So I made a homebrew decision with my Campaign recently that I feel any magic user should be able to learn spells under specific conditions. A master teaching them, a wizard who makes his own spells training them to use it, etc. But that being said I wanted to make Wizard still feel special, and I know that my lv 3 Illusionary Wizard in my campaign, Pheffileph the Gnome, likes to be creative. With the foreplay aside, I have given him the power to design his own spells for my approval, and it's been one day and he has 4 designed already hahaha. I'm excited for it, but I want to make sure things are balanced. That's where I was wondering if the community could assist me in balancing some of these spells before I approve of him using them. That being said, the following are spells that he has designed. I have some ideas for how to balance them, but I will need much assistance if anyone is willing.
Pressure Point - I choose a point within 60 feet. A wave of force emanates from that point in a 10 foot sphere. Any creature within 10 feet of the point must succeed a strength saving throw or be pushed back to extent of the sphere (so if they're right beside the point, they'd be pushed back 10 feet. If they're 5 feet away, they're pushed back 5 feet.)
My thoughts: It seems to be he wants it for stealth, so I want it to have a material and somatic component rather than verbal so that it can be used as such. That being said I'm thinking this is either cantrip or 1st level due to the range, but if the range was brought down I feel it could easily be a cantrip.
Elemental wave - I fire a 5 foot cube of elemental force directly in front of me. I can choose whether it's fire, water, earth or wind. It moves in a straight line for 15 feet before dispersing.
My Thoughts: I feel this is fairly straightforward and I could implement as a cantrip right off the bat.
Major illusion - basically the same as minor illusion, but a size limit of a 15 foot cube rather than just 5
My Thoughts: This I think would be a 2nd or 3rd level, depending on how long it lasts.
Superman - I touch a willing person or creature. For the next hour, they have +2 to all ability modifiers.
My Thoughts: As is it would be it would be like 2nd or 3rd level in my opinion, but I think it could be 1st level if it only gave advantage for 2 abilities for the next hour. It would be like an upgraded "enhance ability" or the Trickster Cleric's cantrip of "Essence of the Cat" etc.
Those are my thoughts and I will be posting more of his antics, but what do you all think? I'm open to all forms of constructive criticism, even harsh. I'm a new DM that likes to keep things fresh for my players, especially since they'll likely only make it to level 7 or 8 as I'm moving soon. :^)
Elemental Wave depends on what happens when a creature hits each element. If there's damage and it's high for a cantrip, I'd move it to a 1st level spell and keep a close eye on it.
Would the +2 to your ability modifiers in Superman, move my strength from a -1 to a +1? If so, I'd consider it a 3rd or 4th level spell as it is far better than enhance ability, a 2nd level spell.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
For Major Illusion I will just explain to him that Major Image already exists.
As for Pressure Point I would agree that one is fine for me to approve as 1st level, but I wouldn't mind having it be able to be cast as a ritual, just to see if he would do it. I also would be open to approving it as a cantrip if the range is 15ft or 30ft.
For Elemental wave I was thinking that a cube of fire would simply deal damage at 1 D6 per round for any creature that is within the cube/ water would not deal damage but could temporarily disrupt a creature by lifting them, if they're under 5ft that is/ Earth could simply be for projectile blocking and so would deal no damage unless its crushing something, in which case I'd play by ear the damage/ and Wind could be used to speed or slow a creature by 10ft similar to the spell Gust or Slow; the idea being that it causes a draft/ gust pushing behind or against something, temporarily speeding or slowing it. Could also be used to disrupt flying creatures I suppose. Either way, this is the type of utility he would likely be using it for. I'll have to keep my eyes on water though, as he has a habit of trying to Suffocate creatures with Mold Earth cubes so I dont doubt he would try to do the same with a 5 ft cube of Water.
As for Superman, his idea would be for it to be a flat increase of +2 to all abilities so yes it would make a -1 a +1 for an hour, which would be 3rd I believe. However, I'll mention that he can make it 1st level by making it a +2 on the next ability check someone makes.
The issue with Pressure Point is not the range, it's the effect. Compare it to thunderwave, a 1st level spell that moves people away from you. By giving Pressure Point a range larger than self, you increase the power of the spell, putting nearer 2nd level than 1st.
I assumed that the wave was instant, I think if you ask him to write up a spell description, I can give better feedback on it.
I would put the full version at 4th level. 1st level seems fine for the next ability check, I may even say a cantrip. However, there are spells, admittedly not on the wizard spell list, that fulfill a similar role. Guidance, bless, and enhance ability.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
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So I made a homebrew decision with my Campaign recently that I feel any magic user should be able to learn spells under specific conditions. A master teaching them, a wizard who makes his own spells training them to use it, etc. But that being said I wanted to make Wizard still feel special, and I know that my lv 3 Illusionary Wizard in my campaign, Pheffileph the Gnome, likes to be creative. With the foreplay aside, I have given him the power to design his own spells for my approval, and it's been one day and he has 4 designed already hahaha. I'm excited for it, but I want to make sure things are balanced. That's where I was wondering if the community could assist me in balancing some of these spells before I approve of him using them. That being said, the following are spells that he has designed. I have some ideas for how to balance them, but I will need much assistance if anyone is willing.
Pressure Point - I choose a point within 60 feet. A wave of force emanates from that point in a 10 foot sphere. Any creature within 10 feet of the point must succeed a strength saving throw or be pushed back to extent of the sphere (so if they're right beside the point, they'd be pushed back 10 feet. If they're 5 feet away, they're pushed back 5 feet.)
My thoughts: It seems to be he wants it for stealth, so I want it to have a material and somatic component rather than verbal so that it can be used as such. That being said I'm thinking this is either cantrip or 1st level due to the range, but if the range was brought down I feel it could easily be a cantrip.
Elemental wave - I fire a 5 foot cube of elemental force directly in front of me. I can choose whether it's fire, water, earth or wind. It moves in a straight line for 15 feet before dispersing.
My Thoughts: I feel this is fairly straightforward and I could implement as a cantrip right off the bat.
Major illusion - basically the same as minor illusion, but a size limit of a 15 foot cube rather than just 5
My Thoughts: This I think would be a 2nd or 3rd level, depending on how long it lasts.
Superman - I touch a willing person or creature. For the next hour, they have +2 to all ability modifiers.
My Thoughts: As is it would be it would be like 2nd or 3rd level in my opinion, but I think it could be 1st level if it only gave advantage for 2 abilities for the next hour. It would be like an upgraded "enhance ability" or the Trickster Cleric's cantrip of "Essence of the Cat" etc.
Those are my thoughts and I will be posting more of his antics, but what do you all think? I'm open to all forms of constructive criticism, even harsh. I'm a new DM that likes to keep things fresh for my players, especially since they'll likely only make it to level 7 or 8 as I'm moving soon. :^)
First off, welcome to the forums!
Pressure Point I would put as a 1st level spell.
Elemental Wave depends on what happens when a creature hits each element. If there's damage and it's high for a cantrip, I'd move it to a 1st level spell and keep a close eye on it.
Major Illusion already exists in the form of major image and silent image.
Would the +2 to your ability modifiers in Superman, move my strength from a -1 to a +1? If so, I'd consider it a 3rd or 4th level spell as it is far better than enhance ability, a 2nd level spell.
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Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
For Major Illusion I will just explain to him that Major Image already exists.
As for Pressure Point I would agree that one is fine for me to approve as 1st level, but I wouldn't mind having it be able to be cast as a ritual, just to see if he would do it. I also would be open to approving it as a cantrip if the range is 15ft or 30ft.
For Elemental wave I was thinking that a cube of fire would simply deal damage at 1 D6 per round for any creature that is within the cube/ water would not deal damage but could temporarily disrupt a creature by lifting them, if they're under 5ft that is/ Earth could simply be for projectile blocking and so would deal no damage unless its crushing something, in which case I'd play by ear the damage/ and Wind could be used to speed or slow a creature by 10ft similar to the spell Gust or Slow; the idea being that it causes a draft/ gust pushing behind or against something, temporarily speeding or slowing it. Could also be used to disrupt flying creatures I suppose. Either way, this is the type of utility he would likely be using it for. I'll have to keep my eyes on water though, as he has a habit of trying to Suffocate creatures with Mold Earth cubes so I dont doubt he would try to do the same with a 5 ft cube of Water.
As for Superman, his idea would be for it to be a flat increase of +2 to all abilities so yes it would make a -1 a +1 for an hour, which would be 3rd I believe. However, I'll mention that he can make it 1st level by making it a +2 on the next ability check someone makes.
Would those changes work then do you think?
The issue with Pressure Point is not the range, it's the effect. Compare it to thunderwave, a 1st level spell that moves people away from you. By giving Pressure Point a range larger than self, you increase the power of the spell, putting nearer 2nd level than 1st.
I assumed that the wave was instant, I think if you ask him to write up a spell description, I can give better feedback on it.
I would put the full version at 4th level. 1st level seems fine for the next ability check, I may even say a cantrip. However, there are spells, admittedly not on the wizard spell list, that fulfill a similar role. Guidance, bless, and enhance ability.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett