Trying my hand at homebrew.

[Itsfrank]

Hello all! I've been playing regularly for about a year and been looking over stuff on the forums. Making your own stuff looks really cool and I think I have some cool ideas. Does anybody know a good place to start like a guide or something or other homebrew stuff that people do? Anything would help because I want to start working on how to put something together to add to campaign stories. I will be trying to be the Dm in our next campaign and I would like to get a head start.

Oh I almost forgot to say it's for 5th edition and I'm looking at cool ways to put together class ideas and campaign ideas of my own.

[nickl_2000]

Hello all! I've been playing regularly for about a year and been looking over stuff on the forums. Making your own stuff looks really cool and I think I have some cool ideas. Does anybody know a good place to start like a guide or something or other homebrew stuff that people do? Anything would help because I want to start working on how to put something together to add to campaign stories. I will be trying to be the Dm in our next campaign and I would like to get a head start.

Oh I almost forgot to say it's for 5th edition and I'm looking at cool ways to put together class ideas and campaign ideas of my own.

I'm confused, are you looking for help with class/subclasses or with writing a campaign?

[Itsfrank]

Good sources and tips to help with both

[Greywander]

James Musicus Race creation guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ViqLSEN67mmd2Lo_OJ-H5YX0fccsfI97kFaqx7V1Dmw/edit
James Musicus Class creation guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gR9yfTbXJ2mMz0vYkdVQIzQWKTw9IODpzteFJShl1zo/edit
Detect Balance: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vq1kz6PRAbw5LHy6amH-bNb4OuB8DBXL1RsZROt03Sc/edit
Simple Custom Race: https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?636942-Simple-Custom-Race

This can give you a good place to start. I'd suggest starting with a race, since those are pretty simple. I've put together whole classes before, but it's definitely a big undertaking. Once you've made a few races, trying writing some homebrew subclasses for existing classes. One of the things about writing homebrew is that you don't really realize what all of the conventions are, so initially you're write some features that function in a really strange way until you kind of get the hang of it. It helps a lot to compare what you want a feature to do with an existing feature that does something similar. Where possible, try to use similar phrases as existing abilities. Don't overload your homebrew, either: a race should have about 2 to 6 traits, with about 4 being average, and classes should get one, or sometimes two features at a given level. Rarely a class with give three features at a level, and often one of them is something like a thematically appropriate proficiency.

Here's some of my own homebrew for you to reference:
Awakened Cat race (https://docs.google.com/document/d/17jcHiAKMz9Zn4Or0WJOTAiMqsbWP8kUIXH1UYfaLyfA/edit?usp=sharing)
Bellarian race (slime people) (https://docs.google.com/document/d/13OxFjVpK5UDPEXpynHK8ws8BizEFUIJQTzYvoVKhSG0/edit?usp=sharing)
Wandering Merchant rogue subclass (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdMq-PSHUUhDN6_3g7ZyffCpXtEJS9rUnepF9HNq1OQ/edit?usp=sharing)
Revised Artificer (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TEmSINUn9fbx7RbSkU3UBJxNJAynysb-y-QbKPNDElA/edit?usp=sharing)
Slayer class (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CuLTlDGicypXOmUUZxvKxszYcwXnS2AjaxbedcoPeIk/edit?usp=sharing)

You can see how I've done things and that might help you to figure out where to start and how to format things.

[nickl_2000]

Good sources and tips to help with both

If you check in my signature, I did an analysis on subclasses. I.e. what levels and what the official material did at what levels. It may be worth a look.

Otherwise, check out the contests on here, there is a lot of good stuff there.

I will be the first to admit I'm not good at creating a homebrew world or campaign.

[Itsfrank]

Ok that's a lot of stuff. Thank you for the details and the links guys. I never thought about how to basically level up your homebrew like starting at races and working the way up. How often do the contests run? I might be ready to try that out in another year of hard work maybe.

[Old Harry MTX]

Ok that's a lot of stuff. Thank you for the details and the links guys. I never thought about how to basically level up your homebrew like starting at races and working the way up. How often do the contests run? I might be ready to try that out in another year of hard work maybe.

Mmm, we run two distinct contests, one for Subclasses and one for Classes, and you surely don't need a whole year of practice to participate ^^

You are welcome whenever you want!

[nickl_2000]

Ok that's a lot of stuff. Thank you for the details and the links guys. I never thought about how to basically level up your homebrew like starting at races and working the way up. How often do the contests run? I might be ready to try that out in another year of hard work maybe.

Both of them run monthly, and like was said above don't wait. The best way to get better at home brewing is by actually doing it and have getting comments from people who are doing been doing it for a while. The Homebrew contests are a great place that you can actually get comments from people that are nice.

Subclasses are a much easier thing to start with, but do whatever excites you and sounds interesting

[Itsfrank]

Since I've joined on here it's been a good experience people helping out. I really appreciate it. I started looking through the links and builds and it's been really inspiring. I will try the contest.

[animorte]

If you check in my signature, I did an analysis on subclasses. I.e. what levels and what the official material did at what levels. It may be worth a look.
As far as 5e goes, this is pretty much where I started! Definitely check it out.

I also have a link to a massive collection of home brew stuff in my signature (the compendium), none of which is mine. And it’s all such good reading material.

[GalacticAxekick]

Don't overthink it. If you have an idea for something, write it out and share it. If your writing is unclear or unbalanced, people will suggest ways to fix it.

Just go for it!

[Itsfrank]

I've been reading these things a lot and I think it really helps my idea cons to life. Thank you again!