Princess
2015-07-24, 08:47 PM
5e's spells are very streamlined, and in many ways easier to use than any prior edition. However, they are missing something I grew to very much love in D&D 3.5 - 1st level summons. So here are a couple of spells I'd like some thoughts on - made all the iffier by having very little to go off of besides the spells of 3rd level and up in the PHB.
Spells to add to the Warlock and Wizard list:
Conjure Minion
1st Level Conjuration
Casting Time - 1 action
Range - 60 feet
Components - V, S
Duration - Concentration, up to 1 hour
This summons a small creature of vaguely doughy appearance and roughly humanoid shape which otherwise possesses no distinctive features to obey the conjurer as directed. The CR 1/8 Minion is a neutral construct, has a speed of 30 ft., all of its ability scores count as 10, and it has 13 AC, 10 hp, and a slam attack +3 (1d6 bludgeoning damage). It receives no bonuses or penalties to any saves or skills. When the spell ends, the Minion disappears completely.
Meat Puppet
1st Level Necromancy
Casting Time - 1 minute
Range - 10 feet
Components - V, S, M (A drop of blood)
Duration - Instantaneous
Every necromancer has to start somewhere, and there is no simpler means of creating Zombies than this. When cast on the corpse of a creature with a CR of 1/8 or lower, the creature is animated as a zombified version of its former self, gaining the Undead Fortitude trait (as a Zombie) and receiving a 10 foot penalty to all speeds (minimum 10). Additionally, its mental stats, if higher, are now lowered to Intelligence 2, Wisdom 4, and Charisma 4, while otherwise maintaining its prior statistics.
The new zombie will follow all instructions of the Necromancer to the best of its shambling ability (and can be commanded with a bonus action on the master's turn to take one indicated action). It falls to the ground motionless after one day unless this spell is cast upon it again, which gives it one more day to do its masters bidding. The foul magics involved tend to accelerate the natural process of decay, however, and any given body is unlikely to last more than a few weeks, no matter how many times this spell is cast.
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So with these, the idea is to let a 1st level Wizard or Warlock have a crummy warrior or undead dog or squirrel do their bidding. I'd love feedback on whether these look balanced or not, or even better, try them out in a game and see if they are fair to the rest of the party to use. I created stats consistent with a CR 1/8 generic monster for the Minion to make it less cumbersome, as well as less flexible, by both removing the need to look something up and limiting the spells versatility.
Meat puppet is more versatile by potentially offering a bird or the like that could fly, but as zombies can't communicate, this is only marginally better utility than the Minion and probably worse combat stats to balance out being able to keep it around longer.
Spells to add to the Warlock and Wizard list:
Conjure Minion
1st Level Conjuration
Casting Time - 1 action
Range - 60 feet
Components - V, S
Duration - Concentration, up to 1 hour
This summons a small creature of vaguely doughy appearance and roughly humanoid shape which otherwise possesses no distinctive features to obey the conjurer as directed. The CR 1/8 Minion is a neutral construct, has a speed of 30 ft., all of its ability scores count as 10, and it has 13 AC, 10 hp, and a slam attack +3 (1d6 bludgeoning damage). It receives no bonuses or penalties to any saves or skills. When the spell ends, the Minion disappears completely.
Meat Puppet
1st Level Necromancy
Casting Time - 1 minute
Range - 10 feet
Components - V, S, M (A drop of blood)
Duration - Instantaneous
Every necromancer has to start somewhere, and there is no simpler means of creating Zombies than this. When cast on the corpse of a creature with a CR of 1/8 or lower, the creature is animated as a zombified version of its former self, gaining the Undead Fortitude trait (as a Zombie) and receiving a 10 foot penalty to all speeds (minimum 10). Additionally, its mental stats, if higher, are now lowered to Intelligence 2, Wisdom 4, and Charisma 4, while otherwise maintaining its prior statistics.
The new zombie will follow all instructions of the Necromancer to the best of its shambling ability (and can be commanded with a bonus action on the master's turn to take one indicated action). It falls to the ground motionless after one day unless this spell is cast upon it again, which gives it one more day to do its masters bidding. The foul magics involved tend to accelerate the natural process of decay, however, and any given body is unlikely to last more than a few weeks, no matter how many times this spell is cast.
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So with these, the idea is to let a 1st level Wizard or Warlock have a crummy warrior or undead dog or squirrel do their bidding. I'd love feedback on whether these look balanced or not, or even better, try them out in a game and see if they are fair to the rest of the party to use. I created stats consistent with a CR 1/8 generic monster for the Minion to make it less cumbersome, as well as less flexible, by both removing the need to look something up and limiting the spells versatility.
Meat puppet is more versatile by potentially offering a bird or the like that could fly, but as zombies can't communicate, this is only marginally better utility than the Minion and probably worse combat stats to balance out being able to keep it around longer.