You weave the thoughts of another creature, twisting them around in its head making focus difficult to achieve. A creature targeted by this spell must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, for the duration the creature has disadvantage on all ability checks which rely on Intelligence. If the target is concentrating on a spell, it loses concentration following a failed save. For the duration, when the target begins to cast a spell it must immediately make an ability check using its spellcasting modifier. The DC for this check is equal to 10 + the level of the spell slot the target expended. On a failed check, the spell immediately ends before it is finished casting, with the spell slot not expended but with the action used to cast the spell wasted. The target can repeat its saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. This spell has no effect on creatures with an Intelligence score of 4 or lower. This spell does not prevent creatures from casting spells using Innate Spellcasting or any other feature which does not rely on using a spell slot to cast the spell.
At Higher Levels: When this spell is cast using a spell slot of 7th level or higher, the DC to contest the target’s ability check to cast spells increases by 1 for each slot above 6th.
It seems like the target should also have disadvantage on Intelligence (Arcana) checks. Though, I understand that including that would make the concentration effect more complicated. You could either lower the DC to accommodate the equivalent of a -5, or use the same language as Dispel Magic to remove knowledge skills from the equation: "make an ability check using your spellcasting ability".
As written, it would be devastating against Wisdom/Charisma based casters, who often dump intelligence, but not so bad for Wizards and Artificers. Unless the Spell Casting DC is broadened to use "Spellcasting ability", I would expect this to be closer to a situational 8th or 9th level spell.
Edit: Though, monster casters usually get boosts across the board, so it's not as extreme as it would be against players.
It seems like the target should also have disadvantage on Intelligence (Arcana) checks. Though, I understand that including that would make the concentration effect more complicated. You could either lower the DC to accommodate the equivalent of a -5, or use the same language as Dispel Magic to remove knowledge skills from the equation: "make an ability check using your spellcasting ability".
As written, it would be devastating against Wisdom/Charisma based casters, who often dump intelligence, but not so bad for Wizards and Artificers. Unless the Spell Casting DC is broadened to use "Spellcasting ability", I would expect this to be closer to a situational 8th or 9th level spell.
Edit: Though, monster casters usually get boosts across the board, so it's not as extreme as it would be against players.
I was originally thinking of "doubling up" by giving disadvantage on Arcana AND having it be the concentration effect as you pointed out, but I figured it might be too much. I was also considering changing the ability for spells to match casting ability somehow, but part of me wants to keep things explicitly tied to Intelligence as the ability being disrupted. At the same time I realize that it doesnt make sense that a Warlock or Druid would need to try and call on Arcane knowledge before trying to cast a spell like a Wizard would.
Thanks for the feedback, I will think about it more
Edit: Just changed it to straight ability modifier check like suggested. Since this ability check doesnt take proficiency bonus into account, the target will never be able to score above a 25 (outside of other influences), so if Mind Vortex is cast at 9th level the DC becomes 16 + level of spell slot expended, meaning if the target tries to cast a 9th level spell, they have to roll a 20 to do so
I'm still heavily tempted to suggest lowering the DC and/or increasing the spell level.
In high level combat, the ability to effectively guarantee that an enemy can't use (and might lose) their strongest magic is obscenely powerful. It's likely that a Wizard would pass the initial saving throw pretty quickly, but anyone else is probably going to get stuck for several rounds.
I'm still heavily tempted to suggest lowering the DC and/or increasing the spell level.
In high level combat, the ability to effectively guarantee that an enemy can't use (and might lose) their strongest magic is obscenely powerful. It's likely that a Wizard would pass the initial saving throw pretty quickly, but anyone else is probably going to get stuck for several rounds.
Thats a fair point.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews!Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Medraut’s Mind Vortex
6th-level Enchantment (Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard)
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V,S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You weave the thoughts of another creature, twisting them around in its head making focus difficult to achieve. A creature targeted by this spell must make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, for the duration the creature has disadvantage on all ability checks which rely on Intelligence. If the target is concentrating on a spell, it loses concentration following a failed save. For the duration, when the target begins to cast a spell it must immediately make an ability check using its spellcasting modifier. The DC for this check is equal to 10 + the level of the spell slot the target expended. On a failed check, the spell immediately ends before it is finished casting, with the spell slot not expended but with the action used to cast the spell wasted. The target can repeat its saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. This spell has no effect on creatures with an Intelligence score of 4 or lower. This spell does not prevent creatures from casting spells using Innate Spellcasting or any other feature which does not rely on using a spell slot to cast the spell.
At Higher Levels: When this spell is cast using a spell slot of 7th level or higher, the DC to contest the target’s ability check to cast spells increases by 1 for each slot above 6th.
Edit: Last updated 7-19-21
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
It seems like the target should also have disadvantage on Intelligence (Arcana) checks. Though, I understand that including that would make the concentration effect more complicated. You could either lower the DC to accommodate the equivalent of a -5, or use the same language as Dispel Magic to remove knowledge skills from the equation: "make an ability check using your spellcasting ability".
As written, it would be devastating against Wisdom/Charisma based casters, who often dump intelligence, but not so bad for Wizards and Artificers. Unless the Spell Casting DC is broadened to use "Spellcasting ability", I would expect this to be closer to a situational 8th or 9th level spell.
Edit: Though, monster casters usually get boosts across the board, so it's not as extreme as it would be against players.
I was originally thinking of "doubling up" by giving disadvantage on Arcana AND having it be the concentration effect as you pointed out, but I figured it might be too much. I was also considering changing the ability for spells to match casting ability somehow, but part of me wants to keep things explicitly tied to Intelligence as the ability being disrupted. At the same time I realize that it doesnt make sense that a Warlock or Druid would need to try and call on Arcane knowledge before trying to cast a spell like a Wizard would.
Thanks for the feedback, I will think about it more
Edit: Just changed it to straight ability modifier check like suggested. Since this ability check doesnt take proficiency bonus into account, the target will never be able to score above a 25 (outside of other influences), so if Mind Vortex is cast at 9th level the DC becomes 16 + level of spell slot expended, meaning if the target tries to cast a 9th level spell, they have to roll a 20 to do so
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
I'm still heavily tempted to suggest lowering the DC and/or increasing the spell level.
In high level combat, the ability to effectively guarantee that an enemy can't use (and might lose) their strongest magic is obscenely powerful. It's likely that a Wizard would pass the initial saving throw pretty quickly, but anyone else is probably going to get stuck for several rounds.
Thats a fair point.
Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!