i think i have asked this before but i can't find it. is it possible to get a tutorial on how to use the editor. I am having serious problems understanding how to use the homebrew subclass creator. i have so many ideas that i want to get out there but i have no way to do it as i don't know how to use the homebrew creator. so far i have figured out how to add descriptions of everything but nothing more like spell lists or bonuses and options and the rest of it. i can only make it to the second page before i get confused.
There is no tutorial per-se as of now, but according to the AMA Adam did a few days back, they are looking into a reword of the tools and the production of tutorials on how to efficiently use them.
This is something that we will see in the coming year (no ETA), so in the meantime my best advice is to have a look at official subclasses that have the features you would like to implement in yours, selecting them as a template when you create a new one, and have a look at how they are coded in the current tools. It's a workaround, but it's the best we have for now (unless you have A LOT of free time on your hands and would be able to thinker around with the options).
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
I've put together a number of tutorials, but knowing that the current system was always going to be replaced (just a matter of when) I didn't want to invest too much time and effort into them.
As you've no doubt seen - subclasses is a complicated homebrew to tackle as well!
I may get around to it over the holiday season though.
i do have a bunch of free time and it looks like i will be spending it trying to learn how to make it work. i really hope a tutorial for subclasses come out sooner rather than later.
For the basics of creating subclasses, I just created one recently (but have been toying around with the editor for quite a while), so I can point some directions:
Important notice: not all these steps are necessary, if you don't use the character generator, some might be useless, and only adding descriptions is enough. However, if you plan to use the character builder, there are a lot of neat options.
Prerequisites:
First, you should have a clear idea of what are the class features of your subclass. They are granted at fixed levels, that depend on the base class. Have a look here for the different tables. I often write anything on a textpad document beforehand, to know what I'm going to do.
You should also read tutorials on tooltips and snippets, in order to have a good readability.
If you want to homebrew, I advise to start with feats, monsters and magic items before trying subclasses, simply because subclasses are much more complex and hence require a good knowledge of the editor.
Creating the subclass:
Then, you can create a subclass. I created from scratch, but you can take inspiration in an existing subclass
The first thing asked is basic information. This is super basic information, like "For some barbarians, rage is a means to an end—that end being violence. The Path of the Berserker is a path of untrammeled fury, slick with blood. As you enter the berserker’s rage, you thrill in the chaos of battle, heedless of your own health or well-being." (barbarian - berserker).
This is where you choose if the class grants access to spells, there are multiple boxes with "can cast spells" "spellcasting ability", etc...
Once you've entered this info, you can save. You created the new subclass!
Class features:
Now, you can add the class features. To do so, click on the "add a class feature" button. You can enter the description of the feature here. If the player have a choice to do here (like combat style from fighter), do not describe the options in the description, they come later.
There is a "required class level" box, find the desired required class level at which the feature becomes available. There is also a checkbox for options. If you have options to choose from, you should check this checkbox.
If you don't have any option, you can skip the class feature options part below, and jump directly to bonus from features (or options).
Class feature options:
If you have options, you add them one by one, by clicking on the "add an option" button in the class feature options field. Each option will require a description, and can require previous class features, a given level, and can be given. Your option is now created, and you can add the bonus it grants by following the next section, "bonus from features (or options)". Options don't have the "level scaling" option, but that's the only difference.
Bonus from features (or options):
What does your feature grant? Is it some bonus that goes up with your levels? If so, add a "level scaling"
Is it some bonus to damage, some resistance to something, etc? If it can be considered as a permanent modifier, you should add a "modifier". Modifiers is quite a huge list, and can be a lot of things, you will have to explore all the different possibilities here. If you don't write anything in the "details" section, the bonus will be automatically added to the character sheet (I think).
Is it some spell, or something that allows you to cast a spell? Or maybe a spell list? Then you need to add "spells" to the feature/option. I don't know how this work, sorry... I know for sure that adding one spell is easy, you just add the spell. For spell lists, I have no idea.
Is it a new action, like thief cunning action, or the monk step of the wind and flurry of blows? Then you can add an action. Here you can choose the kind of action, the name, what ability it uses, the range, the damage, the save, a full description, the damage type, and other things. The activation time is specially important, it's the time you use to take the action: is it an action, a reaction, a bonus action, or something special? This action can change as levels change, there is a "level override" button for this
Finally, maybe this feature or option allows to summon, wildshape, or anything directly in link to a creature. If so, you can add a creature field.
Repeat the three previous steps until your homebrew is done
Now that your homebrew is finished, you should know that "sharing with the community" prevents you from editing it (you can make new versions, however, which allow you to change things, but maybe you don't want too much of them). So, the two first things to do, are
Read again all your homebrew, correct typos, bad grammar, and other mistakes of the kind. Add tooltips where you forgot them...
Create a character, make him a level 20 character with your subclass, and check if every option is available and is as clear as you want it to be. If you have special actions, do they look nice? Are their snippets detailed enough? etc
Now you can share it, if you want to do so. Your homebrew will always be available to you, so you can keep it for you and you only if such is your wish.
Good luck
PS: @Stormknight: feel free to take parts or the entire post for your incoming tutorial, you're doing such a great job here, I would love to be helpful. xoxo
No problem at all. Have fun! Creating a subclass was super fun in my case, even if it was a lot of work. And I'm pretty sure I could do some things better!
Ok, maybe my brain is just being slow, but I can't seem to get the whole "option" thing to work. basically, I'm trying to create the Witch Hunter Fighter subclass from Mordenkainen's Codex of Allies. There's 4 things that happen at level 3 - 1) You can gain 2 of 6 proficiencies (or a tool), 2) Learn 2 spells and select from 2 cantrips (I got the spells at least to work, miracle...) 3) Learn one of 3 languages, 4) and, grant a "resistance of the day" from a list. This resets after a long rest, and you can select another one.
I set each one up a a feature, but the "Select from this list" thing is killing me. First off, proficiencies. That's it's own feature, so I added the Feature, with name, description, class level, and checked "has options." Then I went to Class Feature Options, added an option, and selected Modifier > Add a Modifier > Modifier Type (Proficiency) > Modifier Subtype (Arcana) and left the rest blank. I did that for all 6 Proficiency options, then did a 7th for "Choose a Tool."
In the builder, all that comes up is [ - Choose and Option - ] and then [ - Choose a Tool - ] So, I can choose a tool, but not any of the 6 Proficiencies. I just end up with all 6 of them.
I see an option in the Modifier Type is "Choose a Skill" - how do you set the number of options to the 6 listed? And, how do you do the second gained proficiency? Will the first selected one NOT show up on the list for the second one?
i think i have asked this before but i can't find it. is it possible to get a tutorial on how to use the editor. I am having serious problems understanding how to use the homebrew subclass creator. i have so many ideas that i want to get out there but i have no way to do it as i don't know how to use the homebrew creator. so far i have figured out how to add descriptions of everything but nothing more like spell lists or bonuses and options and the rest of it. i can only make it to the second page before i get confused.
sincerely Jaekaido
Hi Jaekaido o/
There is no tutorial per-se as of now, but according to the AMA Adam did a few days back, they are looking into a reword of the tools and the production of tutorials on how to efficiently use them.
This is something that we will see in the coming year (no ETA), so in the meantime my best advice is to have a look at official subclasses that have the features you would like to implement in yours, selecting them as a template when you create a new one, and have a look at how they are coded in the current tools.
It's a workaround, but it's the best we have for now (unless you have A LOT of free time on your hands and would be able to thinker around with the options).
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
I've put together a number of tutorials, but knowing that the current system was always going to be replaced (just a matter of when) I didn't want to invest too much time and effort into them.
As you've no doubt seen - subclasses is a complicated homebrew to tackle as well!
I may get around to it over the holiday season though.
Pun-loving nerd | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
i do have a bunch of free time and it looks like i will be spending it trying to learn how to make it work. i really hope a tutorial for subclasses come out sooner rather than later.
For the basics of creating subclasses, I just created one recently (but have been toying around with the editor for quite a while), so I can point some directions:
Important notice: not all these steps are necessary, if you don't use the character generator, some might be useless, and only adding descriptions is enough. However, if you plan to use the character builder, there are a lot of neat options.
Prerequisites:
First, you should have a clear idea of what are the class features of your subclass. They are granted at fixed levels, that depend on the base class. Have a look here for the different tables. I often write anything on a textpad document beforehand, to know what I'm going to do.
You should also read tutorials on tooltips and snippets, in order to have a good readability.
If you want to homebrew, I advise to start with feats, monsters and magic items before trying subclasses, simply because subclasses are much more complex and hence require a good knowledge of the editor.
Creating the subclass:
Then, you can create a subclass. I created from scratch, but you can take inspiration in an existing subclass
The first thing asked is basic information. This is super basic information, like "For some barbarians, rage is a means to an end—that end being violence. The Path of the Berserker is a path of untrammeled fury, slick with blood. As you enter the berserker’s rage, you thrill in the chaos of battle, heedless of your own health or well-being." (barbarian - berserker).
This is where you choose if the class grants access to spells, there are multiple boxes with "can cast spells" "spellcasting ability", etc...
Once you've entered this info, you can save. You created the new subclass!
Class features:
Now, you can add the class features. To do so, click on the "add a class feature" button. You can enter the description of the feature here. If the player have a choice to do here (like combat style from fighter), do not describe the options in the description, they come later.
There is a "required class level" box, find the desired required class level at which the feature becomes available. There is also a checkbox for options. If you have options to choose from, you should check this checkbox.
If you don't have any option, you can skip the class feature options part below, and jump directly to bonus from features (or options).
Class feature options:
If you have options, you add them one by one, by clicking on the "add an option" button in the class feature options field. Each option will require a description, and can require previous class features, a given level, and can be given. Your option is now created, and you can add the bonus it grants by following the next section, "bonus from features (or options)". Options don't have the "level scaling" option, but that's the only difference.
Bonus from features (or options):
What does your feature grant? Is it some bonus that goes up with your levels? If so, add a "level scaling"
Is it some bonus to damage, some resistance to something, etc? If it can be considered as a permanent modifier, you should add a "modifier". Modifiers is quite a huge list, and can be a lot of things, you will have to explore all the different possibilities here. If you don't write anything in the "details" section, the bonus will be automatically added to the character sheet (I think).
Is it some spell, or something that allows you to cast a spell? Or maybe a spell list? Then you need to add "spells" to the feature/option. I don't know how this work, sorry... I know for sure that adding one spell is easy, you just add the spell. For spell lists, I have no idea.
Is it a new action, like thief cunning action, or the monk step of the wind and flurry of blows? Then you can add an action. Here you can choose the kind of action, the name, what ability it uses, the range, the damage, the save, a full description, the damage type, and other things. The activation time is specially important, it's the time you use to take the action: is it an action, a reaction, a bonus action, or something special? This action can change as levels change, there is a "level override" button for this
Finally, maybe this feature or option allows to summon, wildshape, or anything directly in link to a creature. If so, you can add a creature field.
Repeat the three previous steps until your homebrew is done
Now that your homebrew is finished, you should know that "sharing with the community" prevents you from editing it (you can make new versions, however, which allow you to change things, but maybe you don't want too much of them). So, the two first things to do, are
Now you can share it, if you want to do so. Your homebrew will always be available to you, so you can keep it for you and you only if such is your wish.
Good luck
PS: @Stormknight: feel free to take parts or the entire post for your incoming tutorial, you're doing such a great job here, I would love to be helpful. xoxo
My homebrew feat for thrown weapons, feat to help DMs extend Sorcerer's spells known list, and my homebrew combo monk subclass (diablo inspired)!
@ Blublabolbolbol thank you so much for this. would you mind if i share this with people who ask me how to do it until the tutorial comes out?
No problem at all. Have fun! Creating a subclass was super fun in my case, even if it was a lot of work. And I'm pretty sure I could do some things better!
My homebrew feat for thrown weapons, feat to help DMs extend Sorcerer's spells known list, and my homebrew combo monk subclass (diablo inspired)!
Ok, maybe my brain is just being slow, but I can't seem to get the whole "option" thing to work. basically, I'm trying to create the Witch Hunter Fighter subclass from Mordenkainen's Codex of Allies. There's 4 things that happen at level 3 -
1) You can gain 2 of 6 proficiencies (or a tool),
2) Learn 2 spells and select from 2 cantrips (I got the spells at least to work, miracle...)
3) Learn one of 3 languages,
4) and, grant a "resistance of the day" from a list. This resets after a long rest, and you can select another one.
I set each one up a a feature, but the "Select from this list" thing is killing me. First off, proficiencies. That's it's own feature, so I added the Feature, with name, description, class level, and checked "has options."
Then I went to Class Feature Options, added an option, and selected Modifier > Add a Modifier > Modifier Type (Proficiency) > Modifier Subtype (Arcana) and left the rest blank.
I did that for all 6 Proficiency options, then did a 7th for "Choose a Tool."
In the builder, all that comes up is [ - Choose and Option - ] and then [ - Choose a Tool - ] So, I can choose a tool, but not any of the 6 Proficiencies. I just end up with all 6 of them.
I see an option in the Modifier Type is "Choose a Skill" - how do you set the number of options to the 6 listed? And, how do you do the second gained proficiency? Will the first selected one NOT show up on the list for the second one?
And, how do you do that for Languages?
And, the whole "Resistance du jour" thing?
I'm having trouble getting my Subclasses to appear in a drop down with the base race in the character builder, anyone know how to fix this?