Hello, I'm creating a race (with 2 subraces, but that is probably not relevant) that has an innate - limited - spellcasting ability. 

They have a internal store of magical energy which grows with the character level, they can conditionally replenish slowly - or by long rest. 
This store of energy can then be used to cast a limited set of spells (spell list depends of choice of Elemental Plane alignment and player level).

I have troubles finding out how to configure this (anything beyond gaining access to spells based on levels).
Is any of this possible in configuration? Tracking the energy storage? Making spell lists based on a choice of elemental plane allignment? Designing spells that consume this energy (like using scorcerer points, ki points, ...)

Any help on designing this is welcome!

Any tips on how to counter-balance this race-advantage, also welcome. They will already have disadvantage on insight because that fits the lore of my campaign.

I'd recommend looking through the existing races and see if any of them have a similar ability to what you're trying to make. For example, both Tieflings and Firbolgs can cast a limited number of spells.

From there, should you find that is similar to what you're looking for, you can copy it and look at how the variables are set up. You should be able to use that information to then setup your homebrew.

Quote from Davedamon >>

For example, both Tieflings and Firbolgs can cast a limited number of spells.

Thanks, but I already got that far, that's why I added "(anything beyond gaining access to spells based on levels)."
I'm stuck when I try to get more logic behind how to configure a spell list based on a choice of elemental alignment (air, fire, water, earth) and on the other hand, how to define/configure your store of magical energy

Hi, I'm doing something similar, I still have no real idea myself how to make it work.

What I'm doing for mine is making the spells be delivered thru a natural venom and would be something like deafness, blind or silence, but mostly I'm looking at hallucination.

Status effect instead of damage I don't know if it helps, but I'm definitely interested in whatever you come up with :)

This seems thematically similar to the genasi. Have you considered tying the spell list to subrace, similar to how they work? That may be the simplest way to do what you're looking for.

Quote from EddyJ >>

This seems thematically similar to the genasi. Have you considered tying the spell list to subrace, similar to how they work? That may be the simplest way to do what you're looking for.

Thanks, that would indeed be a way to get a step closer. It still does not solve the sorcery-point style casting limitations, but it's in the right direction.
The only thing in my concept that it does not allow when going this route, is aligning to multiple elements, which in the lore of my campaign is possible.

The closest I can see how to do it would be to have a "General" Action which is called "Points" which scales as you level up. In the description for that you can describe the cost per spell, but people would still need to record cost manually though as the spells wouldn't directly link to charges/points from here.

The Limited Use field appears after you create the feature. So you'd need to create it, save, then go back in to edit.

Thanks, I'll try that way!

Quote from BazGC >>

The closest I can see how to do it would be to have a "General" Action which is called "Points" which scales as you level up. In the description for that you can describe the cost per spell, but people would still need to record cost manually though as the spells wouldn't directly link to charges/points from here.

The Limited Use field appears after you create the feature. So you'd need to create it, save, then go back in to edit.

remember that most races dont have more than two or three innate spells, and that for an character to be able to innately cast an spell they must be of an sufficiently high level as to be able to cast spells of that level, tieflings get to cast an 1st level spell as if by an 2nd level spell slot at 3rd level becuase thats when you get acess to .

most innate spells are also more utillity focused,

Quote from ArtificeMeal >>

remember that most races dont have more than two or three innate spells, and that for an character to be able to innately cast an spell they must be of an sufficiently high level as to be able to cast spells of that level, tieflings get to cast an 1st level spell as if by an 2nd level spell slot at 3rd level becuase thats when you get acess to .

most innate spells are also more utillity focused,

Yes, I understand that this will be a challenge to design well. If you have suggestions to give them disadvantages in other areas, I'll be happy to hear it. 
What I had in mind already:
Disadvantages (based on the lore, where they are a secluded folk, the have penalty on subtle social aspects): 
No other racial bonusses
Penalty on Insight - Persuasion 
(A general penalty on charisma seems a bit too harsh - specifically for intimidation - but could also be an option)

For scaling:
Both the spells they are capable of doing, as well as the amount of "essense" they can store will start low and slowly grow with leveling up. Higher spells will use more essense.

You have to make one entry for the points and then each thing they can do with it as their own entries.

Details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/52429-create-a-feature-similar-to-ki?comment=5

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/homebrew-house-rules/52456-how-would-i-give-a-fighter-something-like-ki?comment=5

Quote from Houligan >>

You have to make one entry for the points and then each thing they can do with it as their own entries.

Details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/52429-create-a-feature-similar-to-ki?comment=5

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/homebrew-house-rules/52456-how-would-i-give-a-fighter-something-like-ki?comment=5

Thanks Houligan, but with the points giving access to specific spells, I don't need to create entries for that, I need to create spells that consume the points instead of components, words or getustures.

I started rebuilding the race with the given suggestions and figured I don't even need to use Racial Variants for this ... which is an improvement because it fits the story better.
Also added a penalty to persuasion and insight because of the back-story. But other ideas of giving racial penalties to balance the innate spellcasting are still welcome.

Thanks for the response already!
Bert

Quote from ASplitSecond >>

Quote from Houligan >>

You have to make one entry for the points and then each thing they can do with it as their own entries.

Details: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/general-discussion/52429-create-a-feature-similar-to-ki?comment=5

https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/homebrew-house-rules/52456-how-would-i-give-a-fighter-something-like-ki?comment=5

Thanks Houligan, but with the points giving access to specific spells, I don't need to create entries for that, I need to create spells that consume the points instead of components, words or getustures.

I started rebuilding the race with the given suggestions and figured I don't even need to use Racial Variants for this ... which is an improvement because it fits the story better.
Also added a penalty to persuasion and insight because of the back-story. But other ideas of giving racial penalties to balance the innate spellcasting are still welcome.

Thanks for the response already!
Bert

 
Hold on. It seems to me like one of two miscommunications is happening here. Either 1) you don’t understand the builder enough to know what your asking for. Or 2) we don’t understand what you’re asking for well enough to give you the answer you seek.

Reading your above posts it sounds to me that you want one of two things. EITHER:

1. You want the player to make a choice of element at level 1 and then as the level up they learn a set progression of spells based on that element choice. Then you want a pool of resources (points) for them to use to cast those spells in a way similar to how a Sorcerer uses Sorcery Points to cast spells and how a Way of the Four Elements Monk spends Ki to cast spells. (They use the same mechanic)
   OR
2. You want them to be able to chose an elemental spell at various levels and each time they choose a spell they can cast it once per day. This way if they choose a spell once they cast it once, if they choose it twice they can cast it twice per day.

There are literally dozens of people on this website who can potentially help you, including Houligan. We might be explaining how to do exactly what you want but you don’t understand the builder well enough to recognize that, or we’re not understanding your request well enough to help you.

It is 1, and with the given answers I was able to design all I need ... so I don't understand your answer here. I'm happy with the help I got. 

sorry for the misunderstanding, if there was any

Quote from ASplitSecond >>

It is 1, and with the given answers I was able to design all I need ... so I don't understand your answer here. I'm happy with the help I got. 

sorry for the misunderstanding, if there was any

 The reason for it was that Houligan told you exactly how to do it and you told him his way was not what you wanted.

sorry, but I did not do exactly what he told me, I worked with the comments I got before. I thanked him for his input and I really don't see why I'm getting this response from you now. I had all intentions of being respectfull and indicated that I just did not use his advice, although it was valued.

Sorry about my tone earlier. Rough day, and it kindof came out at you. My apologies.

Thanks for returning to clarify!