Player's Spellbook

Challenge everyone to fight to the death with 'Compelled Duel.' Tim designs a character who will take revenge on anyone for any sleight and Derek homebrews the Green Knight, an NPC whose sole purpose is to destroy any one member of your party.

Derek shares his favorite commands like "apologize" and "monologue." We also explore a couple of character options including the glamor bard. Finally, Derek shares his homebrew monster, the Unearthly Beauty that will have your PCs begging for a nice, quick death.

Tim and Derek try to figure out if there's monsters it might be worth casting Color Spray on at higher levels. Check out the Iridescent Angelfish , a homebrew monster based on this colorful spell.

Chromatic Orb is perfect for anyone who can't commit to one damage type, including Christoper the monster slayer ranger Tim built. Or if you want a monster with continually changing immunities and vulnerabilities check out the Mutable Elemental , the featured homebrew monster from this week's episode.

Less risky than friends, but just as fun. Cast Charm Person to get what you want when you want it. Tim's character Charity wants to conduct experiments and needs Charmed Person to get volunteers. And Derek shares the Chlurichaun who just wants everyone to have a good time. Download the stat sheet from Gryphon Games .

It's spell you have to cast with two hands! Tim shares the story of arson/environmentalist Bernice. And Derek's homebrew monster of the week is called the Burning Hand and it's also loot. Get your free copy of the Burning Hand now!

Tim shares the character build Derek banned from their table and Derek reveals his cutest monster yet, the Seraphling .

The classic 1st-level debuff, it's Bane. Tim goes pure mechanics in creature corner with Ben, the autumn eladrin, crown of glory paladin. Derek plans to ruin all critical hits with his homebrew monster, the Fate Thief. Check out Gryphon Games on the DMs Guild to get a stat sheet for the monster that will frustrate your champion fighters and rogues.

Let's jump into the arms of Hadar together! A fun battlefield control spell to help your friends make a quick getaway. You can also download Derek's spell-inspired monster from this week: The Herald of Hadar .

It's a spell from a planetoid in Carceri. If you don't know what that is, neither did we, but we liked the spell. If you do too then make a character like Agatha or use our homebrew monster, the Petitioner , in your next game.

Animal Friendship is the spell that lets you befriend every animal except dolphins. Don't forget to check out the full stat block for the Beast Lord on the DMs Guild.

Welcome to season two: first level spells. The format's different so you can discover the sightless haunting , a homebrew monster Derek created with only the Alarm spell as his inspiration.

We're at the end of the list of cantrips from the Player's Handbook so we might as well draft our favorites. Also, find out which question stumped Derek in cantrivia.

The most satisfying way to kill a monster, it's Vicious Mockery. But be careful to not be the GM whose BBEG dies by this spell. Just embarrassing.

Possibly the worst cantrip in the Player's Handbook, Derek and Tim talk about how they could make True Strike a viable spell.

Another forced movement spell so you know Derek's gonna love it. But how will he rule when you try to use it to get your friends out of a grapple?

Tim's trying to get away with using thaumaturgy to send morse code messages, while Derek wants to make a haunted mansion using just this cantrip.

We're covering the DM's #1 TPK prevention method this week. Don't like how your ally fights, just use this spell once they go down and you won't have to deal with them for the rest of combat.

Do you have an annoying player or DM who loves counterspell? Give shocking grasp a try!

It's the spell no one knows how to pronounce. We talk about wisdom-based rangers and nature clerics, but is anyone using this at high levels?

Cleric's don't always get to hurt people, but when they do they can use Sacred Flame. Learn all about D&D's cover rules and how to target your strategic and/or cowardly players who use them.

It's Guidance's less known younger brother, Resistance. What do you think about turning it into a 1st-level spell as a reaction casting time instead?

Ray of Frost is great if you want to slow things down. But how does it work with the spell Slow? We've got some ideas. You can tell us how wrong we are by following us @playerspellbook.

Would you let your Arcane Trickster cast produce flame with their mage hand? Hear our take and tell use why we're wrong by following us @playerspellbook.

From keeping your cholesterol down to making a nice pot of tea, prestidigitation has countless uses. Follow us @playerspellbook and let us know your favorite way to use prestidigitation.