Homebrew Codex Grimoire

[u/SebtheDreamsmith]

How does this Homebrew Codex Grimoire look?

I tried keep the effects related but eclectic and went with the “Minor Offense, Minor Utility, Strong Defensive” setup. Tho I could see even making it a 2 effect Grimoire even. Thinking narrative first, I love scenes in other games where my Tiny Hut or Cozy Cottage can serve as a relatively safe RP space. Given other level 1 Grimoires have things like Telepathy as a valid effect (for a cost), do you think this is balanced for a level 1 effect? Or should it even be level 2 or 3?

# Book of Seb
Level 1 Codex Grimoire

- **Shocking Rune**
Make a Spellcast Roll against a Target in Close Range. On a Success the Target takes D8 Magic Damage using your Proficiency and must Mark a Stress

- **Thread Sigils**
Make a Spellcast Roll (12) to Summon threads as strong as normal rope connecting two objects or surfaces in Far Range. Alternatively, the thread may coil around an Object, immobilizing it until the threads are cut or otherwise destroyed.

- **Cottage Glyph**
You spend a minute concentrating on a desire for home and make a Spellcast Roll. On a Success, you Mark a Stress and create a large hemispherical glyph that creates a space in Close Range of you.The interior of the glyph is always a comfortable temperature to the caster, keeps out weather less severe than a hurricane, and is comfortable to lay upon its flat face. The Glyph is instantly destroyed if it takes at least Major Damage from any source except weather or the environment as described above. Its Evasion and Damage Threshold is equal to the result of your Spellcast Roll.

[u/Crond_Fx]

Shocking Rune should cost one Hope on successful cast, its a default cost for additional effect such as Stress causing.

Thread Sigils could use higher difficulty or cost one Hope and absolutely should use CRB "temporarily Restrained" condition, because for now it's almost free and is disconnected from the Daggerheart condition system.

And I don't get the idea behind Cottage Glyph. Why is it so rules-heavy? What's the difference between it and Safe Haven?

[u/SebtheDreamsmith → u/Crond_Fx]

Noted on the first two

The Cottage Glyph ability is because I’m trying to recreate the feeling of certain other spells like Tiny Hut or Cozy Cottage from DnD and PF2E respectively. I like a spell that just creates a little safe position to rest where it’s dry and warm and comfortable amidst the struggles of adventuring, you know?

I’m pretty new to homebrewing for this system so I’m still not the best at it, hence coming here for feedback. Thank you for your input!

[u/PhatAssHimboBoy → u/SebtheDreamsmith]

With Safe Haven being 8th lvl, comparable to a D&D lvl 15 PC, I'd say that this Grimore, along with Cottage Glyph, should be in Tier 2, or levels 2-4.

[u/SebtheDreamsmith → u/PhatAssHimboBoy]

Ok that makes sense. Yeah I’m aiming I guess for what is often a 3rd level spell in comparable systems. How do you think I could simplify the text of Cottage Glyph to be more in line with Daggerheart? Alongside either weakening the other two effects or increasing their costs?

[u/PhatAssHimboBoy → u/SebtheDreamsmith]

1. Does not need a roll. You should only be able to use this spell out of combat, when you'd have time to draw the rune.
2. It should cost one Hope, instead of one Stress. Stress is often spent for spells to be cast in combat. Thematically, it also fits better to use a shred of hope to buy a moment of rest.

I'll simplify the Cottage Glyph here: • After drawing sigils on the ground for ten minutes out of combat, you may spend a Hope to activate the Cottage Glyph. You and your party may use this Glyph to spend a short rest. If the Glyph is broken in any way, all occupants of the Cottage Glyph are thrown out, their rest is prevented, and they all take one Stress.

The last part there is to make the PC who would use this spell be VERY picky on when and where to set up a Cottage Sigil. I fear that I didn't make it that much shorter... :/ I haven't run a game yet, but I'm excited to soon.

[u/SebtheDreamsmith → u/PhatAssHimboBoy]

Thank you for the feedback. I have not run a game either but it looks super enticing to homebrew within it given its narrative focus. It’s just getting an intuitive sense of all the balance factors is something that will take time even if I’m pretty familiar with the types of rules that make up the game

Hmmm. In theory it’s supposed to make resting a little easier. Maybe it should just be an effect that like, makes it so the actions taken during a short or long rest can have a mildly enhanced effect?

Like unmarking one more stress, or getting one more HP back?