D&D 5E Necromancy Cantrip Idea

[doctorbadwolf]

Minor Psychic Wraith
Necromancy cantrip

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 60 feet

Components: V, S

Duration: 1 minute, concentration

You lock eyes with a creature you can see within range, and speak the name of a minor psychic wraith, calling it from the body of your enemy. The wraith appears in a space within 5 ft of the target, and immediately makes an attack using your melee spell attack against a target of your choice within 5ft of it, and can move up to 20 feet as part of the same action. It's attack deals 1d4 necrotic damage to the target of the attack, as well as an additional 1d4 damage to the initial target of this spell. The wraith cannot take damage or be subject to conditions, and is ethereal. You can command the wraith to repeat this attack, and move it's speed, as an action on your turn. If you take another action instead, you can command it to move up to twice it's speed as part of that action.

This spell’s damage, both the attack's damage and the secondary damage, increases by 1d4 when you reach 5th level (2d4), 11th level (3d4), and 17th level (4d4).


SO, other than wording which I know needs a thorough combing, what do y'all think? Damage is in line with other cantrips, and the rest of the cantrip is mostly flavor. It's really a limited ranged attack against two targets that does 1d4 damage to each. If it was two ranged spell attacks, rather than 1 target automatically taking damage if the other does, it could easily target 3 creatures instead without being overpowered. I figure making it something that can be targeted would actually make it too powerful, though perhaps if it getting hit hurt the caster rather than it having HP? But that's complexity that I'm not sure serves the story much.

Anyway, the idea is, it's a spiritual construct made of necrotic energy that comes from a creature and attacks it's allies. I want necromancers to have something that feels like a minor necromancy, rather than just another attack.

 

[Hawk Diesel]

At least to me, it doesn't seem in line with other cantrips. The concentration and duration seem weird for a combat cantrip. It also seems very complicated, almost like a minor spiritual weapon. In addition, while there are cantrips that can hit multiple targets, they tend to be close range (ie Hand of Radiance or Sword Burst), or the additional target is part of a cantrip rider (ie Green-Flame Blade or Acid Splash).

Honestly, I think this would be more effective if you reskinned a cantrip (perhaps Chill Touch or Toll the Dead) to be a wraith. As long as there is no mechanical effect (such as what might be available for a companion animal or a familiar), there's no reason you couldn't have your character surrounded by wraiths, and sending them out to deliver your ranged cantrips. This would provide the damage, while also giving you the relevant riders of those cantrips.

 

[Jv_Stuchi]

I think this cantrip is pretty great, i played a necromancer once and Toll the Dead is really the only necromancer like cantrip and besides the gimmick that the cantrip deals more damage to a injured target its a basic damage cantrip, so this cantrip really gives variety and a felling of a necromancer.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I think this cantrip is pretty great, i played a necromancer once and Toll the Dead is really the only necromancer like cantrip and besides the gimmick that the cantrip deals more damage to a injured target its a basic damage cantrip, so this cantrip really gives variety and a felling of a necromancer.

Thanks! I think so too.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

At least to me, it doesn't seem in line with other cantrips. The concentration and duration seem weird for a combat cantrip. It also seems very complicated, almost like a minor spiritual weapon. In addition, while there are cantrips that can hit multiple targets, they tend to be close range (ie Hand of Radiance or Sword Burst), or the additional target is part of a cantrip rider (ie Green-Flame Blade or Acid Splash).

Honestly, I think this would be more effective if you reskinned a cantrip (perhaps Chill Touch or Toll the Dead) to be a wraith. As long as there is no mechanical effect (such as what might be available for a companion animal or a familiar), there's no reason you couldn't have your character surrounded by wraiths, and sending them out to deliver your ranged cantrips. This would provide the damage, while also giving you the relevant riders of those cantrips.

I don’t view the fact that it works a bit differently from other cantrips as relevant to whether it’s a good cantrip, tbh. It’s 2d4 damage. The cantrips you reference that are multi target can hit more creatures, and deal more damage to them.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

This is a fun idea, though I don't think concentration makes a lot of sense here. As far as I can tell it damage two targets when first cast, but only one in subsequent rounds. Why would I ever use up my precious concentration slot instead of just casting it again next round?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

This is a fun idea, though I don't think concentration makes a lot of sense here. As far as I can tell it damage two targets when first cast, but only one in subsequent rounds. Why would I ever use up my precious concentration slot instead of just casting it again next round?

The intent is that every time it attacks it also hits the original target. Like I said, the wording needs work.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

To make it more spamable, I would drop the concentration, and have a clearly-visible spectral arm reach out of the target and make an attack for 1d4 necrotic damage to one of the target's allies, which if successful heals the target for the same amount or gives the target temporary hits in a very obvious manner. Then all the target's allies in the range of the arm must make a Wisdom saving throw or attack the target for betraying them. If you target the same creature twice, the wisdom saves are made with disadvantage, but if you target more then one enemy in the same combat, the wisdom saves are made with advantage.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

To make it more spamable, I would drop the concentration, and have a clearly-visible spectral arm reach out of the target and make an attack for 1d4 necrotic damage to one of the target's allies, which if successful heals the target for the same amount or gives the target temporary hits in a very obvious manner. Then all the target's allies in the range of the arm must make a Wisdom saving throw or attack the target for betraying them. If you target the same creature twice, the wisdom saves are made with disadvantage, but if you target more then one enemy in the same combat, the wisdom saves are made with advantage.

I really want a cantrip that creates a necromantic critter that hits things, as such. That could be a fun base for a separate cantrip, though!

 

[MechaTarrasque]

I really want a cantrip that creates a necromantic critter that hits things, as such. That could be a fun base for a separate cantrip, though!

I appreciate that. For a cantrip, it might be best if you built a stat block like for the summoning spells in Unearthed Arcana Spells and Magic Tattoos (but that have the abilities get stronger as you level up instead of casting a higher level spell), and then have a designated target, so the wraith will only attack the 3rd goblin on the left (makes the spell weaker than a higher level spell, since you can't control it), and will disappear once the goblin is done (or 1 minute passes).