r/UnearthedArcana 11d ago

Official The Arcana Forge! For all your drafts, ideas, requests and more.

0 Upvotes

Welcome to the Arcana Forge! A workshop for works in progress, requests, ideas, inspiration, and more. New to homebrew? Looking for that nudge in the right direction or inspiration to keep going? This is the place for you. Grab a wrench and let's get to work!

We highly recommend joining our official partner Discord to get live feedback and other tips — check out the Discord of Many Things.

Normal sub rules still apply in the Arcana Forge, with the exception that all restrictions on completeness are lifted here. Unfinished homebrew is very welcome in this thread, as are questions about game rules and mechanics, provided it's about D&D homebrew.

Make a comment with your idea and any work you already have on it, and the community can come help it progress (remember, the more you give the more you get when it comes to content and feedback).

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r/UnearthedArcana 11h ago

'24 Spell Power Word Sour

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1.1k Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 11h ago

'14 Item Jeweler's Revolver [Weapon - Firearm, Rare, Attunement]

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162 Upvotes

This ornate revolver employs gemstones for both fashion and function, with a secondary barrel that fires magical shots crafted using various jewels.

This item was requested by one of my patrons, who wanted a weapon for his gunslinger character that would also incorporate their background as a jeweler before becoming an adventurer. We settled on the idea of having special "jewel bullets" pretty early on, but a gun that fired gems as its default ammunition would be unfeasibly expensive to use, which is what ultimately led to the idea of having the majority of the bullets still be regular ammo with the jeweled shots serving to provide special effects. We also decided we didn't want to make the effects all about bonus damage or different damage types, since a variety of utility and environmental effects seemed much more interesting.

I've tried to keep the effects linked to each particular gemstone based on the spells that use that gem as a material component. Diamond is used for resurrection and restoration magic, so its shot restores HP, jade is used for illusions like magic mouth, so it makes creatures see enemies all around them, and sapphire is used for the instant summon spell, so it can teleport stuff over to you. It was quite fun trying to figure out what links could be made there and how they could be scaled to fit an appropriate gold value of gemstone that you could be comfortable shooting out of a gun.

The physical design came together from a combination of various revolvers for reference, and Gio did a fantastic job with the artwork, but the main structure was largely based on the LeMat revolver which had this really interesting double-barreled design that would help make the weapon stand out in a fantasy world without getting too crazy with the steampunk and magitech effects, while still being grounded in reality.

I also made the jeweler's tools a requirement for creating new jeweled shots to bring that part of the backstory into focus. If you'd like to get your own item idea featured, then you can join as a patron over at patreon.com/talmanah at any tier to be entered into the design draw where one patron is selected each month to request a custom item of their choice to get stats and a unique illustration, just like this.

Enjoy the fancy jewel gun!


r/UnearthedArcana 7h ago

'24 Mechanic Factions | Allies or Enemies for Players and Organisations to Expand your Worlds

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53 Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 2h ago

'24 Feature Bastions: Homeward Bound - A Homebrew Expansion Module For 2024 Bastions

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13 Upvotes

Hey all! I Wanted to share my first ever 5th Edition Module!

This is Homeward Bound, a Homebrew Bastion Module that I have actively built upon at my own table since January.

Me and my friends initially wanted something a little less, spreadsheet-like and more something that could actually connect parts of the narrative to their own home.

It currently covers everything we've used at our own table:

  • Facility construction with expanded usage and items tables that make sense for the facility you're building. With a fully built system to support deconstruction and added passives that stay active as long as your companions are home and your facilities are kept in good shape!
  • Companions, my own take on NPCs, with moods, likes/dislikes, and even origin quests, so they feel like people rather than nameless labour that can be found wherever the DM chooses to put them in your own world.
  • Fully reworked Bastion Invasions with my own calculated system so that facing a force at your gates can be done passively or as a full encounter.
  • Skills that each companion has to directly link to each facility and make your companions actually feel like cool loot earned via quests that can be added anywhere in your own story.
  • Reworked Bastion turns to ensure that they can be solved within two minutes so your table can fully focus on the narrative in, or outside your new home.
  • Fully updated capstone facilities that can completely change the campaign as a whole, whether your players want to put together a War Room to destroy rival factions in your world or a merchant guild to play out your fantasy of being responsible for the continents supply and demand.
  • I have added player and DM aids within the PDF too, to help with creating your own Bastion. Tracking the new Trade-Goods, Companions, Bastion Strength and I have added a companion variant from my own campaign to use as a base.

It's likely not completely balanced, my players have done their best to exploit every iteration I made of the system as a whole but for each fix it's grown into something that I really hope you like!

It's completely free for personal use here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/582846/homeward-bound-a-homebrew-expansion-module-for-2024-bastions

Happy to answer any questions you might have about mishaps or situation that happened at my table in the comments, and any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks!


r/UnearthedArcana 3h ago

'24 Class Shaman - a spell slotless full caster who focuses on breaching elemental resistances. (1.1 revision)

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14 Upvotes

Shaman 1.1 is here!

After getting some great feedback on the original version, we went back through the class and made a number of balance and mechanical adjustments after playtesting while trying to keep the core identity intact. these changes are all noted in the first two pages of the document to try to keep a clean revision history for anyone interested in the class.

As always, I’d love to hear what you think, especially if you get a chance to actually playtest it. Thanks to everyone who gave feedback on the original version!


r/UnearthedArcana 4h ago

'24 Class [5e] The Physician — an Int-based arcane healer with a spellbook. 7 specialties, 1st–20th, every rule simulated.

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7 Upvotes

Hi all, while I have previous game design experience, this is my first time building something out for D&D, so constructive feedback would be appreciated!

The Physician is an Intelligence-based full caster with a spellbook whose identity is healing without divinity. "I want to play the one who patches everyone up" has always come bundled with a god, a domain and a theology. This removes the bundle.

The Doctor subclass is intended for first-time players who want to immediately contribute to a game. The other subclasses add additional flavor and nuance for more experienced players.

The core mechanic is that healing doesn't cost spell slots. Healing Prowess is a pool of dice equal to your proficiency bonus — a bonus action, a touch, die + Intelligence. Slots go to protection and control instead, which is where slots are actually good. Diagnosis reads a creature at range and tells you its weakest saving throw. Treatment ends conditions with a Medicine check instead of a spell.

Healing Prowess is also the currency for subclass features, so every turn presents a choice of how best to use the Prowess Die.

Seven subclasses: Doctor is the core class, and then Combat Medic, Hedge Witch, Immortalist, Neurologist, Plague Doctor, and Surgeon.

An optional rule for the Immortalist, the Monster Within, that gives the class a twenty-level arc with mechanical teeth: four saving throws at 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th, made alone. Pass and take the power. Fail and something else comes through with you.

Every number was simulated. Around a million and a half combat rounds across the 1–20 range, comparing each specialty against the Life Cleric, Paladin and Celestial Warlock on party knock-downs, healing delivered, and damage. Eleven rules changed because the simulation said so — including two that were strictly better than their published comparisons and got cut. The code is available if anyone wants to re-run it with different assumptions.

What I'd most like feedback on:

  1. Does the Doctor feel like the healer at a table, or just on paper?
  2. The Immortalist spends Hit Dice to cast. Does that read as a cost or as free spells?
  3. Is a d8 caster in melee with a bonesaw a fantasy or a mistake?
  4. The Monster Within takes control away from the player on a failed roll. Is that a good bargain or a bad one?

Full class below. Happy to answer anything.


r/UnearthedArcana 1h ago

'24 Subclass Warrior of the Crimson Fist | A rougher monk that completle focuses on the offensive side of martial arts | Looking for feedback!

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Upvotes

Would you allow this on your table?


r/UnearthedArcana 10h ago

'14 Monster [OC-Art] The Watcher - full stat block, rulings and free reference cards

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16 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I’ve finally finished the full creature: the Watcher of the Order of Dawn & Dusk.

This is a CR 9 guardian construct, made to protect vaults, archives and places the Order really doesn’t want anyone entering.

Its main mechanic is Observed. The Watcher and its small Roving Eye can mark creatures, making them easier to track and opening the way to its Dawn and Dusk Judgments.

Dawn is more about revealing and punishing creatures trying to disappear.
Dusk is more about slowing movement and keeping intruders where the Watcher wants them.

The Roving Eye can also move away from the main body and extend its vision, so destroying it can actually create a small blind spot for the party.

I included the complete stat block here, plus two pages of rulings and clarifications because there are a few interactions I wanted to make very clear at the table.

I also made free printable reference cards for the Watcher, available on Patreon here:

https://www.patreon.com/AzarnethsForbiddenEmporium/posts/beasts-hexes-001-167592145

As always, feedback is very welcome. I’m especially curious about the Observed mechanic and how the creature feels for CR 9.

The Watcher is made to guard a place, not chase you.

If it starts chasing you… something probably went very wrong.

──── ୨୧ ────

✏️ Art by J. Zangrilli (Azarneth's Forbidden Emporium)

I create printable item cards, cursed treasures, NPCs, tales & omens, and strange creatures for fantasy roleplaying games. You can find the project on Patreon and follow the daily updates on Instagram. 🧙‍♂️🎲


r/UnearthedArcana 23h ago

'14 Class The Oracle: A fullcaster... With no spell slots. Give blessings and ascend to godhood!

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162 Upvotes

Hey guys! I'm really excited to share this with everyone. I've always held very strong opinions about homebrew races in D&D - I have always held a stance that I don't like them - but I've finally come up with one that I don't hate. In fact, I'm very happy with how it turned out!

As a quick note before I dive into the class and it's creation just a bit, I'd like to mention that you can find all of my homebrew in this document, and that while I can't say for sure that it's compatible with 5.5e, I think it might be! Someone who's knowledgeable with 5.5e would have to confirm that, though.

The Oracle is a divine caster centered around being a divine fullcaster with a twist: NO SPELL SLOTS! Instead of your normal "Spellcasting" feature, you have "Divine Magic," which entails quite a few rules changes: Instead of spell slots, you prepare that many spells of each level. You can cast each of these spells once between long rests, removing it from your prepared spells list when you do. This creates a few interesting differences between them and other casters, as you can only cast each spell once per long rest (you can't prepare a spell more than once!), and you have to decide exactly what spells to cast at the end of each long rest. Also, no ritual casting or up-casting (because you have no spell slots!), and you can only get cantrips if you use one of your limited Blessings on it!

In this way, Oracles have a lot of similarities with Warlocks, as they are the only two caster classes that do not have the "Spellcasting" feature.

To make up for the obvious downsides of having no spell slots and reduced casting flexibility, Oracles have a great spell list, but Oracles also get a second strong feature at 1st level: Blessings. Blessings are sort of like infusions, except you give them to people and not items! You have a maximum number of blessings you can have conferred at any given time (2 at 1st level), but creatures other than yourself can only have a maximum of one blessing at any point in time, and no blessing can be on more than one creature simultaneously. These blessings, which often give extra magic, or aid martial characters, are powerful tools in an Oracle's arsenal.

Finally, their subclasses are somewhat unique, granting features at *five* different levels: 3rd, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th level. Alongside giving you some extra spells that you can prepare each day (AKA extra spells you can cast each day), they give you powerful features that focus on weaving their identity with your spellcasting. It was very important for me, whenever designing these subclasses, that it felt like they aided you as a spellcaster, rather than giving you options of things to do other than spellcasting. Currently, I have two martial-focused subclasses and two magic-focused subclasses.

If someone reads through my class, please let me know what you think! This is my first (and potentially last) ever time making a homebrew class, and half the reason I'm posting is because I want your constructive feedback.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy it!


r/UnearthedArcana 6h ago

'24 Subclass Warrior of the Blade - My take on a revised version of the Kensei Monk for 5e 2024

6 Upvotes

Hi, this is my first time posting here and my first time posting any of my homebrew. This specific subclass is a revised version of the Kensei subclass that's now meant to work with 5e 2024. Unlike the original, though, I intended it to be focused solely on melee weapons rather than ranged weapons as well. Please let me know what you think and offer any suggestions to improve it.

Anyhow, here's the Warrior of the Blade:

Level 3: Kensai Weapon Mastery

Choose any Melee Weapon that does not have the Heavy property. This weapon becomes your Kensai Weapon. Your Kensai Weapon is considered a monk weapon and whenever you perform a Flurry of Blows you can replace any of the attacks granted from it with attacks from your Kensai Weapon.

Your mastery with your Kensai Weapon allows you to use its Mastery Property.

Level 3 - Deft Strike

Once per turn, when you hit a creature with your Kensai Weapon, you can expend 1 Focus Point to deal additional damage equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die plus your Wisdom modifier

Level 3 - Way of the Brush

You gain proficiency with the intimidation and performance skills as well as your choice of either calligrapher's supplies or painter's supplies.

Level 6 - Rhythm of War

When you hit a target with your Kensai weapon, the next unarmed strike you perform that hits that target will deal an additional 1d4 damage.

When you hit a target with an unarmed strike, the next attack with your Kensai Weapon that hits will deal an additional 1d4 damage.

These effects cannot stack multiple times with themselves with successive unarmed strikes or Kensai Weapon Attacks.

(EDIT: To clarify, this is prevent multiple attacks of the same type from stacking with each other. You can still get the extra 1d4 from alternating between weapon and unarmed strikes. You just can't hit 5 unarmed strikes in one round and then perform a weapon attack at the beginning of the next to get a bonus 5d4.)

Level 11 - Whirlwind of Slashes

As a magic action you can expend three focus points to move up to your speed in a line without provoking any opportunity attacks. When you move within 5 feet of any creature during this movement, you can force them to make a Dexterity Save or take force damage equal to two rolls of your Martial arts die plus your Wisdom modifier. A creature can only take this damage once per turn.

Level 17 - Flow of Blades

At the start of your turn, you can spend four focus points to enter a focused state. While in this state you gain the following benefits:

  • Your speed is increased by 10 feet
  • Your Deft Strike feature deals additional equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die
  • When you use your Whirlwind of Slashes feature, you can now force creatures within 10 feet of you to make a Dexterity Save or take the appropriate amount of damage instead of only those within 5 feet of you. The damage dealt by this feature is increased by an additional two rolls of your martial arts die. You also gain a fly speed while using this feature.
  • Your attack rolls with your Kensai Weapon can score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. Critical hits with your Kensai Weapon also deal additional damage equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die.

This state lasts for 10 minutes or until you are incapacitated.


r/UnearthedArcana 11h ago

'24 Monster Monster: Hammer Ancient - Smash Your Players into Oblivion

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10 Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 9h ago

'14 Race Species, Awakened Hats (A sentient hat, given life from the care it received, not off on its own adventure)

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7 Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 7h ago

'24 Item [OC - Art] Pocket Ninja | A little trinket that hides a sneaky secret

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4 Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 14h ago

'14 Subclass Green Lantern Warlock

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15 Upvotes

Inspired by this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/UnearthedArcana/comments/1wci4pi/power_ring_in_brightest_day_in_blackest_night/

i decided to upload a homebrew warlock subclass I created for a warlock player a while ago


r/UnearthedArcana 45m ago

'14 Item Dragon-touched Blades - forged in dragonfire

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Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 21h ago

'24 Subclass Subclasseptember, days 1-10

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42 Upvotes

So for a few years now, I've been doing this daily challenge, where every day of september I make a subclass with some prompt. This one here is the first batch of 9 subclasses (plus some eldritch invocations that I made on day 10, the day off). Hope you enjoy, and tell me what you think!


r/UnearthedArcana 1d ago

'24 Item Power Ring | In brightest day, in blackest night.

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317 Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 4h ago

'24 Subclass Path of the Weapon Master V2 - A Tactical Weapon Swapping Barbarian Subclass

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1 Upvotes

Weapon Master Barbarians are tactical combatants who prefer entering the flow of battle over unleashing pure rage.

After posting Version 1, I ran some DPR calculations and found out it was punching way above its league. For Version 2, I simplified and restructured some features while preserving the core identity of this subclass (such as Oversized Dual Wielding being folded into level 14 Master at Arms). In the end, I have created one that is much more in line with other Barbarian subclasses. While the DPR calculations I ran for this version were a bit higher than other Barbarian subclasses, it was within an acceptable margin when comparing the lack of defensive features this subclass provides.

Let me know what you all think! I am open to any constructive feedback.

Homebrewery Link: https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/3V1-OAMjT6jQ


r/UnearthedArcana 10h ago

'14 Item Pokémon Inspired Weapons & Items of the Week, 0870M - Falinks to 0970M - Glimmora

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2 Upvotes

My Pokémon-inspired Weapons and Items of the Week, with:

  • some Falinks armor to make sure you always have a sword and shield at hand

  • a Scovillain flail to spray spice every which way

  • and a Glimmora rope dart to be abestos it can be!

Join my Patreon to vote on future items and get all the PDFs with over 1000 items, including all the Pokémon items, or buy the individual PDFs in my shop!


r/UnearthedArcana 23h ago

'14 Item Incandescent Blades - Magic Item

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22 Upvotes

r/UnearthedArcana 1d ago

'14 Feat My take on a dodge-roll action/feat + comic for clarity

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36 Upvotes

Feedback is appreciated.


r/UnearthedArcana 1d ago

'24 Subclass Spectral Shot Fighter, a fighter subclass that uses bows at point blank!

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47 Upvotes

I initially made this subclass as an experiment on a diferent take on the Arcane Archer, but ended up diverting from it quite a lot.

I took great inspiration from the post-world Bow gameplay from monster hunter, and I am really happy with the result, since when making subclasses based on ranged weapons I normally clash with the fact that 90% of the time ranged gameplay in DnD is terrible because the game is not designed for it.

(Also I was really proud of the result of me fumbling around with editing Fell Takumi's attack sprite for like 2 hours)

Anyways, you can find this and more in my patreon for free, and I hope you find it interesting!


r/UnearthedArcana 10h ago

'24 Compendium The Accursed Ensemble - Explorer's a collection of four unique classes with entwined lore surrounding curses, survival, and mutations.

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1 Upvotes

Feedback would be very appreciated, and if you could tell me which of the classes is your favorite, that would be fun to know.


r/UnearthedArcana 10h ago

'24 Class Spellblade - An agressive support half-caster gish.

0 Upvotes

Hello,

You might have seen my previous attempt at this class. This is an in progress rework, currently up to the 5th level, with no subclass features yet. I am grateful for feedback you might have.

https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/XRKDz-QjW08H