D&D 5E Downtime Activity: Spellcrafting+

[GreatestHonor]

I saw in older editions of DND that a wizard could spend downtime crafting new spells, and this is supported in lore. Unfortunately there are no official rules for doing so in 5th edition, so i took the time to put this together. Its still a rough draft, so any feedback would be appreciated.

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Spoiler: Downtime Activity: Spellcrafting First Draft

To create a new spell you must have at least one spell slot of equal or higher level than the spell level of the spell you are attempting to create, and you must have access to and craft the new spell in a safe location during the entirety of its creation.

When determining elements of a spell work with your GM and compare your creation with other spells as well as the rules for creating spells in the DMG (Creating a Spell, pg. 283-284) to ensure your new spell is appropriate for the proposed level and to make any changes or alterations to it that are needed. Other factors may determine whether or not a spell is appropriate, such as the campaign’s setting, or if it would make more sense s a cleric spell, both of which are at the GM’s discretion.

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Cost and Time per Spell Level

Level	Cost (sp)	Time (Workweeks)	Arcana DC
Cantrip	1,000	1	12
1st	5,000	3	13
2nd	10,000	5	14
3rd	30,000	10	15
4th	60,000	15	16
5th	125,000	20	17
6th	200,000	30	19
7th	350,000	40	21
8th	500,000	50	23
9th	750,000	60	25

You must make a Arcana check equal or exceeding the DC at the end of every 10 weeks (rounded down, minimum of once), or you do not advance the creation of the new spell for that week. If you fail this check by 5 or more, roll once on the Arcane Disaster table for the appropriate level of the spell. If you fail the check by 10 or more, roll 1d4 (minimum of 1) times.

=====ARCANE DISASTER TABLE YET TO BE MADE=====
Cantrips & Level 1
2nd & 3rd
4th & 5th
6th, 7th, and 8th
9th

When you create a new spell you are—at least initially— the only one that knows it. Others can attempt to learn it or copy it from your spellbook given enough time and resources. With this new spell you find you have gained an innate mastery over it, gaining the following benefits:

• A spell you created is always prepared and does not count towards the number of spells you can prepare.
• Depending on your wizard level and the level of the spell, you can cast the new spell a predetermined number of times each day without expending a spell slot or requiring material components, as detailed in the table below:

Wizard Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1	1
2	1	1
3	1	1
4	2	1
5	2	1	1
6	2	2	1
7	3	2	1	1
8	3	2	2	1
9	3	3	2	1	1
10	3	3	2	2	1
11	4	3	3	2	1	1
12	4	3	3	2	2	1
13	4	4	3	3	2	1	1
14	4	4	3	3	2	2	1
15	5	4	4	3	3	2	1	1
16	5	4	4	3	3	2	2	1
17	5	5	4	4	3	3	2	1	1
18	5	5	4	4	3	3	2	2	1
19	At-Will	5	5	4	4	3	3	2	1
20	At-Will	5	5	4	4	3	3	2	1

After expending a created spell’s innate uses, you can cast the spell again by using a spell slot of an appropriate level.

Also, because cantrips can already be casted indefinitely and do not require material components, you instead can cast a cantrip you create as a bonus action.

Game Masters. This table can also be used by you for NPCs, such as archmages who have created their spells.

 

[GnomeWorks]

A spell you created is always prepared and does not count towards the number of spells you can prepare.

Depending on your wizard level and the level of the spell, you can cast the new spell a predetermined number of times each day without expending a spell slot or requiring material components, as detailed in the table below:

I think I understand why these rules exist -- you're trying to encourage players to actually make new spells -- but this is... excessive.

Also, because cantrips can already be casted indefinitely and do not require material components, you instead can cast a cantrip you create as a bonus action.

This is also probably a very bad idea.

 

[GreatestHonor]

I think I understand why these rules exist -- you're trying to encourage players to actually make new spells -- but this is... excessive.

How so? I figured it would be a way to incentivize creation rather than just copying from scrolls.

This is also probably a very bad idea.

I can see how, but i couldn’t think of any other decent bonus for cantrips. Perhaps limit how much you can cast it as a bonus action per day?

 

[Peter BOSCO'S]

How so? I figured it would be a way to incentivize creation rather than just copying from scrolls.


I can see how, but i couldn’t think of any other decent bonus for cantrips. Perhaps limit how much you can cast it as a bonus action per day?

How about +1 Caster Level or +1 Save DC or +1 to Hit, just as if you had spent the time building a +1 Implement instead of making up a spell?

 

[Lanefan]

How so? I figured it would be a way to incentivize creation rather than just copying from scrolls.

One way to incentivize creation is to have the creator able to make some serious money from selling the new spell to other casters or to mages' guilds...provided, of course, that the new spell has any practical uses.

I can see how, but i couldn’t think of any other decent bonus for cantrips. Perhaps limit how much you can cast it as a bonus action per day?

I'm not sure I'd let them create new cantrips in the first place, just actual spells.

 

[Li Shenron]

I would stop at the "always prepared" benefit. The other benefits are way too much, especially because while the Wizard gets more powerful during downtime, we don't know if the rest of the party is just lagging behind.

 

[TheSword]

I think them knowing the spell so well that it always counts as prepared is a good approach and a nice reward.

I do think the time scales too quickly. It would be very rare to have 10 workweeks spare. Let alone 40. Unless it’s a very unique campaign. I would reduce to 1 week per spell level. Don’t forget it not a given that it will be done in that time you have to pass an arcana check.

I’d make the arcana check every week.

I’d let clerics use religion to pray for spells.

 

[GreatestHonor]

One way to incentivize creation is to have the creator able to make some serious money from selling the new spell to other casters or to mages' guilds...provided, of course, that the new spell has any practical uses.

Good idea. Seems like a case-by-case basis, but I’ll work up some general guidelines

I'm not sure I'd let them create new cantrips in the first place, just actual spells.

Fair enough.

 

[GreatestHonor]

I would stop at the "always prepared" benefit. The other benefits are way too much, especially because while the Wizard gets more powerful during downtime, we don't know if the rest of the party is just lagging behind.

I think them knowing the spell so well that it always counts as prepared is a good approach and a nice reward.

I knew that the benefits were powerful, hence why it currently becomes so expensive and time consuming as you reach higher spell levels.

I do think the time scales too quickly. It would be very rare to have 10 workweeks spare. Let alone 40. Unless it’s a very unique campaign. I would reduce to 1 week per spell level. Don’t forget it not a given that it will be done in that time you have to pass an arcana check.

My idea was that it could take course over a longer period of time, considering that you are creating a brand new spell. For the sake of simplicity however, i think you have a better idea.

I’d make the arcana check every week.

I had it like this in an older draft, but changed it when i increased the time needed.

I’d let clerics use religion to pray for spells.

Great idea. I’ll add this and perhaps some for other Spellcasters. Persuasion for Warlocks, Nature for Druids, maybe keep Arcana for sorcerers.

 

[bloodtide]

I figured it would be a way to incentivize creation

Well, creating a new spell is very much already a great incentive. Even more so once you get past "I want to create a boring combat spell that does 1d4 damage" type spells.

Also, xp is a good reward for making a spell.