Echo

get steamed zec

scuse me what

The idea is solid but there's a critical problem with this spell tied to the fundamentals of magic casting in 5e: You can't cast two spells on the same turn unless the second spell you cast is a cantrip. This eliminates its usefulness as a spell "echo" because its duration is too short to be delayed until the next turn, unless you only use it to double a cantrip. In that sense upcasting it would be entirely pointless since you're using a higher spell slot to double only a cantrip.

Essentially you either need to make an exception to that rule for this spell specifically, or you need to increase its duration so that on an upcoming turn you can properly utilize its echoing effect. The latter is a safer choice if balance is a concern, and if you're still worried you can make it concentration as well. Also some of the language needs to be defined: If the spell targets an area does it simply target the same area? Shouldn't the spell end once you cast the echoed spell?

Quote from Chum42 >>

The idea is solid but there's a critical problem with this spell tied to the fundamentals of magic casting in 5e: You can't cast two spells on the same turn unless the second spell you cast is a cantrip. This eliminates its usefulness as a spell "echo" because its duration is too short to be delayed until the next turn, unless you only use it to double a cantrip. In that sense upcasting it would be entirely pointless since you're using a higher spell slot to double only a cantrip.

Essentially you either need to make an exception to that rule for this spell specifically, or you need to increase its duration so that on an upcoming turn you can properly utilize its echoing effect. The latter is a safer choice if balance is a concern, and if you're still worried you can make it concentration as well. Also some of the language needs to be defined: If the spell targets an area does it simply target the same area? Shouldn't the spell end once you cast the echoed spell?

Came here to say this. Here's a first pass at how I would fix it:

Once, until the end of your next turn, the next time you cast a spell of first level or lower that targets one creature, you can choose to release an echo of the spell. The echo releases immediately after triggering spell, acts exactly as the triggering spell, and targets the same creature. If the target has zero hit points after the original spell is cast but before the echo is released, the echo instead targets a random creature within 60 feet of the original target.

The echo functions exactly as the original spell and cannot be changed in any way. For example, if the spell "Command" is used echoed, the echo duplicates the same command word.

When you cast this spell at higher levels, the spell affected can be of the same level as the casting of this spell, however 9th level spells cannot be Echoed. They are simply too powerful.

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I thought the Command example was important, unless the intention is that it CAN be altered (but then it's not really an echo, it's a twinned spell). But even then, it should still be clarified. 

I also added the bit about choosing to release it because, by holding it until your next turn, you create a situation where you could accidentally trigger it on a reaction spell, such as Counterspell, Shield, or anything else utilizing the Warcaster feat (it would SUCK to cast a 5th level Echo in preparation for your next turn, then accidentally burn that echo on a Booming Blade opportunity attack, lol).

It would be fine if you removed that and made it automatic on the NEXT spell, but it should be written that way purposefully either way. The way I wrote it is a little more forgiving for the caster. The other way is a little more challenging and makes it more of a choice, because if they're holding an echo for their next turn and an enemy caster puts out a spell, they either have to burn the echo on Counterspell or just let it go through. Either approach is fine; it comes down to what the author intended.