Homebrew Spellcaster Template

# ThinkDM's Spellcaster Template
F ' **ull Casters** are classes most capable of using magic in the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons. The five Full Caster classes in the *Player's Handbook* all follow a standard spell progression for the number of spells they can cast per day. The difference lies in the spells they know, the spells they prepare, and cantrips they can cast.

## Assigning Features
Highlight new Class Features that drive your theme. Don't Frankenstein existing classes just to bypass multiclassing. Your primary focus should be on your subclass. Make sure to keep the spellcaster balanced by honoring "Dead Levels".

### Subclass
Spellcaster subclasses interact with magic. So, spellcasters get their subclasses earlier than martial classes. How will this interaction affect your character at low levels? How can it scale as the character gains access to better magic?

### "Dead Levels" for Spell Unlocks
Obtaining access to a higher level spell slot is a significant power boost. As a result, Full Casters often don't obtain Class Features at odd levels past five. Features given at these benchmarks are incremental increases to low level abilities.

* **Bard** inspiration dice increase at levels 5, *10*, and 15;   rest dice at 9, 13, and 17; gets no abilities at level 7 or 11.
* **Cleric** destroy undead scales at level 5, *8*, 11, *14*, and 17; gets no abilities at 3, 7, 13, 15.
* **Druid** gets no abilities at level 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17.
* **Sorcerer** gets no abilities at level 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17.
* **Wizard** gets no abilities at level 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17.

### Ability Score Increases
Full Casters don't get Class Features along with Ability Score Increases, except Wisdom casters.  **Clerics** at level 8 scale Destroy Undead and get smite; **Druids** scale Wild Shape at levels 4 and 8. So there is precedent for stacking stronger abilities at earlier levels, but stay away from stacking Class Features with Ability Score Increases at levels 12, 16, and 19.

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## Choosing an Ability Score

When creating a new homebrew Full Caster, the first consideration is choosing the casting ability. This will affect the way in which your class interacts with magic.

**Bards** and **Sorcerers** cast with Charisma because they are using the force of their personality to cull forth magic.

**Clerics** and **Druids** cast with Wisdom because the attune to a higher power. This is why they know all of their spells, but they must prepare certain rituals.

**Wizards** cast with Intelligence because they are recalling intense and dedicated studying.

#### Ability Score Mechanics

Ability score choice impacts the way classes know and prepare their spells:
* *Charisma* casters know a limited number of class spells, but they can use any spell they know. 
* *Wisdom* casters have access to all class spells, but they must prepare spells they want to use.
* *Intelligence* casters gather and prepare their spells.

Generally, following these tropes is advisable. However, if you come up with a thematic explanation as to why your homebrew Full Caster functions in an alternative way, feel free to break the guidelines.

<p>

>##### Covering New Ground
>A unique homebrew spellcaster should differ from these explored themes:
>* **Bards** draw power from *performance*.
>* **Clerics** draw power from *divinity*.
>* **Druids** draw power from *nature*.
>* **Paladins** draw power from *conviction*.
>* **Rangers** draw power from *wilderness*.
>* **Sorcerers** draw power from *within*.
>* **Warlocks** draw power from *their patron*.
>* **Wizards** draw power from *knowledge*.

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# Spells

## Class Spell Lists
Creating a Class Spell List is an interesting task. Consider both the number of spells available and theme of the spells.

### Number of Spells
The number of spells available to a class is generally tied to the difficulty of obtaining the spells. **Wizards** must expend time and resources to add spells to their repertoire. As a result, they have access to twice as many spells as most classes. By contrast, **Druids** and **Clerics**, who automatically gain access to their entire expanded spell list upon leveling up, were given the smallest spell lists in the *Player's Handbook*. The middle tier was occupied by the Charisma casters, **Bards** and **Sorcerers**.

However, there were some shifts after **Druids** received stronger treatment in *Xanathar's Guide to Everything* than **Bards** and **Clerics**. Now, the line between Charisma and Wisdom casters is more blurred in terms of spell access.

##### Spells Available to Full Casters
| Class | Total | PHB | XGE |
|:----:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| Wizard | 292 | 215 | 77 |
| Sorcerer | 184 | 129 | 55 | 
| Druid | 150 | 110 | 40 |
| Bard | 132 | 120 | 12 |
| Cleric | 113 | 106 | 7 |

### Spell Themes
There should be thematic cohesion between the spells you choose for your new class. Get a general idea of which spells are related by checking the schools of magic (abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy, transmutation). Then, look to the types of spells which are grouped together various subclasses: 
* **Cleric** domains (knowledge, life, light, nature, tempest, trickery, war, forge, grave)
* **Druid** circles (arctic, coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, swamp, underdark, dreams, shepherd)
* **Paladin** oaths (devotion, ancients, vengeance, conquest, redemption) 
* **Ranger** archetypes (gloom stalker, horizon walker, monster slayer)
* **Sorcerer** origins (shadow, storm)
* **Warlock** patrons (archfey, fiend, great old one, celestial, hexblade)
* **Wizard** schools (schools of magic, war wizard)
 
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## Spells Known

**Bards** and **Sorcerers** are limited to choosing spells from their class spell list. They have limited opportunities to exchange spells when gaining levels.

**Clerics** and **Druids** know all spells on their class spell list.

**Wizards** know the spells they record in their spell book. They could potentially know all of the spells available to their class, but they would have to collect them.

## Spells Prepared

**Bards** and **Sorcerers** can cast any spell they know without preparation.

**Clerics**, **Druids** and **Wizards** can only cast spells they have prepared. They can prepare spells equal their casting ability modifier plus their class level.

## Cantrips Known
Assign cantrips at the end of class creation for balance. There tends to be a tradeoff between spells and cantrips known. Classes that know more spells in general tend to be able to cast fewer cantrips.

**Sorcerers**, who know the fewest spells of full casters, conversely know the most cantrips. **Druids**, who know all their class spells, have the lowest number of cantrips and the slowest progression.

There is some room for mixing this up. Consider that **Bards**, who know many spells, share the slowest progression with **Druids**. Yet, **Clerics** and **Wizards** can both know more spells and possess quicker cantrip progression.

| Class | Casting Ability | Spells Known | Spells Prepared | Cantrips Known |
|:----:|:---:|:---:|:---:|:---:|
| Wizard | INT | Spell Book | Int+Prof | 3-5 |
| Sorcerer | CHA | Choose | All | 4-6 | 
| Druid | WIS | Know All | Wis+Prof | 2-4 |
| Bard | CHA | Choose | All | 2-4 |
| Cleric | WIS | Know All | Wis+Prof | 3-5 |

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# Caster Template

<p>

##### Full Caster
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|:---:|:---:|:---|:--:|:--:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| 1st | +2 | Spellcasting, Level 1 Feature(s) | 2-4 | 2-4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Level 2 Feature(s) | 2-4 | 3-5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | Level 3 Feature(s) | 2-4 | 4-6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | Level 4 Feature(s), Ability Score Improvement | 3-5 | 5-7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | — | 3-5 | 6-8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | Level 6 Feature(s) | 3-5 | 7-9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | — | 3-5 | 8-10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | Level 8 Feature(s), Ability Score Improvement | 3-5 | 9-11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | — | 3-5 | 10-12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | Level 10 Feature(s) | 4-6 | 11-13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | — | 4-6 | 12-14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4-6 | 12-15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | — | 4-6 | 13-16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 14th | +5 | Level 14 Feature(s) | 4-6 | 13-17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 15th | +5 | — | 4-6 | 14-18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4-6 | 14-19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 17th | +6 | — | 4-6 | 15-20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | +6 | Level 18 Feature(s) | 4-6 | 15-22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4-6 | 15-22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | +6 | Level 20 Feature(s) | 4-6 | 15-22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
</div>

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## Class Features
As a ***CLASS***, you gain the following class features:

#### Hit Points
**Hit Dice:** 1d6/8 per ***CLASS*** level
**Hit Points at 1st Level:** 6/8 + your Constitution modifier
**Hit Points at Higher Levels:** 1d6/8 (or 4/5) + your Constitution modifier per ***CLASS*** level after 1st

#### Proficiencies
**Armor:** None
<br>**Weapons:** Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows
<br>**Tools:** None

<br>**Saving Throws:** Dexterity/Constitution/Wisdom, Strength/Intelligence/Charisma
<br>**Skills:** Choose two from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth and Survival

#### Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

* *(a)* a weapon, *(b)* a weapon, or *(c)* a weapon.
* *(a)* a pack, or *(b)* a pack.
* *(a)* a component pouch, *(b)* arcane focus, or *(c)* holy symbol.
* Mandatory item(s).

### Spellcasting
***Description of how CLASS uses magic.*** See chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting and chapter 11 for the ***CLASS*** spell list.

#### Cantrips
You know ***two/three/four*** cantrips of your choice from the ***CLASS*** spell list. You learn additional ***CLASS*** cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the ***CLASS*** table.

#### Spell Slots
The ***CLASS*** table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of first level or higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a spell slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

#### Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
You know ***two/three/four*** 1st-level spells of your choice from the ***CLASS*** spell list. 
The Spells Known column of the ***CLASS*** table shows when you learn more ***CLASS*** spells of your choice. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, as shown on the table. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can pick a new spell of 1st or 2nd level.
Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the ***CLASS*** spells you know and replace it with another spell from the ***CLASS*** spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

#### Preparing and Casting Spells
The ***CLASS*** table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells. To cast one of your ***CLASS*** spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

You prepare the list of ***CLASS*** spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the ***CLASS*** spell list. When you do so, choose a number of ***CLASS*** spells equal to your ***CASTING ABILITY*** modifier + your ***CLASS*** level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

For example, if you are a 3rd-level ***CLASS***, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a ***CASTING ABILITY*** of 14, your list of prepared spells can include five spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare a 1st-level spell, and you can cast it using a 1st-level or a 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn’t remove it from your list of prepared spells.

You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of ***CLASS*** spells requires time spent ***descriptive activity***: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

#### Spellcasting Ability
***CASTING ABILITY*** is your spellcasting ability for your ***CLASS*** spells. Your magic comes from your ***source of magic***. You use your ***CASTING ABILITY*** whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your ***CASTING ABILITY*** modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a ***CLASS*** spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

<p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Spell save DC</b></i> = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your <b><i>CASTING ABILITY</b></i> modifier</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Spell attack modifier</b></i> = your proficiency bonus + your <b><i>CASTING ABILITY</b></i> modifier</p>

#### Ritual Casting (optional)
You can cast a ***CLASS*** spell as a ritual if that spell has a ritual tag ***and you have that spell prepared/that spell is in your spell book***.

#### Spellcasting Focus (optional)
You can use ***a CLASS focus/an arcane focus/a holy symbol*** (see chapter 5, "Equipment") as a spellcasting focus for your ***CLASS*** spells.

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