Spellcrafting

Let’s Start Spellcrafting!

Following you will find multiple tables that provide a detailed breakdown of how to allocate points while creating a spell. By following these tables step-by-step and adhering to the instructions provided in the first part of this supplement, you can bring to life any spell that you can possibly imagine. Each table offers a unique set of instructions and guidelines that can help you create a spell that is tailor-made to your needs and requirements. By carefully considering each element and aspect of the spell, you can ensure that it is potent, effective, and aligned with your intention.

1. Material Component Cost

Displayed in the table below are the modifiers that influence spell points with respect to the cost of material components. It is essential to take into consideration that the utilization of higher cost and consumable items must be done with caution. Therefore, it is imperative to weigh the potential benefits against the costs of employing such materials in spellcasting.

Note: Higher costs and consumed items should be used scarcely.

Material Cost	Point Modifier	Point Modifier if Consumed	Example
Trivial	0	0	Many
1 – 99 gp	-0.5	-1	Find Familiar
100 – 99 gp	-1	-2	Revivify
1,000 – 9,999 gp	-1.5	-3	Clone
10,000+ gp	-2	-4	True Resurrection

2. Casting Time

The table below displays point modifiers that depend on a spell’s casting time. It is important to note that spells cast as a bonus action require careful review from the GM, as they can significantly impact the balance of the game. Similarly, spells that are cast as a reaction should be used sparingly, as they can disrupt the flow of combat. In addition, it is generally accepted that Cantrips should not be cast as a bonus action or reaction, as they are intended to be less powerful than regular spells. Finally, Rituals are not recommended for spells of level 7, 8, or 9, as their lengthy casting time makes them impractical in high-stakes situations.

Duration	Cost
Bonus Action	2
Reaction	3
Action	0
1 Minute	-1
10 Minutes	-2
1 Hour	-3
8 to 12 Hours	-4
24 Hours	-5
+ Ritual	1.5

3. Duration

The following table displays the modifiers of spell points based on their duration. It is crucial to use caution when employing spells with longer durations, as they can have a more substantial impact on gameplay and should rarely require concentration.

Duration	Cost
Instantaneous	0
1 Round	0.5
1 Minute	1.5
10 Minutes	2.5
1 Hour	3.5
8 Hours	4
24 Hours	8
Until Dispelled	6
+ Concentration	-2

4. Spell Targeting

After reviewing the entries in the Monster Manual, we have classified the creatures into two distinct categories based on their type: Major and Minor.

Major Creature Type	Minor Creature Type
Beasts	Abberations
Constructs	Celestials
Fiends	Dragons
Humanoids	Elementals
Monstrosities	Fey
Undead	Giants

The table below displays the point modifiers for spells based on their targets. Please refer to the table above for the corresponding creature types.

Available Targets	Cost
Self	0
Location	0
Any creature	0
Objects	1
Exclude one minor creature type	-0.5
Exclude one major creature type	-1
Exclude all but one minor creature type	-4
Exclude all but one major creature type	-3

4.1 Selective Targeting

The following table refers to spells that allow individually selective targeting of more than one creature.

Level	Minor Buff	Moderate Buff	Major Buff	Cost
C	2	1	0	1.5
1	3	3	2	2.5
2	6	5	4	3
3	10	8	6	3
4	12	11	8	3.5
5	16	13	10	3.5
6	19	16	12	4
7	22	19	14	4
8	26	21	16	4.5
9	29	24	18	2
EXAMPLE	Water Breathing	Bless	Healing	–

5. Spell Range

The table below displays point modifiers that are dependent on the spell’s range. It’s essential to note that distances measured in miles don’t have a solid foundation for determining their costs.

Range	Cost
Self	-2
Touch / 5 ft.	-1
15 ft.	-0.5
30 ft.	0
60 ft.	1
90 ft.	1.5
120 ft.	2
150 ft.	2.5
300 ft.	3
1/8 mile	4
1/4 mile	5
1/2 mile	6
1 mile	7

6. Spell Area of Effect

There may be some confusion in this step, so we’ll try to clear it up. Follow the next steps:

1. Determine the shape and size of the AOE: The first step is to decide which shape you want the spell to take. The shape can be a cube, cone, cylinder, or sphere. You also need to determine the side, length, or radius, depending on its shape.
2. Find the Effective Volume Units (EVU) number: Once you know the shape and size of the AOE, you can find its EVU number in the first table.
3. Identify the corresponding spell level: The second table provides the levels for different EVU numbers. You need to find the level that matches your EVU number or the closest one to it if it falls between two levels. (You may go in between levels, e.g. level 5.5, if the EVU is close to the middle)
4. Calculate the cost: Finally, you can determine the cost of the spell by calculating the difference between the spell level and the EVU level as follows:
   • If the spell level is less than with the EVU level then the spell points cost is 1 for each level difference.
   • If the spell level is equal with the EVU level then the spell points cost is 0.
   • If the spell level is greater than with the EVU level then the spell points cost is -0.5 for each level difference.

Side/Length/Radius	Cube/Square	Cone	Cylinder/Circle	Sphere
5 ft.	1	1	4	2
10 ft.	4	4	12	16
15 ft.	9	6	32	54
20 ft.	32	10	52	128
25 ft.	50	15	86	250
30 ft.	108	21	112	432
35 ft.	168	26	164	686
40 ft.	256	36	208	1,024
50 ft.	500	55	316	2,000
60 ft.	864	78	465	3,456
100 ft.	4,000	210	1,256	16,000

Level	Effective Volume Units
C	4
1	10
2	25 – 30
3	80
4	200
5	500
6	1250
7	3000
8	7500
9	20000

Let’s see an example:

• Spell Level we want to make = 7th
• EVU we’ve chosen = 686, so EVU Level should be 5
• As the Spell Level is greater than the EVU Level, the cost should be -0.5 for each level difference. The difference in this example is 2, so the final cost in spell points is 2 x (-0.5) = -1.

7. Damage and Healing

The following table is designed to assist you in your spell creation task by providing the average results of various dice rolls.

# of Dice	d4	d6	d8	d10	d12
1	2.5	3.5	4.5	5.5	6.5
2	5	7	9	11	13
3	7.5	10.5	13.5	16.5	19.5
4	10	14	18	22	26
5	12.5	17.5	22.5	27.5	32.5
6	15	21	27	33	39
7	17.5	24.5	31.5	38.5	45.5
8	20	28	36	44	52
9	22.5	31.5	40.5	49.5	58.5
10	25	35	45	55	65
11	27.5	38.5	49.5	60.5	71.5
12	30	42	54	66	78
13	32.5	45.5	58.5	71.5	84.5
14	35	49	63	77	91
15	37.5	52.5	67.5	82.5	97.5
16	40	56	72	88	104

Below, you can find tables that provide information about the ideal average damage or healing a spell should have based on its level. While it is acceptable for a spell to deviate slightly from the ideal average, it is essential not to overdo it in either direction.

It is important to note that a cantrip should never provide healing as they are designed to deal minor damage or have a utility effect.

Level	Single Target Ideal Average	Area Ideal Average	Cost
C	4.5	3	1
1	12.5	8.5	2
2	20.5	14	4
3	28.5	19.5	6
4	36.5	25	8
5	44.5	30.5	10
6	52.5	36	12
7	60.5	41.5	14
8	68.5	47	16
9	84.5	58	18

Level	Single Target Ideal Average	Area Ideal Average	Cost
C	–	–	1
1	6	4	2
2	10	7	4
3	14	10	6
4	18	12.5	8
5	22	15	10
6	26	18	12
7	30	21	14
8	34	23.5	16
9	42	29	18

8. Effects

Custom effects of a spell have a cost based on the power of the effect. The following categories are used to rate the power of custom effects:

• Trivial. This level includes very minor effects that have little impact on gameplay. The cost for a trivial custom effect is +0.5.
• Minor. This level includes effects that provide a small bonus that aids in a minor way, or a moderate bonus with limitations. The cost for a minor custom effect is +1.
• Moderate. This level includes effects that have a reasonably significant impact on gameplay. The cost for a moderate custom effect is +2.
• Strong. This level includes effects that have a strong impact on gameplay and can severely limit an opponent. The cost for a strong custom effect is +4.
• Overpowering. This level includes effects that have additional penalties on top of severe limitations (strong effects). The cost for overpowering custom effects ranges from +8 points to +12.
• Special. This level includes effects that are outside of the above ratings and can vary in power and cost.

It is important to note that saves against conditions are assumed in all custom spells. This means that if a custom spell has an effect that could inflict a condition on an opponent, the opponent will have the opportunity to make a saving throw to avoid the condition.

Example Feature	Cost
Sets objects on fire	0.5
Extinguishes fires	0.5
Lightly obscures area	1
Knock prone	1
Simple illusion	1
Extinguishes magical/protected flames	1
Dispels gases and vapors	1
Uncommon damage type (Force)	1
Gain advantage on XYZ check	2
Heavily obscures area	2
Causes disadvantage on next attack	2
+1d4 to attacks and saves	2
Difficult terrain	2
Charmed/Frightened	2
Lose concentration	2
Uncommon saving throw	2
Advanced illusion	4
Blind/Deafen	4
Suggested	4
Restrained	4
Incapacitated	4
Can become permanent	4
Stunned	8
Paralyzed	12
Raise from the dead	16
Repeat effect as action	Effect Cost / 2
Repeat effect as bonus action	Effect Cost / 2 + 1
Move creature	Distance / 10
Move object	Distance / 20
Light	Bright Range / 20
Versatility	Additional Effect / 2

Note: Versatility does not apply to the most costly effect, but it does to every one after that.

9. Flaws

When adding flaws to your spell, it’s important to keep in mind that a spell should not have more than three or four negative modifiers.

Example Flaw	Cost
Target knows it was charmed	-1
Ends if you wear armor	-1
Ends if target is harmed	-1
Ends if spell is re-cast	-1
Dispersed by strong wind	-1
Uses poison damage	-1
Dispersed by fire	-2
Ends if action is spent differently	-2
Repeated saves	-2
Dispersed by medium wind	-2

10. Submission & Downtime Cost

The final step in the process is to submit your spell to the GM for its review and approval. If approved, you will be instructed to expend the appropriate amount of downtime.

Submission

1. Submit your spell by opening a ticket in discord.
2. Include the following information by using this format (cut and paste, replacing all bracketed information with the appropriate content)
   **Name**: [spell name]
   **Components**: [VSM – if M, list item(s) & GP value if appropriate)]
   **Level**: [spell level]
   **Point Budget**: [show your work and final total. Refer to below examples]
   **Flavor Text**: [Write some flavor text to describe your spell. Not the mechanics, but the flavor. 1-2 sentences]
   **Description**: [Write a mechanics/gameplay description of your spell.]
   __**Features**__
   – **Casting Time**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **Duration**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **Targeting**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **Range**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **Area of Effect**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **Damage and Healing**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **Effects**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **Flaws**: [selection] [point cost]
   – **TOTAL POINTS**: [Total Spent] / [Total Budget]
3. If you have any additional commentary to include, post that after you have made the above post.
4. Submissions that do not follow the above format will be rejected. This process is hugely rewarding, but also complicated so it is imperative that a rudimentary uniform process is followed.

Downtime Hours

The cost to craft a spell is calculated based on the final spell point cost, using the following formula:

Downtime Hours = Final Spell Point Cost x 40hrs

Once your spell is approved by the GM, you will be instructed on how to account for this downtime expenditure.

11. Existing Spell Research

If you are researching an existing spell, then any material components that are a part of that spell must be in your possession before your research is complete.

Example: Forbiddance has the following material component: a powdered ruby worth at least 1,000 gp. In order to finish this research you would need both the final downtime hours and a powdered ruby worth at least 1,000 gp.

Components are not consumed during the spell research process, even if they would be consumed when the spell is actually being cast.

---

Your New Spell

Once your spell is approved, you are considered to know this spell. If you prepare spells from a spellbook, it is automatically scribed into your spellbook. If you are not a class that prepares spells, you may choose to replace a known spell of the same level that you know with this new spell.

Crafted spells are not added to any class spell lists. These are your own personal crafted spells. You may, at your discretion and using the normal crafting rules for scribing scrolls, choose to scribe your crafted spell into a scroll to disperse your spell to others in a method you see fitting.

Disclaimer: GMs reserve the right to tweak your approved spell after evaluating its performance in actual game play.

---