sir_argo
2023-02-21, 01:48 AM
I'm in the early stages of developing a campaign setting based on ley lines. Quick note, I did buy a supplement specifically for Ley Lines from a non-WotC vendor I'll just refer to as KP. It's interesting, but not quite what I'm shooting for. I'll give the basic ideas I have right now and what I'm asking for is suggestions for ley powers.
We know the legend. The world is criss-crossed with ley lines. There's is magic that can be tapped when near a ley line. When two or more ley lines converge or cross, the effect is greater. There are a few places in which multiple ley lines converge and these locations harbor even greater power. And then there is the target region for the characters, where there are enough ley lines that it might resemble the spokes of a wheel. I'll call this the Conjunction (Junction, what's your function <-- sorry, couldn't resist). I envision this area being permeated with magic. Over hundreds or possibly thousands of years, the races that originally settled the area became attuned to this magic and their children now have a special affinity to ley lines. These races include all known DnD 5e races. The kingdom established there was quite powerful within their realm, but merely "normal" outside of it. For quite a long time, things were static. They didn't really possess the power to expand their kingdom out, but others could not make any inroads into their territory either.
The power wielded by the ley races attracted the attention of a number of demi-gods, who were eager to try to possess this magic. Their idea was simply this, I'm just a demi-god outside of that region but if I can harness and control that power I could become more than just a demi-god. A quick note about why the gods themselves haven't bothered to try and harness the power of the ley lines. You can't really do it by actions. You just have to spend a thousand years "attuning" yourself to them. The net gain for a god wouldn't be anything more than they receive from the worship and sacrifices of their thousands of followers. Plus it takes more time. Net result... not worth it for a god. However, a demi-god isn't getting that sweet-sweet worship from thousands of followers. And they can't metagame and know that the process is just time spent near the line. So they actively tried to conquer and subjugate the lines. This attack came suddenly and the ley races were not prepared to fight foes such as these. The war was over quickly and the remaining ley races had to flee. The region is now controlled by several demi-gods, who still don't have ley powers.
The refugees did not find comfort in the surrounding kingdoms. For all of those thousand years, the ley races had been indomitable. They were forced to flee even farther South until they were far enough away that they were merely branded as witches, not enemies. I know... that can be a fine line.
This is where the campaign starts--far South of the Conjunction. The characters are all young adults that were born in the South and have never set foot in the Conjunction. They've heard stories and their parents and grandparents tell them that someday that will return and retake their land. The first scenario is the typical, oh crap the village gets destroyed and everyone but you dies. The goal of the campaign is to travel back to the Conjunction, defeat the demi-gods, and reclaim the Conjunction for the ley races. The presumed epilogue would have ley races scattered around the world return.
Almost all races are allowed, especially the more fantastic races. All characters are a ley variant of the base race. So you would be a ley human, ley elf, or a ley dragonborn, etc.
The ley races emanate light that only travels a very short distance. It is quite bright within 1', but dims rapidly and disappears entirely beyond 5'. Sneaking should not be effected too much because the light does not travel beyond 5', but if you do try to do something sneaky within 5' of a target, it'll be at disadvantage. A character cannot perceive their own light.
I hate to copy Game of Thrones, but I really want the races to all have white hair. Not sure I'll use that or not... you know... it might be a violation of intellectual property. Maybe I'll go with sky blue hair.
Ley races do not worship gods. Divine casters just have a very spiritual connection to the lines and derive all the same benefits that would normally come from the worship of a god. Don't ask me to explain, but yes spells like Contact Other Plane still function normally. The whole non-god worshipping thing fits within the scope of the goal of the campaign is to fight demi-gods at the end. We don't want this to be a god vs. demi-god thing. So don't try to rationalize that certain divine powers shouldn't work. They do. It's just an RP thing.
All characters get the feat Magic Initiate for free at 1st level.
All characters will have a number of "ley points" equal to their level + 1.
Ley points are replenished only when within proximity to ley lines and here are some sample formulas:
not near a ley line
regain 1 per month
near a line
regain on long rest
near a convergence of two lines
regain on short rest
at the center of the Conjunction
regain every round
And here are some beginning ley powers I'm considering... and I don't have names for them yet. These would all be available at 1st level. So far, I do not foresee any of these being reactions.
[Damage]
After rolling damage, but before applying it, you can spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to do additional damage to a single target. Each ley point spent will deal an additional 1d6 damage.
[Move]
During your turn, you may spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to increase your base movement speed. Each ley point spent will increase your base Move by 5'. This additional movement lasts until the end of your turn and is still subject to all effects that limit a character's movement. (in other words, you can't use it to move if you're restrained).
[Attack Roll]
After making an attack roll, but before determining if a hit was scored, you can spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to add to your roll. Each ley point spent will add 1 to your attack roll.
[Defend]
You may spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to add to your AC. If you spend these points before the attack roll is made, the increase to AC lasts until the end of the turn. If you spend the points after the attack roll is made, the AC is only effective for that one attack.
[Saving Throw]
Before making a saving throw, you may spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to add to your roll. Each ley point spent will add 1 to your saving throw.
So as you see, these are very minor powers. And at 1st level, you only have 2 pts to spend. But if your project up to 10th level, and if you are at a locale that gets all points back on a short rest, it could be very handy.
So what I'm requesting is two things. First, ideas on how I can improve on the above. And second, additional powers.
Thanks in advance,
Argo
We know the legend. The world is criss-crossed with ley lines. There's is magic that can be tapped when near a ley line. When two or more ley lines converge or cross, the effect is greater. There are a few places in which multiple ley lines converge and these locations harbor even greater power. And then there is the target region for the characters, where there are enough ley lines that it might resemble the spokes of a wheel. I'll call this the Conjunction (Junction, what's your function <-- sorry, couldn't resist). I envision this area being permeated with magic. Over hundreds or possibly thousands of years, the races that originally settled the area became attuned to this magic and their children now have a special affinity to ley lines. These races include all known DnD 5e races. The kingdom established there was quite powerful within their realm, but merely "normal" outside of it. For quite a long time, things were static. They didn't really possess the power to expand their kingdom out, but others could not make any inroads into their territory either.
The power wielded by the ley races attracted the attention of a number of demi-gods, who were eager to try to possess this magic. Their idea was simply this, I'm just a demi-god outside of that region but if I can harness and control that power I could become more than just a demi-god. A quick note about why the gods themselves haven't bothered to try and harness the power of the ley lines. You can't really do it by actions. You just have to spend a thousand years "attuning" yourself to them. The net gain for a god wouldn't be anything more than they receive from the worship and sacrifices of their thousands of followers. Plus it takes more time. Net result... not worth it for a god. However, a demi-god isn't getting that sweet-sweet worship from thousands of followers. And they can't metagame and know that the process is just time spent near the line. So they actively tried to conquer and subjugate the lines. This attack came suddenly and the ley races were not prepared to fight foes such as these. The war was over quickly and the remaining ley races had to flee. The region is now controlled by several demi-gods, who still don't have ley powers.
The refugees did not find comfort in the surrounding kingdoms. For all of those thousand years, the ley races had been indomitable. They were forced to flee even farther South until they were far enough away that they were merely branded as witches, not enemies. I know... that can be a fine line.
This is where the campaign starts--far South of the Conjunction. The characters are all young adults that were born in the South and have never set foot in the Conjunction. They've heard stories and their parents and grandparents tell them that someday that will return and retake their land. The first scenario is the typical, oh crap the village gets destroyed and everyone but you dies. The goal of the campaign is to travel back to the Conjunction, defeat the demi-gods, and reclaim the Conjunction for the ley races. The presumed epilogue would have ley races scattered around the world return.
Almost all races are allowed, especially the more fantastic races. All characters are a ley variant of the base race. So you would be a ley human, ley elf, or a ley dragonborn, etc.
The ley races emanate light that only travels a very short distance. It is quite bright within 1', but dims rapidly and disappears entirely beyond 5'. Sneaking should not be effected too much because the light does not travel beyond 5', but if you do try to do something sneaky within 5' of a target, it'll be at disadvantage. A character cannot perceive their own light.
I hate to copy Game of Thrones, but I really want the races to all have white hair. Not sure I'll use that or not... you know... it might be a violation of intellectual property. Maybe I'll go with sky blue hair.
Ley races do not worship gods. Divine casters just have a very spiritual connection to the lines and derive all the same benefits that would normally come from the worship of a god. Don't ask me to explain, but yes spells like Contact Other Plane still function normally. The whole non-god worshipping thing fits within the scope of the goal of the campaign is to fight demi-gods at the end. We don't want this to be a god vs. demi-god thing. So don't try to rationalize that certain divine powers shouldn't work. They do. It's just an RP thing.
All characters get the feat Magic Initiate for free at 1st level.
All characters will have a number of "ley points" equal to their level + 1.
Ley points are replenished only when within proximity to ley lines and here are some sample formulas:
not near a ley line
regain 1 per month
near a line
regain on long rest
near a convergence of two lines
regain on short rest
at the center of the Conjunction
regain every round
And here are some beginning ley powers I'm considering... and I don't have names for them yet. These would all be available at 1st level. So far, I do not foresee any of these being reactions.
[Damage]
After rolling damage, but before applying it, you can spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to do additional damage to a single target. Each ley point spent will deal an additional 1d6 damage.
[Move]
During your turn, you may spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to increase your base movement speed. Each ley point spent will increase your base Move by 5'. This additional movement lasts until the end of your turn and is still subject to all effects that limit a character's movement. (in other words, you can't use it to move if you're restrained).
[Attack Roll]
After making an attack roll, but before determining if a hit was scored, you can spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to add to your roll. Each ley point spent will add 1 to your attack roll.
[Defend]
You may spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to add to your AC. If you spend these points before the attack roll is made, the increase to AC lasts until the end of the turn. If you spend the points after the attack roll is made, the AC is only effective for that one attack.
[Saving Throw]
Before making a saving throw, you may spend 1 or more ley points, up to your proficiency bonus, to add to your roll. Each ley point spent will add 1 to your saving throw.
So as you see, these are very minor powers. And at 1st level, you only have 2 pts to spend. But if your project up to 10th level, and if you are at a locale that gets all points back on a short rest, it could be very handy.
So what I'm requesting is two things. First, ideas on how I can improve on the above. And second, additional powers.
Thanks in advance,
Argo