I just created my first ever home-brew spell, a signature spell for my wizard called Malvedar's Defensive Daggers, and since I'm completely new at this, I wanted to get some feedback:
You shape three daggers in the air around you. Each dagger grants you a +1 modifier to your armor class. For the duration of the spell, you can use a bonus action to launch up to two of the daggers at a target within range. Make a range spell attack. On a hit, the dagger is destroyed, and deals 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
At higher levels: When you cast Malvedar's Defensive Daggers at level 2 or higher, you create one additional dagger for each level above first.
So it gives you +3 to armor class, and you can expend one of those +1s to make an attack that deals 1d6 damage. I intended it to be a bit of a mix of Melf's Minute Meteors and Shield. Should I maybe make the attack part a bit stronger?
This sounds pretty balanced, but maybe make it with no/less AC bonus. And maybe add a bonus to the dagger damage. Like maybe a bonus equal to Int. modifier?
For a first level spell, I think it's a bit much to have a potential 2d6 damage as a bonus action. I think it would make more sense to have the ranged spell attack as an action instead, or perhaps simply reduce it to a d4.
Also, there should probably be stronger limits for the higher level casting. For example, casting it at just 4th level gives you an immediate +6 to AC... it even gives a potential +12AC.
My suggestion... reduce the damage die of the daggers to a d4 bonus action attack. However, increase the number of daggers summoned to 6, and each pair of daggers still active increases your AC by 1. Then also have the higher level cast only increase the number of daggers by one per level, so a second level spell slot gives you an additional attack but no armor boost, and third level gets you up to another AC.
Thanks. Comparing the spell to a couple other first level spells, you were right. I decreased the damage dealt and AC given and increased the amount of daggers instead.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I just created my first ever home-brew spell, a signature spell for my wizard called Malvedar's Defensive Daggers, and since I'm completely new at this, I wanted to get some feedback:
Malvedar's Defensive Daggers 1st level Conjuration
Casting time: 1 Action, Range: 60 feet, Somatic components, 1 minute duration (Concentration)
You shape three daggers in the air around you. Each dagger grants you a +1 modifier to your armor class. For the duration of the spell, you can use a bonus action to launch up to two of the daggers at a target within range. Make a range spell attack. On a hit, the dagger is destroyed, and deals 3 (1d6) piercing damage.
At higher levels: When you cast Malvedar's Defensive Daggers at level 2 or higher, you create one additional dagger for each level above first.
So it gives you +3 to armor class, and you can expend one of those +1s to make an attack that deals 1d6 damage. I intended it to be a bit of a mix of Melf's Minute Meteors and Shield. Should I maybe make the attack part a bit stronger?
This sounds pretty balanced, but maybe make it with no/less AC bonus. And maybe add a bonus to the dagger damage. Like maybe a bonus equal to Int. modifier?
D&D is a game for nerds... so I guess I'm one :p
For a first level spell, I think it's a bit much to have a potential 2d6 damage as a bonus action. I think it would make more sense to have the ranged spell attack as an action instead, or perhaps simply reduce it to a d4.
Also, there should probably be stronger limits for the higher level casting. For example, casting it at just 4th level gives you an immediate +6 to AC... it even gives a potential +12AC.
My suggestion... reduce the damage die of the daggers to a d4 bonus action attack. However, increase the number of daggers summoned to 6, and each pair of daggers still active increases your AC by 1. Then also have the higher level cast only increase the number of daggers by one per level, so a second level spell slot gives you an additional attack but no armor boost, and third level gets you up to another AC.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
Thanks. Comparing the spell to a couple other first level spells, you were right. I decreased the damage dealt and AC given and increased the amount of daggers instead.