So I'm working on a homebrew subclass and can use some advice. The class I'm working with is a Rogue subclass based around spellscrolls. Essentially, when you finish a long rest you get a number of unstable scrolls equal to your Intelligence + half of your Rogue levels. The levels where you gain new spell levels are consistent with a 3rd caster like the Arcane Trickster or Eldritch Knight. Further, the Scribe should gain one spell each level.
The problem is I have no idea how to implement these features. I'm hopeful someone can take me by the hand and resolve things. Ideally, the subclass would have a number of prepared spells, and then the spellslots necessary to back that up.
Btw, here is the script for the subclass as a whole:
Rogue Subclass: The Scribe
Masters of Scratchwork Spellcasting
Scribes are rogues who dabble in stolen magic, not by mastering spells themselves, but by hastily scrawling unstable magical writings called Scrawled Spells. Unlike wizards who carefully prepare their tomes, a scribe scratches fragile inks onto parchment — fleeting cantrips and unstable spells that burn away after use. Their strength lies in versatility, rituals, and weaving arcane tricks into their rogue’s arsenal.
3rd Level — Scratchwork Spellcasting
Through stolen scraps of arcane knowledge, you learn to practice a rough form of magic known as Scratchwork Spellcasting. Unlike a wizard’s careful preparation, your magic is messy and fleeting, relying on scrawled notes that burn away after use.
Arcane Training. You gain expertise in the Arcana skill.
Cantrips. You learn two cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list, as well as the Transcribe cantrip. These cantrips are always available to you. You learn an additional wizard cantrip at 10th level and again at 17th level (for a total of four wizard cantrips plus Transcribe).
Scrawled Spells. After a long rest, you inscribe a number of Scrawled Spells equal to your Intelligence modifier + half your rogue level (minimum 1). These must be spells you know from your ritual book. Scrawled Spells crumble to ash if unused by your next long rest. Once per long rest, you may also spend 1 minute to inscribe one additional Scrawled Spell.
Blank Scrolls. When inscribing your Scrawled Spells after a long rest, you may choose to leave some of them blank. A blank scroll can later be filled in with a spell from your ritual book. Filling in a blank requires 1 action.
Spell Level Access. The maximum level of spell you can inscribe as a Scrawled Spell increases as you gain rogue levels:
At 3rd level, you can inscribe 1st-level spells.
At 7th level, you can inscribe 2nd-level spells.
At 13th level, you can inscribe 3rd-level spells.
At 19th level, you can inscribe 4th-level spells.
3rd Level — Ritual Book
Your study of magic is preserved in a ritual book, not innate spellcasting.
At 3rd level, your ritual book contains three 1st-level wizard spells, at least two of which must have the ritual tag.
Each time you gain a level in this class, you add one wizard spell of a level you can inscribe (see Scratchwork Spellcasting).
When you discover additional wizard spells on scrolls or in tomes, you can copy them into your ritual book the same way a wizard does.
You may cast any spell in your ritual book with the ritual tag as a ritual, without the need for Scrawled Spells.
3rd Level — Ink & Dagger
You can inscribe fleeting glyphs of weakness into your enemies, granting you an alternate way to apply Sneak Attack.
As a bonus action, you can expend a Scrawled Spell of 1st level or higher to mark a creature you can see within 30 feet.
The mark lasts for 1 minute per level of the Scrawled Spell expended, or until you mark another creature.
While marked, the creature is vulnerable to your trickery — you may apply Sneak Attack against it even if you lack advantage and no ally is adjacent, as long as you use a finesse or ranged weapon.
You can only mark one creature at a time.
9th Level — Scroll Savant
Your study of scratchwork has made you an expert at handling magical scrolls of every kind.
You may use regular spell scrolls (the magic item), regardless of the class list they come from.
If the spell is of a higher level than you can normally inscribe (see Scratchwork Spellcasting), you must succeed on an Intelligence ability check (DC = 10 + the spell’s level) to cast it. On a failure, the spell fails and the scroll crumbles to dust.
Preservation. When you successfully cast a spell from a regular spell scroll, roll a d6. On a 5 or 6, the scroll is not consumed and may be used again.
13th Level — Cursed Inks
You can lace your Scrawled Spells with dangerous glyphs. When you hit a creature with Sneak Attack, you may expend a Scrawled Spell to brand the target with one of these effects (save DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + INT modifier):
Seal of Silence. Target is silenced until the end of your next turn.
Seal of Binding. Target is restrained until the start of your next turn.
Seal of Withering. Target takes 2d6 necrotic damage at the start of its turn.
17th Level — Master of Scratchwork
Your mastery of slapdash spellcraft lets you twist magic to your will.
Swift Scribing. You can use a bonus action to inscribe one of your prepared blank scrolls into a specific spell from your ritual book, instantly turning it into a Scrawled Spell.
Chain Script. When you use a Scrawled Spell, you may immediately use another Scrawled Spell as part of the same action. Once per long rest.
Endless Ink. Once per long rest, you may inscribe a number of blank Scrawled Spells equal to your Intelligence modifier during a short rest.
So I'm working on a homebrew subclass and can use some advice. The class I'm working with is a Rogue subclass based around spellscrolls. Essentially, when you finish a long rest you get a number of unstable scrolls equal to your Intelligence + half of your Rogue levels. The levels where you gain new spell levels are consistent with a 3rd caster like the Arcane Trickster or Eldritch Knight. Further, the Scribe should gain one spell each level.
The problem is I have no idea how to implement these features. I'm hopeful someone can take me by the hand and resolve things. Ideally, the subclass would have a number of prepared spells, and then the spellslots necessary to back that up.
Btw, here is the script for the subclass as a whole:
Rogue Subclass: The Scribe
Masters of Scratchwork Spellcasting
Scribes are rogues who dabble in stolen magic, not by mastering spells themselves, but by hastily scrawling unstable magical writings called Scrawled Spells. Unlike wizards who carefully prepare their tomes, a scribe scratches fragile inks onto parchment — fleeting cantrips and unstable spells that burn away after use. Their strength lies in versatility, rituals, and weaving arcane tricks into their rogue’s arsenal.
3rd Level — Scratchwork Spellcasting
Through stolen scraps of arcane knowledge, you learn to practice a rough form of magic known as Scratchwork Spellcasting. Unlike a wizard’s careful preparation, your magic is messy and fleeting, relying on scrawled notes that burn away after use.
Arcane Training. You gain expertise in the Arcana skill.
Cantrips. You learn two cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list, as well as the Transcribe cantrip. These cantrips are always available to you. You learn an additional wizard cantrip at 10th level and again at 17th level (for a total of four wizard cantrips plus Transcribe).
Scrawled Spells. After a long rest, you inscribe a number of Scrawled Spells equal to your Intelligence modifier + half your rogue level (minimum 1). These must be spells you know from your ritual book. Scrawled Spells crumble to ash if unused by your next long rest. Once per long rest, you may also spend 1 minute to inscribe one additional Scrawled Spell.
Blank Scrolls. When inscribing your Scrawled Spells after a long rest, you may choose to leave some of them blank. A blank scroll can later be filled in with a spell from your ritual book. Filling in a blank requires 1 action.
Spell Level Access. The maximum level of spell you can inscribe as a Scrawled Spell increases as you gain rogue levels:
At 3rd level, you can inscribe 1st-level spells.
At 7th level, you can inscribe 2nd-level spells.
At 13th level, you can inscribe 3rd-level spells.
At 19th level, you can inscribe 4th-level spells.
3rd Level — Ritual Book
Your study of magic is preserved in a ritual book, not innate spellcasting.
At 3rd level, your ritual book contains three 1st-level wizard spells, at least two of which must have the ritual tag.
Each time you gain a level in this class, you add one wizard spell of a level you can inscribe (see Scratchwork Spellcasting).
When you discover additional wizard spells on scrolls or in tomes, you can copy them into your ritual book the same way a wizard does.
You may cast any spell in your ritual book with the ritual tag as a ritual, without the need for Scrawled Spells.
3rd Level — Ink & Dagger
You can inscribe fleeting glyphs of weakness into your enemies, granting you an alternate way to apply Sneak Attack.
As a bonus action, you can expend a Scrawled Spell of 1st level or higher to mark a creature you can see within 30 feet.
The mark lasts for 1 minute per level of the Scrawled Spell expended, or until you mark another creature.
While marked, the creature is vulnerable to your trickery — you may apply Sneak Attack against it even if you lack advantage and no ally is adjacent, as long as you use a finesse or ranged weapon.
You can only mark one creature at a time.
9th Level — Scroll Savant
Your study of scratchwork has made you an expert at handling magical scrolls of every kind.
You may use regular spell scrolls (the magic item), regardless of the class list they come from.
If the spell is of a higher level than you can normally inscribe (see Scratchwork Spellcasting), you must succeed on an Intelligence ability check (DC = 10 + the spell’s level) to cast it. On a failure, the spell fails and the scroll crumbles to dust.
Preservation. When you successfully cast a spell from a regular spell scroll, roll a d6. On a 5 or 6, the scroll is not consumed and may be used again.
13th Level — Cursed Inks
You can lace your Scrawled Spells with dangerous glyphs. When you hit a creature with Sneak Attack, you may expend a Scrawled Spell to brand the target with one of these effects (save DC = 8 + proficiency bonus + INT modifier):
Seal of Silence. Target is silenced until the end of your next turn.
Seal of Binding. Target is restrained until the start of your next turn.
Seal of Withering. Target takes 2d6 necrotic damage at the start of its turn.
17th Level — Master of Scratchwork
Your mastery of slapdash spellcraft lets you twist magic to your will.
Swift Scribing. You can use a bonus action to inscribe one of your prepared blank scrolls into a specific spell from your ritual book, instantly turning it into a Scrawled Spell.
Chain Script. When you use a Scrawled Spell, you may immediately use another Scrawled Spell as part of the same action. Once per long rest.
Endless Ink. Once per long rest, you may inscribe a number of blank Scrawled Spells equal to your Intelligence modifier during a short rest.