Homebrew Content Guide

Create custom species, classes, subclasses, backgrounds, spells, items, and feats for your campaigns.

Overview Content Types Creating Species Classes Subclasses Backgrounds Spells Items Feats Sharing

What is Homebrew Content?

Homebrew content lets you create custom game elements that aren't in the official SRD. Whether your DM has created a unique species, you've designed a custom class, or you want to add that cool spell you found online, ICE5e's homebrew system has you covered.

Species

Custom races & lineages

Classes

Full custom classes

Subclasses

New archetypes

Backgrounds

Custom origins

Spells

Custom magic

Items

Magic items & gear

Feats

Custom abilities & talents

SRD Content Included

ICE5e includes all official SRD 5.2 content. Homebrew is for adding anything beyond that - content from sourcebooks you own, community creations, or your own designs.

Content Types

ICE5e supports seven types of homebrew content, covering everything from character options to equipment:

Character Options

Species

Create custom species (races) with unique traits, abilities, and lore. Define creature type, size options, speed, and special features.

Size options Speed & movement Racial traits Creature types

Classes

Design complete custom classes with hit dice, proficiencies, class features at each level, spellcasting, and resource systems.

Hit dice & HP Proficiencies Level features Spellcasting

Subclasses

Create new subclasses for existing classes. Define the parent class, subclass features at appropriate levels, and any granted spells.

Parent class link Subclass features Subclass spells Correct level tiers

Backgrounds

Design custom backgrounds with skill proficiencies, tool proficiencies, languages, equipment, and the origin feat (PHB 2024 style).

Skill proficiencies Tool proficiencies Origin feat ASI options

Equipment & Abilities

Spells

Custom spells that can be added to any spellcaster's spell list. Full support for all spell properties including level, school, casting time, components, duration, and markdown descriptions.

Cantrips to 9th level All schools of magic Ritual casting Concentration

Items

Magic items of any type and rarity. Create weapons with unique properties, armor with special effects, or wondrous items with creative abilities.

All rarities Attunement options Weapon/Armor/Wondrous Charges

Feats

Custom feats that can be taken at ASI levels or as origin feats. Define prerequisites, ability score increases, and detailed benefits.

Prerequisites ASI options Multiple benefits Origin feat support

Creating Homebrew Content

Creating homebrew content is straightforward. All your homebrew is managed from the Homebrew Hub.

Steps to create homebrew:

  1. 1
    Go to Homebrew Hub

    Navigate to the Homebrew section from your dashboard navigation.

  2. 2
    Click "Create New"

    Select the type of content you want to create: species, class, subclass, background, spell, item, or feat.

  3. 3
    Fill in the Details

    Complete the form with all the necessary information. Required fields are marked.

  4. 4
    Save and Use

    Once saved, your homebrew is available to use in character creation or add to existing characters.

Creating Custom Species

Custom species let you add unique races and lineages to your characters. Whether recreating content from other sourcebooks or designing something entirely new, you have full control over racial traits.

Basic Information

  • - Species name
  • - Creature type (Humanoid, Fey, etc.)
  • - Size (Small, Medium, or choice)
  • - Base walking speed

Movement Types

  • - Walking speed
  • - Climbing speed
  • - Swimming speed
  • - Flying speed

Racial Traits

  • - Custom trait names
  • - Full trait descriptions
  • - Multiple traits supported
  • - Markdown formatting

Additional Options

  • - Darkvision range
  • - Languages known
  • - Proficiencies granted
  • - Lore & description

PHB 2024 Style

Species in ICE5e follow the 2024 rules - they don't provide ability score increases. Those come from your background instead.

Creating Custom Classes

Creating a full custom class is the most complex homebrew option, but it gives you complete control over a character's mechanical foundation. Define everything from hit dice to 20th-level capstone features.

Class Components:

  • Hit Dice d6, d8, d10, or d12 - determines HP per level
  • Saving Throws Two ability score proficiencies (typically one strong, one weak)
  • Proficiencies Armor, weapons, tools, and skill choices
  • Equipment Starting equipment options
  • Class Features Features gained at each level from 1-20
  • Spellcasting Optional - full, half, third, pact magic, or none

Complex Content

Creating a balanced class requires careful consideration. Consider studying existing classes and consulting with your DM about balance expectations.

Creating Custom Subclasses

Subclasses are often easier to balance than full classes and let you add new archetypes to existing classes. Create a new Warlock patron, Fighter martial archetype, or Wizard school.

Basic Setup

  • - Subclass name
  • - Parent class selection
  • - Subclass flavor text
  • - Description & lore

Subclass Features

  • - Features at correct levels
  • - Feature names & descriptions
  • - Multiple features per level
  • - Markdown support

Subclass Spells

  • - Always-prepared spells
  • - Spells by class level
  • - Expanded spell lists
  • - Cleric domains, etc.

Feature Levels

  • - Level 3 (most classes)
  • - Level 1 (Cleric, Sorc, Warlock)
  • - Level 2 (Wizard)
  • - Additional at 6, 10, 14+

Tip: Study Existing Subclasses

Look at official subclasses for your chosen class to understand the expected power level and feature distribution at each tier.

Creating Custom Backgrounds

Backgrounds define your character's history before becoming an adventurer. In PHB 2024 style, backgrounds also provide your ability score increases and origin feat.

Background Components:

  • Name The background's title (e.g., "Wandering Merchant")
  • Ability Scores +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1 distribution to any abilities
  • Skill Proficiencies Two skill proficiencies
  • Tool Proficiency One tool proficiency
  • Origin Feat A 1st-level feat granted by the background
  • Equipment Starting equipment (50 GP value by default)

Ability Score Options

  • - 2-1 Split: +2 to one, +1 to another
  • - 1-1-1 Split: +1 to three different
  • - Player chooses which abilities

Origin Feats

  • - Must be a 1st-level feat
  • - Can use homebrew feats
  • - Defines character's starting talent

Creating Custom Spells

When creating a custom spell, you'll need to provide all the standard spell information:

Basic Information

  • - Spell name
  • - Level (cantrip through 9th)
  • - School of magic
  • - Casting time

Casting Details

  • - Range
  • - Components (V, S, M)
  • - Duration
  • - Concentration (yes/no)

Description

  • - Full spell description
  • - Supports markdown formatting
  • - At higher levels text

Class Lists

  • - Which classes can learn it
  • - Affects spell list filtering
  • - Multiple classes supported

Tip: Spell Sources

When you add a homebrew spell to your character, it will show "Homebrew" as its source in your spell list, making it easy to distinguish from official content.

Creating Magic Items

Custom magic items can be weapons, armor, or wondrous items. Define their rarity, attunement requirements, and special properties.

Item Properties:

  • Name The item's display name
  • Type Weapon, Armor, Wondrous Item, etc.
  • Rarity Common, Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare, Legendary, Artifact
  • Attunement None, Required, or Required by specific class/type
  • Description Full item description with abilities and lore

For weapons and armor, you can also specify the base item type (longsword, plate armor, etc.) and any bonus to attack/damage or AC.

Creating Custom Feats

Custom feats can have prerequisites (ability scores, proficiencies, etc.) and provide various benefits including ability score increases.

Prerequisites

Define what's required to take this feat:

  • - Minimum ability scores
  • - Proficiency requirements
  • - Spellcasting ability
  • - Level requirements

Benefits

What the feat provides:

  • - Ability score increases
  • - New proficiencies
  • - Special abilities
  • - Detailed description

Sharing Homebrew Content

Homebrew content has visibility settings that control who can see and use your creations:

Private

Only you can see and use this content.

Unlisted

Anyone with the link can view, but it won't appear in searches.

Public

Anyone can find and use this content in their characters.

Respect Copyright

When sharing content publicly, ensure you have the right to distribute it. Don't share content directly copied from published sourcebooks - that's what homebrew recreations are for!

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