Homebrew Ruleset - D&D 5e 2014

When playing a non-Human, research what makes your race different and how their perspective might shape your roleplay. Naming conventions, typical lifespan, and insular cultures are important; if your character breaks from the mold on any of these, there should be a reason why.

Characters using a custom lineage per Tasha's p8 are allowed, but require extensive DM consultation. Customs lineages not have immersion-breaking racial ability score increases; e.g. it is acceptable that a Unknown may have a CHA increase instead of an INT increase or a Dragonborn might have a CON increase instead of a CHA increase; however, a Unknown should not reasonably have an inherent racial bonus to STR or a Firbolg to INT.

Bans:

- Monstrous races, unless specified by DM (breaks game immersion)

- Dragonmarked races per Eberron: Rising from the Last War (irrefutably outclasses other options at a similar level)

- Aarakocra, winged Tiefling, Fairy, or any other races that have an inherent fly speed (outclasses other options at a similar level; encourages skipping game content)

- Races exclusively from Ravnica, Strixhaven, Theros, Dragonlance, Acquisitions Incorporated, or the Astral Adventurer's Guide (breaks game immersion)

- Centaurs, minotaurs, or any other races that should have a Large size or bigger (breaks game immersion, irrefutably outclasses other options at a similar level)

Buffs:

Dragonborn's Breath Weapon feature is replaced with the following:

When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of magical energy in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus). On a failed save, the creature takes 1d10 damage of the type associated with your Ancestry. On a successful save, it takes half as much damage. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach 5th level (2d10), 11th level (3d10), and 17th level (4d10).

You can use your Breath Weapon a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Custom backgrounds, as per PHB page 126, are encouraged.

Bans:

Backgrounds that give feats

Bans:

Totem of the Bear Barbarian (outclasses other options at a similar level)

Classes nerfed:

Twilight Cleric does not gain heavy armor proficiency, and Twilight Sanctuary feature grants cleric level as temporary HP

Peace Cleric's Balm of Peace does not give immediate movement speed, and only applies disadvantage to opportunity attacks

Hexblood Warlock cannot multiclass

Classes buffed:

Berserker Barbarian (class rewrite)

Four Elements Monk (class rewrite)

Alchemist Artificer (class rewrite)

Warlock's Pact of the Talisman boon is no longer limited to two uses per rest, is now unlimited

Bans: 

Silvery Barbs (unfixably bad)

Wish (irrefutably outclasses other options at a similar level; breaks game immersion)

Spells from Acquisitions Incorporated (not balanced for 5e)

Spells nerfed:

- Raise Dead can only be cast if the creature has died within the past hour

- Remove Curse's casting time is ten minutes.

- Any spells that raise dead or remove curses must meet additional rules (see below)

Spells buffed:

- True Strike also gives the Dodge effect when cast, and does not require concentration

- Witch Bolt only requires a bonus action to activate its subsequent damage effect

- Crown of Madness does not require an action to maintain control of the target

- Flame Blade deals 5d6 fire damage, and the damage increases by 1d6 per spell level when upcast

- Grasping Vine is a 3rd-level spell and does not require concentration

- Conjure Barrage deals 5d8 damage of the associated type

- Phantasmal Killer's second saving throw still deals half damage on a success

- Investiture of Flame, Investiture of Ice, Investiture of Stone, and Investiture of Wind are 5th-level spells

- Mordenkainen's Sword can move up to 60 feet, has a bonus action casting time, and does not require concentration

- Weird's second saving throw still deals half damage on a success, and the damage roll is now 10d10 psychic

Bans:

Lucky (irrefutably outclasses other options at a similar level)

Nerfs:

Sentinel (TBD)

Mobile (TBD)

Curses and death are potent in Ostmyr, though can be reversed through powerful magic. Great works such as these are not commonplace or routine, however, and have no guarantee of success.

If a character is dead, a resurrection can be attempted by a relevant spell with a casting time higher than 1 action. This triggers a Resurrection Challenge. Up to 3 creatures can offer to contribute to the ritual via a skill check of their choice. The DM will adjust the skill check's DC based on how impactful or helpful the contribution should be. For example, a cleric praying to their divinity may trigger a Religion (Intelligence) check of an easy to medium DC; a ranger gathering medicinal herbs may require a Medicine (Wisdom) check of a hard to very hard DC; or a barbarian loudly protesting against the concept of death may require a Charisma (Intimidation) check at a nearly impossible DC. 

After all contributions are completed, the affected player then rolls a single, final Resurrection check with no modifier. The base DC for this check is 10. For every successful contribution skill check, this DC is decreased by 3, whereas each failed contribution skill check increases the DC by 3. If the character has undergone a Curse Removal Challenge or Resurrection Challenge before, the DC is increased by 1 for each previous challenge. Upon a successful Challenge, the character's soul returns to their body, and the character takes any penalties described by the spell. If the Challenge fails, the character remains dead, and cannot be resurrected.

If a spell with a casting time of 1 action is used to attempt to resurrect the character, the caster must make a Rapid Resurrection Challenge. In a Rapid Challenge, no contribution skill checks are allowed. The character casting the spell makes a check using their spellcasting ability modifier against a DC of 15. If the character has undergone a Curse Removal Challenge or Resurrection Challenge before, the DC is increased by 1 for each previous challenge. Upon a successful Challenge, the character's soul returns to their body, and the character takes any penalties described by the spell. If the Challenge fails, the character remains dead, and cannot be resurrected unless by a resurrection spell with a casting time higher than 1 action.

Curses and death are potent in Ostmyr, though can be reversed through powerful magic. Great works such as these are not commonplace or routine, however, and have no guarantee of success.

If a character is cursed, a curse removal can be attempted by a relevant spell with a casting time higher than 1 action. This triggers a Curse Removal Challenge. Up to 3 creatures can offer to contribute to the ritual via a skill check of their choice. The DM will adjust the skill check's DC based on how impactful or helpful the contribution should be. For example, a cleric praying to their divinity may trigger a Religion (Intelligence) check of an easy to medium DC; a ranger gathering medicinal herbs may require a Medicine (Wisdom) check of a hard to very hard DC; or a barbarian loudly protesting against the concept of curses may require a Charisma (Intimidation) check at a nearly impossible DC. 

After all contributions are completed, the affected player then rolls a single, final Curse Removal check with no modifier. The base DC for this check is 10. For every successful contribution skill check, this DC is decreased by 3, whereas each failed contribution skill check increases the DC by 3. If the character has undergone a Curse Removal Challenge or Resurrection Challenge before, the DC is increased by 1 for each previous challenge. Upon a successful Challenge, the curse is removed, and the character takes any penalties described by the spell and curse. If the Challenge fails, the curse remains, and cannot be challenged again for another 10 days.

If a spell with a casting time of 1 action is used to attempt to remove the curse, the caster must make a Rapid Curse Removal Challenge. In a Rapid Challenge, no contribution skill checks are allowed. The character casting the spell makes a check using their spellcasting ability modifier against a DC of 15. If the character has undergone a Curse Removal Challenge or Resurrection Challenge before, the DC is increased by 1 for each previous challenge. Upon a successful Challenge, the curse is removed, and the character takes any penalties described by the spell and curse. If the Challenge fails, the curse remains and cannot be challenged again for another 10 days, unless by using a curse removal spell with a casting time higher than 1 action.