the-sunken-reach/docs/SPELLS.md

Spells

How spells work in this app: the campaign's spell list, how a character comes to know a spell, who can use which spells, and what the spellcasting numbers mean.

This describes the code as it stands. The built-in list is backend/src/game/data/spellsLibrary.js. Related: WEAPONS.md, ITEMS.md, CHARACTERS.md.

Contents

1. The basics
2. The spell list
3. The built-in library
4. Granting spells to characters
5. Spell level and who can use it
6. Damage
7. Spellcasting numbers
8. Spell slots
9. Starting spells
10. Permissions
11. What is not modelled
12. The complete spell library

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1. The basics

• Every campaign has its own spell list. A spell exists in one campaign only.
• A character knows spells from that list, each with a Prepared tick box.
• The DM runs the list and decides who learns what. Players can only prepare and unprepare the spells they know.
• Unlike weapons and items, a spell has no level of its own to raise. Its level is fixed, and so is its damage.

2. The spell list

The list is the "Spells" part of the campaign page (DM only). Each spell is a short row: its name, level, damage and the start of what it does. The list has a search box, shows ten to a page, and clicking a row opens the spell's pop-out, which shows everything below and is where it is changed.

Field	What it is
Name	Free text, up to 80 characters
Level	Cantrip, or level 1 to 9. Also the character level needed to use it (section 5)
School	Free text: Evocation, Illusion…
What it does	One sentence. Shown wherever the spell is shown
Damage	Picked from a list, or "No damage". Fixed; it does not grow
Starting option	Whether a brand-new character may pick it in the builder (section 9)
Revives	Whether it brings back the dead. A character who can cast one may revive a dead ally on their turn in a battle (ENCOUNTERS.md, section 6). Ticked already on the library's Revivify and Raise Dead
Casting time, range, duration	Stored for library spells. Shown to the DM in the spell's pop-out on the campaign page, and nowhere else

A cantrip is a spell of level 0. The app always calls it a cantrip, never "level 0" or "level 1".

• Adding: by hand with "+ Add Spell" (name, level, school, damage, what it does and the two tick boxes), or from the library. Both open in a pop-out. A spell added by hand opens its own pop-out, and "+ Add another spell" at its top goes straight back to an empty form.
• Changing: in the spell's pop-out: damage (the drop-down) and the Revives and starting-option tick boxes, saved as they are changed. Name, level, school and description cannot be changed on screen once created (the API accepts it); remove and re-add instead.
• Damage choices: the drop-down offers "No damage", then 1 to 6, 8 or 10 dice of d4, d6, d8, d10 or d12 (1d4 up to 10d12), plus the three unusual values the library uses (3d4+3, 2d8+4d6, 20).
• Removing: the ✕ button. Every character who knows the spell forgets it. There is no undo.

3. The built-in library

"📚 From Library" offers 131 standard spells to copy into the list:

Level	Spells
Cantrips	26
1	30
2	26
3	21
4	13
5	15

Before you add one, each row shows:

• whether it is a cantrip or its level, and who can use it;
• its default damage, or "no damage";
• its school;
• what it does, in a sentence.

Every library spell is listed in full in section 12.

35 of the library spells deal damage and come with a default, taken from the standard rules at the spell's own level. For example:

Spell	Level	Default damage
Fire Bolt	Cantrip	1d10
Sacred Flame	Cantrip	1d8
Magic Missile	1	3d4+3 (all three darts together)
Burning Hands	1	3d6
Scorching Ray	2	2d6 (per ray; there are three)
Fireball	3	8d6
Ice Storm	4	2d8+4d6
Cone of Cold	5	8d8

Spells that heal, protect or control (Cure Wounds, Shield, Hold Person…) have no default. Pick a value from the Damage drop-down after adding if you want one shown.

A spell added from the library is not a starting option until ticked. The library has nothing above level 5; add higher spells by hand.

Each library spell can be added once. A spell the list already has by that name is left out of the library list, and comes back if the campaign's spell is renamed or deleted.

4. Granting spells to characters

On a character's sheet, the DM picks a spell from the list and clicks Grant.

• Any class can be granted any spell. Whether a non-spellcaster should have one is the DM's call.
• The DM can remove a known spell with ✕.
• The owning player ticks Prepared. Prepared is a label: there is no limit on how many spells are prepared.
• Passing a spell on. A character's owner (or the DM) can give a known spell to another character in the campaign from the "Give to Another Character" card on the sheet. The spell moves: the giver no longer knows it. It cannot be given to someone who already knows it, and a recipient below the spell's level knows it but cannot use it yet.
• The "Spells Known" card only appears on a sheet when the campaign's spell list has at least one spell.
• Each known spell shows its level (or "Cantrip"), its damage, and what it does.

5. Spell level and who can use it

This is a house rule of this app. In standard D&D a 3rd-level spell needs a 5th-level caster; here the two numbers are the same.

A character must be at least the spell's level to use it. Cantrips are open to everyone.

Spell	Who can use it
Cantrip	Any character
Level 1	Any character (everyone starts at level 1)
Level 2	Characters of level 2 and above
Level 3	Characters of level 3 and above
…	…
Level 9	Characters of level 9 and above

A spell above the character's level can still be known, but it shows "Requires level N", cannot be prepared, and is left out of encounters. If the DM lowers a character's level, spells now out of reach are unprepared automatically.

6. Damage

A spell's damage is whatever is picked in its Damage drop-down, shown beside the spell on the sheet and in encounters. It does not change with the character's level, and nothing is added to it.

7. Spellcasting numbers

Shown only for classes with a spellcasting ability:

Class	Spellcasting ability
Wizard	Intelligence
Cleric, Druid, Ranger	Wisdom
Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock	Charisma
Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Rogue	None

Number	Formula	Used when
Spell save DC	8 + proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier	A target rolls to resist your spell
Spell attack bonus	Proficiency bonus + spellcasting ability modifier	You roll to hit with a spell

A character without a spellcasting class can still be granted spells, but has no save DC or attack bonus shown.

8. Spell slots

A spell slot is one casting of a spell of that level or lower. Cantrips never use one. How many slots a character has is worked out from class and level; the site keeps count of how many are spent.

Where. The tracker is in the Spellcasting card on the sheet and in the character panel (the 🧙 button, on every page, so it is at hand in an encounter). The party overview has a "Spell slots" column for the whole party. Each slot level is a row of diamonds: filled is a slot still there to spend, empty is one that is spent.

Who does what.

• The character's player (and the DM) presses Use on a row when a spell is cast: one slot of that level is spent. That is all a player can do; a slot once used stays used.
• Only the DM gives a slot back: by clicking a diamond (it sets how many are left; clicking the last filled one empties it), with "All back", or with a rest.
• Casting a low spell with a higher slot is spending the higher slot. Nothing ties a slot to a spell: the site does not check which spell was cast.

Getting them back. The DM's 🛏 Rest… button (CHARACTERS.md, section 7): a long rest gives every slot back; a short rest gives a warlock theirs. Levelling up with "⬆ Level Up…" gives a fresh set. Changing the Level field keeps what was spent, as far as the new level has those slots.

Bard, Cleric, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard (back on a long rest):

Character level	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
1	2	—	—	—	—
2	3	—	—	—	—
3	4	2	—	—	—
4	4	3	—	—	—
5	4	3	2	—	—
6	4	3	3	—	—
7	4	3	3	1	—
8	4	3	3	2	—
9	4	3	3	3	1
10	4	3	3	3	2

Paladin, Ranger (back on a long rest; none at level 1):

Character level	1st	2nd	3rd
1	—	—	—
2	2	—	—
3–4	3	—	—
5–6	4	2	—
7–8	4	3	—
9–10	4	3	2

Warlock (back on a short or long rest). All of a warlock's slots are the same level, and every spell cast with one is cast at that level:

Character level	Slots	Slot level
1	1	1st
2	2	1st
3–4	2	2nd
5–6	2	3rd
7–8	2	4th
9–10	2	5th

Above level 10 the tables carry on as in standard 5e, up to 9th-level slots at character level 17 (a warlock has 3 slots from level 11 and 4 from level 17). Barbarians, fighters, monks and rogues have no slots, whatever spells they are granted.

Slots do not decide what a character may know or prepare: that is still section 5. A wizard of level 3 can be granted a 3rd-level spell and prepare it, but has no 3rd-level slot to cast it with until level 5. Holding the players to that is the DM's.

9. Starting spells

In the builder's equipment step a new character can pick spells that are:

• ticked as a starting option in the list,
• cantrips or level 1 (a new character is level 1), and
• only if the character's class has a spellcasting ability.

The number allowed is the campaign's "starting spells" setting. Starting spells arrive unprepared.

10. Permissions

Action	DM	Owning player	Other players
See the spell list	Yes	Only what their own character holds, plus the starting options while they have a character to build	The same, for their own character
See the built-in library	Yes	No	No
Add, change or remove spells in the list	Yes	No	No
Grant a spell from the list, or remove one	Yes	No	No
Give a known spell to another character	Yes	Yes	No
Prepare or unprepare	Yes	Yes, if the character can use it	No
Spend a spell slot	Yes	Yes	No
Give a spell slot back	Yes	No	No
See a character's spells	Yes	Yes	Yes

11. What is not modelled

• Which spell a slot was spent on, and what casting at a higher level adds (the player adds the extra dice)
• Sorcery points, and Arcane or Natural Recovery (the DM gives those slots back by hand)
• Cantrip damage increasing at higher character levels
• Limits on how many spells can be prepared or known
• Concentration, components, rituals
• Class spell lists (any spell can be granted to anyone)
• Healing amounts as a separate value (pick them in Damage if you want them shown)
• Applying spell damage to a target automatically

12. The complete spell library

Every spell "📚 From Library" offers, with the damage it arrives with.

This list is written from the app's own data by npm run docs:lists (in /backend). Re-run it after changing the data; do not edit the list by hand.

Cantrips (26)

Usable by any character.

Spell	School	Damage	What it does
Acid Splash	Conjuration	1d6	Hurl a bubble of acid at one or two creatures within 5 feet of each other.
Blade Ward	Abjuration	—	Resist bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage until your next turn.
Chill Touch	Necromancy	1d8	A ghostly hand deals necrotic damage and prevents healing.
Dancing Lights	Illusion	—	Create up to four torch-sized lights that you can move.
Druidcraft	Transmutation	—	A small, harmless nature-flavored effect: predict weather, sprout a seedling, and the like.
Eldritch Blast	Evocation	1d10	A beam of crackling energy strikes one creature for force damage.
Fire Bolt	Evocation	1d10	Hurl a mote of fire that deals fire damage on a hit.
Friends	Enchantment	—	Advantage on Charisma checks against one creature for the duration.
Guidance	Divination	—	Add 1d4 to one ability check of your choice.
Light	Evocation	—	An object sheds bright light in a 20-foot radius.
Mage Hand	Conjuration	—	A spectral hand manipulates objects, opens doors, and carries small items.
Mending	Transmutation	—	Repairs a single break or tear in an object.
Message	Transmutation	—	Whisper a message to a target that only they can hear, with a whispered reply.
Minor Illusion	Illusion	—	Create a sound or an image of an object for the duration.
Poison Spray	Conjuration	1d12	Project a puff of noxious gas that deals poison damage.
Prestidigitation	Transmutation	—	A minor magical trick — light a candle, clean an object, chill or warm food, and the like.
Produce Flame	Conjuration	1d8	A flickering flame in your hand sheds light and can be hurled for fire damage.
Ray of Frost	Evocation	1d8	A ray of freezing energy deals cold damage and slows the target.
Resistance	Abjuration	—	The target adds 1d4 to one saving throw of its choice.
Sacred Flame	Evocation	1d8	Radiant flame descends on a creature that must succeed a Dexterity save or take damage.
Shillelagh	Transmutation	—	Imbue a club or quarterstaff with magic, using Wisdom for its attack and damage.
Shocking Grasp	Evocation	1d8	Lightning springs from your hand, dealing damage and preventing reactions.
Spare the Dying	Necromancy	—	A creature you touch that has 0 hit points becomes stable.
Thorn Whip	Transmutation	1d6	A vine-like whip deals damage and drags the target closer.
True Strike	Divination	—	Gain advantage on your next attack roll against the target.
Vicious Mockery	Enchantment	1d4	A string of insults deals psychic damage and imposes disadvantage on the target’s next attack.

Level 1 (30 spells)

Needs character level 1.

Spell	School	Damage	What it does
Alarm	Abjuration	—	Set an audible or mental alarm against intruders.
Animal Friendship	Enchantment	—	Convince a beast that you mean it no harm.
Bane	Enchantment	—	Up to three creatures subtract 1d4 from attack rolls and saves.
Bless	Enchantment	—	Up to three creatures add 1d4 to attack rolls and saves.
Burning Hands	Evocation	3d6	A thin sheet of flame sweeps out from your hands.
Charm Person	Enchantment	—	A humanoid you can see regards you as a friendly acquaintance.
Color Spray	Illusion	—	A dazzling array of flashing colors can blind weak creatures.
Command	Enchantment	—	Speak a one-word command a creature must obey.
Comprehend Languages	Divination	—	Understand any spoken or written language.
Cure Wounds	Evocation	—	A creature you touch regains hit points.
Detect Magic	Divination	—	Sense the presence of magic within 30 feet.
Disguise Self	Illusion	—	Change your appearance, including clothing and gear.
Entangle	Conjuration	—	Grasping weeds and vines sprout in a 20-foot square.
Faerie Fire	Evocation	—	Objects in a 20-foot cube are outlined in light, granting attackers advantage.
Feather Fall	Transmutation	—	Falling creatures slow to a gentle descent.
Fog Cloud	Conjuration	—	A 20-foot-radius sphere of fog heavily obscures the area.
Guiding Bolt	Evocation	4d6	A flash of light streaks to a target, dealing radiant damage.
Healing Word	Evocation	—	A creature you can see regains hit points.
Hunter's Mark	Divination	1d6	Deal extra damage to a marked target and track it magically.
Identify	Divination	—	Learn the properties of a magic item or the nature of a spell affecting a creature.
Jump	Transmutation	—	A creature's jump distance triples.
Longstrider	Transmutation	—	A creature's speed increases by 10 feet.
Mage Armor	Abjuration	—	A protective magical force gives the target a base AC of 13 + Dex modifier.
Magic Missile	Evocation	3d4+3	Three darts of magical force each strike a target unerringly.
Protection from Evil and Good	Abjuration	—	Protect a creature from aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.
Shield	Abjuration	—	An invisible barrier grants +5 AC until the start of your next turn.
Sleep	Enchantment	—	Creatures in a 20-foot radius fall unconscious, weakest hit points first.
Speak with Animals	Divination	—	Comprehend and verbally communicate with beasts.
Thunderwave	Evocation	2d8	A wave of thunderous force sweeps out, damaging and pushing creatures.
Witch Bolt	Evocation	1d12	A beam of lightning forms a sustained arc that damages the target each turn.

Level 2 (26 spells)

Needs character level 2.

Spell	School	Damage	What it does
Aid	Abjuration	—	Bolster allies with additional hit points.
Alter Self	Transmutation	—	Assume a variety of minor physical changes.
Animal Messenger	Enchantment	—	Send a tiny animal to deliver a short message.
Blindness/Deafness	Necromancy	—	Blind or deafen a creature that fails a Constitution save.
Blur	Illusion	—	Your outline blurs, giving attackers disadvantage.
Darkvision	Transmutation	—	Grant a creature darkvision out to 60 feet.
Enhance Ability	Transmutation	—	Grant advantage on checks with one chosen ability.
Enlarge/Reduce	Transmutation	—	A creature or object doubles or halves in size.
Flaming Sphere	Conjuration	2d6	A 5-foot-diameter sphere of fire rolls where you direct it.
Gust of Wind	Evocation	—	A line of strong wind pushes creatures and extinguishes flames.
Hold Person	Enchantment	—	Paralyze a humanoid that fails a Wisdom save.
Invisibility	Illusion	—	A creature you touch becomes invisible.
Lesser Restoration	Abjuration	—	End one disease or condition afflicting the target.
Levitate	Transmutation	—	A creature or object rises vertically and can be moved.
Mirror Image	Illusion	—	Three illusory duplicates of yourself spring into being.
Misty Step	Conjuration	—	Teleport up to 30 feet in a burst of silvery mist.
Moonbeam	Evocation	2d10	A silvery beam of pale light shines down in a 5-foot-radius cylinder.
Pass without Trace	Abjuration	—	The party becomes exceptionally difficult to track.
Scorching Ray	Evocation	2d6	Three rays of fire streak toward targets within range.
Shatter	Evocation	3d8	A sudden loud ringing noise deals thunder damage in a 10-foot-radius sphere.
Silence	Illusion	—	No sound can be created within or pass through a 20-foot-radius sphere.
Spider Climb	Transmutation	—	A creature gains the ability to move on vertical surfaces and ceilings.
Spiritual Weapon	Evocation	1d8	A spectral weapon attacks a target and can be moved each turn.
Suggestion	Enchantment	—	Plant a reasonable-sounding suggestion in a creature’s mind.
Web	Conjuration	—	Thick, sticky webs fill a 20-foot cube.
Zone of Truth	Enchantment	—	Creatures in a 15-foot-radius sphere can’t speak a deliberate lie.

Level 3 (21 spells)

Needs character level 3.

Spell	School	Damage	What it does
Animate Dead	Necromancy	—	Raise a skeleton or zombie from a corpse to fight for you.
Beacon of Hope	Abjuration	—	Bolster creatures against despair, granting advantage on saves and max healing.
Call Lightning	Conjuration	3d10	A storm cloud forms and you can call down bolts of lightning.
Counterspell	Abjuration	—	Interrupt a creature casting a spell.
Daylight	Evocation	—	A 60-foot-radius sphere of bright light spreads out.
Dispel Magic	Abjuration	—	End one active spell affecting a creature, object, or effect.
Fear	Illusion	—	Creatures in the cone become frightened and drop what they’re holding.
Fireball	Evocation	8d6	A bright streak explodes into flame, dealing fire damage in a 20-foot radius.
Fly	Transmutation	—	The target gains a flying speed of 60 feet.
Haste	Transmutation	—	Double the target’s speed and grant an extra action.
Lightning Bolt	Evocation	8d6	A stroke of lightning blasts out in a line, dealing lightning damage.
Mass Healing Word	Evocation	—	Up to six creatures you can see regain hit points.
Nondetection	Abjuration	—	Hide a target from divination magic.
Protection from Energy	Abjuration	—	Resistance to one damage type of your choice.
Remove Curse	Abjuration	—	Lift a curse from a creature or object.
Revivify	Necromancy	—	A creature that died within the last minute returns to life with 1 hit point.
Sleet Storm	Conjuration	—	Freezing rain falls in a 40-foot-radius cylinder, icing the ground.
Slow	Transmutation	—	Up to six creatures are hindered, halving their speed and worse.
Spirit Guardians	Conjuration	3d8	Protective spirits swirl around you, damaging enemies that enter.
Stinking Cloud	Conjuration	—	A 20-foot-radius sphere of yellow, nauseating gas spreads out.
Water Breathing	Transmutation	—	Up to ten creatures can breathe underwater.

Level 4 (13 spells)

Needs character level 4.

Spell	School	Damage	What it does
Banishment	Abjuration	—	Send a creature to a harmless demiplane.
Blight	Necromancy	8d8	Necromantic energy withers a creature, dealing necrotic damage.
Confusion	Enchantment	—	Creatures in a 10-foot-radius sphere act randomly.
Dimension Door	Conjuration	—	Teleport yourself (and possibly a companion) to a spot you can visualize.
Fire Shield	Evocation	2d8	Wreathe yourself in flame that damages attackers and grants resistance.
Freedom of Movement	Abjuration	—	The target’s movement is unaffected by difficult terrain and restraints.
Greater Invisibility	Illusion	—	The target becomes invisible even while attacking.
Guardian of Faith	Conjuration	20	A Large spectral guardian appears and attacks enemies near it.
Ice Storm	Evocation	2d8+4d6	Hail hammers a 20-foot-radius cylinder, dealing bludgeoning and cold damage.
Polymorph	Transmutation	—	Transform a creature into a new form.
Stone Shape	Transmutation	—	Reshape a chunk of stone into a form you desire.
Stoneskin	Abjuration	—	The target gains resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
Wall of Fire	Evocation	5d8	Conjure a wall of fire that damages creatures passing through it.

Level 5 (15 spells)

Needs character level 5.

Spell	School	Damage	What it does
Animate Objects	Transmutation	—	Up to ten nonmagical objects animate and fight for you.
Cloudkill	Conjuration	5d8	A 20-foot-radius sphere of poisonous, yellow-green fog billows out.
Cone of Cold	Evocation	8d8	A blast of cold air deals cold damage to everything in the cone.
Contagion	Necromancy	—	Infect a creature with a magical disease.
Dispel Evil and Good	Abjuration	—	Protection and the ability to banish otherworldly creatures.
Dominate Person	Enchantment	—	Attempt to beguile a humanoid and control its actions.
Flame Strike	Evocation	8d6	A column of divine fire roars down, dealing fire and radiant damage.
Greater Restoration	Abjuration	—	Undo a debilitating effect: reduced ability score, exhaustion, or curse.
Hold Monster	Enchantment	—	Paralyze one creature that fails a Wisdom save.
Insect Plague	Conjuration	4d10	A swarm of biting, stinging insects fills a 20-foot-radius sphere.
Legend Lore	Divination	—	Learn what you know, or have heard, about a name, place, or object.
Mass Cure Wounds	Evocation	—	Up to six creatures in a 30-foot-radius sphere regain hit points.
Raise Dead	Necromancy	—	Return a dead creature to life, as long as its body is mostly intact.
Wall of Force	Evocation	—	An invisible wall of force springs into existence, impenetrable to physical force.
Wall of Stone	Evocation	—	A nonmagical wall of solid stone springs into existence.