Nym_P_Seudo
2019-06-19, 06:51 PM
Greetings! One of my players is intent on making a character with a strong emphasis on cooking. I wanted to create a relatively simple cooking system that would offer significant enough bonuses that my players would actually bother to use it. However, i am uncertain how balanced some of these bonuses are. To that end, i submit to your analysis my Homebrew Cooking Mechanics. Feel free to provide whatever feedback you feel is relevant.
Introduction
This optional cooking mechanic can be applied in any 5e D&D campaign. In order to employ this mechanic, the character engaging in cooking must have access to Cook’s Utensils as well as be proficient with them. Cooking requires time to perform. For every two hours spent, a cook can create 3 servings of food. To gain the cooking bonuses listed below, the food must be consumed and digested during a long rest. Food-related buffs cannot be acquired outside of long rests. If prepared meals are not immediately consumed upon creation, then they lose their bonus properties and become conventional rations. Food-related buffs last until the next long rest. Some food buffs provide a constant bonus while others only apply for a single instance. For example, meat-related food buffs only apply for a single instance while the passive perception buff provided by mint lasts until the next long rest.
With this mechanic, food is broken down into 7 categories. Each category gives specific bonuses when added to a meal.
Food Categories
1. Meat – This category provides bonuses to strength. Meat has 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is domesticated meat (such as pork, beef, or chicken), which provides advantage on the next strength-based skill check. The second is game meat (such as wolf, elk, or eagle), which provides advantage on the next strength-based saving throw. The third is aquatic meat (such as fish, octopus, or clam), which provides advantage on the next strength-based attack roll.
2. Nuts/Seeds/Beans – This category provides bonuses to dexterity. Nuts, seeds, and beans have 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is nuts (such as acorns, cashews, or walnuts), which provides advantage on the next dexterity-based skill check. The second is seeds (such as corn, rice, or barley), which provides advantage on the next dexterity-based saving throw. The third is beans (such as chickpeas, kidney beans, or lentils), which provides advantage on the next dexterity-based attack roll.
3. Bread – This category provides bonuses to constitution. It has no subcategories. All bread products provide a bonus to constitution-based saving throws.
4. Fruit – This category provides bonuses to wisdom. Fruit has 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is berries (such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries), which provides advantage on the next wisdom-based skill check. The second is hand fruits (such as bananas, apples, and lemons), which provides advantage on the next wisdom-based saving throw. The third is melons (such as watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew), which provides advantage on the next wisdom-based attack roll (such as cleric or druid spell attacks).
5. Vegetable – This category provides bonuses to intelligence. It has 3 subcategories based on which part of the plant is eaten. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is fruiting (such as tomato, cucumber, and squash), which provides advantage on the next intelligence-based skill check. The second is leaves/stem (such as celery, cabbage, and broccoli), which provides advantage on the next intelligence-based saving throw. The third is bulb/roots (such as potatoes, onions, or carrots), which provides advantage on the next intelligence-based attack roll (such as wizard spell attacks).
6. Alcohol – This category provides bonuses to charisma. It has 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is beer (such as ales or lagers), which provides advantage on the next charisma-based skill check. The second is wine (such as red or white), which provides advantage on the next charisma-based saving throw. The third is liquors (such as gin, rum, or whiskey), which provides advantage on the next charisma-based attack roll (such as sorcerer or warlock spell attacks).
7. Spices – This category provides a variety of bonuses depending on the specific spice used. It has no subcategories. (See the spice glossary for names and effects.)
Cooking Rolls
Rolling to cook a meal is a very simple process. First, the player intending to cook declares the ingredients they wish to use. Every added ingredient increased the DC (difficulty check) of the roll. The base DC to cook a meal containing one ingredient is 10. For every additional ingredient added beyond the first, the DC increases by 5. The cooking roll is a skill check using either wisdom or intelligence as the ability score modifier. (For example, if a 3nd level monk with a wisdom modifier of +3 and a proficiency bonus of +2 attempted to cook a meal, then they would roll a d20 and add 5 to that roll.) Other factors can affect the modifiers to a cooking attempt. The conditions in which a meal is cooked can either add or subtract from the final roll. If a meal is prepared in the middle of a rainstorm or blizzard then it will be done with a -5 penalty. If a meal is prepared in a proper kitchen then it will be done with a +5 bonus. The quality of the Cook’s Utensils will also affect the final roll. Inferior Cook’s Utensils apply a -2 penalty. Average Cook’s Utensils apply a +0 bonus. And superior Cook’s Utensils provide a +2 bonus. This same mechanic applies to the cooking ingredients themselves. Inferior ingredients apply a -1 penalty. Average ingredients apply a +0 bonus. And superior ingredients apply a +1 bonus. After a cooking roll is performed then the meal is prepared. Regardless of success or failure on the DC, the meal is still considered edible (except in the event of a critical failure). Those that partake in the meal gain 2 temporary hit points per ingredient used.
Cooking Example
Shen Kiro, the Kenku monk wishes to cook a meal consisting of some ingredients that he has scavenged. The ingredients include some inferior wolf meat (-1 to roll), some superior carrots (+1 to roll), and some average blueberries (+0 to roll). The DC to prepare the meal is 20 (10 for the first ingredient and 5 for each additional ingredient). Shen begins cooking in a cozy cave, so he suffers no environmental penalties for his cooking attempt. He possesses a wisdom modifier of 3 and a proficiency bonus of 2. He has also invested a fair amount of coin on superior Cook’s Utensils, so he gains an additional +2 to his roll. Shen rolls a 13 on his d20. The final calculation is as follows:
D20 Roll
Character Mods
Environment Mods
Ingredient Mods
Utensil Mods
Final Value
13
+5
+0
+0 (-1 +0 +1)
+2
20
With a total roll of 20, Shen successfully prepares the meal of carrot-stuffed wolf meat with blueberry sauce. The bonuses of this meal are determined by the categories of the ingredients. They include 1. Advantage on the next strength-based saving throw because of the wolf meat. 2. Advantage on the next wisdom-based skill check because of the blueberries. 3. Advantage on the next intelligence-based attack roll because of the carrots. 4. 6 temporary hit points because three ingredients were used.
Spice Glossary
1. Cumin – This spice grants +2 initiative on the next combat encounter that occurs within the next long rest.
2. Basil – This spice grants +5 movement speed during the next combat encounter that occurs within the next long rest.
3. Rosemary – This spice grants +2 hit dice during the next short rest that occurs within the next long rest.
4. Sage – This spice grants +1 armor class during the next combat encounter that occurs within the next long rest.
5. Mint – This spice grants +5 passive perception until the next long rest.
6. Thyme – This spice grants +1 class-based resource until the next long rest. Class-based resources include 1st-level spell slots, ki points, rages, and superiority dice.
7. Paprika – This spice grants +5 temporary hit points until the next long rest. (These hit points are in addition to the +2 provided from cooking with an ingredient)
8. Nutmeg – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of acid damage that occurs within the next long rest.
9. Cloves – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of cold damage that occurs within the next long rest.
10. Pepper – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of fire damage that occurs within the next long rest.
11. Salt – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of force damage that occurs within the next long rest.
12. Cayenne – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of lightning damage that occurs within the next long rest.
13. Turmeric – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of necrotic damage that occurs within the next long rest.
14. Mustard – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of poison damage that occurs within the next long rest.
15. Cardamom – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of psychic damage that occurs within the next long rest.
16. Cinnamon – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of radiant damage that occurs within the next long rest.
17. Garlic – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of thunder damage that occurs within the next long rest.
18. Ginger – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of bludgeoning damage that occurs within the next long rest.
19. Fennel – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of piercing damage that occurs within the next long rest.
20. Allspice – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of slashing damage that occurs within the next long rest.
Taking all of the above into account, I am still unsure if the mechanic is sufficiently balanced. Is the DC too high? Too low? Are the bonuses too powerful? Or even maybe too weak? I was considering making a homebrewed feat called Gourmet or something that provided additional bonuses to cooking, such as double cooking proficiency and the ability to choose what subcategory food buff they wanted to gain.
I'd appreciate any advice you can give me on the subject. Thanks :)
Introduction
This optional cooking mechanic can be applied in any 5e D&D campaign. In order to employ this mechanic, the character engaging in cooking must have access to Cook’s Utensils as well as be proficient with them. Cooking requires time to perform. For every two hours spent, a cook can create 3 servings of food. To gain the cooking bonuses listed below, the food must be consumed and digested during a long rest. Food-related buffs cannot be acquired outside of long rests. If prepared meals are not immediately consumed upon creation, then they lose their bonus properties and become conventional rations. Food-related buffs last until the next long rest. Some food buffs provide a constant bonus while others only apply for a single instance. For example, meat-related food buffs only apply for a single instance while the passive perception buff provided by mint lasts until the next long rest.
With this mechanic, food is broken down into 7 categories. Each category gives specific bonuses when added to a meal.
Food Categories
1. Meat – This category provides bonuses to strength. Meat has 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is domesticated meat (such as pork, beef, or chicken), which provides advantage on the next strength-based skill check. The second is game meat (such as wolf, elk, or eagle), which provides advantage on the next strength-based saving throw. The third is aquatic meat (such as fish, octopus, or clam), which provides advantage on the next strength-based attack roll.
2. Nuts/Seeds/Beans – This category provides bonuses to dexterity. Nuts, seeds, and beans have 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is nuts (such as acorns, cashews, or walnuts), which provides advantage on the next dexterity-based skill check. The second is seeds (such as corn, rice, or barley), which provides advantage on the next dexterity-based saving throw. The third is beans (such as chickpeas, kidney beans, or lentils), which provides advantage on the next dexterity-based attack roll.
3. Bread – This category provides bonuses to constitution. It has no subcategories. All bread products provide a bonus to constitution-based saving throws.
4. Fruit – This category provides bonuses to wisdom. Fruit has 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is berries (such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries), which provides advantage on the next wisdom-based skill check. The second is hand fruits (such as bananas, apples, and lemons), which provides advantage on the next wisdom-based saving throw. The third is melons (such as watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew), which provides advantage on the next wisdom-based attack roll (such as cleric or druid spell attacks).
5. Vegetable – This category provides bonuses to intelligence. It has 3 subcategories based on which part of the plant is eaten. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is fruiting (such as tomato, cucumber, and squash), which provides advantage on the next intelligence-based skill check. The second is leaves/stem (such as celery, cabbage, and broccoli), which provides advantage on the next intelligence-based saving throw. The third is bulb/roots (such as potatoes, onions, or carrots), which provides advantage on the next intelligence-based attack roll (such as wizard spell attacks).
6. Alcohol – This category provides bonuses to charisma. It has 3 subcategories. Each subcategory provides a different bonus. The first is beer (such as ales or lagers), which provides advantage on the next charisma-based skill check. The second is wine (such as red or white), which provides advantage on the next charisma-based saving throw. The third is liquors (such as gin, rum, or whiskey), which provides advantage on the next charisma-based attack roll (such as sorcerer or warlock spell attacks).
7. Spices – This category provides a variety of bonuses depending on the specific spice used. It has no subcategories. (See the spice glossary for names and effects.)
Cooking Rolls
Rolling to cook a meal is a very simple process. First, the player intending to cook declares the ingredients they wish to use. Every added ingredient increased the DC (difficulty check) of the roll. The base DC to cook a meal containing one ingredient is 10. For every additional ingredient added beyond the first, the DC increases by 5. The cooking roll is a skill check using either wisdom or intelligence as the ability score modifier. (For example, if a 3nd level monk with a wisdom modifier of +3 and a proficiency bonus of +2 attempted to cook a meal, then they would roll a d20 and add 5 to that roll.) Other factors can affect the modifiers to a cooking attempt. The conditions in which a meal is cooked can either add or subtract from the final roll. If a meal is prepared in the middle of a rainstorm or blizzard then it will be done with a -5 penalty. If a meal is prepared in a proper kitchen then it will be done with a +5 bonus. The quality of the Cook’s Utensils will also affect the final roll. Inferior Cook’s Utensils apply a -2 penalty. Average Cook’s Utensils apply a +0 bonus. And superior Cook’s Utensils provide a +2 bonus. This same mechanic applies to the cooking ingredients themselves. Inferior ingredients apply a -1 penalty. Average ingredients apply a +0 bonus. And superior ingredients apply a +1 bonus. After a cooking roll is performed then the meal is prepared. Regardless of success or failure on the DC, the meal is still considered edible (except in the event of a critical failure). Those that partake in the meal gain 2 temporary hit points per ingredient used.
Cooking Example
Shen Kiro, the Kenku monk wishes to cook a meal consisting of some ingredients that he has scavenged. The ingredients include some inferior wolf meat (-1 to roll), some superior carrots (+1 to roll), and some average blueberries (+0 to roll). The DC to prepare the meal is 20 (10 for the first ingredient and 5 for each additional ingredient). Shen begins cooking in a cozy cave, so he suffers no environmental penalties for his cooking attempt. He possesses a wisdom modifier of 3 and a proficiency bonus of 2. He has also invested a fair amount of coin on superior Cook’s Utensils, so he gains an additional +2 to his roll. Shen rolls a 13 on his d20. The final calculation is as follows:
D20 Roll
Character Mods
Environment Mods
Ingredient Mods
Utensil Mods
Final Value
13
+5
+0
+0 (-1 +0 +1)
+2
20
With a total roll of 20, Shen successfully prepares the meal of carrot-stuffed wolf meat with blueberry sauce. The bonuses of this meal are determined by the categories of the ingredients. They include 1. Advantage on the next strength-based saving throw because of the wolf meat. 2. Advantage on the next wisdom-based skill check because of the blueberries. 3. Advantage on the next intelligence-based attack roll because of the carrots. 4. 6 temporary hit points because three ingredients were used.
Spice Glossary
1. Cumin – This spice grants +2 initiative on the next combat encounter that occurs within the next long rest.
2. Basil – This spice grants +5 movement speed during the next combat encounter that occurs within the next long rest.
3. Rosemary – This spice grants +2 hit dice during the next short rest that occurs within the next long rest.
4. Sage – This spice grants +1 armor class during the next combat encounter that occurs within the next long rest.
5. Mint – This spice grants +5 passive perception until the next long rest.
6. Thyme – This spice grants +1 class-based resource until the next long rest. Class-based resources include 1st-level spell slots, ki points, rages, and superiority dice.
7. Paprika – This spice grants +5 temporary hit points until the next long rest. (These hit points are in addition to the +2 provided from cooking with an ingredient)
8. Nutmeg – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of acid damage that occurs within the next long rest.
9. Cloves – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of cold damage that occurs within the next long rest.
10. Pepper – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of fire damage that occurs within the next long rest.
11. Salt – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of force damage that occurs within the next long rest.
12. Cayenne – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of lightning damage that occurs within the next long rest.
13. Turmeric – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of necrotic damage that occurs within the next long rest.
14. Mustard – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of poison damage that occurs within the next long rest.
15. Cardamom – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of psychic damage that occurs within the next long rest.
16. Cinnamon – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of radiant damage that occurs within the next long rest.
17. Garlic – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of thunder damage that occurs within the next long rest.
18. Ginger – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of bludgeoning damage that occurs within the next long rest.
19. Fennel – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of piercing damage that occurs within the next long rest.
20. Allspice – This spice grants resistance to the next instance of slashing damage that occurs within the next long rest.
Taking all of the above into account, I am still unsure if the mechanic is sufficiently balanced. Is the DC too high? Too low? Are the bonuses too powerful? Or even maybe too weak? I was considering making a homebrewed feat called Gourmet or something that provided additional bonuses to cooking, such as double cooking proficiency and the ability to choose what subcategory food buff they wanted to gain.
I'd appreciate any advice you can give me on the subject. Thanks :)