Can you explain how the spell works? Also, why do -1? 1d3 and 1d5 exist.
1d3 & 1d5 do not exist in DDB’s system.
1d3 exists. The Wild Magic Barbarian subclass literally says: 'For 10 minutes, the creature can roll a d3 whenever making an attack roll or an ability check and add the number rolled to the d20 roll.'
Also, to replicate a d3/d5 roll, just roll a d10, halve it, and round it up to get a d5. Do the same with a d6 to get a d3.
Can you explain how the spell works? Also, why do -1? 1d3 and 1d5 exist.
1d3 & 1d5 do not exist in DDB’s system.
1d3 exists. The Wild Magic Barbarian subclass literally says: 'For 10 minutes, the creature can roll a d3 whenever making an attack roll or an ability check and add the number rolled to the d20 roll.'
Also, to replicate a d3/d5 roll, just roll a d10, halve it, and round it up to get a d5. Do the same with a d6 to get a d3.
I didn’t say they don’t exist in D&D, heck, the d3 is the standard random generator for many magic item recharges conditions. What I said was that they don’t exist in DDB’s system. If you go in the homebrewer here on D&D beyond, you will discover that a d3 is not a selectable option for die size. So the above post when you asked the OP why they didn’t use a d3, the answer is because they quite literally could not have, as DDB doesn’t include it as an option.
In addition, I know how to replicate a d3 (and a d5), you don’t need to explain it to me. I learned how to mentally convert a d6 into a d3 around 30 years ago in fact. The intro in the current PHB that explains the game dice even has a section about it: (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/introduction#GameDice).
Game Dice
The game uses polyhedral dice with different numbers of sides. You can find dice like these in game stores and in many bookstores.
In these rules, the different dice are referred to by the letter d followed by the number of sides: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20. For instance, a d6 is a six-sided die (the typical cube that many games use).
Percentile dice, or d100, work a little differently. You generate a number between 1 and 100 by rolling two different ten-sided dice numbered from 0 to 9. One die (designated before you roll) gives the tens digit, and the other gives the ones digit. If you roll a 7 and a 1, for example, the number rolled is 71. Two 0s represent 100. Some ten-sided dice are numbered in tens (00, 10, 20, and so on), making it easier to distinguish the tens digit from the ones digit. In this case, a roll of 70 and 1 is 71, and 00 and 0 is 100.
When you need to roll dice, the rules tell you how many dice to roll of a certain type, as well as what modifiers to add. For example, “3d8 + 5” means you roll three eight-sided dice, add them together, and add 5 to the total.
The same d notation appears in the expressions “1d3” and “1d2.” To simulate the roll of 1d3, roll a d6 and divide the number rolled by 2 (round up). To simulate the roll of 1d2, roll any die and assign a 1 or 2 to the roll depending on whether it was odd or even. (Alternatively, if the number rolled is more than half the number of sides on the die, it’s a 2.)
(While it doesn’t mention a d5 specifically, if I couldn’t figure it out based on that explanation for d2s & d3s, then I’d have problems.)
In fact, it’s specifically because of that paragraph I highlighted that DDB does not offer a d3 as a viable option in the homebrewer. Since RAW state to roll a d6 and how to adjust the result to replicate a d3, that’s what DDB expects us to do. Could they very easily create an alternate d6 numbered 1-3 twice and simply label it as a d3 in the homebrewer? Absolutely. And it would simultaneously both adhere to RAW and act as a significant QoL improvement for many users. However, they have long since decided that is never gonna happen.
Something else to consider is the fact that 1d3 ≠ 1d4-1, and 1d5 ≠ 1d6-1.
1d3 will always generate a result from 1-3, for three total possible results. 1d4-1 on the other hand will generate a result from 0-3, so it still has four possible results, but one of them is 0. The same applies to the d5 & d6-1.
You can create the Damage Modifier to do 1d4-1 and that will work fine but the At Higher Levels bit does not allow the -1, requiring a minimum of 0.
However, if there are no additional effects beyond the damage and it being a bonus action, then a simple 1d4 is fine. The other cantrips that do 1d4 damage as an action is only because they have strong effects like penalties to saves or using a damage type like psychic.
You need to remember that using a bonus action for a spell is already very limiting thanks to the Bonus Action casting rules - as it prevents the caster using any other spell that turn that is not a cantrip with 1 action. So, it's already balanced by that as it is. You don't need to nerf it more - it'll already be underperforming against other bonus action damage sources.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
You need to remember that using a bonus action for a spell is already very limiting thanks to the Bonus Action casting rules - as it prevents the caster using any other spell that turn that is not a cantrip with 1 action. So, it's already balanced by that as it is. You don't need to nerf it more - it'll already be underperforming against other bonus action damage sources.
There is definitely a mix up on my part. At my tables, I allow an "either or" ruling of that casting rule. As long as either spell is a cantrip, I'm good. I've never been able to tell if it is unbalancing for my games (I don't think it does), but my players appreciate it. In the same vein, the order of operations on that rule is weird too, I'm also good with either being cast first. Sure there are some decent edge case combos, like Quickened Mind Sliver and a Save or Suck, but that costs enough resources for it to be okay with me.
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It's a bonus action cantrip that starts at 1d4-1 and then scales to 1d6-1 at lvl 5, then 1d8-1 at lvl 11, then 1d10-1 at lvl 17.
The first part is easy with "additional effects", but the scaling won't let me add a negative modifier to the scaled damage.
Any suggestions?
TIA!
Can you explain how the spell works? Also, why do -1? 1d3 and 1d5 exist.
1d3 & 1d5 do not exist in DDB’s system.
How exactly have you tried to implement it so far?
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1d3 exists. The Wild Magic Barbarian subclass literally says: 'For 10 minutes, the creature can roll a d3 whenever making an attack roll or an ability check and add the number rolled to the d20 roll.'
Also, to replicate a d3/d5 roll, just roll a d10, halve it, and round it up to get a d5. Do the same with a d6 to get a d3.
I didn’t say they don’t exist in D&D, heck, the d3 is the standard random generator for many magic item recharges conditions. What I said was that they don’t exist in DDB’s system. If you go in the homebrewer here on D&D beyond, you will discover that a d3 is not a selectable option for die size. So the above post when you asked the OP why they didn’t use a d3, the answer is because they quite literally could not have, as DDB doesn’t include it as an option.
In addition, I know how to replicate a d3 (and a d5), you don’t need to explain it to me. I learned how to mentally convert a d6 into a d3 around 30 years ago in fact. The intro in the current PHB that explains the game dice even has a section about it: (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/phb/introduction#GameDice).
(While it doesn’t mention a d5 specifically, if I couldn’t figure it out based on that explanation for d2s & d3s, then I’d have problems.)
In fact, it’s specifically because of that paragraph I highlighted that DDB does not offer a d3 as a viable option in the homebrewer. Since RAW state to roll a d6 and how to adjust the result to replicate a d3, that’s what DDB expects us to do. Could they very easily create an alternate d6 numbered 1-3 twice and simply label it as a d3 in the homebrewer? Absolutely. And it would simultaneously both adhere to RAW and act as a significant QoL improvement for many users. However, they have long since decided that is never gonna happen.
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Ah. Sorry, about that.
No need to apologize.
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Something else to consider is the fact that 1d3 ≠ 1d4-1, and 1d5 ≠ 1d6-1.
1d3 will always generate a result from 1-3, for three total possible results. 1d4-1 on the other hand will generate a result from 0-3, so it still has four possible results, but one of them is 0. The same applies to the d5 & d6-1.
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Yes! Since I'm creating a bonus action damaging cantrip, I'd like the 0 to remain in the mix for the damage range.
What you want is not possible.
You can create the Damage Modifier to do 1d4-1 and that will work fine but the At Higher Levels bit does not allow the -1, requiring a minimum of 0.
However, if there are no additional effects beyond the damage and it being a bonus action, then a simple 1d4 is fine. The other cantrips that do 1d4 damage as an action is only because they have strong effects like penalties to saves or using a damage type like psychic.
You need to remember that using a bonus action for a spell is already very limiting thanks to the Bonus Action casting rules - as it prevents the caster using any other spell that turn that is not a cantrip with 1 action. So, it's already balanced by that as it is. You don't need to nerf it more - it'll already be underperforming against other bonus action damage sources.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Thanks. That was my assessment as well, I just wanted to be sure.
There is definitely a mix up on my part. At my tables, I allow an "either or" ruling of that casting rule. As long as either spell is a cantrip, I'm good. I've never been able to tell if it is unbalancing for my games (I don't think it does), but my players appreciate it. In the same vein, the order of operations on that rule is weird too, I'm also good with either being cast first. Sure there are some decent edge case combos, like Quickened Mind Sliver and a Save or Suck, but that costs enough resources for it to be okay with me.