Fortress13
First Post
Hey, everyone.
Longtime lurker, first time poster. I've posted this elsewhere around the net, but haven't received much feedback yet. Hoping to get some more bites. If you have any opinions about this, even based on just a quick glance, I'd love to hear them!
For a while now I've really liked the idea of creating a feat and crafting system specifically to incorporate the potions from the Witcher games. Rather than using the existing crafting system (not a fan), and rather than creating a whole new class or archetype, I liked the idea of creating a feat which anyone could pick up, giving more mechanical variety to who could play a witcher-like character.
My DM really likes the idea behind the feat and tonic rules, but is concerned about a homebrew feat being overpowered, so we're hoping some more experienced players could give their feedback/criticism. Any thoughts will be a big help! Does this look balanced compared to other feats? Too powerful? Too weak?
Feat: Trial of Grasses
The Trial of Grasses is an incredibly painful trial which a young witcher may be subjected to. It requires the consumption of special alchemical ingredients known as “the grasses” which affect the nervous system.
· You gain the ability to brew witcher tonics.
· You gain proficiency with Herbalism Kits (to store ingredients).
· You may spend twenty minutes searching your surroundings for ingredients (see chart below), obtaining up to three at a time. Make a Survival check (DM sets the DC). You may expend the ingredients to brew a tonic. To brew a tonic, spend one hour as you meditate to magically remove the essence of the ingredients, filling a small empty container with the brewed tonic.
· You may only brew one tonic at a time.
· Witcher’s tonics are highly volatile and have no resale value. Tonics expire after three days if not used.
Witcher Tonics
Because of the mutations undergone during the Trial of Grasses, a witcher is now able safely to consume witcher tonics. Witcher tonics are magic potions—considered poisonous to the uninitiated—which grant specific advantages in certain situations. These advantages come with a price, however—each tonic is toxic. Consuming too many tonics can leave the witcher vulnerable.
If you consume a witcher tonic without first taking the Trial of Grasses Feat, you will gain the Poisoned condition rather than the listed benefits of the tonic.
Toxicity Mechanic
Your maximum toxicity level determines how many witcher tonics you are able to consume before certain disadvantages take hold. Your toxicity level is equal to your Constitution score. Every potion, when consumed, affects your toxicity level. Each tonic (aside from White Honey) raises your toxicity level by 1, 2, or 3, depending on the benefits of the tonic. When you reach half of your toxicity level (rounded down) you grant advantage to opponents, and your speed is halved. When you surpass your toxicity level, you gain the Poisoned condition (Note: Golden Oriole or antivenom potions do not prevent or negate the Poisoned condition when it is gained from surpassing your toxicity level). You will remained in the Poisoned condition until you complete a long rest. If you consume a tonic after you have reached or surpassed your toxicity level, you are reduced to zero hit points and gain the Unconscious condition. You cannot be awoken until you complete a long rest.
The only ways to reduce your toxicity level are to consume White Honey (reducing toxicity level by 4 and nullifying all active tonics) or after completing a long rest.
Witcher Tonic Ingredients
List of Witcher Tonics
Blackblood
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, B, B, G, P
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A sticky opaque black and crimson liquid that smells strongly of iron. When consumed by a witcher it causes their blood to become darker in appearance as well as a deadly poison to anything that consumes it for the duration. A creature that lands a ‘bite’ attack against a witcher under the effects of Blackblood must make a DC 10(+your proficiency bonus) Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes *2d6 poison damage. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage.
*At character level 05, increase poison damage to 3d6.
*At character level 10, increase poison damage to 4d6
*At character level 15, increase poison damage to 5d6
*At character level 16, increase poison damage to 6d6
Cat
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: G, Y, Y
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 1
Description: A dark blue semi-luminescent liquid that glows very faintly if observed closely and is scentless. When consumed by a witcher it allows them to see in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 60 feet as well. In addition, you gain proficiency in the Perception skill for the duration of the tonic. If you already have proficiency in the Perception skill, you instead double your proficiency bonus when making Perception checks. The witcher’s eyes appear more cat-like for the duration of this tonic.
Fullmoon
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: Bl, Bl, O, O, Y
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A thick foul smelling opaque brown liquid with flecks of silver. When consumed by a witcher, it causes them to be bolstered with the vitality of a werewolf, causing their hairs to stand on end and skin to darken a shade. This tonic increasing their total health value by twice the witcher’s character level.
Golden Oriole
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, B, P, P
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 2
Description: A warm opaque orange liquid that swirls with flecks of black. When consumed by a witcher, it causes immunity to poison for the duration. (Note: this does not apply to the Poisoned condition earned upon reaching the witcher’s maximum toxicity level.)
Kiss
Consuming Time: 1 bonus action
Components: B, B, O
Duration: Instantaneous
Toxicity: 2
Description: A warm opaque red liquid with the slightest smell of roses that if consumed by a witcher acts as a healing potion. The witcher can only benefit from the effects of the Kiss tonic once between every short rest.
Swallow
Consuming Time: 1 bonus action
Components: B, G, G, P
Duration: 5 minutes
Toxicity: 3
Description: A thin red liquid that smells strongly of alcohol that if consumed by a witcher causes them to regenerate from injuries for the duration. When your hit points are below half (rounded down), you recover a set amount of health at the end of every turn. The health you recover is equal to your Constitution modifier or your Proficiency bonus, whichever is higher.
Thunderbolt
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, Bl, G, O
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A fizzy blue liquid that smells of powerful carbonation that if consumed by a witcher causes them to go into a heightened state of aggression. Their AC drops by 2 and attack increase by 3 for the duration.
White Honey
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, G, P
Duration: Instantaneous
Toxicity: -4
Description: A milky white opaque liquid that smells of honey. If consumed by a witcher, the tonic reduces the witcher’s toxicity level by 4 and nullifies all current tonic effects. He is then unable to benefit from any more tonics until he completes a long rest.
Wife's Tear
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: G, P, Y
Duration: Instantaneous
Toxicity: 1
Description: A thin pale blue liquid that if consumed by a witcher neutralizes drunkenness.
Wolf
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, B, Bl, Bl, O
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A shimmery grey opaque liquid that if consumed by a witcher causes them to throw caution to the wind and deliver wild weapon strikes for the duration. Increases melee critical chance by 1 and increases melee critical miss chance by 2.
Wolverine
Consuming Time: 1 bonus action
Components: B, O, P, P, Y
Duration: 5 minutes
Toxicity: 3
Description: A shimmery light brown opaque liquid that if consumed by a witcher causes them to grow fiercer when injured. When your hit points drop below half (rounded down), your damage on hit increases by half your character level.
Longtime lurker, first time poster. I've posted this elsewhere around the net, but haven't received much feedback yet. Hoping to get some more bites. If you have any opinions about this, even based on just a quick glance, I'd love to hear them!
For a while now I've really liked the idea of creating a feat and crafting system specifically to incorporate the potions from the Witcher games. Rather than using the existing crafting system (not a fan), and rather than creating a whole new class or archetype, I liked the idea of creating a feat which anyone could pick up, giving more mechanical variety to who could play a witcher-like character.
My DM really likes the idea behind the feat and tonic rules, but is concerned about a homebrew feat being overpowered, so we're hoping some more experienced players could give their feedback/criticism. Any thoughts will be a big help! Does this look balanced compared to other feats? Too powerful? Too weak?
Feat: Trial of Grasses
The Trial of Grasses is an incredibly painful trial which a young witcher may be subjected to. It requires the consumption of special alchemical ingredients known as “the grasses” which affect the nervous system.
· You gain the ability to brew witcher tonics.
· You gain proficiency with Herbalism Kits (to store ingredients).
· You may spend twenty minutes searching your surroundings for ingredients (see chart below), obtaining up to three at a time. Make a Survival check (DM sets the DC). You may expend the ingredients to brew a tonic. To brew a tonic, spend one hour as you meditate to magically remove the essence of the ingredients, filling a small empty container with the brewed tonic.
· You may only brew one tonic at a time.
· Witcher’s tonics are highly volatile and have no resale value. Tonics expire after three days if not used.
Witcher Tonics
Because of the mutations undergone during the Trial of Grasses, a witcher is now able safely to consume witcher tonics. Witcher tonics are magic potions—considered poisonous to the uninitiated—which grant specific advantages in certain situations. These advantages come with a price, however—each tonic is toxic. Consuming too many tonics can leave the witcher vulnerable.
If you consume a witcher tonic without first taking the Trial of Grasses Feat, you will gain the Poisoned condition rather than the listed benefits of the tonic.
Toxicity Mechanic
Your maximum toxicity level determines how many witcher tonics you are able to consume before certain disadvantages take hold. Your toxicity level is equal to your Constitution score. Every potion, when consumed, affects your toxicity level. Each tonic (aside from White Honey) raises your toxicity level by 1, 2, or 3, depending on the benefits of the tonic. When you reach half of your toxicity level (rounded down) you grant advantage to opponents, and your speed is halved. When you surpass your toxicity level, you gain the Poisoned condition (Note: Golden Oriole or antivenom potions do not prevent or negate the Poisoned condition when it is gained from surpassing your toxicity level). You will remained in the Poisoned condition until you complete a long rest. If you consume a tonic after you have reached or surpassed your toxicity level, you are reduced to zero hit points and gain the Unconscious condition. You cannot be awoken until you complete a long rest.
The only ways to reduce your toxicity level are to consume White Honey (reducing toxicity level by 4 and nullifying all active tonics) or after completing a long rest.
Witcher Tonic Ingredients
| Ingredient: | Extractable from: | Example: |
| Vitriol (B) | Ungrounded Substances | Ash, dust, or feathers. |
| Hydragenum (Bl) | Earthen Substances | Minerals |
| Rebis (G) | Living Substances | Living Flowers, ripe flesh. |
| Vermillion (O) | Decaying Substances | Dead flowers, flesh. |
| Aether (P) | Mystically touched | Anything. |
| Quebrith (Y) | Fertil Substances | Fruits, eggs or seeds. |
List of Witcher Tonics
Blackblood
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, B, B, G, P
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A sticky opaque black and crimson liquid that smells strongly of iron. When consumed by a witcher it causes their blood to become darker in appearance as well as a deadly poison to anything that consumes it for the duration. A creature that lands a ‘bite’ attack against a witcher under the effects of Blackblood must make a DC 10(+your proficiency bonus) Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, it takes *2d6 poison damage. On a successful save, the creature takes half damage.
*At character level 05, increase poison damage to 3d6.
*At character level 10, increase poison damage to 4d6
*At character level 15, increase poison damage to 5d6
*At character level 16, increase poison damage to 6d6
Cat
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: G, Y, Y
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 1
Description: A dark blue semi-luminescent liquid that glows very faintly if observed closely and is scentless. When consumed by a witcher it allows them to see in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 60 feet as well. In addition, you gain proficiency in the Perception skill for the duration of the tonic. If you already have proficiency in the Perception skill, you instead double your proficiency bonus when making Perception checks. The witcher’s eyes appear more cat-like for the duration of this tonic.
Fullmoon
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: Bl, Bl, O, O, Y
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A thick foul smelling opaque brown liquid with flecks of silver. When consumed by a witcher, it causes them to be bolstered with the vitality of a werewolf, causing their hairs to stand on end and skin to darken a shade. This tonic increasing their total health value by twice the witcher’s character level.
Golden Oriole
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, B, P, P
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 2
Description: A warm opaque orange liquid that swirls with flecks of black. When consumed by a witcher, it causes immunity to poison for the duration. (Note: this does not apply to the Poisoned condition earned upon reaching the witcher’s maximum toxicity level.)
Kiss
Consuming Time: 1 bonus action
Components: B, B, O
Duration: Instantaneous
Toxicity: 2
Description: A warm opaque red liquid with the slightest smell of roses that if consumed by a witcher acts as a healing potion. The witcher can only benefit from the effects of the Kiss tonic once between every short rest.
Swallow
Consuming Time: 1 bonus action
Components: B, G, G, P
Duration: 5 minutes
Toxicity: 3
Description: A thin red liquid that smells strongly of alcohol that if consumed by a witcher causes them to regenerate from injuries for the duration. When your hit points are below half (rounded down), you recover a set amount of health at the end of every turn. The health you recover is equal to your Constitution modifier or your Proficiency bonus, whichever is higher.
Thunderbolt
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, Bl, G, O
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A fizzy blue liquid that smells of powerful carbonation that if consumed by a witcher causes them to go into a heightened state of aggression. Their AC drops by 2 and attack increase by 3 for the duration.
White Honey
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, G, P
Duration: Instantaneous
Toxicity: -4
Description: A milky white opaque liquid that smells of honey. If consumed by a witcher, the tonic reduces the witcher’s toxicity level by 4 and nullifies all current tonic effects. He is then unable to benefit from any more tonics until he completes a long rest.
Wife's Tear
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: G, P, Y
Duration: Instantaneous
Toxicity: 1
Description: A thin pale blue liquid that if consumed by a witcher neutralizes drunkenness.
Wolf
Consuming Time: 1 action
Components: B, B, Bl, Bl, O
Duration: 1 hour
Toxicity: 3
Description: A shimmery grey opaque liquid that if consumed by a witcher causes them to throw caution to the wind and deliver wild weapon strikes for the duration. Increases melee critical chance by 1 and increases melee critical miss chance by 2.
Wolverine
Consuming Time: 1 bonus action
Components: B, O, P, P, Y
Duration: 5 minutes
Toxicity: 3
Description: A shimmery light brown opaque liquid that if consumed by a witcher causes them to grow fiercer when injured. When your hit points drop below half (rounded down), your damage on hit increases by half your character level.
