"Greetings, foundlings, and salutations! You have decided to enter the mystical halls of the ’Brews, where you might learn some most astonishing mysteries and solve the most tangled of puzzles. Your task is to present us with something we haven't seen before, and have it make us look upon it with delight. You have but a few tendays to create your product and show it to us, so we suggest you get to work!"
- Meyonmon Merridith, Ex-Candlekeep Scholar
If this is your first time joining us, welcome. The purpose of this thread is to spread a little bit of fun in the form of a friendly competition! Your task: Create an item of homebrew (see below) that is totally original and makes us go “wow!” The end products will be rated by members of the community, and the victor of each category will help create the next Finest ‘Brew contest! The previous contests are linked below:
All competitions thus far have contained a multitude of spectacular and inspired entries, so I suggest you check them out if you haven't already. Now, onto the important stuff:
Timeframe
Entries must be submitted before Noon (Amsterdam time) on Monday, July 22nd to be considered part of the competition.
Contest Categories
In each Finest Brew contest, there are three categories. These are so that people with skill in creating, say, monsters, don't end up stuck having to make dungeons. Each category is judged separately. There can only be one entrance per category per person. The category types are as follows:
DM Options: Things that provide tools for DMs to make encounters more interesting and rewards more enticing - such as dungeons/encounters, magic items, monsters, random tables, or even optional rules/mechanics.
PC Options: Things that help a player will build and develop their character - such as homebrew classes, subclasses, spells, feats, backgrounds or race/lineage/species options.
Interactive Options:Things that affect how characters interact with the world, exploring both its social structure and environment - such as NPCs, puzzles, stories/lore, terrain, traps/hazards or even institutions like shops or taverns.
This time, our category themes are:
DM Options: Might of the Meek
They say that big things come in small packages. Sometimes, that which is modest and unassuming hides tremendous power when utilized correctly. Those monsters who find themselves lower on the food chain must rely on tenacity and wit in order to survive. An artisan's masterwork, although mundane, produces effects that most laypersons would swear was magical. For this category, draw out the potential of that which would be considered "weak" or "boring." Explore the consequences of underestimating or overlooking things. Innovate with the less dazzling monsters, equipment, or rules in 5e to breath new life into them. Restriction: Any monsters created or used in submissions for this category cannot reasonably be more challenging than CR 3. (This theme was picked with the help of Kaboom979)
Player Options: Painfully Average
Sometimes you don't need the chosen one, sometimes you don't want to be the orphan protagonist with the magic birthmark. Sometimes the average Joe can be the difference. Craft abilities, classes and magic that is not extreme, but just good enough. Or great for daily utility. Exotic powers are awesome, but what if you're just a standard wizard student, or a line officer, or Kevin from the shoe store. Can amazing things still come from the most common of places?
Interactive Options: This Foe is Beyond Any of You
Some enemies are simply beyond direct confrontation. Darth Vader can crush the windpipe of a seasoned Jedi Master with ease. The Dark Lord Sauron can lay bare the wisest wizard before his scouring eye. Your PCs are neither Jedi Masters nor among the Wise. Only through indirect means--by gathering allies, foiling their plans, and finding their hidden weakness--can these nemeses be thwarted. For this challenge, your creations should facilitate a DM in demonstrating the threat of the nemesis without (necessarily) inviting a TPK, and allowing for player agency. Consider encounters in which the PCs must escape the nemesis, parlay with them using diplomacy, or counter their terrifying power by finding a secret weakness. After all, nobody wants to face Tiamat at level 1. (This theme was picked with the help of Gnomarchy)
Voting will start Tuesday July 23rd(or thereabouts, once the survey is made) and will end at Noon (Amsterdam Time) on Wednesday July 31st. A Google Forms poll for each category will be posted on this thread, and all may vote on it - including and especially contestants. Contestants are encouraged to vote 5 and 5 on their own submissions; all scores will have 5 subtracted from both voting categories. Scores are assigned using a numerical value from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).
Balance/Playability - This score is about how well the entry would run in game. If this entry is overpowered or underpowered, consider subtracting points. Also, consider subtracting points if it is poorly written or unclear, since that would make it a lot harder to understand and use in game.
Idea/Creativity- This score is about cool, interesting and unique the entry is. If someone's idea does not fit well into the contest category it is submitted for, consider subtracting points. If someone has put alot of extra work into the submission reflected by its length or artistic pieces, consider adding points
Written Feedback - You have the option to give written feedback, should you choose, for any entries on the forms. Written feedback does not factor into a contestants score.
We are hoping that by giving everyone more criteria to vote on for each entry, you will think about each aspect and not feel the need to cram all of your thoughts into a single number. We are also hoping that having multiple scores contribute to the total will make ties less likely to occur.
Please try to take the time to review and vote for every entry, except for your own, in the categories you vote in, as even one vote can easily sway a competition like this. If there's anything you feel very strongly about, also feel free to review it in the thread! Reviews won't count for anything, but it's nice to get feedback!
Determining Winners
Category Winners: Each of the two final scores will be added together to constitute the entry's total score, with the highest score determining the winner of each category.
The winner of each individual category will pick the theme for that category in the next competition. If there is a tie, then they can work together to come up with a theme. If you pick the theme for a category, then you cannot compete in it in the next competition.
Contest Winner: The entry with the highest individual score across the three categories will then be coronated as the contest winner and become the judge of the next competition. To clarify, this means that the highest of the 3 high scores is the winner.
If one person wins two or more categories, they win, regardless of if any of their individual scores are the highest.
If two or more entries are tied for highest score, the contestant with the highest total score for all of their entries will take the crown - so be sure to try and put something forward for every category to win a tiebreaker!
Guides & Mini-FAQ* & Changelog
WAIT! Before you see the 5th level Wall of Text in this FAQ’s* & Guides section, and decide not to submit to the competition because you don’t want to read it, remember that reading this section is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. You do not need to read any of this to submit something for the competition, to pick a category, or to become the next judge. This is merely a helpful tool if you’re confused. You have no obligation to read or use it!
Guide for Competition & Category Winners.
Competition Winner: The competition winner becomes the next judge, they are responsible for doing the following:
They must start a private message thread between all the other category winners to figure out what themes the next categories will have. The judge must also pick the themes for all the categories they won. When possible, it is best to avoid reusing the same theme for the same category multiple times, though repeating themes for the same categories will be unavoidable eventually.
The judge must start the next competition thread. They can copy & paste most information from the previous competition thread, but must change the relevant information, such as dates and category themes. If you are the next judge and don’t know how long a given part of the competition, such as voting, should last, then just look at how long it lasted in the last competition, and have it be the same length for your competition. The judge should also update the “Contestants” section of their competition with links to each entry, and the name of the user who submitted it.
Once the time to submit entries ends, the judge is responsible for starting the google form for voting. If a judge doesn’t know how to do this, there will most likely be someone from the previous competition who would be willing to help if asked.
The judge should remove troll votes if there are any, and announce the scores and winners of the previous competition, after voting ends. It’s alright not to be able to do this immediately after voting ends, but the judge should try to do it as quickly as they can.
The judge, just like any other category winner, cannot submit anything to a category they created, or significantly impacted the creation of.
Category Winners: A category winner must do the following:
They must pick the next competition's theme for the category they won. Other category winners can help advise you or give you ideas for the theme, but ultimately, it’s up to you to pick it. The judge should start a private message thread with you and the other category winners, and that’s where you tell them your next category idea.
If you pick a category's theme, you cannot participate in it in the next competition. In addition, if you played a very, very significant role in picking another category’s theme, it is best for you not to participate in it. For example, if another contestant gives a list of their five ideas for the next competition and lets you pick it, then you probably shouldn’t participate in that category for when that theme comes up. However, if you just say something like, “Ooh, that sounds like a cool category idea,” or, “I like that idea but it is a little confusing, maybe you could word it differently?” Then you didn’t play that significant of a role in choosing that category, so you can still participate in it.
Mini FAQ* for competition contestants:
Q. Wait, how do I submit?
A. You just make a post in the competition thread with either a link to your entry, or your entry typed out in it. It helps to add what category you’re submitting to, but it is not strictly necessary since it’s pretty easy to figure out what type of category the entry is for.
Q. Can you vote on your own submission?
A. Yes. Contestants are encouraged strongly to vote, and to vote 5 & 5 on their own submissions, as 5 will be subtracted from each score while being calculated. This is to maintain fair voting while encouraging votes.
Q. Where can I find the forms for voting?
A. When the competition submission time ends, voting will start soon. You vote on a google form. The judge should link the forms near the voting section when they’re up, and they will probably also make a post on the thread announcing that voting’s started with the link.
Q. Can I have multiple submissions in the same competition?
A. Yes, you can have multiple submissions for the same competition. HOWEVER, as described in the “Contest Categories” section of this competition, you can only have one entry per category. For example, you can make something for the DM’s Options, PC Options, and Inspirational Options, but you can't make two things for PC Options and one for DM’s.
Q. I’ve already submitted something for X category, can I change my submission for it?
A. Yes, you can change your submission for a specific category as long as the deadline for submissions has not yet been reached. Do remember that if you’re changing your submission, it is best to edit your original post with your first submission to say that it is obsolete, and necessary to make a new one to announce & link your new submission. Also, do keep in mind that it does create a bit more work for the judges when you edit your submission, because they have to update the links. However, it is alright to do so.
Q. Is written feedback optional and does it effect an entries score?
A. Yes, written feedback is optional. No, it does not effect an entries score.
Q. Is the scoring by total score, or by average score?
A. The scoring is done by both average scores (Balance/Playability, Idea/Creativity) being added together for a final score. All scores have -5 when being calculated for reasons stated elsewhere.
Q. How do I know if my submission is more appropriate for the DM category or the Interactive category?
A. If it is not obvious which of the two categories your submission would make sense for, then it really comes down to which pillar of the game you seek to explore. DM Options are more closely tied to combat whereas Interactive Options are more closely tied to exploration and social encounters.
As an example, if you have an NPC with a stat block and you are not sure where to submit, consider whether the goal of incorporating the NPC into a game would be to fight the PCs or for the PCs to gather information from it. Its possible to write a strong, social-focused NPC who still has a stat block just in case things turn towards combat, but if your desire for the NPC is to interact with the PCs through roleplay, then it likely is more fitting for the Interactive Category. If your desire is for the NPC to maybe roleplay a little, but ultimately engage the party in combat, then it would be closer to a "monster" and fit in the DM category.
Changelog
Removed Inspirational Category. Replaced with Interactive Category. Rearranged/introduced submission types for all three categories accordingly
The goal is to expand the non-DM, non-PC options to allow for more creativity and input without being bogged down in the traditionally lengthy options of designing dungeons, character builds, and lore. With the addition of things like NPCs, puzzles, terrain, and hazards, the hope is that there is more room in the third category now for more "bite sized" homebrewing
Added “5 & 5” clause encouraging contestants to vote 5 & 5 on their own submission, and all scores will have -5 when being calculated.
The idea is to encourage contestants to vote, and to prevent imbalance in the number of votes or unfair voting. The previous “don’t vote on yours” was wholly unreliable. This way, contestants will only be at a disadvantage if they do not vote or if they vote lower on their submission.
Changed “account” to “person” in the passage under Contest Categories.
Just to ensure that submissions from alt accounts are counted under the same person.
Interactive Options: This Foe is Beyond Any of You
Escape from the City
Premise:
The ultra powerful enemy is attacking the city, and easily destroying the whole thing. The party must find their way through the destruction & panic to escape the villain. The party faces a series of challenges which they must overcome in order to escape the city alive.
Mechanics:
The party acts in rounds where each party member must take an action each round to overcome the current challenge or aid another PC in overcoming the challenge but may act in any order. Each challenge requires a set number of successes to overcome, failures have no effect. Challenges include suggested checks / saves and DCs players may choose to use, or the DM may allow alternative solutions. At the end of each round the enemy / challenge acts to worsen the current challenge or directly harm the players if they have not overcome the challenge. The DM can either choose an order of challenges to occur or roll a 1d8 to determine each challenge. Recommended: 5-6 challenges in order to successfully escape the city.
Challenges:
N = number of characters in the party
Panicking Crowd. The party find themselves engulfed in a crowd of panicking civilians crushing and squeezing them as the crowd ebbs and flows trying to find an escape route. Suggested solutions: Athletics (DC 14) to push through the crowd, Intimidation/Persuasion (DC 18) to manipulate the crowd to go where they want, Perception (DC 16 at disadvantage if Small) to spot the closest edge of the crowd. Successes Required: N-1, End of Round Consequence: Strength save (DC 10) to avoid being trampled (3d8 bludgeoning on failure)
Enemy Flies Overhead. The villain flies overhead cackling maniacally, looking for victims to capture / kill. Suggested solutions: Stealth (DC 14) to hide from the villain, Survival (DC 16) to identify somewhere out of sight of the villain. Successes Required: N End of Round Consequence: The villain swoops down lower for a better look increasing DCs by 2. (After the 3rd round the villain spots & kills one PC that failed the previous round).
Collapsing Building. The party takes shelter in a building only for the villain to target it and cause it to collapse around them. Suggested solutions: Dexterity saving throw (DC 14) to avoid falling rubble and run out of the building, Athletics (DC 18) to shove through the rubble. Successes Required: N End of Round Consequences: each PC that failed is buried in rubble becoming blinded & restrained and beginning to suffocate.
Looters. The party encounter a group of looters taking advantage of the chaos. Suggested solutions: Persuasion/Intimidation (DC 16) to convince them to flee, Stealth (DC 14) to sneak past them. Successes Required: N-2 End of Round Consequences: the looters attack the party initiating combat.
Magical Wall. The enemy erects a thematically appropriate magical wall, barring the escape route. Suggested solutions: Survival (DC 14) to find an alternative route, Arcana (DC 16) to find a weakness in the barrier, Athletics (DC 18) to smash through the barrier Successes Required: N-2 End of Round Consequences: Add an additional instance of "Enemy Flies Overhead" to successfully escape.
Minions. The party encounter a small group of the villain's minions - e.g. zombies for a necromancer, dark mantles for an aberration, kobolds for a dragon, mephits for an elementalist, twig blights for a druid/hag, Suggested solutions: short combat
Fire. The party find the way blocked by fire started by the villain. Suggested solutions: Dexterity saving throw (DC 14) to dodge through the flames, Constitution saving throw (DC 18) to attempt to put out the fire Successes Required: N End of Round Consequences: 2d6 fire damage.
Guards! The party run into a group of city guards hiding from the villain. If the party are well known heroes in the city, the guards will demand the party fight the villain and will try to draw the villains attention if the party refuses. If the party are unknown or notorious in the city, then the guards will try to arrest the party in order to blame them for leading the villain to the city or working for the villain. Suggested solutions: Persuasion (DC 18) to convince the guards to help the party escape. Intimidation (DC 14) to scare the guards into leaving the party alone. Acrobatics check (DC 16) to run past the guards. Successes Required: N-2 End of Round Consequences: If the party is well known heroes then an "Enemy Flies Overhead" encounter ensures, If the party are villains the guards attempt to grapple the party, if the party continue to resist (second round of failures) the guards attack the party.
STR 17 (+3), DEX 16 (+3), CON 14 (+2), INT 2 (-4), WIS 6(-2), CHA 5(-3)
Skills: Stealth +7 Senses: 30 ft tremorsense, 10 ft blindsight (blind beyond) Languages: - Challenge: 1/4 (more like 1/2 if they get a surprise round which they should do)
Abilities
Death Burst: When the leap worm dies it explodes in a burst of acid, each creature within 5ft of must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 13) on a failure it takes 5 (2d4) acid damage, or half as much on a success. High Jump: The leap worm can jump 20ft horizontally or 10 ft vertically, it does not provoke attacks of opportunity when it jumps.
Actions
BiteMelee Weapon Attack, +5 to hit, reach 5ft, 5 (1d4+3) piercing damage + 2(1d4) acid on a hit.
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Leap Worms feed on any kind of organic matter and reproduce extremely rapidly. In numbers they are major hazards in poorly maintained sewer systems, garbage dumps, or certain swamps. However, they are vulnerable to predators so spend most of their time hidden beneath the surface and spring up surprising wanderers/explorers.
DM Notes: These are meant to be an alternative to an Olytugh for veteran players, their small size and jump ability enables them to be found in much narrower tunnels and emerge from unexpected locations compared to the Olytugh. Their death burst plus their ability to launch surprise attacks makes them very deadly to low level parties.
When holding the Mundane Blade, you are considered to be under the effects of the nondetection and pass without trace spells. Any Wisdom (Perception) rolls made against you are made at disadvantage. Memories of your actions and features also become fuzzy in the minds of witnesses. Anyone attempting to describe your appearance or activities while you were holding the sword must succeed on a DC 20 Charisma saving throw. If the saving throw fails, you can only be described in the most general terms, and any identifying marks or clothing are forgotten.
The sword itself is immune to all spells and magical effects. The weapon is not considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistances or immunities.
One day, a perfectly ordinary smith made a shortsword that, in every respect, was completely average and nondescript -- length, width, heft, balance, sharpness, the thickness of the hilt... in every way, the sword was utterly, totally, impossibly mundane.
Over time, wielders of the weapon noticed that this unremarkability was somehow imparted to them as they held it, making them not exactly invisible, but just hard to notice. Powerful wizards studied the blade, but could not determine how the effect was created. Some even tried to add their own enchantments to the sword, but it seemed impervious to all magicks. Other craftspersons tried to etch runes on it or gild the hilt, but the additions simply didn't take. The sword stayed as average as it was the day it was forged, and so it shall seemingly remain, perhaps forever.
Proficiency with a shortsword allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter) Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Wow, the first two submissions are in writhing the first 3 & 4 hours respectively. Gonna be a hot one I reckon.
Feedback is definitely welcome for my Escape from the City as I'm planning to run that for my party tomorrow.
It looks good, but I do have a combined question: Are the challenges supposed to be sequential? What I mean by that is if there are 3 PCs then they face the first three challenges, but if there are 5 then they face the first five challenges. Or is the DM allowed to choose which challenges the party faces, and in what order? If they are not intended to be specifically happen in that prescribed ofder, then I might suggest adding one more challenge to the list, bringing the total to 8 possibilities. That way, the DM is free to roll a d8 to determine them randomly if they so choose. I mean, yeah, technically they could do it now by rolling 2d4 which results in 7 possibilities, but that will heavily skew the results towards the 3rd, 4th, & 5th challenges in the list always statistically bing the most likely results. A 1d8 table would keep the odds of any one challenge being rolled the exact same statistically as any other on the list, resulting in more diversity overall and less likelihood of rolling the same result over and over.
Humanoid Swarms: my take on making common folk and classless amateurs serious and interesting threats.
Player Options: Painfully Average
The Revised Fighter: my attempt to represent adventurers who lack the superhuman might of a Barbarian, underhanded tactics of a Rogue, world-bending spells of a caster, and even the powerful, resource-limited features of the official Fighter, but who are nonetheless versatile and formidable: "mundane" heroes who overcome monstrous odds using nothing but technical skill and tactical wit honed through good, old-fashioned practice.
Interactive Options: This Foe is Beyond Any of You
Puzzle Battles: my attempt to take thematically iconic, but mechanically boring, tit-for-tat encounters and transform them into unique puzzles that cant be solved by damage alone.
Harmonizing energy radiates from you in an aura with a 10-foot radius. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you. All creatures have any damage resistances, immunities or vulnerabilities suppressed while they are within the aura. Advantage or disadvantage on an attack roll or saving throw made by a creature within the aura is ignored if its source is a spell or magical effect. Conditions on creatures within the aura are also suppressed if their source is a spell or magical effect.
Available For: PALADIN
The wording on the last part about bonuses seems clunky, so any feedback would be welcome -- the idea is that anyone in the aura would not benefit from something like bless unless the caster of bless was in the aura with you
The idea of the spell is to create a "fair fight" within the aura
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter) Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Harmonizing energy radiates from you in an aura with a 10-foot radius. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you. All creatures within the aura have any damage resistances, immunities or vulnerabilities negated for the duration of the spell. Any to-hit or damage bonuses granted by magic items within the aura, or by spells or magical effects on a creature within the aura that are created by a source outside the aura, are also negated for the duration of the spell.
Available For: PALADIN
The wording on the last part about bonuses seems clunky, so any feedback would be welcome -- the idea is that anyone in the aura would not benefit from something like bless unless the caster of bless was in the aura with you
The idea of the spell is to create a "fair fight" within the aura
So if I am polymarized, baned or hold personed and somehow get into the aura, I am not longer those things?
The wording on the last part about bonuses seems clunky, so any feedback would be welcome -- the idea is that anyone in the aura would not benefit from something like bless unless the caster of bless was in the aura with you
The idea of the spell is to create a "fair fight" within the aura
I like the idea, but one thing I'd suggest is to have it cancel out all sources of Advantage / Disadvantage for creatures within the aura, and have it suppress and spell or magical effect that originates from a creature's ally that is outside of the aura. Dealing with magic items will be clunky & hard to adjudicate - e.g. does a Belt of Giant Strength get negated?
Perhaps something like:
All creatures within the aura have any damage resistances, immunities or vulnerabilities negated for the duration of the spell. Creatures within the aura do not roll any attacks, saves or skill checks with either advantage nor disadvantage. While a creature is within the aura it does not benefit from any spell or magical effect that originate from an allied/friendly creature that is outside of the aura.
Harmonizing energy radiates from you in an aura with a 10-foot radius. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you. All creatures within the aura have any damage resistances, immunities or vulnerabilities negated for the duration of the spell. Any to-hit or damage bonuses granted by magic items within the aura, or by spells or magical effects on a creature within the aura that are created by a source outside the aura, are also negated for the duration of the spell.
Available For: PALADIN
The wording on the last part about bonuses seems clunky, so any feedback would be welcome -- the idea is that anyone in the aura would not benefit from something like bless unless the caster of bless was in the aura with you
The idea of the spell is to create a "fair fight" within the aura
So if I am polymarized, baned or hold personed and somehow get into the aura, I am not longer those things?
Bane would definitely get wiped. Polymorph wouldn't. Hold Person... hmm. Does seem against the spirit of the thing if the pally can just wail away on a paralyzed opponent
It probably makes more sense to do a bullet-point list, or something like that, rather than try to sum up what doesn't work in the aura in one sentence. I will ponder
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Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter) Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
The wording on the last part about bonuses seems clunky, so any feedback would be welcome -- the idea is that anyone in the aura would not benefit from something like bless unless the caster of bless was in the aura with you
The idea of the spell is to create a "fair fight" within the aura
I like the idea, but one thing I'd suggest is to have it cancel out all sources of Advantage / Disadvantage for creatures within the aura, and have it suppress and spell or magical effect that originates from a creature's ally that is outside of the aura. Dealing with magic items will be clunky & hard to adjudicate - e.g. does a Belt of Giant Strength get negated?
Perhaps something like:
All creatures within the aura have any damage resistances, immunities or vulnerabilities negated for the duration of the spell. Creatures within the aura do not roll any attacks, saves or skill checks with either advantage nor disadvantage. While a creature is within the aura it does not benefit from any spell or magical effect that originate from an allied/friendly creature that is outside of the aura.
Advantage/disadvantage is a good point. It can't just be effects from allied creatures though -- the intention is to wipe anything that tips the scales one way or the other, so debuffs like bane shouldn't work either. The question is just where to draw the line
And yes, I am worried about the bookkeeping involved in having magic items not give their bonuses
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter) Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
You gain proficiency in two sets of tools of your choice (or you can choose one set of tools and improvised weapons). You can use these tools as an improvised weapon that mimics a martial weapon most similar to that tool. You deal an additional +2 damage on each successful attack you make with them. In addition, you gain a magical bonus to attack rolls with these weapons (unless your weapon already has a magical bonus to attack rolls) when you reach certain levels in this class, gaining a +1 at 5th level, +2 at 11th level, and +3 at 17th level.
Folksy Charm 3rd level
Despite your skill and experience you remain down to earth and relatable, endearing you to others. You add double your proficiency bonus to Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
Clever Improviser 7th level
When you make a skill check using a skill that you have not used yet this since your last long rest, you can give yourself a +4 bonus to that skill check (you can choose to add this bonus after you roll the check but before you know the result). You can use this ability a number of times equal to 2+ your Intelligence modifier, regaining all uses when you finish a short or long rest.
Intimidating Mundanity 10th level
The mere fact that someone as ordinary as you, is facing down terrifying monsters scares your opponents. When you succeed on a saving throw against the frightened condition, the enemy that tried to frighten you must make a Wisdom saving throw against their own DC or become frightened of you for 1 minute. A creature frightened in this way repeats the saving throw at the end of each of their turns ending the effect on a success.
In addition, after a creature deals damage to you and you still have at least half of your maximum hit points left, you can use your reaction to force them to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8+ your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus), on a failure they are frightened of you until the start of your turn.
Pay Attention 10th level
You gain a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum:+0)
Learn from your Mistakes 15th level
Though your experience with failure, you have learned to recover and quickly fix your error. When you fail on an attack roll or ability check, you can use a bonus action to attempt that attack roll or ability check again gaining advantage on the roll.
Better than Average 18th level
Increase all your ability scores to 16 unless they are already 16 or higher.
Hm... not sure if this really all works together, but I was inspired by the "generic human" racial trait for +1 to all ability scores and wanted to make a class where having a decent score for all your ability scores would be beneficial.
Harmonizing energy radiates from you in an aura with a 10-foot radius. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you. All creatures within the aura have any damage resistances, immunities or vulnerabilities negated for the duration of the spell. Any to-hit or damage bonuses granted by magic items within the aura, or by spells or magical effects on a creature within the aura that are created by a source outside the aura, are also negated for the duration of the spell.
Available For: PALADIN
The wording on the last part about bonuses seems clunky, so any feedback would be welcome -- the idea is that anyone in the aura would not benefit from something like bless unless the caster of bless was in the aura with you
The idea of the spell is to create a "fair fight" within the aura
An issue I see here is that the spell is far too weak for 3rd level, it actually is detrimental to the party. Enemies won't have magic item bonuses that can be negated most of the time, but PCs almost always have a lot of these bonuses.
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The Competition of the Finest Brews I - Judged by Yamana_Eajii. (Thread accidentally deleted)
The Competition of the Finest Brews II - Judged by Thauraeln_The_Bold.
The Competition of the Finest Brews III - Judged by TabaxiRogueFighterClericWarlock
The Competition of the Finest Brews IV - Judged by Kaboom979
The Competition of the Finest Brews V - Judged by ThorukDuckSlayer
The Competition of the Finest Brews VI - Judged by Semako
The Competition of the Finest Brews VII - Judged by MilestoGo_24
The Competition of the Finest Brews VIII — Judged by Heartofjuyomk2
The Competition of the Finest Brews IX— Judged by IamSposta
The Competition of the Finest Brews X — Judged by Kaboom979
The Competition of the Finest Brews XI - Judged by BoringBard
The Competition of the Finest Brews XII- Judged by ThorukDuckSlayer
The Competition of the Finest Brews XIII - Judged by Kaboom979
The Competition of the Finest Brews XIV- Judged by MilestoGo_24
The Competition of the Finest ‘Brews XV - Judged by IamSposta
The Competition of the Finest ‘Brews XVI - Judged by MilestoGo_24
The Competition of the Finest ‘Brews XVII - Judged by ZomblesKlein
The Competition of the Finest ‘Brews XVIII - Judged by Gnomarchy
The Competition of the Finest ‘Brews XIX - Judged by Dragon_Shark
The Competition of the Finest 'Brews XX - Judged by The_Lost_Leg
The Competition of the Finest 'Brews XXI - Judged by AntonSirius
All competitions thus far have contained a multitude of spectacular and inspired entries, so I suggest you check them out if you haven't already. Now, onto the important stuff:
Timeframe
Entries must be submitted before Noon (Amsterdam time) on Monday, July 22nd to be considered part of the competition.
Contest Categories
In each Finest Brew contest, there are three categories. These are so that people with skill in creating, say, monsters, don't end up stuck having to make dungeons. Each category is judged separately. There can only be one entrance per category per person. The category types are as follows:
This time, our category themes are:
DM Options: Might of the Meek
They say that big things come in small packages. Sometimes, that which is modest and unassuming hides tremendous power when utilized correctly. Those monsters who find themselves lower on the food chain must rely on tenacity and wit in order to survive. An artisan's masterwork, although mundane, produces effects that most laypersons would swear was magical. For this category, draw out the potential of that which would be considered "weak" or "boring." Explore the consequences of underestimating or overlooking things. Innovate with the less dazzling monsters, equipment, or rules in 5e to breath new life into them. Restriction: Any monsters created or used in submissions for this category cannot reasonably be more challenging than CR 3. (This theme was picked with the help of Kaboom979)
Player Options: Painfully Average
Sometimes you don't need the chosen one, sometimes you don't want to be the orphan protagonist with the magic birthmark. Sometimes the average Joe can be the difference. Craft abilities, classes and magic that is not extreme, but just good enough. Or great for daily utility. Exotic powers are awesome, but what if you're just a standard wizard student, or a line officer, or Kevin from the shoe store. Can amazing things still come from the most common of places?
Interactive Options: This Foe is Beyond Any of You
Some enemies are simply beyond direct confrontation. Darth Vader can crush the windpipe of a seasoned Jedi Master with ease. The Dark Lord Sauron can lay bare the wisest wizard before his scouring eye. Your PCs are neither Jedi Masters nor among the Wise. Only through indirect means--by gathering allies, foiling their plans, and finding their hidden weakness--can these nemeses be thwarted. For this challenge, your creations should facilitate a DM in demonstrating the threat of the nemesis without (necessarily) inviting a TPK, and allowing for player agency. Consider encounters in which the PCs must escape the nemesis, parlay with them using diplomacy, or counter their terrifying power by finding a secret weakness. After all, nobody wants to face Tiamat at level 1. (This theme was picked with the help of Gnomarchy)
Voting
VOTING HAS STARTED: CLICK HERE
Voting will start Tuesday July 23rd (or thereabouts, once the survey is made) and will end at Noon (Amsterdam Time) on Wednesday July 31st. A Google Forms poll for each category will be posted on this thread, and all may vote on it - including and especially contestants. Contestants are encouraged to vote 5 and 5 on their own submissions; all scores will have 5 subtracted from both voting categories. Scores are assigned using a numerical value from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent).
Written Feedback - You have the option to give written feedback, should you choose, for any entries on the forms. Written feedback does not factor into a contestants score.
We are hoping that by giving everyone more criteria to vote on for each entry, you will think about each aspect and not feel the need to cram all of your thoughts into a single number. We are also hoping that having multiple scores contribute to the total will make ties less likely to occur.
Please try to take the time to review and vote for every entry, except for your own, in the categories you vote in, as even one vote can easily sway a competition like this. If there's anything you feel very strongly about, also feel free to review it in the thread! Reviews won't count for anything, but it's nice to get feedback!
Determining Winners
Guides & Mini-FAQ* & Changelog
WAIT! Before you see the 5th level Wall of Text in this FAQ’s* & Guides section, and decide not to submit to the competition because you don’t want to read it, remember that reading this section is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. You do not need to read any of this to submit something for the competition, to pick a category, or to become the next judge. This is merely a helpful tool if you’re confused. You have no obligation to read or use it!
Guide for Competition & Category Winners.
Competition Winner: The competition winner becomes the next judge, they are responsible for doing the following:
Category Winners: A category winner must do the following:
Mini FAQ* for competition contestants:
Q. Wait, how do I submit?
A. You just make a post in the competition thread with either a link to your entry, or your entry typed out in it. It helps to add what category you’re submitting to, but it is not strictly necessary since it’s pretty easy to figure out what type of category the entry is for.
Q. Can you vote on your own submission?
A. Yes. Contestants are encouraged strongly to vote, and to vote 5 & 5 on their own submissions, as 5 will be subtracted from each score while being calculated. This is to maintain fair voting while encouraging votes.
Q. Where can I find the forms for voting?
A. When the competition submission time ends, voting will start soon. You vote on a google form. The judge should link the forms near the voting section when they’re up, and they will probably also make a post on the thread announcing that voting’s started with the link.
Q. Can I have multiple submissions in the same competition?
A. Yes, you can have multiple submissions for the same competition. HOWEVER, as described in the “Contest Categories” section of this competition, you can only have one entry per category. For example, you can make something for the DM’s Options, PC Options, and Inspirational Options, but you can't make two things for PC Options and one for DM’s.
Q. I’ve already submitted something for X category, can I change my submission for it?
A. Yes, you can change your submission for a specific category as long as the deadline for submissions has not yet been reached. Do remember that if you’re changing your submission, it is best to edit your original post with your first submission to say that it is obsolete, and necessary to make a new one to announce & link your new submission. Also, do keep in mind that it does create a bit more work for the judges when you edit your submission, because they have to update the links. However, it is alright to do so.
Q. Is written feedback optional and does it effect an entries score?
A. Yes, written feedback is optional. No, it does not effect an entries score.
Q. Is the scoring by total score, or by average score?
A. The scoring is done by both average scores (Balance/Playability, Idea/Creativity) being added together for a final score. All scores have -5 when being calculated for reasons stated elsewhere.
Q. How do I know if my submission is more appropriate for the DM category or the Interactive category?
A. If it is not obvious which of the two categories your submission would make sense for, then it really comes down to which pillar of the game you seek to explore. DM Options are more closely tied to combat whereas Interactive Options are more closely tied to exploration and social encounters.
As an example, if you have an NPC with a stat block and you are not sure where to submit, consider whether the goal of incorporating the NPC into a game would be to fight the PCs or for the PCs to gather information from it. Its possible to write a strong, social-focused NPC who still has a stat block just in case things turn towards combat, but if your desire for the NPC is to interact with the PCs through roleplay, then it likely is more fitting for the Interactive Category. If your desire is for the NPC to maybe roleplay a little, but ultimately engage the party in combat, then it would be closer to a "monster" and fit in the DM category.
Changelog
Removed Inspirational Category. Replaced with Interactive Category. Rearranged/introduced submission types for all three categories accordingly
Added “5 & 5” clause encouraging contestants to vote 5 & 5 on their own submission, and all scores will have -5 when being calculated.
Changed “account” to “person” in the passage under Contest Categories.
Contestants
DM Options: Might of the Meek
Player Options: Painfully Average
Interactive Options: This Foe is Beyond Any of You
I am also here.
Am snek.
Interactive Options: This Foe is Beyond Any of You
Escape from the City
Premise:
The ultra powerful enemy is attacking the city, and easily destroying the whole thing. The party must find their way through the destruction & panic to escape the villain. The party faces a series of challenges which they must overcome in order to escape the city alive.
Mechanics:
The party acts in rounds where each party member must take an action each round to overcome the current challenge or aid another PC in overcoming the challenge but may act in any order. Each challenge requires a set number of successes to overcome, failures have no effect. Challenges include suggested checks / saves and DCs players may choose to use, or the DM may allow alternative solutions. At the end of each round the enemy / challenge acts to worsen the current challenge or directly harm the players if they have not overcome the challenge. The DM can either choose an order of challenges to occur or roll a 1d8 to determine each challenge. Recommended: 5-6 challenges in order to successfully escape the city.
Challenges:
N = number of characters in the party
Suggested solutions: Athletics (DC 14) to push through the crowd, Intimidation/Persuasion (DC 18) to manipulate the crowd to go where they want, Perception (DC 16 at disadvantage if Small) to spot the closest edge of the crowd.
Successes Required: N-1,
End of Round Consequence: Strength save (DC 10) to avoid being trampled (3d8 bludgeoning on failure)
Suggested solutions: Stealth (DC 14) to hide from the villain, Survival (DC 16) to identify somewhere out of sight of the villain.
Successes Required: N
End of Round Consequence: The villain swoops down lower for a better look increasing DCs by 2. (After the 3rd round the villain spots & kills one PC that failed the previous round).
Suggested solutions: Dexterity saving throw (DC 14) to avoid falling rubble and run out of the building, Athletics (DC 18) to shove through the rubble.
Successes Required: N
End of Round Consequences: each PC that failed is buried in rubble becoming blinded & restrained and beginning to suffocate.
Suggested solutions: Persuasion/Intimidation (DC 16) to convince them to flee, Stealth (DC 14) to sneak past them.
Successes Required: N-2
End of Round Consequences: the looters attack the party initiating combat.
Suggested solutions: Survival (DC 14) to find an alternative route, Arcana (DC 16) to find a weakness in the barrier, Athletics (DC 18) to smash through the barrier
Successes Required: N-2
End of Round Consequences: Add an additional instance of "Enemy Flies Overhead" to successfully escape.
Suggested solutions: short combat
Suggested solutions: Dexterity saving throw (DC 14) to dodge through the flames, Constitution saving throw (DC 18) to attempt to put out the fire
Successes Required: N
End of Round Consequences: 2d6 fire damage.
Suggested solutions: Persuasion (DC 18) to convince the guards to help the party escape. Intimidation (DC 14) to scare the guards into leaving the party alone. Acrobatics check (DC 16) to run past the guards.
Successes Required: N-2
End of Round Consequences: If the party is well known heroes then an "Enemy Flies Overhead" encounter ensures, If the party are villains the guards attempt to grapple the party, if the party continue to resist (second round of failures) the guards attack the party.
DM Options: Might of the Meek
Leap Worm
Small Monstrosity
AC: 13, HP: 11 (2d6+4), Speed: 30 ft, burrow 30 ft
STR 17 (+3), DEX 16 (+3), CON 14 (+2), INT 2 (-4), WIS 6(-2), CHA 5(-3)
Skills: Stealth +7
Senses: 30 ft tremorsense, 10 ft blindsight (blind beyond)
Languages: -
Challenge: 1/4 (more like 1/2 if they get a surprise round which they should do)
Abilities
Death Burst: When the leap worm dies it explodes in a burst of acid, each creature within 5ft of must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 13) on a failure it takes 5 (2d4) acid damage, or half as much on a success.
High Jump: The leap worm can jump 20ft horizontally or 10 ft vertically, it does not provoke attacks of opportunity when it jumps.
Actions
Bite Melee Weapon Attack, +5 to hit, reach 5ft, 5 (1d4+3) piercing damage + 2(1d4) acid on a hit.
----------------------------------
Leap Worms feed on any kind of organic matter and reproduce extremely rapidly. In numbers they are major hazards in poorly maintained sewer systems, garbage dumps, or certain swamps. However, they are vulnerable to predators so spend most of their time hidden beneath the surface and spring up surprising wanderers/explorers.
DM Notes: These are meant to be an alternative to an Olytugh for veteran players, their small size and jump ability enables them to be found in much narrower tunnels and emerge from unexpected locations compared to the Olytugh. Their death burst plus their ability to launch surprise attacks makes them very deadly to low level parties.
Wow, the first two submissions are in writhing the first 3 & 4 hours respectively. Gonna be a hot one I reckon.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
DM Options: Might of the Meek
Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter)
Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
You can’t do two submissions for the same category, you gotta pick one.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Sposta, you're confused. They're not the same person. One is Agilemind, the other is AntonSirius
I am also here.
Am snek.
Feedback is definitely welcome for my Escape from the City as I'm planning to run that for my party tomorrow.
🤦♂️
It’s been a long month for me.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
It looks good, but I do have a combined question: Are the challenges supposed to be sequential? What I mean by that is if there are 3 PCs then they face the first three challenges, but if there are 5 then they face the first five challenges. Or is the DM allowed to choose which challenges the party faces, and in what order? If they are not intended to be specifically happen in that prescribed ofder, then I might suggest adding one more challenge to the list, bringing the total to 8 possibilities. That way, the DM is free to roll a d8 to determine them randomly if they so choose. I mean, yeah, technically they could do it now by rolling 2d4 which results in 7 possibilities, but that will heavily skew the results towards the 3rd, 4th, & 5th challenges in the list always statistically bing the most likely results. A 1d8 table would keep the odds of any one challenge being rolled the exact same statistically as any other on the list, resulting in more diversity overall and less likelihood of rolling the same result over and over.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Here's my entry for the DM category: the Potion Pudding.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/2969140-potion-pudding
DM Options: Might of the Meek
Humanoid Swarms: my take on making common folk and classless amateurs serious and interesting threats.
Player Options: Painfully Average
The Revised Fighter: my attempt to represent adventurers who lack the superhuman might of a Barbarian, underhanded tactics of a Rogue, world-bending spells of a caster, and even the powerful, resource-limited features of the official Fighter, but who are nonetheless versatile and formidable: "mundane" heroes who overcome monstrous odds using nothing but technical skill and tactical wit honed through good, old-fashioned practice.
Interactive Options: This Foe is Beyond Any of You
Puzzle Battles: my attempt to take thematically iconic, but mechanically boring, tit-for-tat encounters and transform them into unique puzzles that cant be solved by damage alone.
My homebrew. Let me know what you think and what I can add!
Cant wait to see what all is submitted for my category and to brew some things for the other two
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
Re-imagining unpopular subclasses as part of FIFY WotC. Let us know what you think of our changes!
Player Options: Painfully Average
The wording on the last part about bonuses seems clunky, so any feedback would be welcome -- the idea is that anyone in the aura would not benefit from something like bless unless the caster of bless was in the aura with you
The idea of the spell is to create a "fair fight" within the aura
Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter)
Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
So if I am polymarized, baned or hold personed and somehow get into the aura, I am not longer those things?
I am also here.
Am snek.
I like the idea, but one thing I'd suggest is to have it cancel out all sources of Advantage / Disadvantage for creatures within the aura, and have it suppress and spell or magical effect that originates from a creature's ally that is outside of the aura. Dealing with magic items will be clunky & hard to adjudicate - e.g. does a Belt of Giant Strength get negated?
Perhaps something like:
Bane would definitely get wiped. Polymorph wouldn't. Hold Person... hmm. Does seem against the spirit of the thing if the pally can just wail away on a paralyzed opponent
It probably makes more sense to do a bullet-point list, or something like that, rather than try to sum up what doesn't work in the aura in one sentence. I will ponder
Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter)
Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Advantage/disadvantage is a good point. It can't just be effects from allied creatures though -- the intention is to wipe anything that tips the scales one way or the other, so debuffs like bane shouldn't work either. The question is just where to draw the line
And yes, I am worried about the bookkeeping involved in having magic items not give their bonuses
Active characters:
Askatu, hyperfocused vedalken freedom fighter in Wildspace (Zealot barb/Swashbuckler rogue/Battle Master fighter)
Green Hill Sunrise, jaded tabaxi mercenary trapped in the Dark Domains (Battle Master fighter)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Player Options: Painfully Average
Reservist (Fighter Subclass)
Tools of the Trade
3rd level
You gain proficiency in two sets of tools of your choice (or you can choose one set of tools and improvised weapons). You can use these tools as an improvised weapon that mimics a martial weapon most similar to that tool. You deal an additional +2 damage on each successful attack you make with them. In addition, you gain a magical bonus to attack rolls with these weapons (unless your weapon already has a magical bonus to attack rolls) when you reach certain levels in this class, gaining a +1 at 5th level, +2 at 11th level, and +3 at 17th level.
Folksy Charm
3rd level
Despite your skill and experience you remain down to earth and relatable, endearing you to others. You add double your proficiency bonus to Charisma (Persuasion) checks.
Clever Improviser
7th level
When you make a skill check using a skill that you have not used yet this since your last long rest, you can give yourself a +4 bonus to that skill check (you can choose to add this bonus after you roll the check but before you know the result). You can use this ability a number of times equal to 2+ your Intelligence modifier, regaining all uses when you finish a short or long rest.
Intimidating Mundanity
10th level
The mere fact that someone as ordinary as you, is facing down terrifying monsters scares your opponents. When you succeed on a saving throw against the frightened condition, the enemy that tried to frighten you must make a Wisdom saving throw against their own DC or become frightened of you for 1 minute. A creature frightened in this way repeats the saving throw at the end of each of their turns ending the effect on a success.
In addition, after a creature deals damage to you and you still have at least half of your maximum hit points left, you can use your reaction to force them to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8+ your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus), on a failure they are frightened of you until the start of your turn.
Pay Attention
10th level
You gain a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum:+0)
Learn from your Mistakes
15th level
Though your experience with failure, you have learned to recover and quickly fix your error. When you fail on an attack roll or ability check, you can use a bonus action to attempt that attack roll or ability check again gaining advantage on the roll.
Better than Average
18th level
Increase all your ability scores to 16 unless they are already 16 or higher.
Hm... not sure if this really all works together, but I was inspired by the "generic human" racial trait for +1 to all ability scores and wanted to make a class where having a decent score for all your ability scores would be beneficial.
An issue I see here is that the spell is far too weak for 3rd level, it actually is detrimental to the party. Enemies won't have magic item bonuses that can be negated most of the time, but PCs almost always have a lot of these bonuses.