I have a character with the chef feat and a DM that likes homebrew. So I'm working on ideas to add alternate "recipes" to the Cook Treats.
With one hour of work or when you finish a long rest, you can cook a number of treats equal to your proficiency bonus. These special treats last 8 hours after being made. A creature can use a bonus action to eat one of those treats to gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus.
Some ideas are a 5 ft movement bonus, a +1 to one thing like attack, AC, saves, ability checks, etc. Any other ideas are very welcome.
Also, the temp HP might not last the full 8 hours, so I'm wondering if making the other effects last the whole time might be more powerful than the feat should be.
I think this is kind of a fun feat, but it lacks the flavor it deserves.
I do not think it would be fair to just add those abilities to the existing feat. The current one is well balanced without adding a ton of versatility to it.
Honestly, I think what you are describing should probably be an entire subclass for Artificer. It is already very similar to the Alchemist Artificer sub class.
Call it "Cullinary Specialist".
Put whatever you want as Meals the artificer can make, similar to the Potions/elixiers the Alchemist makes.
I’d agree with mog that it doesn’t need anything, it’s already a pretty solid feat. If you’re look for flavor, just describe what exactly you’re making.
But, to actually answer your question, I’d make any bonuses ingredient-based, in particular revolving around things like powers of monsters you might kill and eat or unusual plants you may find. And to keep things from getting too OP, have the bonus powers last only as long as the temp hp do.
I think what I'm going to propose to my DM is something like depending on the scavenged ingredients having a treat give a +1 bonus to a certain ability score for skill checks while the temp HP lasts. So like a +1 to all Dex skills or Int skills, etc.
It seems we're landing on a cooking skill check. Under 10 normal PB temp HP, failure on a nat 1, 10-14 PB+1, 15-19 PB+2, 20-24 +3, 25-29 +4, 30+ +5. Artificer with cook utensils so high skill.
The chef feat looks underwhelming on its own. The boost to short rest healing is modest and the temporary hit point treats scale very poorly with levels, especially when compared to Inspiring Leader or the artillerist's shield turret.
One way to buff it would be to give expertise to checks made using cook's utensils if you already have proficiency with it, add your proficiency bonus to the d8 rest healing and/or treats grant your character level in temporary hit points, possibly with a restriction of once per short or long rest.
For buffing cook's utensils, certain places may have culinary specialties that make things easier for the populace, such as a hot meal that gives immunity to the region's freezing climate (looking at the monster hunter series' hot and cold drinks as inspiration).
I have a character with the chef feat and a DM that likes homebrew. So I'm working on ideas to add alternate "recipes" to the Cook Treats.
Some ideas are a 5 ft movement bonus, a +1 to one thing like attack, AC, saves, ability checks, etc. Any other ideas are very welcome.
Also, the temp HP might not last the full 8 hours, so I'm wondering if making the other effects last the whole time might be more powerful than the feat should be.
I think this is kind of a fun feat, but it lacks the flavor it deserves.
I do not think it would be fair to just add those abilities to the existing feat. The current one is well balanced without adding a ton of versatility to it.
Honestly, I think what you are describing should probably be an entire subclass for Artificer. It is already very similar to the Alchemist Artificer sub class.
Call it "Cullinary Specialist".
Put whatever you want as Meals the artificer can make, similar to the Potions/elixiers the Alchemist makes.
I’d agree with mog that it doesn’t need anything, it’s already a pretty solid feat. If you’re look for flavor, just describe what exactly you’re making.
But, to actually answer your question, I’d make any bonuses ingredient-based, in particular revolving around things like powers of monsters you might kill and eat or unusual plants you may find. And to keep things from getting too OP, have the bonus powers last only as long as the temp hp do.
I think what I'm going to propose to my DM is something like depending on the scavenged ingredients having a treat give a +1 bonus to a certain ability score for skill checks while the temp HP lasts. So like a +1 to all Dex skills or Int skills, etc.
It seems we're landing on a cooking skill check. Under 10 normal PB temp HP, failure on a nat 1, 10-14 PB+1, 15-19 PB+2, 20-24 +3, 25-29 +4, 30+ +5. Artificer with cook utensils so high skill.
The chef feat looks underwhelming on its own. The boost to short rest healing is modest and the temporary hit point treats scale very poorly with levels, especially when compared to Inspiring Leader or the artillerist's shield turret.
One way to buff it would be to give expertise to checks made using cook's utensils if you already have proficiency with it, add your proficiency bonus to the d8 rest healing and/or treats grant your character level in temporary hit points, possibly with a restriction of once per short or long rest.
For buffing cook's utensils, certain places may have culinary specialties that make things easier for the populace, such as a hot meal that gives immunity to the region's freezing climate (looking at the monster hunter series' hot and cold drinks as inspiration).