording could probably use some improvement (can't suggest anything atm), but otherwise I think you are on the right track.
You're assuming that the spell would only be used for defense. I can also see it being cast on an opponent or on a rogue who would then dash through a large group of opponents drawing their reactions for the round to attack him. I'd give it a range of 30'.
Maybe instead of a duration, allow to reflect x amount of damage before the mirror "shatters?" This damage could scale with level. Then it could work against spells too without the scaling problems mentioned above.
Maybe instead of a duration, allow to reflect x amount of damage before the mirror "shatters?" This damage could scale with level. Then it could work against spells too without the scaling problems mentioned above.
And you could make a revised Protection Domain that gets this and has a feature that improves it. And you could make a Sorcerous Origin based entirely around this and a few similar spells. I'm quite exited.
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Maybe instead of a duration, allow to reflect x amount of damage before the mirror "shatters?" This damage could scale with level. Then it could work against spells too without the scaling problems mentioned above.
And you could make a revised Protection Domain that gets this and has a feature that improves it. And you could make a Sorcerous Origin based entirely around this and a few similar spells. I'm quite exited.
Maybe I'll make the damage mirror a warlock patron too.
Maybe instead of a duration, allow to reflect x amount of damage before the mirror "shatters?" This damage could scale with level. Then it could work against spells too without the scaling problems mentioned above.
And you could make a revised Protection Domain that gets this and has a feature that improves it. And you could make a Sorcerous Origin based entirely around this and a few similar spells. I'm quite exited.
Maybe make Minor and Major or Lesser and Greater versions of the spell where the Minor version reflects damage that requires an attack roll and the Major version reflects all damage including area of affect spells like Fireball.
I had a thought for an ability and I'm not sure how to best add it to a character or what power level it fits in best so I'm going to ask for suggestions.
Reflect Damage: While this is active, any damage done as an attack by the character who has it active is taken by the character instead of his opponent and any damage done to the character is taken by the source of the attack instead of the character.
This could be used by clerics who specialize in healing to protect themselves in combat and it could also be used offensively to turn an opponent's attacks against himself. I used the word attack on purpose so that area of effect spells wouldn't be affected by it.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? I'm playing a warlock right now and I could see that being a fun eldritch invocation. But it could also work as a magic item or a spell. Or a cleric ability.
Professional computer geek
I'd personally craft it as a homebrew spell, available to Clerics and Druids and maaaaaaaaaybe Wizards, I'd say. If I am not mistaken eldritch invocations are just "there" and do not really have limited uses, which something like this should have, imho. Limiting it to only Clerics, on the other hand, seems too much, as sometimes Druids can be as if not more pacifists than Clerics. Same could be said for Wizards, therefore why I suppose they could have it as well in their list.
This would obviously be an Abjuration spell, I'd say somatic and verbal components, not necessarily material ones, instant cast and range of self. The level would depend on the other factors of it. Is it lasting for a certain amount of minutes/rounds? definitely nothing lower than lvl 5, imho. Is is just a reaction spell that lasts until the end of the next turn of the caster? in this case lvl 3 could be good enough (I am no expert in spell balancing tho :P). Does it have a cap in damage it can redirect? if it does, and it is not a tremendously high amount, you can adjust the base level of the spell by lowering it by one.
In terms of wording, I think the best way to make sure no one can misinterpret what can or cannot be redirected is to just say it redirects any attack "which targets only one creature".
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Paladins definitely deserves this spell. I personally would put this as an aura effect, lasting one minute or one round. The wording of the spell matters a lot when deciding level, and there's a few way to take it.
If the attacks are weapon attacks, the average damage ranges from 2.5 to 7. This ignores modifiers, magical weapons, and class features like sneak attack. All this in mind, I would go for 2nd level.
If the attacks are spell attacks, this throws everything for a loop. The most powerful spell attack is crown of stars dealing an average of 26 damage. This creates an imbalance in the spell, having low level characters replicate a 7th level spell. However, that is ranged, if you limit it to only melee attacks, the highest is, well, Mordenkainen's Sword, not exactly the uplifting low-level spell I was hoping for.
In general, I would suggest 2nd level, melee weapon attacks, and a duration of one round or one minute.
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"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
A lot of spells scale with the spell slot used to cast it, so if it's an abjuration spell the amount of damage and/or the duration could scale as the spell slot increases. 1 minute concentration makes more sense than a single round for the duration. Plus, making the amount of damage that it reflects scale with the spell slot used to cast it would make the worries about more powerful attacks much less of a concern.
Paladins could definitely use it, but since it affects all attacks that the target makes as well as all attacks that hit the target, most paladins would hesitate to use it since it would prevent them from attacking for the duration of the spell.
Eldritch invocations can be always on and they can also be usable once per short or long rest. Or they can require a spell slot to use. They're all different. But the more I think about it the more I like it as a spell that multiple classes can use.
How is this?
Reflect damage, 1st level abjuration. Duration 1 minute (concentration). All attacks made by the target of this spell or made at the target of this spell are reflected back at the attacker instead of affecting the target of the attack until 10 HP of damage are reflected. When cast on an unwilling target, the target can make a Wisdom saving throw to avoid the effects of the spell. This spell only effects targeted attacks where a successful attack role is made. It reflects all incoming and outgoing attacks while it is in effect so the target of the spell can't be attacked but also can't attack anyone. When an attack does more damage than is remaining, the spell ends without reflecting the damage from that attack. When cast using a spell slot higher than 1st level the amount of damage that the spell reflects increases by 10 HP per level of the spell slot used to cast the spell.
Professional computer geek
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
You're assuming that the spell would only be used for defense. I can also see it being cast on an opponent or on a rogue who would then dash through a large group of opponents drawing their reactions for the round to attack him. I'd give it a range of 30'.
Professional computer geek
Maybe instead of a duration, allow to reflect x amount of damage before the mirror "shatters?" This damage could scale with level. Then it could work against spells too without the scaling problems mentioned above.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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