I really like spells like Bestow Curse that allow more options to be added. While Command has more specific guidelines, Bestow Curse has the freedom to get complicated and creative! So, I wanted to have a brainstorm session with you guys to figure out new and exciting ways to use this spell without breaking the game. It can change the flavor and how the spell is cast, giving it a more witchy vibe. Anything goes, and I hope we can come up with interesting curses:
A few ideas for your inspiration:
1: Some curses only affect the cursed creature's relations with the character. Do your debuffs extend to the creature's everyday life or provide advantage to the caster?
2: Some curses are decent at low levels, but devastating when cast with a high level spell slot. How does concentration/duration change how the curse will be used?
3: Some curses affect ability checks and saving throws. Try implementing conditions or effects applied by other spells, or go more specific and more damaging to certain proficiencies.
4: Some curses may activate or play off of a certain condition: When the target of the curse fails a saving throw against ______, what will happen?
5: Some curses can be strategic. What noncombat situations will your curse excel at?
New Ideas:
1: Consider material components. Bestow Curse has no requirement, so adding one may allow for more complicated and damaging curses.
2: Consider level scaling. Duration might not be the only thing affected. Maybe it gets more portent, not longer.
3: Consider learning curses. These more specific curses may not be known. A PC could make significant research or pay a price to learn a curse.
I would really like it for people to respond. Any response is appreciated. Thanks for reading!
while cursed, the creature is poisoned. additionally, if the creature touches another creature while poisoned in this way, the second creature is poisoned.
is cool, because it gives the cursed target a weapon that it could use against you (poison touch), but it could also spread it to its allies. if you get that on a healer, then it on't be able to cure wounds without poisoning the target of the healing!
and here's another:
while cursed, the creature cannot be healed other than by short and long rests, and your spells targeting the creature and no other creatures cannot be ended early.
I wrote a few alternative uses for Bestow Curse a few months ago. My players all thought they were pretty fun.
- While the target is Cursed, the target can’t regain hit points.
- While the target is Cursed, the target’s speed is halved.
- While Cursed, when the target rolls a 20 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, they must reroll the die and must use the new roll.
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If it fails, the target falls prone.
- While the target is Cursed, its attacks deal 1d4 less damage (this can’t reduce the damage below 1).
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw each time it eats or drinks. If it fails, it becomes poisoned for the duration, or until the target takes a short or long rest.
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns. If it fails, the target begins babbling and is incapable of normal speech or spellcasting until the start of its next turn.
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw each time it takes damage. If it fails, it becomes Frightened of the source of damage until the end of its next turn. The target cannot be Frightened of more than one source of damage in this manner at a time.
- While Cursed, if the target is killed, they rise at the start of your next turn as a zombie that is under your command.
On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally command the zombie if it is within 60 feet of you (if you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). You decide what action the zombie will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the creature only defends itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete.
The zombie is under your control for the duration of the bestow curse or until a remove curse breaks your control of the zombie, after which point it stops obeying any command you’ve given it. You can reassert your control over this zombie with animate dead.
A few ideas for your inspiration:
1: Some curses only affect the cursed creature's relations with the character. Do your debuffs extend to the creature's everyday life or provide advantage to the caster?
2: Some curses are decent at low levels, but devastating when cast with a high level spell slot. How does concentration/duration change how the curse will be used?
3: Some curses affect ability checks and saving throws. Try implementing conditions or effects applied by other spells, or go more specific and more damaging to certain proficiencies.
4: Some curses may activate or play off of a certain condition: When the target of the curse fails a saving throw against ______, what will happen?
5: Some curses can be strategic. What noncombat situations will your curse excel at?
New Ideas:
1: Consider material components. Bestow Curse has no requirement, so adding one may allow for more complicated and damaging curses.
2: Consider level scaling. Duration might not be the only thing affected. Maybe it gets more portent, not longer.
3: Consider learning curses. These more specific curses may not be known. A PC could make significant research or pay a price to learn a curse.
I would really like it for people to respond. Any response is appreciated. Thanks for reading!
My only good homebrews: Races, Subclasses.
An aspiring DM and Homebrewer. Ask me if you need anything.
this is cool!
here's a curse idea:
is cool, because it gives the cursed target a weapon that it could use against you (poison touch), but it could also spread it to its allies. if you get that on a healer, then it on't be able to cure wounds without poisoning the target of the healing!
and here's another:
I am an average mathematics enjoyer.
>Extended Signature<
I wrote a few alternative uses for Bestow Curse a few months ago. My players all thought they were pretty fun.
- While the target is Cursed, the target can’t regain hit points.
- While the target is Cursed, the target’s speed is halved.
- While Cursed, when the target rolls a 20 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, they must reroll the die and must use the new roll.
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If it fails, the target falls prone.
- While the target is Cursed, its attacks deal 1d4 less damage (this can’t reduce the damage below 1).
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw each time it eats or drinks. If it fails, it becomes poisoned for the duration, or until the target takes a short or long rest.
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns. If it fails, the target begins babbling and is incapable of normal speech or spellcasting until the start of its next turn.
- While Cursed, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw each time it takes damage. If it fails, it becomes Frightened of the source of damage until the end of its next turn. The target cannot be Frightened of more than one source of damage in this manner at a time.
- While Cursed, if the target is killed, they rise at the start of your next turn as a zombie that is under your command.
On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally command the zombie if it is within 60 feet of you (if you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). You decide what action the zombie will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the creature only defends itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete.
The zombie is under your control for the duration of the bestow curse or until a remove curse breaks your control of the zombie, after which point it stops obeying any command you’ve given it. You can reassert your control over this zombie with animate dead.
How about the Chicken Curse from Stardust? That seems like it would be inbounds. For balance; casters get Advantage on their save.
We could always work out a trade ;) -Jesier
I'd like to hear more about Chicken Curse from Stardust.
doodle cricket