Guidelines to Homebrewing Classes in D&D 5e
Created by /u/JamesMusicus
Important: This document is not about balancing classes. This document analyzes all of the existing 5e classes to create guidelines for creating new ones in the same line of thought.
Note: If anybody uses this to create their own classes, I’d appreciate a citation if you post it anywhere. Even if you don’t post it, let me know how it worked for you! (reddit /u/jamesmusicus)
Link to Documentation Outline for Writing New Class Documents.
I have a website now: http://zappyman2.wix.com/musicushomebrew
Tank (Take hits, be threatening to enemies, low-moderate damage) d10/d12HD, medium/heavy armor
Melee Brawler (Take fewer hits, deal moderate-high damage) d8/d10HD, medium/heavy armor
Skirmisher (Take very few hits, deal high damage) d8HD, light/medium armor
Ranged Damage dealer (Takes few hits, deal high damage at range) d6/d8HD, light/medium armor
Spellcaster (Cast up to 9th level spells) d6/d8HD, any armor
Halfcaster (cast up to 5th level spells, mix magic and weaponry equally) d8/d10HD, light-heavy armor
Utility (Includes Healing and battlefield control) d8HD, medium armor
HD d12, Saves STR/CON, Martial Weapons, Unarmored Defense
HD d8, Saves DEX/CHA, Simple Weapons+, Light Armor
HD d8, Saves WIS/CHA, Simple Weapons, Medium Armor
HD d8, Saves INT/WIS, some simple weapons, Medium armor, no metal
HD d10, Saves STR/CON, Martial Weapons, Heavy Armor
HD d8, Saves STR/DEX, Simple Weapons+, Unarmored Defense
HD d10, Saves WIS/CHA, Martial Weapons, Heavy Armor
HD d10, Saves STR/DEX, Martial Weapons, Medium Armor
HD d8, Saves DEX/INT, Simple Weapons+, Light Armor
HD d6, Saves CON/CHA, Some simple weapons, no armor
HD d8, Saves WIS/CHA, Simple Weapons, Light Armor
HD d6, Saves INT/WIS, some simple weapons, no armor
Template Class Table:
The [Class Name]
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Extras | ---------- | Archetype Growth | ---------- | Total Archetype Gains |
1st | +2 | Tier 1 | -- | Archetype | 3 | ||
2nd | +2 | -- | -- | Cler | Archetype | 2+1 | |
3rd | +2 | -- | -- | Archetype | 7 | ||
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | -- | ||||
5th | +3 | Tier 2 (Extra Attack) | -- | ||||
6th | +3 | -- | -- | Cler/Sorc/Warl | Druid/Wiz | Barb/Bard/Monk | 8 |
7th | +3 | -- | -- | Fight/Pally/Rang | 3 | ||
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | -- | Cler | 1 | ||
9th | +4 | -- | -- | Rogue | 1 | ||
10th | +4 | -- | -- | Warl | Druid/Wiz | Barb/Fight | 5 |
11th | +4 | Tier 3 | -- | Monk/Rang | 2 | ||
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | -- | ||||
13th | +5 | -- | -- | Rogue | 1 | ||
14th | +5 | -- | -- | Sorc/Warl | Druid/Wiz | Barb/Bard | 6 |
15th | +5 | -- | -- | Fight/Pally/Rang | 3 | ||
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | -- | ||||
17th | +6 | Tier 4 | -- | Cler | Monk/Rogue | 3 | |
18th | +6 | -- | -- | Sorc | 1 | ||
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | -- | ||||
20th | +6 | Capstone Feature | -- | Pally | 1 |
Let's take a look at this in regards to the archetypes.
Nobody (except Clerics) gets Archetype features at the same levels as ABSI, clerics only get a weapon/cantrip improvement to make up for only getting a situational class feature at level 5
When designing a class, decide on class roles (listed above) and draft a class table based on other classes of those roles along with the observations above.
Every class gets SOMETHING at every level, be it an ABSI, new Spell slot level, class feature, or archetype feature.
Template Spellcaster Table:
The [Class Name]
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
1st | +2 | Tier 1 (Spellcasting) | x | x | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
2nd | +2 | -- | x | x | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
3rd | +2 | -- | x | x | 4 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | x | x | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
5th | +3 | Tier 2 | x | x | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
6th | +3 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
7th | +3 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
9th | +4 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
10th | +4 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
11th | +4 | Tier 3 | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | -- | -- | -- |
13th | +5 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
14th | +5 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- |
15th | +5 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -- |
17th | +6 | Tier 4 | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
18th | +6 | -- | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
20th | +6 | Capstone Feature | x | x | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
At the levels Spellcasting classes gain higher spell levels, they usually do not gain Class Features. Exceptions include the Cleric’s Destroy Undead and lvl17 domain feature, the Bard’s Song of Rest and Bardic Inspiration, the Sorcerer’s Metamagic, and the Warlock’s Pact Boon. All of these exceptions are either relatively minor or do not affect spellcasting at all.
Spellcasting classes have 2 categories: Prepared Spellcasters and Spontaneous Spellcasters
Prepared Spellcasters can prepare a number of spells, from a list of available spells, equal to their Spellcasting Modifier (INT/WIS/CHA) + their relevant class level.
Spontaneous Spellcasters have a limited list of learned spells which are available to them. This list is chosen and modified as the caster levels up and learns new spells.
Wizards are an exception, their Spells Known is in their spellbook, which they prepare spells from.
Spellcasting classes do not get any more ABSIs than the standard minimum. This rule may be broken if one were to homebrew a Martially focused spellcasting class.
Spellcasting classes also know cantrips, which represent a spellcaster’s basic attacks. The number of cantrips known increases with level, but classes vary greatly.
When choosing proficient saves, a class’ spellcasting modifier is always a proficient save.
Template Halfcaster Table:
The [Class Name]
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
1st | +2 | Tier 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
2nd | +2 | (Spellcasting, Fighting Style) | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
3rd | +2 | -- | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
5th | +3 | Tier 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
6th | +3 | -- | 4 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
7th | +3 | (archetype feature) | 5 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
9th | +4 | -- | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- |
10th | +4 | -- | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- |
11th | +4 | Tier 3 (archetype feature option 1) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- |
13th | +5 | -- | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -- |
14th | +5 | -- | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -- |
15th | +5 | (archetype feature) | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | -- |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | -- |
17th | +6 | Tier 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | -- | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | Capstone Feature (archetype feature option 2) | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
At the levels Halfcasting classes gain higher spell levels, they usually do not gain Class Features. Exceptions include the Paladin’s and Ranger’s Extra Attack, which they get at the same level as their level 2 spell slots.
Halfcasting classes have 2 categories: Prepared Spellcasters and Spontaneous Spellcasters
Prepared Spellcasters can prepare a number of spells, from a list of available spells, equal to their Spellcasting Modifier (INT/WIS/CHA) + their relevant class level.
Spontaneous Spellcasters have a limited list of spells which are available to them. This list is chosen and modified as the caster levels up and learns new spells.
Halfcasting classes do not get any more ABSIs than the standard minimum. This rule may be broken if one were to homebrew a Martial halfcasting class.
Halfcasting classes do NOT know cantrips normally. This is because they focus equally on spellcasting and on martial ability. Their weapons fill the role of cantrips.
Halfcasting classes are half-spellcaster and half-weapon-user, so keep this in mind when using this template.
Template QUARTERcaster Table:
The [Class Name]
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
1st | +2 | Tier 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
2nd | +2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
3rd | +2 | (Spellcasting/Archetype) | x | 3 | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | x | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
5th | +3 | Tier 2 | x | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
6th | +3 | -- | x | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
7th | +3 | -- | x | 5 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | x | 6 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- |
9th | +4 | -- | x | 6 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- |
10th | +4 | -- | x+1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- |
11th | +4 | Tier 3 | x+1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | x+1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- |
13th | +5 | -- | x+1 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- |
14th | +5 | -- | x+1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- |
15th | +5 | -- | x+1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | x+1 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- |
17th | +6 | Tier 4 | x+1 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- |
18th | +6 | -- | x+1 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | x+1 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
20th | +6 | Capstone Feature | x+1 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
QUARTERcasters are people who gain spellcasting through a class archetype at level 3.
They probably CAN be prepared Casters, but the Eldritch Knight and Arcane Trickster are both Spontaneous Casters. It is likely that quartercasters will always be considered spontaneous casters to reduce bookkeeping.
This can only be added to classes that don’t have any spellcasting ability.
Quartercasters may have additional ABSIs
Primarily Weapon users with supplementary magic.
Saves are split into 2 groups: Weak (STR/INT/CHA) and Strong (DEX/CON/WIS). Pick 1 from each group.
Tank (Take hits, be threatening to enemies, low-moderate damage) d10/d12HD, medium/heavy armor
Melee Brawler (Take fewer hits, deal moderate-high damage) d8/d10HD, medium/heavy armor
Skirmisher (Take very few hits, deal high damage) d8HD, light/medium armor
Ranged Damage dealer (Takes few hits, deal high damage) d6/d8HD, light/medium armor
Spellcaster (Cast up to 9th level spells) d6/d8HD, no/light/medium armor
Halfcaster (cast up to 5th level spells, mix magic and weaponry equally) d8/d10HD, light-heavy armor
Utility (Includes Healing and battlefield control) d8HD, medium armor
Classes to Do:
Subclasses:
Class Design Template
Start with broad strokes. Decide between No casting, Full casting, Half casting, or something new. Figure out what possible archetypes there could be. If you can’t think of any archetypes, maybe it would be better suited to being an archetype of a current class.
Hit Die
Hit die range from d6 to d12, though only Barbarian has a d12.
D6: squishy people with little physical fortitude. These are usually going to be ranged characters that are in severe danger should they be caught in melee range of a barbarian or fighter. (wizards, sorcerers)
D8: average fortitude, not somebody with a disordinate amount of physical ability, usually average athleticism. Probably the squishiest melee classes get. (clerics, bards, monks)
D10: the strongest most people are going to get. These people are on the front lines soaking up hits and protecting everyone else. Their damage output won’t be as consistently high as someone with less physical fortitude. (paladins, fighters, rangers)
D12: superhuman fortitude. These people can ignore pain like nobody else. Reserved for Barbarians and similar classes.
Features come in 3 forms, Core, Strength, and Flavor
Examples of Core: Sneak attack, Rage, Bardic Inspiration, Metamagic, Spellcasting, Channel Divinity, Lay on Hands. These are unique between classes and serve to both increase a class’ power and to define the niche that the class fills.
Examples of Strength: Fighting style, Ability Score Improvement, Extra Attack, Improvements to any Core features. These are common among classes and serve to greatly improve the power of the class.
Examples of Flavor: Druidic, Thieves’ Cant, Tongue of the Sun and the Moon, Timeless Body, Natural Explorer. These serve to make a class more defined and/or versatile without strictly enhancing their overall combat power as a class. Most classes have at least one flavor feature, fighter seems to be an exception.
Capstone Features are something special entirely. When you reach level 20 in a class, you get a feature that is both Core and Strength that gives your class the ability to keep fighting throughout a longer adventuring day (unlimited rages and STR/CON+4, Ki when you roll initiative, more uses of bardic inspiration, Epic paladin abilities, etc.)
No Casting:
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Feature Gains |
1st | +2 | Tier 1 | major core class feature or two |
2nd | +2 | -- | fluff feature or a less important core feature |
3rd | +2 | -- | Archetype |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | Nothing but ABSI |
5th | +3 | Tier 2 (Extra Attack) | either Extra attack or another Strength Class Feature if the class doesn’t need extra attack (rogue for instance). |
6th | +3 | -- | the first level you can pick class features OR archetype features. Most levels are like this one. |
7th | +3 | -- | Like level 6 |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
9th | +4 | -- | Like level 6 |
10th | +4 | -- | Like level 6 |
11th | +4 | Tier 3 | Like level 6, Usually has a Core feature improvement/Strength feature |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
13th | +5 | -- | Like level 6 |
14th | +5 | -- | Like level 6 |
15th | +5 | -- | Like level 6 |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
17th | +6 | Tier 4 | Like level 6, Usually has a Core feature improvement/Strength feature |
18th | +6 | -- | Like level 6 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
20th | +6 | Capstone Feature |
Half Casting:
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Feature Gains |
1st | +2 | Tier 1 | Core and Fluff features |
2nd | +2 | (Spellcasting, Fighting Style) | Spellcasting and Fighting styles |
3rd | +2 | -- | Archetype |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
5th | +3 | 2nd level spells, Tier 2 | Extra Attack |
6th | +3 | -- | the first level you can pick class features OR archetype features. Most levels are like this one. |
7th | +3 | -- | Like level 6 |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
9th | +4 | 3rd level spells | |
10th | +4 | -- | Like level 6 |
11th | +4 | Tier 3 | Like level 6, Usually has a Core feature improvement/Strength feature |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
13th | +5 | 4th level spells | |
14th | +5 | -- | Like level 6 |
15th | +5 | -- | Like level 6 |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | ABSI |
17th | +6 | 5th level spells, Tier 4 | |
18th | +6 | -- | Like level 6 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | |
20th | +6 | Capstone Feature |
Full Casting:
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Feature Gains |
1st | +2 | Tier 1 (Spellcasting) | Spellcasting and a fluff feature OR an archetype |
2nd | +2 | -- | either an archetype or a core class feature |
3rd | +2 | 2nd level spells | an archetype only if one of the archetypes is melee focused, otherwise it’s a core class feature |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | |
5th | +3 | 3rd level spells | |
6th | +3 | -- | the first level you can pick class features OR archetype features. Most levels are like this one. (Extra Attack from melee focused archetype goes here.) |
7th | +3 | 4th level spells | |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | |
9th | +4 | 5th level spells | |
10th | +4 | -- | Like level 6 |
11th | +4 | 6th level spells, tier 3 | |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | |
13th | +5 | 7th level spells | |
14th | +5 | -- | Like level 6 |
15th | +5 | 8th level spells | |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | |
17th | +6 | 9th level spells, Tier 4 | |
18th | +6 | -- | Like level 6 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | |
20th | +6 | Capstone Feature |
The Spellbow v1.0 Also in Printer Friendly version
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Arcane Ammunition Imbuements | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
1st | +2 | Arcane Imbuement, Weapon Bond | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
2nd | +2 | Spellcasting, Fighting Style, Arcane Accuracy | 1 | 2 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
3rd | +2 | Archetype | 1 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 1 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
5th | +3 | -- | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
6th | +3 | Tracing Shots | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- | -- |
7th | +3 | Archetype Feature | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | -- | -- | -- |
9th | +4 | -- | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- |
10th | +4 | Manifested Ammunition | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | -- | -- |
11th | +4 | Improved Arcane Accuracy | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- | -- |
13th | +5 | -- | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -- |
14th | +5 | Tracing Improvement | 4 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -- |
15th | +5 | Archetype Feature | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | -- |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | -- |
17th | +6 | -- | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Hail of Arrows | 5 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | Archetype Feature | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
(Ranged DPS/Halfcaster)
HD d8, Saves DEX/INT, Simple Weapons/Martial Ranged Weapons, Light Armor
Skills: pick 2 from Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Arcana, Perception, Stealth, History.
LVL1: Arcane Imbuement 1, Weapon Bond
LVL2: Spellcasting, Fighting Style, Arcane Accuracy
LVL3: Spellbow Archetype
LVL4: ABSI
LVL5: Arcane Imbuement 2
LVL6: Tracing Shots
LVL7: Archetype Feature
LVL8: ABSI
LVL9: Arcane Imbuement 3
LVL10: Manifested Ammunition
LVL11: Improved Arcane Accuracy
LVL12: ABSI
LVL13: Arcane Imbuement 4
LVL14: Tracing Improvement
LVL15: Archetype Feature
LVL16: ABSI
LVL17: Arcane Imbuement 5
LVL18: Hail of Arrows
LVL19: ABSI
LVL20: Archetype Feature
I’m going to cancel my psion class and not only plug, but also defer to this amazing document:
Better Psionics by Caoimhe Snow
Unused Idea: Combat Awareness
Combat Awareness (or any better name)
Your focus in combat heightens to extraordinary levels. A few things, listed below, cause you to gain and lose combat awareness. You require Combat awareness to fuel your class features. You can not have more stacks of combat awareness than your class level + your relevant Ability Score. Any attack or feature that spends CA can not generate CA at the same time, and will spend the CA instead of Generate it.
Things that Generate stacks of Combat awareness.
Things that spend stacks of Combat awareness.