D&D (2024) Hunter's Mark, Hex, and the illusive balance

[Xeviat]

Well you wouldn't

Your versions are nerfs, sorry. I would never cast them. Bonus action + spell slot for 1d6 damage and that's it? Monsters die too fast; you'll never get value out of this.

If you think they're overpowered, limiting to 1/round is fine. That's still a big nerf but they might warrant it. Removing concentration - even in addition to 1/round limit - is a buff IMO.

Well you wouldn't cast it on a mook. At 2 hits it's only slightly behind divine smite, at 3 hits it's slightly ahead. If you could switch it between targets in multiple encounters, it would beat smite real fast. It lasting for 1 minute but being switchable would be balanced in combat, but not useful for the tracking feature.

But then you say removing concentration with a 1/round limit is a buff, and that's what I'm suggesting. I'm not seeing the disconnect here.

 

[Xeviat]

I think that you could increase the damage die size, since it can’t switch targets.

Or give a juicier secondary benefit like crit on 19 or even just “know all resistences immunities and vulnerabilities” for HM, and Hex could also deals damage when the target fails a saving throw.

I did? 2d6 at 3rd level spell, 3d6 at 5th level spell.

Improved crit on Hunter's Mark would be fitting and fun!

 

[Xeviat]

Divine Favor at 1d4 per hit is weak enough to not require Concentration, but then Hunter's Mark at 1d6 per hit is too powerful to stack with other damage Concentration spells. There's nothing contradictory here but 1 extra damage per hit seems like an awfully small delta to confidently draw the line between too weak / too powerful.

Maybe a good homebrew modification of Hunter's Mark would be to allow the Ranger to choose when they cast the spell, between either 1d6 damage with Concentration or 1d4 damage but no Concentration. I kind of like that idea but I dunno

It's the duration difference that scares them away. Hmmm, I wonder if 1d4 at 1st, 1d6 at 2nd, 1d8 at 3rd, 1d10 at 4th, and 1d12 at 5th would work... But conjure minor elementals is way more.