Questions tagged [homebrew]
For questions about homebrewing new rules content for an existing system, this tag should be used when locally-created, non-published content is at the heart of the question. (Note that soliciting ideas for creating homebrew is off topic for the site.) Not to be confused with the [house-rules] tag. For creating entire new games, use [game-design].
9
votes
1answer
293 views
What problems might be caused by a PC having the Ooze type?
I am trying to make a homebrew slime race, and I'd like to know what complications might arise from a PC having the Ooze type, including ones caused by having Ooze AND Humanoid.
1
vote
0answers
67 views
Is my Homebrew Spellcaster Balanced [on hold]
So ive recently been putting together a 5e Homebrew class called the Afflicted. Its mostly meant for low magic settings, or as an anomaly within higher magic settings. It is functionally similar to a ...
7
votes
1answer
143 views
Is my adaptation of the Battle Master as a Wizard subclass balanced relative to other Wizard subclasses and to the original Battle Master?
Background Motivation
I wanted to create a subclass for Wizard that uses an expendable die resource to augment its magic and benefit its allies, similar to how the Battle Master Fighter expends ...
15
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I tell my Dungeon Master that her custom feat breaks my character?
I found out today that my DM (in a D&D 5e game) made some tweaks to my character's backstory, specifically some of the formative parts of his 'creation'. These changes are on the border of myth ...
4
votes
2answers
196 views
Is there a way to stun a creature without using a Save DC?
A (homebrew) greatsword has this feature:
Heavy Blow. [...] If you hit with this very powerful attack, the target must make a contested Athletics check. If the target loses, it is stunned until the ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
What would the 5e phrasing be for combining multiple attacks into a single attack?
A (homebrew) magic greatsword has this feature:
Heavy Blow. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you may choose to forfeit your attacks for one very powerful attack. The powerful attack ...
7
votes
3answers
682 views
Is this homebrew Sky Barbarian subclass balanced against other barbarian paths?
This Sky Barbarian path is loosely based on the Path of the Storm Herald barbarian and the Way of the Four Elements monk. It is designed to give barbarians a way to deal damage on range without ...
4
votes
2answers
396 views
How much does adding the Pack Tactics trait to this homebrew monster affect its CR?
I am using this Beowolf homebrew monster as a basis to create a Large Mountain Wolf.
It currently has a CR of 3, if I add the Pack Tactics trait (as listed below) to this monster, how does that ...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
Considerations for homebrew races/classes? [duplicate]
I have seen many people ask if their homebrew race is overpowered (myself included). What items should be considered when making a homebrew race or class?
2
votes
1answer
253 views
Is my homebrew “Created Human” race balanced?
I have been thinking about this race as being like Frankenstein's monster (or at least the popular interpretation of it including it being unintelligent), and modeled the racial traits after the Orc ...
3
votes
1answer
226 views
Is this homebrew 'Outsider' race balanced?
I am currently editing a homebrew race that I have created, and after a good few versions, I believe I am coming to some semblance of a decent homebrew race. However, I fear that it may be unbalanced ...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
Is this homebrew Awakened Monkey race balanced?
I have a homebrew race I would like evaluated, for overall balance.
Awakened Monkey
You were once an ordinary monkey, just wandering with your monkey
friends, and one day you were awakened. ...
4
votes
2answers
76 views
Can a prestige class have attribute prerequisites?
I homebrew a lot of a prestige classes and occasionally have felt like it made sense to have them require certain attributes. For example, a certain class might have Dex 15 as a prerequisite. However, ...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
4e D&D XP penalty on point of death [closed]
I recently introduced me son to D&D 4e. There is only the two of us, so I'm expecting death to occur more frequently. I want to implement a house rule that upon death (especially if we get a TPK ...
0
votes
1answer
208 views
Is my homebrew “Charger” fighter archetype balanced?
I was looking at the mounted fighter subclass and realized that none of them have anything to do with mounted combat. So I decided to make my own subclass and was wondering if I could get some good ...
12
votes
1answer
171 views
How does the ability to cast healing spells affect a monster's CR?
I've been making a few homebrew monsters for my current D&D 5e campaign, and I ran into a problem when I wanted to create a creature that used healing magic. There were general rules for offensive ...
31
votes
6answers
4k views
How do I implement a challenge where time runs backward?
I'm DMing a D&D 5e campaign that has pockets of "weird time" (areas where time runs faster or slower than normal). It seems like I shouldn't pass up the opportunity to have an area where time is ...
12
votes
2answers
283 views
Rolling for Movement in Theatre of the Mind
From D&D 5e and "Theatre of the Mind" in combat, mxyzplk had the second highest answer about running combat in theatre of the mind. He mentioned:
Same thing with movement. I have all ...
6
votes
3answers
301 views
How can I communicate to my players, that I like them to roleplay their skills more?
I am playing in a campaign I made myself using homebrewed rules based on a German pen-and-paper RPG called Das Schwarze Auge (DSA; The Dark Eye in English).
I heavily influenced the character ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Is this Variant Monstrosity Druid balanced?
In my current campaign, I introduced a crazy scientist that uses mutagens in order to transform into different monsters. It’s really cool and really creepy. One of the characters in the party recently ...
6
votes
2answers
269 views
Encouraging piety in classes besides Paladin/Cleric [closed]
As a DM who has almost always played with inexperienced or casual players, I find many or most of those players trend towards homogeneity. They choose a patron deity and alignment when they roll up, ...
3
votes
2answers
191 views
Is it balanced to create a homebrew sentient magic item that can attune to other magic items and grant the user their benefits?
I'm imagining something like this:
A sentient, magical armor piece (I. E., the Mcguffin) that can store multiple weapons or shields to be summoned when needed. You are attuned to the Mcguffin, and ...
6
votes
2answers
863 views
In the homebrew Gunslinger fighter subclass, what is the maximum grit you can have?
I'm reading over Matt Mercer's Gunslinger Fighter Archetype, and after buying it I realized it doesn't have any maximum value for grit points.
Did Matt Mercer ever make a clarification on what it ...
0
votes
2answers
213 views
What is allowed to be a holy symbol?
One of my players is playing a Blood Hunter from the D&D beyond site. He wants to have his character be the Ghost Hunter based subclass and have his backstory be that he grew up in a ghost hunting ...
6
votes
2answers
215 views
Is this homebrew pacifistic Life cleric variant balanced compared to official Life clerics?
I have a player who is playing a complete pacifist cleric (please, no comments about how that's a terrible awful horrible idea that ruins D&D; I know it's unpopular, but I find it to be a fun ...
9
votes
2answers
264 views
Is my nerfed version of the Healing Spirit spell in line with the relative power level of other sources of healing?
I have concerns about the immense healing potential that the Healing Spirit spell can put out.
As it appears in Xanathar's Guide to Everything (page 157), the Healing Spirit spell is able to heal any ...
3
votes
3answers
752 views
Is this homebrew Circle of Flame druid subclass balanced with Circle of the Land druids?
Inspired by a question by Stephanos and tempered by the PEACH process at GiTP, I am asking for a comparison to Circle of the Land druid sub classes for this Druid proposed sub class, homebrew, since ...
3
votes
0answers
152 views
Is this homebrew alternate Way of the Four Elements monk subclass balanced? [closed]
I've created a new version of the Way of the Four Elements monk. I don't have too many friends in the RPG community that could give me some good balance/playability feedback on such a thing, and was ...
1
vote
0answers
63 views
Good Resources for Making Custom Artwork for a Non-Artist? [closed]
I like to employ PowerPoint in my adventures with my party (Eberron right now!). I feel, as the DM, like it provides a "taste" of the world to my players and helps springboard their imaginations along ...
12
votes
5answers
3k views
Should this homebrew “Artillery Spell” advanced metamagic option be reworded or clarified?
I'm working on homebrewing a number of variant options for the Metamagic options available to Sorcerers, and I need some assistance proofreading the wording on one such option that I'm working on. I ...
4
votes
3answers
278 views
Is this homebrew Circle of Flames/Chaos subclass for druids balanced?
Here is my homebrew Circle of Flames/Chaos subclass for druids:
Circle of Flame/Chaos
Lore/Calling: Fire burns the forest and out of the ash rises new growth, just like the fire that burns the ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Can a Reaction Cantrip be used as an action and bonus action? [closed]
I have a character in my most recent campaign. He is a homebrew race that weakens all checks and rolls in sunlight (unless properly covered), but gives +1AC and the Fire Bolt Cantrip.
His scenario: ...
7
votes
1answer
223 views
Is this “Gelatinous Noob” ranger's animal companion balanced?
A while back I was struck with the idea of making a Beast Master ranger who has for their "animal" companion a miniature Gelatinous Cube. I set out to create the stats for said cube. Ignoring anything ...
2
votes
2answers
315 views
Is this “Superior Darkvision” spell balanced?
The spell would read as follows:
Superior Darkvision
2nd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour
You touch a willing creature to ...
3
votes
3answers
409 views
Is this version of the dragonborn race unbalanced?
When comparing the dragonborns with the other races of the Player's Handbook, it is pretty clear they are a bit underpowered. A quick search in google shows many people also think so.
Besides their ...
5
votes
1answer
582 views
Is this alternate version of the Observant feat balanced?
I'm a DM and have a player who likes the Observant feat (PHB, p. 168):
Increase your Intelligence or Wisdom score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
If you can see a creature's mouth while it is ...
9
votes
1answer
237 views
How can I compensate for replacing darkvision with low-light vision for playable races?
I am homebrewing a post-apocalypse style world for D&D 5E, intended to be a mashup of Mutant Year Zero and D&D 5E. Thematically, one major point is that the world has been thrown into a ...
-6
votes
3answers
150 views
How do you deal with sneak attack if you multi-class in classes with sneak attack? [closed]
How do you deal with sneak attack if you multi-class in classes with sneak attack? I understand that for now the rogue is the only class with sneak attack, but i we're using 3rd party and home brew ...
2
votes
1answer
118 views
How does my homebrew spell replacement for the Shadow Magic sorcerer's Hound of Ill Omen feature compare to the original?
We are starting a new campaign soon with 7 players. To avoid a lot of extra rolling and stuff, the DM banned summons (companions/mounts).
I still wanted to play a Shadow Magic sorcerer (XGtE, p. 50-...
1
vote
0answers
55 views
Any good free programs for written an adventure/setting book.m [closed]
I've been working on an adventure and my own campaign setting. I want to be able to share them online in a professional looking pdf or eBook format. I was wondering if anyone here knows a good program ...
28
votes
7answers
7k views
How powerful would an always-on Truesight ability be for a PC?
How powerful would an always-on passive ability or magic item or whatever else that could grant truesight to a PC be? Let's say 60 ft. to match the range of races with Darkvision.
For reference, here'...
9
votes
5answers
1k views
Is this homebrew “Throwing Weapons Master” feat balanced?
I'm trying to create a Fighter/Warlock character based on Kratos in the newest God of War game, who wields a two-handed axe which he can throw and summon back to his hands.
Pact of the Blade Warlock ...
13
votes
1answer
788 views
How balanced is a feat that lets players round up instead of down, and win contest ties?
Saw someone on FB with this idea, and wanted to get some input.
Feat: Mathematician
Whenever an ability tells you to round up or tells you to round down a value, you can choose whether to ...
7
votes
2answers
275 views
How can I improve this homebrew magic item so that it remains balanced across a wide range of levels?
I am considering the following homebrew magic item for my campaign:
Ring, rare (requires attunement)
While attuned to this ring, when you cast a cantrip that targets a single creature (but ...
7
votes
2answers
580 views
Is this homebrew Spiritual Shield spell balanced?
I have a pacifist cleric in my party, so I created this spell to replace spiritual weapon for him:
Spiritual Shield
2nd-level evocation
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: 60 feet
...
2
votes
1answer
148 views
Is this homebrew “Acrobatic Grappler” feat balanced?
I find it unusual how a particularly dextrous adventurer is unable to hold on to and keep still a target purely because they lack the strength to do so, when there are cases in real life where ...
4
votes
3answers
680 views
Is this homebrew feat for bards balanced (or even useful)?
I've been toying with the idea of a feat for a bard to allow for more sneaky play with things like mass suggestion. I think it could be fun and I was thinking of suggesting it to my DM for the bard I ...
30
votes
4answers
4k views
Can my players abuse this homebrew Blade of the Thirst magic item?
I am designing a homebrew magic item. I think I have it balanced but need to know if there are any loopholes I have not seen.
Blade of the thirst, magical longsword, requires attunement, versatile,...
4
votes
3answers
964 views
What would be the challenge rating for this homebrew “Obelan Enforcer”?
Obelan Enforcer
Medium construct, lawful neutral
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 48(10d6+4)
Speed 30ft.
STR 18 (+4) DEX 10 (+0) CON 16 (+3) INT 8 (-1) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 6 (-...
7
votes
1answer
260 views
What are the potential downsides of this homebrew contacts system?
In a recent discussion I had with another GM we expressed displeasure at a few common archetypes that characters tend towards. More specifically, we both expressed reservations about newly created ...
