April 16th, 2018
Greetings fellow adventurers!
This update provides users the ability to create their own Homebrew Character Subclasses!
The homebrew subclasses will not only provide textual data in their own listing and details pages, but will also allow users to select subclasses and have their effects applied in the character builder!
The main homebrew page has been updated with a slot for subclasses:
And now there is a listing page for homebrew subclasses:
Currently, you can filter by name, author, the base class (Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, etc.) of the subclass, and which spell casting ability score (INT, WIS, etc.) that the subclass may use. Additional filtering may be added in the future, based on feedback.
As with other homebrew-able data, you can either create a homebrew subclass from an existing, publicly available subclass to use as a guide, or create one from scratch.
You must first select a base class to build your subclass on top of. Once a base class is selected, you can either create a copy of a subclass that you have access to, or create a new subclass from scratch.
Let's dive in and create a brand new subclass for Rogue, called the "Inquisitor" (think, church assassin).
The starting form is fairly simple, Name, Version, Short Description, Description fields are pretty standard to all our homebrewable data. The next few boxes are interesting, though. Want to make a Barbarian with spellcasting like Arcane Trickster or Eldritch night? Now you can. Buy using the spell casting related fields choose the stat for your spell casting modifier, what list of spells the subclass has access to and if the spells are learned (like a Wizard) or known (like a Cleric). You can check out the tooltips on the fields for more specifics.
Since our Inquisitor works for the church, let's give him access to the Cleric spell list:
With the starting information filled in, we'll save our process, which will now allow us to start entering our class features:
The name and description fields are pretty straight forward, the Multiclass Description field is used if any additional text is needed when multiclassing with this subclass. The actions fields (not currently used in the current character sheet, but will be in the new one), allow us to group data on the new character sheet by Actions / Reactions / Bonus Actions / Other, etc. So, while you won't see any immedaite use of populating these fields, they will be utilized once the new character sheet is launched.
NOTE: If you want to give a subclass access to spells in the character sheet, for a base class that doesn't typically have spell casting access (like Fighter, Rogue, etc), you MUST create a class feature for your subclass named Spellcasting:
Likewise, you can create a class feature called Pact Magic to give your subclass Warlock-type access to spells.
Class Features can also have options that characters can choose from (like Maneuvers for a Battlemaster Fighter.) Once your Class Feature is created you can then enter Options.
Both Class Features and Class Feature Options can have Modifiers, Spells, and Limited Use applied. Let's give our Inquisitor a Class Feature called Vigilant.
And apply the modifier, which adds the character's WIS Mod to their DEX Mod for the character's base initiative:
And now, looking at the character's Initiative on the their character sheet:
We can see the character's base Initiative is +10.
The modifier, spell, and limited use sections are the same as what's used in our other homebrewable data, and James has a bunch of creation guides on building homebrew on DDB, so please reference some of those great guides for guidelines on using those forms. And I'm sure James will be doing a detailed guide for subclasses too :)
One additional sub section for a Class Feature is Level Scaling. This form is used for effects that scale based on class level (like Superiority Dice for Battle Master:)
Also with this release, we have enabled commenting, ratings, and reporting on ALL published homebrew. The homebrew author can control turning commenting on / off for their published homebrew:
Once comments are enabled, a commenting section will be available at the bottom of the details page:
Homebrew Authors will also receive notifications when users comment on their creations.
For Ratings, logged-in users can rate a homebrew up or down, by using the ratings controls at the bottom of detail pages:
A user can undo their vote after voting, but are never allowed to vote more than once:
The rated values are now displayed in a new sortable column on the homebrew listings:
We've also added the ability for logged-in users to send in reports for published homebrew items. Our moderator staff is automatically notified of these reports. So no more trying to PM a mod directly if you see something suspect on a published piece of homebrew. The Report button is located at the bottom of the details page:
We've also added the Add / Remove Collection button on the bottom of the details pages as well.
Hopefully, these quality of life improvements to all homebrew will provide for better community engagement and use of all the fabulous homebrew data being created on DDB.
If you haven't seen any of James' great in-depth guides on creating various types of homebrew on DDB, please check them out!
Races, Backgrounds, Feats, Magic Items, Monsters, and Spells
We're really excited to see all the wonderful subclasses that the community creates!
Next up for part of the dev team - source management for content sharing!
Happy homebrewing!
When adding spell casting to a subclass for a class that normally does not have spell casting capabilities, is it possible to allow them to cast spells higher than 4th level? I've played with the half/full level option, as well as adding either Spellcasting or Pact Magic to add spells casting to for classes that normally do not have the ability to cast a spell. However, no matter what I pick, (for the fighter in this case), the character is limited to (at 20th level) 3 cantrips, 13 spells with a max spell level of 4. Is this a set thing because it is a subclass or is there a way to allow a subclass to grant access to, say, 6th level spells with a max of 15 spells known (as an example)?
Thank you for posting this, but I‘be run into an issue. Everything typed up good, but one of the subclass features allows the selection between two tool sets and I can seem to get them to pop up when in character creator. Any Help Is Appreciated!!
Have you made individual Options for the toolsets?
How do you make a feature that uses things like bardic inspiration?
Why is it, that no one answer questions about spell slots as if the two before this had not even asked the question?!? I feel insulted for them and that's because I have the same question is there even a point in asking?!?
BoyGinger: "I want the class to be able to scale with the class list I gave in the beginning. I made a feature for spellcasting but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to give the additional spell slots for when the characters level up since it doesn't seem to work. Please Help!"
(and, before that )
8Bagels: "how do i add the details for spell slots per level when i add spellcasting? will it be parsed from the table in the "spellcasting" description?"
Is there any way to give a homebrew subclass a melee weapon? Kind of like how an Armorer Artificer gets the Arcane Armor's Gauntlets or how a Beast Barbarian gets it's Claws when raging.
Looking forward to trying this method.
Idk how I missed this, but I think because it's not possible. I looked into it rather extensively and found that there was simply no way to make it work. I was working on a Phantom Thief (from Persona 5) subclass and wanted to give a non-spellcasting class (specifically rogue) access to a full table, and it wouldn't work in D&D Beyond. That was my answer at least
I am getting this error when trying to create a Warlock subclass:
“This homebrew Subclass has data mapped to it that is licensed content or private homebrew. This typically occurs when licensed or private homebrew spells are linked to the Subclass.”
The only thing I can think is that I am using the tooltips to link the spells in the subclass spells feature but there are hundreds of homebrew warlock subclasses that do this. Is there something special I need to do here? Subclass spell lists are a required warlock sub feature so I don’t know why it would tell me I can’t include it??
Any help is appreciated.
The reason this is happening involves Wizard's paywalls (surprise surprise), you've linked spells that are not available in the "Basic Rules" book, and unless your players purchase the appropriate books, they won't have access. I've learned that if you (assuming you're the DM of a campaign) give your players the spell, then they should have access to the spell from the subclass. You're likely doing everything right, it's just that the content is not "free to all" in the first place.
Gotcha. Thanks for the heads up.
what I do for me it just says
Is there a way to give a subclass the ability to have more reactions?
I'm trying to add a mount option and options for what mount can be chosen; I have the option of mount working, but how do I get the character builder to give options beyond whether you have a mount at all?