I am currently playing a homebrew warlock and have received permission to make a homebrew spell and was hoping I could get some help balancing it out. Here is what I currently have.
Level: 2
Casting time: 1 hour
Range: 30 ft
Components: V, S, M (an ornate box worth 100 GP)
Duration: Instantaneous
School: Necromancy
Description: Choose a pile of bones or a corpse within range. The soul that originally inhabited the corpse is pulled from the ethereal plane and trapped inside of an ornate box (worth at least 100gp). While inside the box the soul is not conscious of its surroundings and is in a sleep-like state.
You may use an action to open the box allowing the soul to escape and manifest into the form of a creature that shares the same type that the soul had in life with a CR equal to or less than 1/8 or any undead with a CR equal to or less than 1/8. For example, if the spell was cast on a humanoid the soul could manifest into any humanoid or undead with a CR of less then 1/8.
While summoned the soul regards you as a close friend and will do it's best to obey your orders. The soul rolls and acts on its own initiative and when not under orders will act based on its personality in life which it retains while bound.
When cast at a higher level: The CR that the soul can manifest into increases by something. (1/4 at level 3 based on raise dead) The cost of the box also increases at every level, double the cost of the previous level. (200 at level 3, 400 at level 4, 800 at level 5) You can also cast this spell in such a way as to transfer the soul from one box to another allowing you to increase the power of the soul.
Whilst the cost of the box places some restrictions on the spell, my main concern as a DM would be around the quantity of undead that could be "stacked up" with this.
Say you were allowed the spell as it is, then over time purchased 20 boxes and then, each time the party were about to rest for the night and you had a spare level 2 spell slot, you cast this spell - we could get a situation where you had 20 "full" boxes ready to unleash.
I suggest placing an expiry date on each spell perhaps, such as, "The soul will remain in the box for up to 1 week before returning to the ethereal plane"
"You may use an action to open the box allowing the soul to escape and manifest into the form of a creature that shares the same type that the soul had in life with a CR equal to or less than 1/8 or any undead with a CR equal to or less than 1/8." - who decides what the soul manifests as? The DM or the player?
Thematically, it's an interesting spell though. :)
That is a really good point about stacking I hadn't thought of that. Might just make it so you can only have one box at a time or maybe just one soul summoned at a time.
For choosing what is conjured I originally thought player but DM choice would add an unpredictability to it.
That is a really good point about stacking I hadn't thought of that. Might just make it so you can only have one box at a time or maybe just one soul summoned at a time.
For choosing what is conjured I originally thought player but DM choice would add an unpredictability to it.
Maybe you could make this into a magic item requiring attunement in stead of a spell? Or does that not work for your campaign/idea with this? Have you looked at the other conjure spells to see how they work? Like conjure minor elementals or conjure animals?
While a magic item would probably fit better I don't think I can just ask for one because of a level up. The conjure animal spell though does make me think maybe I should bump the CR a bit.
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Hey there!
I am currently playing a homebrew warlock and have received permission to make a homebrew spell and was hoping I could get some help balancing it out. Here is what I currently have.
Level: 2
Casting time: 1 hour
Range: 30 ft
Components: V, S, M (an ornate box worth 100 GP)
Duration: Instantaneous
School: Necromancy
Description: Choose a pile of bones or a corpse within range. The soul that originally inhabited the corpse is pulled from the ethereal plane and trapped inside of an ornate box (worth at least 100gp). While inside the box the soul is not conscious of its surroundings and is in a sleep-like state.
You may use an action to open the box allowing the soul to escape and manifest into the form of a creature that shares the same type that the soul had in life with a CR equal to or less than 1/8 or any undead with a CR equal to or less than 1/8. For example, if the spell was cast on a humanoid the soul could manifest into any humanoid or undead with a CR of less then 1/8.
While summoned the soul regards you as a close friend and will do it's best to obey your orders. The soul rolls and acts on its own initiative and when not under orders will act based on its personality in life which it retains while bound.
When cast at a higher level: The CR that the soul can manifest into increases by something. (1/4 at level 3 based on raise dead) The cost of the box also increases at every level, double the cost of the previous level. (200 at level 3, 400 at level 4, 800 at level 5) You can also cast this spell in such a way as to transfer the soul from one box to another allowing you to increase the power of the soul.
All thoughts and suggestions appreciated!
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D&D Beyond FoundersWhilst the cost of the box places some restrictions on the spell, my main concern as a DM would be around the quantity of undead that could be "stacked up" with this.
Say you were allowed the spell as it is, then over time purchased 20 boxes and then, each time the party were about to rest for the night and you had a spare level 2 spell slot, you cast this spell - we could get a situation where you had 20 "full" boxes ready to unleash.
I suggest placing an expiry date on each spell perhaps, such as, "The soul will remain in the box for up to 1 week before returning to the ethereal plane"
"You may use an action to open the box allowing the soul to escape and manifest into the form of a creature that shares the same type that the soul had in life with a CR equal to or less than 1/8 or any undead with a CR equal to or less than 1/8." - who decides what the soul manifests as? The DM or the player?
Thematically, it's an interesting spell though. :)
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"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
That is a really good point about stacking I hadn't thought of that. Might just make it so you can only have one box at a time or maybe just one soul summoned at a time.
For choosing what is conjured I originally thought player but DM choice would add an unpredictability to it.
Maybe you could make this into a magic item requiring attunement in stead of a spell? Or does that not work for your campaign/idea with this? Have you looked at the other conjure spells to see how they work? Like conjure minor elementals or conjure animals?
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
While a magic item would probably fit better I don't think I can just ask for one because of a level up. The conjure animal spell though does make me think maybe I should bump the CR a bit.