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3d8-3 has a variance of 63/12*3 and an average of 10.5. 1d20 has a variance of 399/12 and an average of 10.5. So the variance is half as big as for 1d20. As we experience Standard Deviation not Variance directly, the SD(3d8) is 0.68x SD(1d20). So to a really decent approximation, the effect...

I would just shift to gritty rests (1 week long rest, overnight short) and adjust encounter difficulty to match. A day's adventure then becomes 2-4 CR 2-4 monsters. And a plot chain is 6-12 CR 2-6 encounters, after which the PCs get downtime.

When people say components, they are usually talking about M.

Yes, it does! In some games, the 25,000 gp is hard to come by as well. In others it is chump change. In some games, diamonds are easy to buy. In others, getting diamonds is a quest. In others, one empire holds a near monopoly on diamonds, and they are horded by the ruling class to allow for...

For a fun mechanic, replace 1s with max value on the die. So instead of 6d6+6 you get 6d6 but each 1 is +5. The bonus is a bit less than +6 (5/6 per die instead of +1 per die), but it doesn't raise the max. It is reasonably VTT friendly -- just look at the 1s and add a bonus.

Any spell with an expensive reusable component cost is like a magic item that requires knowing the spell and a spell slot to fuel it. Any spell with an expensive non-reusable component is like a single-use magic item that requires knowing the spell and a spell slot to fuel it. In some worlds...

Mechanics to poach: You roll 2 dice in your class area of expertise. So fighters roll 2d20 on weapon attacks, for example. ... Alternatively always roll 2 dice and count successes. Doubles are crit (fail or succeed). This generates -1, 0, 1, 2 and 3 as levels of success and a nice curve...

Here is a stab at an assassin based off the 5e one. Key changes: 1. I replaced auto-crit with 2x sneak attack damage in 3rd level feature. This weakens it, especially for MC dips. 2. I added a poison feature at level 9. 2d6 free poison damage, with a crit rider. 3. I dropped Imposter time...

So, US patent law means that after 12 years, the first treatment must be able to be made by a generic company without IP blocks. The companies will try to improve their treatment and get extended patent protection, but it only covers the improvements. As an example, the old-school insulin has...

So, if you want more flexibility, consider: You get two actions on your turn. If these two actions are casting a spell, the total spell level you can cast is limited the highest level spell slot you know. If the first action causes a creature to make a saving throw or be subject to an attack...

You get usually at most 2 top level spell slots, and 2-3 of your 2nd from the top. The idea that this is your baseline level of power means ... every turn comes from a 4 round adventuring day? This isn't baseline power -- this is a description of top power output of a spell caster. By design...

The power budget of a spell in combat comes from two sources. The first is the slot level, if any, expended. The second is the action expended. For a spellcaster, the floor on the value of an action expended is a cantrip. So, casting a 3rd level spell has a power budget of (action, at least...

No? You can reach 5' away. When someone leaves 5' reach by 1', they trigger an OA before leaving your reach. At that point they have moved at most 1' and are tagged by booming blade. They are free to say "nope" and move 1' back to their original location. The 5' move grid is an optional...

Except, the OA occurs the moment you leave reach. And the booming blade triggers after you move 5'. This means that the person hit with the OA has a full 5' to say "ok, maybe I shouldn't move" after leaving reach to avoid the damage. Usually the 5' units don't matter much. But if there is a...

Treat squares and 5' steps as an abstraction. They leaving your reach. They are now boomed. They can stop moving right away in response in continuous movement case, like after 1 foot. Mapping back to 5' squares, this means they don't actually leave the square, as 1 foot isn't enough. While...

Yes, swordmages got some fun "you violated my aegis" encounter powers. And unlike the paladin, "I mark you and run away" was on-brand for a swordmage, as it was an evasive defender. Paladin's mark required they attack the target or move adjacent to it. Swordmage's by design did not. So the...

One fun thing 4e swordmages had was the ability to leverage their magical sword's abilities to enhance spells. So a +X sword acted as a +X spell focus, and a sword that did extra fire damage enhanced damaging spells with fire damage. I think it is a worthy mechanic for a 5e import. ... The...

A "shield" around the swordmage also works. In 4e, with the myriad of defender marks, the swordmage's Aegis was interesting in that it let you, nay encouraged you, to mark a foe and move away from them. You'd then use your presence somewhere else to tank, plus interfere with one foe's ability...

This may be heresy, but having Aegis apply to an ally instead of an enemy (protecting them) feels a bit more 4e. Like, you put your Aegis (shield) on an ally, and when that ally is attacked you can teleport to their aid. Or interpose. Or snare the attacker. Using that, the level of the Aegis...

4e swordmages where perfectly happy in light armor. It was the Avenger that was unarmored. Their ward does replace a shield, however. 4e swordmages had both their aegis and an option to swap between 1H and 2H. The weapon choice was relatively under supported, but there was some support. 4e...