It would be a bit much as a cantrip but maybe a 1st level spell? Or perhaps have it be 2nd level and you "steal" the temp hp?
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Heh. Prevalent enough that a "temp HP disintegrate" spell would be too OP if left as a cantrip?
I've been basing this idea a bit on Armor of Agathys, which I consider the quintessential Temp HP spell, but since it isn't readily available, I wasn't sure what level to put the spell. Is there an equivalent Feature out there that gives you as much temp HP?
As a player, I think I'd hate losing all that temp HP to an essentially free resource, so making it at least a 1st level spell makes sense there.
What if it was a scalable spell? Treat it kind of like disintegrate (in that any HP under a certain number gets wiped away), and if you cast it with higher level slots, then the amount you can wipe increases.
If I do that, should it be a svaing throw then? This isn't something that can crit, so a RSA might not make sense.
What if it was a scalable spell? Treat it kind of like disintegrate (in that any HP under a certain number gets wiped away), and if you cast it with higher level slots, then the amount you can wipe increases.
If I do that, should it be a svaing throw then? This isn't something that can crit, so a RSA might not make sense.
Could make it an attack roll, then scale "damage" as removing 5 x spell level temp hp on a hit. If your intent is to combat Armor of Agathys then that'd do it exactly.
Alternatively - Dex save as they'd be avoiding whatever it is you're throwing at them.
Nine times out of ten, a normal damaging cantrip will do this and more simply by virtue of dealing damage. Even in the case of Armor of Agathys mentioned above, which can offer quite a lot of temporary HP, there are spells that just do damage that will achieve a better result per spell level. I just can't imagine a situation where I would want to cast a spell specifically to get rid of temporary HP when I could just... do damage to get rid of temporary HP and also roll over into real HP.
I just can't imagine a situation where I would want to cast a spell specifically to get rid of temporary HP when I could just... do damage to get rid of temporary HP and also roll over into real HP.
Not taking the damage in retribution for a melee attack (and other similar effects like Tempest Cleric reaction, etc) would be the only valid use case I can think of why you’d want to have the means to remove a lot of temp hp like this.
I just can't imagine a situation where I would want to cast a spell specifically to get rid of temporary HP when I could just... do damage to get rid of temporary HP and also roll over into real HP.
Not taking the damage in retribution for a melee attack (and other similar effects like Tempest Cleric reaction, etc) would be the only valid use case I can think of why you’d want to have the means to remove a lot of temp hp like this.
Armor of Agathys's damage only applies to melee attacks, and Tempest Cleric requires melee range; every spell I can think of that would be preferable to a "remove temporary HP" spell is either a ranged attack or a saving throw.
Nine times out of ten, a normal damaging cantrip will do this and more simply by virtue of dealing damage. Even in the case of Armor of Agathys mentioned above, which can offer quite a lot of temporary HP, there are spells that just do damage that will achieve a better result per spell level. I just can't imagine a situation where I would want to cast a spell specifically to get rid of temporary HP when I could just... do damage to get rid of temporary HP and also roll over into real HP.
That's probably the best argument against so far. 😃
My initial thought was something pretty common; common and limited enough in scope to be overlooked, but devastating and something to catch people off guard when it's used.
Dex Saves are pretty common, so what if it was Con Save, or no save at all?
Ideally, I was thinking of something that could snuff out temp HP in a snap but was otherwise useless against normal HP.
Dex Saves are pretty common, so what if it was Con Save, or no save at all?
Ideally, I was thinking of something that could snuff out temp HP in a snap but was otherwise useless against normal HP.
It definitely needs either an attack roll or a saving throw. Just having a “this kills your temp hp and there’s no chance of making it fail” spell doesn’t mesh well with other spells in the game.
The thinking with Dex save was that you were avoiding whatever was being thrown/emitted. Con save works as well as you just resist whatever it is instead. The Disintegrate spell is already Dex save for save for no effect which was why I was suggesting that one.
Hiya,
Quick idea: a ranged spell attack cantrip that completely negates Temp HP if it hits. That's it; does nothing if you have no Temp HP.
Too limiting? Too OP? I got Alzheimer's/source amnesia and it already exists??
Gnome Armorist - Artificer Subclass Homebrew
It would be a bit much as a cantrip but maybe a 1st level spell? Or perhaps have it be 2nd level and you "steal" the temp hp?
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How prevalent are temp HP?
Gnome Armorist - Artificer Subclass Homebrew
Depends on the characters.
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Heh. Prevalent enough that a "temp HP disintegrate" spell would be too OP if left as a cantrip?
I've been basing this idea a bit on Armor of Agathys, which I consider the quintessential Temp HP spell, but since it isn't readily available, I wasn't sure what level to put the spell. Is there an equivalent Feature out there that gives you as much temp HP?
As a player, I think I'd hate losing all that temp HP to an essentially free resource, so making it at least a 1st level spell makes sense there.
What if it was a scalable spell? Treat it kind of like disintegrate (in that any HP under a certain number gets wiped away), and if you cast it with higher level slots, then the amount you can wipe increases.
If I do that, should it be a svaing throw then? This isn't something that can crit, so a RSA might not make sense.
Gnome Armorist - Artificer Subclass Homebrew
Could make it an attack roll, then scale "damage" as removing 5 x spell level temp hp on a hit. If your intent is to combat Armor of Agathys then that'd do it exactly.
Alternatively - Dex save as they'd be avoiding whatever it is you're throwing at them.
Please take a look at my homebrewed Spells, Magic Items, and Subclasses. Any feedback appreciated.
Nine times out of ten, a normal damaging cantrip will do this and more simply by virtue of dealing damage. Even in the case of Armor of Agathys mentioned above, which can offer quite a lot of temporary HP, there are spells that just do damage that will achieve a better result per spell level. I just can't imagine a situation where I would want to cast a spell specifically to get rid of temporary HP when I could just... do damage to get rid of temporary HP and also roll over into real HP.
Not taking the damage in retribution for a melee attack (and other similar effects like Tempest Cleric reaction, etc) would be the only valid use case I can think of why you’d want to have the means to remove a lot of temp hp like this.
Please take a look at my homebrewed Spells, Magic Items, and Subclasses. Any feedback appreciated.
Armor of Agathys's damage only applies to melee attacks, and Tempest Cleric requires melee range; every spell I can think of that would be preferable to a "remove temporary HP" spell is either a ranged attack or a saving throw.
That's probably the best argument against so far. 😃
My initial thought was something pretty common; common and limited enough in scope to be overlooked, but devastating and something to catch people off guard when it's used.
Dex Saves are pretty common, so what if it was Con Save, or no save at all?
Ideally, I was thinking of something that could snuff out temp HP in a snap but was otherwise useless against normal HP.
Gnome Armorist - Artificer Subclass Homebrew
It definitely needs either an attack roll or a saving throw. Just having a “this kills your temp hp and there’s no chance of making it fail” spell doesn’t mesh well with other spells in the game.
The thinking with Dex save was that you were avoiding whatever was being thrown/emitted. Con save works as well as you just resist whatever it is instead. The Disintegrate spell is already Dex save for save for no effect which was why I was suggesting that one.
Please take a look at my homebrewed Spells, Magic Items, and Subclasses. Any feedback appreciated.