Altered Spells

This document details a number of changes made to spells decided upon by the author. The intent of the changes is to increase the viability of certain spells and decrease the versatility of others.

''Remember, utility is always welcomed. You do not need to use a damage-dealing effect to just deal damage, get creative!''

Infestation
The caster can choose which direction the target moves if they fail the saving throw. If this movement would cause obvious and direct damage to the target, such as an open pitfall or a spinning blade, the movement does not occur.

Mending
When used on constructs, it restores 1d4 + the caster’s spellcasting modifier worth of hit points per cast. This only works on protective measurements; not internal mechanisms or wiring.

Shape Water
The cantrip can be used to form a whip made out of water. The whip requires a nearby source of water that can provide at least 1 pint. Part of the casting includes a melee spell attack with a range of 10 feet. If you hit with it, you deal 1d6 piercing damage. After attacking, the whip dissipates.

Goodberry
The spell now consumes its component. This is done to incentivise using rations and hunting rather than just using a first-level spell at the end of the day.

Barkskin
Duration lowered from 1 hour to 10 minutes. The effect is changed to: “You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target's skin has a rough, bark-like appearance, and its AC is 16 + its Dexterity modifier. While active, fire damage deals an additional 1d4 damage to the target.”

Reworking Spell Flavour
When you want to change a spell to better fit your character’s thematic, you should bring it up with the GM. The author feels thematic is more important than balance in most cases, so if you want your Toll the Dead to deal thunder damage or your Burning Hands to deal cold damage because it makes more sense on your character, the GM will take it under consideration.

A general rule of thumb to abide by is to ask yourself if the damage type you want to swap your spell to is about as resisted as its original counterpart. If that is true, your suggestion will most likely be passed. This does mean that a Poison Spray that deals force damage is most likely going to be denied.