Start with spells with the same or similar effects and 'reverse engineer' it to what you want and need. That's how I learned how to use the homebrew section.
Take bless or bane for its d4 modifier (in addition to seeing how the dndb devs use their codes & snippets), remove the extra features. Rename and change it to cantrip and viola
I just made it myself. Bane/bless does NOT have any modifiers, I just checked. So I took frostbite instead, changed the description (literally just copied the UA sheet description), changed the saving throw from CON to INT, changed damage type to psychic (it was originally cold) and removed the modifier that gives disadvantage to attacks. (also did changed evocation school to enchantment and made it only V component and changed from instantaneous to 1 round duration but those and anything else you can double check yourself).
I thought this was a spell... The fact that this is a rarely saved Int throw AND a rarely resisted psychic damage is crazy good. The -d4 saving throw on the next spell is just a (really good) bonus for a CANTRIP
I hated the fact that every other cantrip throw is Wis, Con & Dex
Yeah I started with frostbite as a base too but couldn't work out how to do a negative d4. I've just looked at bless and copied the saving throw bonus, but put the number as "-1"
Ninety-nine out of a hundred of all saves in the game are Wis, Con, or Dex, because those are what mapped out to the "Will, Fortitude, and Reflex" saving throws of older editions. It's a big part of the gross stat imbalance of 5e (i.e. Dexterity being worth more than every other stat combined even on non-Dex attackers while Strength and Intelligence are basically your choice of nigh-universal dump stats) and one of the biggest brain caltrops in the system for me.
Yeah I started with frostbite as a base too but couldn't work out how to do a negative d4. I've just looked at bless and copied the saving throw bonus, but put the number as "-1"
I checked bane, which I would say is more accurate (both -d4 DEbuffs instead of a buff) and that has no modifier. Just a description to mentally keep track off.. but whatever works *shrugs*
You drive a disorienting spike of psychic energy into the mind of one creature you can see within range. The target must make an Intelligence saving throw. Unless the saving throw is successful, the target takes 1d6 psychic damage, and the first time it makes a saving throw before the end of your next turn, it must roll a d4 and subtract the number rolled from the save. This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach certain levels: 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).
Yes I would just put that -1d4 in the spell description area. It really reads to me as the -1d4 is just its next save from anyone/anything that requires a save before the end of your next turn, which could be good for setting up spell/effects combo's from a party or against as the case may be.
Trying to create the new Mind Sliver cantrip, but not sure how to program the -1d4 aspect. Any suggestions?
Yeah. Just put it as description text. Spells dont have modifiers. Just things like damage dice and higher level descriptions.
Start with spells with the same or similar effects and 'reverse engineer' it to what you want and need. That's how I learned how to use the homebrew section.
Take bless or bane for its d4 modifier (in addition to seeing how the dndb devs use their codes & snippets), remove the extra features. Rename and change it to cantrip and viola
I just made it myself. Bane/bless does NOT have any modifiers, I just checked. So I took frostbite instead, changed the description (literally just copied the UA sheet description), changed the saving throw from CON to INT, changed damage type to psychic (it was originally cold) and removed the modifier that gives disadvantage to attacks. (also did changed evocation school to enchantment and made it only V component and changed from instantaneous to 1 round duration but those and anything else you can double check yourself).
I thought this was a spell... The fact that this is a rarely saved Int throw AND a rarely resisted psychic damage is crazy good. The -d4 saving throw on the next spell is just a (really good) bonus for a CANTRIP
I hated the fact that every other cantrip throw is Wis, Con & Dex
Yeah I started with frostbite as a base too but couldn't work out how to do a negative d4. I've just looked at bless and copied the saving throw bonus, but put the number as "-1"
Ninety-nine out of a hundred of all saves in the game are Wis, Con, or Dex, because those are what mapped out to the "Will, Fortitude, and Reflex" saving throws of older editions. It's a big part of the gross stat imbalance of 5e (i.e. Dexterity being worth more than every other stat combined even on non-Dex attackers while Strength and Intelligence are basically your choice of nigh-universal dump stats) and one of the biggest brain caltrops in the system for me.
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Thinking of starting ANOTHER thread asking why Epic Boons haven't been implemented? Read this first to learn why you shouldn't!
I checked bane, which I would say is more accurate (both -d4 DEbuffs instead of a buff) and that has no modifier. Just a description to mentally keep track off.. but whatever works *shrugs*
Mind Sliver Enchantment cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V
Duration: 1 round
You drive a disorienting spike of psychic energy into the mind of one creature you can see within range. The target must make an Intelligence saving throw. Unless the saving throw is successful, the target takes 1d6 psychic damage, and the first time it makes a saving throw before the end of your next turn, it must roll a d4 and subtract the number rolled from the save. This spell’s damage increases by 1d6 when you reach certain levels: 5th level (2d6), 11th level (3d6), and 17th level (4d6).
Yes I would just put that -1d4 in the spell description area. It really reads to me as the -1d4 is just its next save from anyone/anything that requires a save before the end of your next turn, which could be good for setting up spell/effects combo's from a party or against as the case may be.
Mind Sliver will be available on D&D Beyond pretty soon, along with both new UA subclasses. 😎
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