Level Up (A5E) Spellcrafting Mage Armor

[Verall]

I’m considering making a modified version of mage armor, I’m aware of the rare version
“Stekart’s Enhanced Mage Armor.”
What alternate modifications would you consider reasonable?

 

[lichmaster]

What about "creatures that hit you with a melee attack while this spell is active must save vs Con or become rattled until the start of their next turn"?
The AC bonus doesn't increase over the base spell, but there's a useful side effect in case the spell doesn't protect you. The effect is quite useful as it negates reactions (allowing you to move away without risking attacks of opportunity when it's your turn) and negates the use of expertise dice too. The target is still allowed for a save, thus the effect won't trigger all the time.
After the first time you're hit, the spell can also act as a deterrent against attacking you again.

 

[aco175]

The rare version lists this below.
Stekart’s Enhanced Mage Armor. The target’s AC becomes 10 + your proficiency bonus + its Dexterity modifier.

Base mage armor is 13 +DEX, so it looks worse at 1st level, the same thing at 5th level and 1 better at 9th level since your pro bonus changes.

If I was looking at a new version or an better version I might make it level 3. Basic something to do is make it a higher base plus DEX. As a 3rd level spell, I would say 16 base +DEX. Another idea is make it last 24hours, but at 14+DEX.

 

[Toan Li]

Or allow it to be upcast. Adding 1 AC per spell level puts it under your projected, but also cuts down on needing to "learn" and/or "know" another spell.

 

[Anonymous3]

What about "creatures that hit you with a melee attack while this spell is active must save vs Con or become rattled until the start of their next turn"?
The AC bonus doesn't increase over the base spell, but there's a useful side effect in case the spell doesn't protect you. The effect is quite useful as it negates reactions (allowing you to move away without risking attacks of opportunity when it's your turn) and negates the use of expertise dice too. The target is still allowed for a save, thus the effect won't trigger all the time.
After the first time you're hit, the spell can also act as a deterrent against attacking you again.

Rattled is a strong condition to apply for attacking a wizard given that almost every wizard would have mage armor up.
Perhaps, apply disadvantage on the next attack instead.

 

[Anonymous3]

Or allow it to be upcast. Adding 1 AC per spell level puts it under your projected, but also cuts down on needing to "learn" and/or "know" another spell.

An increase in AC per spell level is really strong. A5e Barkskin spell provides this benefit for every two slots which is strong and I would use this as base to compare.

There is another spell (Paladin I think) but I cannot recall it but it provides an increase in AC for every three levels above the one cast. I remember it being are difficult one only because of how few were available to the character at the time.

 

[lichmaster]

Rattled is a strong condition to apply for attacking a wizard given that almost every wizard would have mage armor up.
Perhaps, apply disadvantage on the next attack instead.

This was a suggestion for a rare version of the spell, it's not supposed to be in the hands of every wizard. Disadvantage on next attack seems stronger to me

 

[aco175]

This was a suggestion for a rare version of the spell, it's not supposed to be in the hands of every wizard. Disadvantage on next attack seems stronger to me

I would be cooler if disadvantage to attack the wizard only. I can see wizards wanting bad guys to go off and attack the others instead of them. A bit like a charm to not attack them.

 

[Pedantic]

I'd do a detonation effect. Either defensive, say, "when hit by an attack, as a reaction you may end the spell immediately to become resistant to all damage types dealt by the attack until the start of your next turn" or offensive "after being struck by an attack, you may end the spell as a reaction to deal damage equal to your AC to all creatures within 5 feet."

 

[Anonymous3]

I would be cooler if disadvantage to attack the wizard only. I can see wizards wanting bad guys to go off and attack the others instead of them. A bit like a charm to not attack them.

Yeah, this is what I meant.

This was a suggestion for a rare version of the spell, it's not supposed to be in the hands of every wizard. Disadvantage on next attack seems stronger to me

Fair point on the rarity. Given's it's original wording I thought it would likely be given out at higher levels and assumed it's rarity on that basis - bad assumption.
I feel that like reactions are a little better and given that martials would be attacking a wizard then shutting down their only reaction would be more significant than posing some inconvenience to one of possibly five attacks. Creatures with multi-attack would suffer similarly.