Path of the Mindless Mage

u/_LordTerracotta_'s homebrew Path of the Mindless Mage, a Barbarian subclass with access to the wizard's spell list at a half-caster rate.

Walking the fine line of mindless rage and mindful casting is difficult but not impossible. You must have a deep and intimate understanding of your spells in order to twist the magic to your needs and cast while in a blind rage. This limits you greatly in the number and power of spells they are able to learn but makes you an unexpected and formidable opponent on the battlefield.

Spellcasting

When you reach 3rd level, your martial prowess are augmented with the ability to cast spells. See Spells Rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the Spells Listing for the wizard spell list.

Cantrips

You learn two cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list. You learn an additional wizard cantrip of your choice at 10th level.

Spell Slots

The Mindless Mage Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your wizard spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these wizard spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

For example, if you know the 1st-level spell shield and have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast shield using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher

You know three 1st-level wizard spells of your choice, two of which you must choose from the abjuration and evocation spells on the wizard spell list.

The Spells Known column of the Mindless Mage Spellcasting table shows when you learn more wizard spells of 1st level or higher. Each of these spells must be an abjuration or evocation spell of your choice, and must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 7th level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

The spells you learn at 8th, 14th, and 20th level can come from any school of magic.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the wizard spells you know with another spell of your choice from the wizard spell list. The new spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots, and it must be an abjuration or evocation spell, unless you're replacing the spell you gained at 3rd, 8th, 14th, or 20th level from any school of magic.

Spellcasting Ability

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your wizard spells, since the power of your magic relies on your ability to project your will into the world. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a wizard spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier

Mindless Mage Spellcasting

Barbarian Level	Cantrips Known	Spells Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
3rd	2	3	2	–	–	–
4th	2	4	3	–	–	–
5th	2	4	3	–	–	–
6th	2	4	3	–	–	–
7th	2	5	4	2	–	–
8th	2	6	4	2	–	–
9th	2	6	4	2	–	–
10th	3	7	4	3	–	–
11th	3	8	4	3	–	–
12th	3	8	4	3	–	–
13th	3	9	4	3	2	–
14th	3	10	4	3	2	–
15th	3	10	4	3	2	–
16th	3	11	4	3	3	–
17th	3	11	4	3	3	–
18th	3	11	4	3	3	–
19th	3	12	4	3	3	1
20th	3	13	4	3	3	1

Reckless Casting

Starting at 3rd level, when you use the Reckless Attack feature you also gain advantage on melee spell attack rolls using Intelligence during this turn, but attack rolls against you have advantage until your next turn.

Mindless Casting

To you, a spell and an axe invoke the same feelings and can solve the same problems. Starting at 3rd level, while raging, you gain the following benefits if you aren't wearing heavy armor:

• You are able to cast spells but are unable to concentrate on any spells, including spells you were concentrating on before entering your rage.
• Whenever you cast a spell that requires you to make a ranged spell attack, you instead make a melee spell attack, and the spell's range is replaced with a range of Touch. For all spells with a range greater than 5 ft., your casting range is reduced to 5 feet.
• Whenever you make a melee spell attack, including as a result of the previous benefit, you gain a bonus to the total damage roll as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian table.
• Attempting to cast a melee or range spell attack against a hostile creature counts as an attack for the purpose of maintaining Rage.

War Magic

At 6th level, when you use your action to cast a cantrip, you can make one melee weapon attack as a bonus action.

Aura of Protection

At 6th level, you have a powerful tool at your disposal and you have learned to protect yourself or those you care for from harm at your own hand. When you cast a spell requiring a saving throw you may as a reaction choose one creature, including yourself, to automatically succeed on their saving throws against the spell, and they take no damage if they would normally take half damage on a successful save. You can use this reaction a number of times equal to half your proficiency bonus rounded down, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Barbaric Magic

At 10th level, your magic is as effective a weapon as any sword or axe. The effects of Brutal Critical also apply to melee spell attacks, allowing you to roll extra spell damage dice on a critical hit with a melee spell attack.

Spell Echoes

At 10th level, you know these spells better than anyone you have met. Even in a mindless rage you are still able to hold onto even the most complicated spells. Raging doesn't break your concentration on a spell you've already cast, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as witch bolt, that you've already cast. You are still unable to cast any spells requiring concentration while raging.

Rageful Spells

At 14th level, you magic is as much a part of you as your rage. They have become intertwined and one in the same. Any spell you cast while raging that causes damage allows you to gain a bonus to the total damage roll as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian table. In addition, attempting to cast a spell that targets or requires a hostile creature to make a saving throw counts as an attack for the purpose of maintaining Rage.