AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
This playtest document is the first of two articles
created as part of Ghostfire Gaming’s Aetherial
Expanse Kickstarter.
The feedback received on this article will inform
the final character subclass designs that will appear
in the Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide.
The designs presented within are PRELIMINARY
DRAFTS. Ghostfire’s design team will conduct a
development review taking into account playtest
feedback before proceeding with a formal editing
pass to create the final form of these rules.
Ruleset
The material contained within this playtest includes
material taken from the System Reference Document
5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC and
available at
https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-
reference-document.
The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License available at
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legal
code.
Providing Feedback
Use the following link to provide feedback for this
playtest packet:
https://forms.gle/DRw7JXxCiyNhWxDLA
The deadline for providing playtest feedback for this
playtest packet is:
11:59 pm AEDT, September 22nd, 2023.
© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd.
What’s Included
This playtest pack includes the following subclasses:
• Shantyfolk (Bard) – Balladeers who ease their
crewmate’s burdens, sparking courage through
the power of their song.
• Aether Domain (Cleric) – Divine servants driven
to protect the Aetherial Expanse or claim its
power.
• Battle Commander (Fighter) – Warriors who
excel in close combat by coordinating their nearby
allies in the heat of battle.
• Expanse Wayfinder (Ranger) – Explorers of the
Starlight Seas who learned to survive its harsh
environment.
• Phantom Shrouded (Sorcerer) - Spellcasters
entwined with spectral swirling dreams lost
beneath the Starlight Sea.
• The Reaper (Warlock) – Spellcasters who’ve
sworn a pact to an apocalyptic entity carrying
death with their every step
• Technomage (Wizard) – Spellcasters that use
aetherium to enhance objects with magical power.
In addition, a selection of new spells is found at the
end of this document.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Bard Subclass
College of Shantyfolk
“As we left port with wind in our sails / The aether did
swell and beasts chase our tail / Yet never a moment
did we have to fear / for Chantal the Chanter fills our
hearts and our ears!”
The crew of the Celestial Wake
Nearly every port across the expanse is home to
crews carrying the burden of their lives with them.
Many are far from home and at the predation of
horrible monsters ranging from those with giant
teeth and claws to those who wear a kindly smile.
Yet the troubles of the Starlight Sea are a lot easier to
shoulder with the warm voice of a trained Shantyfolk
chanter within earshot.
The College of Shantyfolk is a group of bards who
are empathetic to the needs of the many. Their songs
work into the hearts and minds of their allies and
reinforce the soul. Their chants help others reach
their greatest potential, and many captains feel it
unwise to leave port without a trained Shantyfolk
chanter.
Chant of Glory
3rd-level College of Shantyfolk feature
Whenever you grant an ally your Bardic Inspiration
die, they add your Charisma modifier to their
Athletics and Acrobatics checks until they use your
Bardic Inspiration die.
Additionally, whenever a member of your crew
that you can see expends Inspiration, you regain one
use of your Bardic Inspiration as you break into
story and song regarding their exploits.
Chant of Success
3rd-level College of Shantyfolk feature
Whenever an ally benefits from your Song of Rest
feature, record the number of dice spent to heal
(including your Song of Rest die).
Until that ally completes a long rest, if they fail an
Intelligence or Wisdom saving throw, they can add
this value to the saving throw, possibly changing the
result into a success.
Once an ally has benefitted from this feature, they
can’t benefit from it again until they complete a long
rest.
Additionally, whenever Mettle is rolled (and you
are part of the crew), roll your Song of Rest die and
add the result to the Mettle roll.
© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd.
Chant of Hope
6th-level College of Shantyfolk feature
Amplified by your chanting song when resources are
low, you push your allies just a bit further.
While you have no remaining uses of Bardic
Inspiration, whenever an ally rolls a Bardic
Inspiration die that results in a roll lower than your
proficiency modifier, instead treat the result as
though it was equal to your proficiency modifier.
Additionally, if you complete a short rest while you
have inspiration, any Song of Rest die rolled with a
result lower than your proficiency modifier is
instead treated as being equal to your proficiency
modifier.
Heartstrings
14th-level College of Shantyfolk feature
Your soul has become entwined with those you care
about most. You gain the following benefits:
• The number of uses of Bardic Inspiration increases
to your Charisma modifier plus half your
Proficiency modifier (minimum 1).
• If an ally fails to use your Bardic Inspiration die
after 10 minutes,
• Whenever an ally uses a Bardic Inspiration, you
can grant a different ally one of your Bardic
Inspiration dice as a reaction.
• Allies who are reduced to zero hit points and who
fail a death saving throw while they have one of
your Bardic Inspiration dice, instead lose the
inspiration die and do not fail the death saving
throw, but it also does not count as a successful
death saving throw.
Playtest Note:
Mettle is a part of new rules that will be published in
the Aetherial Expanse Setting Guide, representing a
measure of the crew’s morale. It is used to influence
the results of Boarding Actions during ship combat.
Running out of mettle means the ship’s crew has lost
faith in their captain, which could lead to a mutiny.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1

Cleric Subclass Channel Divinity: Aetherial Shroud

2nd-level Aether Domain feature
Aether Domain You can use your Channel Divinity to engulf a
creature within a cloud of aether. As an action, you
The voices of the aethereal deep sing to me of lives lost present your holy symbol. A single creature within
and a coming doom to forestall. 30 feet of you that you can see must make a
Naugh the Wanderer Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the creature
is restrained until the end of its next turn and takes
The Aetherial Expanse has drawn the attention of 2d6 + your cleric level force damage. On a successful
divine beings. You act as a divine conduit to protect save, the creature takes half as much damage and is
the region’s arcane essence or claim its power. not restrained.
Aether Domain Spells Channel Divinity: Manifest
Cleric Level Spells
1st faerie fire, unseen servant Consciousness
3rd lesser restoration, misty step 6th-level Aether Domain feature
5th hypnotic pattern, spirit guardians You can use your Channel Divinity to cast spirit
7th conjure aether mephits*, guardians without expending a spell slot. When spirit
wall of aether* guardians is cast this way, you can also read the
9th conjure aether elemental*, thoughts of creatures affected by this spell as if you
legend lore were also under the effect of a detect thoughts spell.

Bonus Cantrip Potent Spellcasting

1st-level Aether Domain feature 8th-level Aether Domain feature
You gain the aether shroud* cantrip if you don’t You add your Wisdom modifier to the damage you
already know it. deal with any cleric cantrip.

Aetherial Resilience. Limitless Surge

1st-level Aether Domain feature 17th-level Aether Domain feature
Your divine connection grants you resilience to You can use your Surge of the Starlight Sea feature
aether’s poisonous effects. You can float in aether for up to three times instead of once. Uses refresh at the
up to 1 hour without succumbing to aether end of the long rest.
poisoning. If you spend more than 1 hour floating in
aether, or you ingest a single mouthful of aether, you
can avoid its poisonous effects by succeeding on a DC
13 Constitution saving throw.
You can repeat this saving throw with continued
aether exposure; however, each additional hour of
exposure or additional mouthfuls ingested increases
the DC by 2.
Surge of the Starlight Sea
1st-level Aether Domain feature
You draw upon the magical powers infused within
the Aetherial Expanse to manipulate magical effects
around you. As a reaction, when a creature within 30
feet of you that you can see makes a saving throw
against a spell, spell attack, or magical effect, you can
give that creature either advantage or disadvantage
on its saving throw.
You can’t use this feature again until you finish a
long rest.

© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd. 3

AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Fighter Subclass
Battle Commander
Our enemies reel beneath our assault. Strike! Strike
again! Strike Hard!
Horentius Steelback, Karelagne Naval Captain
Sailors who survive deadly naval skirmishes on the
starlight seas are often either incredibly lucky or
intuitively understand the surging chaos of
shipboard combat. Battle Commanders understand it
takes more than luck to win the day. They are
combat leaders, expertly manipulating the tides of
battle using strategic insight and bold maneuvers.
They draw their opponents into ill-fated sorties and
spur their comrades to victory with shouted
commands from the front line. They exploit the
slightest misstep to initiate devastating attacks upon
their foes. Few warriors are as effective in the
turmoil of mass combat as the Battle Commander.
Bonus Proficiency
3rd-level Battle Commander feature
You gain proficiency in one of the following skills of
your choice: Deception, History, Intimidation, or
Persuasion.
Direct the Attack
3rd-level Battle Commander feature
As a reaction to rolling initiative, you can swap the
initiative count of two allies. Upon reaching 10th
level, you can swap the initiative for a second pair of
allies. Upon reaching 18th level, you can swap the
initiative of a third pair of allies.
Commanding Voice
3rd-level Battle Commander feature
You can direct your allies in the heat of combat. Your
allies must be able to see or hear you to benefit from
this feature.
Direct the Assault. As a bonus action, you direct
one ally within 30 feet to use their reaction to make
a melee attack.
Defensive Formation. As a bonus action, you and
each ally within 5 feet have resistance to
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage until the
start of your next turn.
Fall Back. As a reaction to an ally within 30 feet of
you taking damage, you can allow that ally to use
their reaction to move up to half their movement
without provoking opportunity attacks.
© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd.
Stand Tough. When a creature within 30 feet fails
a saving throw, you can use your reaction to have
that creature immediately reroll its saving throw. A
creature can only benefit from this feature once per
short rest.
Inspiring Presence
7th level Battle Commander feature
You can inspire your allies to persevere through
adversity, gaining one of the following features of
your choice:
Inspiring Commander. Allies within 10 feet gain
a bonus to saving throws against fear effects equal to
your Charisma modifier.
Resourceful Commander. Allies within 10 feet
gain a bonus to saving throws against charm effects
equal to your Wisdom modifier.
Tactical Commander. Allies within 10 feet gain a
bonus to Dexterity saving throws equal to your
intelligence modifier.
Always at the Ready
10th-level Battle Commander feature
Each ally within 10 feet has advantage on initiative
checks.
Focused Assault
15th-level Battle Commander feature
When you damage a creature with a weapon attack,
each ally within 10 feet has advantage on attack rolls
against the same target until the start of your next
turn.
Sudden Assault
18th-level Battle Commander feature
You can spur your allies into a deadly assault. In
place of one of your weapon attacks, you direct allies
within 30 feet of you to use their reaction to make an
attack with advantage against a target within your
reach. You must finish a short or a long rest before
you use this feature again.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Ranger Subclass
Expanse Wayfinder
While the Aetherial Expanse is a mysterious and often
treacherous place, it is no more foreboding than
anywhere else. If you know how to interpret the
environment – any environment – you can traverse it.
There’s no place quite like it. I imagine even I will lose
myself to it one day, willingly and blissfully carried to
the unknown beyond.
Callista Ravenmane, Aetherial Guide.
Expanse Wayfinders are at home on the Aetherial
Sea, perhaps more so than any non-native creature.
Deep curiosity and respect for the natural forces at
play allow them to read the currents and navigate its
often-treacherous flows, seeking out the limits of its
vastness.
Student of the Silvery Sea
3rd-level Expanse Wayfinder feature
The Aetherial Sea becomes an additional favored
terrain for your Natural Explorer feature.
Expanse Wayfinder Magic
3rd-level Expanse Wayfinder feature
You learn an additional spell when you reach certain
levels in this class, as shown in the Expanse
Wayfinder Spells table. Each spell counts as a ranger
spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number
of ranger spells you know.
Expanse Wayfinder Spells
Ranger Level Spell
3rd comprehend languages
5th gust of wind
9th tongues
13th locate creature
17th legend lore
Corsair of the Aetherial Waves
3rd-level Expanse Wayfinder feature
Your experience with treacherous tides and
powerful winds has given you insight on how to fight
effectively when on a ship or within the aether itself.
You gain proficiency with Athletics and Acrobatics.
Whenever you are on a ship at sea or floating in the
aether, your proficiency bonus is doubled for ability
checks using these proficiencies, and the first
weapon attack you make each round deals an
additional 1d6 damage of the weapon’s type on a hit
due to your clever maneuvering and precise aim.
© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd.
Warp and Weave
7th-level Expanse Wayfinder feature
Your alacrity in navigating unstable conditions
makes you harder to hit as you move. If you move at
least 5 feet on your turn, you gain +1 to your Armor
Class, and opportunity attacks against you are made
at disadvantage.
Taking the Plunge
11th-level Expanse Wayfinder feature
You have trained yourself to be more resilient to the
poisonous aether. Your swim speed in aether
increases by 10 feet. You also have advantage on all
ability checks to hold your breath while submerged,
and you have advantage on saving throws to resist
poison and the onset of Aether Poisoning.
Aether in the Blood
15th-level Expanse Wayfinder feature
You have been exposed to so much aether it has
become part of you. You are immune to aether
poisoning, and your swim speed in aether is
increased by 10 feet. Additionally, while immersed in
aether, you can cast misty step at will, so long as you
start and end your movement in contact with the
liquid aether that is connected to the Aetherial Sea.
Playtest Note:
Prolonged time spent in aether causes serious harm to
living creatures. Though some creatures have adapted
to this magic-suffused environment and become
dreamlike – or nightmarish – examples of the Aetherial
Expanse’s natural flora and fauna, most creatures
suffer horribly after being exposed to aether.
Those afflicted by aether poisoning suffer a terrible
fever, delirious compulsions, and ultimately, death.
Seafarers of the expanse have developed remedies for
the first stage of aether poisoning, but later stages can
only be cured through magical means.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Sorcerer Subclass
Phantom Shrouded
Those who study aether may taste a fraction of its
power, but only one whose heart beats with the
aethertide can claim its true potential.
Silas Seaward, Wayfinder of the AMS Sweetbreeze
You are touched deeply by the Starlight Sea. Perhaps
you were bathed in its power during a desperate
moment beneath its surface where you glimpsed its
true nature, or you may be descended from one of
the spirits making up its shimmering depths.
Regardless of your exact relationship to the aether,
your blood flows in unison with the phantoms riding
its currents. They recognize you as one of their own,
heeding your arcane calls.
When you tap the power within yourself to fuel
your magic, you reach impossibly deep, all the way
into the aetherial depths’ endless well of souls.
Submerging your own soul into that spiritual
essence clads you in the wisdom and power of
countless spirits, granting you arcane might
unimaginable to those without your unique
birthright.
Phantom Shrouded Magic
1st-level Phantom Shrouded feature
You learn additional spells at certain levels in this
class, as indicated on the Phantom Shrouded table.
You count each of these spells as a sorcerer spell, but
it doesn’t count toward the number of sorcerer
spells you know.
Phantom Shrouded Spells
Sorcerer Spells
Level
1st comprehend languages, unseen servant
3rd augury, spiritual weapon
5th speak with dead, spirit guardians
7th banishment, guardian of faith
9th legend lore, soul tide*
Depths of Knowledge
1st-level Phantom Shrouded feature
The amalgam of minds comprising the Starlight Sea
presents you with a deep well of experience to draw
from. When you make an ability check, you can draw
upon these spirits to roll 1d4 and add the number
rolled to the ability check. You can use this feature
after making the ability check, but you must do so
before knowing the outcome.
© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
until you complete a short or long rest unless you
spend a sorcery point to use it again.
The die you roll for this feature changes when you
reach certain levels in this class. Replace the d4 with
a d6 at 5th level, a d8 at 10th level, and a d10 at 15th
level.
Swirling Spirits
6th-level Phantom Shrouded feature
When you cast a spell of 1st level or higher on your
turn, you can immediately use a bonus action and
spend 1 sorcery point to conjure disembodied spirits
that momentarily swirl around a creature you can
see within 60 feet. You can choose if the spirits help
or hinder the creature.
If you want the spirits to help, that creature gains
temporary hit points equal to 1d4 + your Charisma
modifier + the spell’s level.
If you want the spirits to hinder, that creature
must make a Charisma saving throw against your
spell save DC. On a failure, it suffers force damage
equal to your Charisma modifier + the spell’s level,
and its speed becomes 0 until the start of your next
turn. On a success, it takes only half damage, and its
speed isn’t reduced.
Ride the Aetherial Tide
14th-level Phantom Shrouded feature
Once on your turn, immediately before you cast a
spell of 1st level or higher, you can roll 1d10. If the
result is greater than or equal to the spell’s level, you
can apply one of your Metamagic options to that
spell by spending 1 fewer sorcery points than
normal.
Phantom Mantle
18th-level Phantom Shrouded feature
You can use an action to wrap a mantle of the
Starlight Sea’s spiritual essence around you for 1
minute or until you dismiss it with a bonus action.
While empowered in this way, you have resistance to
all damage except force damage, and you can add
your Charisma modifier to Constitution saving
throws you make to maintain concentration.
You can use this feature once and can’t do so again
until you complete a long rest unless you spend 6
sorcery points to use this feature again.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Warlock Subclass
The Reaper
You think you’ve known fear, boy? Then I pray you
never find yourself facing down the unstoppable,
tireless chase of a Reaper.
Bem Joringard, Veteran of the Expanse
Many beings want to indiscriminately cause as much
destruction on as grand a scale as possible. On the
opposite side of that coin is the Reaper: an individual
empowered by an otherworldly being to destroy
with the accuracy of a surgeon.
Expanded Spell List
1st-level Reaper feature
The Reaper lets you choose from an expanded list of
spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following
spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.
Reaper Expanded Spells
Spell Level Spells
1st expeditious retreat, ray of sickness
2nd blindness/deafness, see invisibility
3rd clairvoyance, nondetection
4th locate creature, polymorph
5th planar binding, scrying
Reaper’s Mark
1st-level Reaper feature
Your patron grants you additional magical powers.
Add hunter’s mark to your warlock spell list. When
you cast hunter’s mark using a warlock spell slot, it
does not require concentration, and your weapon
attacks against the spell’s target deal necrotic
damage instead of their usual type.
Shred and Tear
1st-level Reaper feature
Whenever you deal necrotic damage to a creature
using Reaper’s Mark, you gain temporary hit points
equal to your warlock level, and if you use your
reaction before the start of that creature’s next turn,
you can make a weapon attack against that creature
as part of the reaction.
Aether Harvest
6th-level Reaper feature
You harvest the energy of a dying soul to empower
limited magics. If a creature affected by your
Reaper’s Mark dies, you gain a special additional
spell slot. This spell slot lasts until you complete a
© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd.
short or long rest. If you already have a special spell
slot gained from Aether Harvest, nothing else
happens.
This special spell slot can only be used to cast
spells on the Reaper Expanded Spells list, and they
can only be cast upon you or a creature affected by
your Reaper’s mark, and their effects can only affect
you or the creatures targeted by your Reaper’s Mark
feature. For example, if you cast see invisibility with
this feature, you can only see a creature affected by
your Reaper’s Mark.
Once you’ve used this feature a number of times
equal to your Charisma modifier, you cannot use it
again until you complete a long rest.
Reaper’s Shroud
10th-level Reaper feature
You emit an aura of darkness that others can feel the
presence of by looking at you. You gain resistance to
Cold and Necrotic damage and immunity to the
Frightened condition.
Additionally, whenever you make a weapon attack
while you possess temporary hit points, you can use
your reaction to empower the strike. If you do, you
lose all temporary hit points. If the attack deals
damage, you deal additional damage equal to the
temporary hit points lost.
Grim Ferry
14th-level Reaper feature
Evoking the legendary navigators of the river of
death, your form changes to that of a hooded,
cloaked skeleton. As an action, you gain the following
benefits for 1 minute:
• Swim speed of 40 feet.
• Immunity to Poison damage and the Poisoned
condition.
• You can use your action to evoke fear in other
creatures. You target one creature you can see
within 60 feet. The target must succeed on a
Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you
for 1 minute. The frightened target can repeat the
saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
the effect on itself on a success. The DC for this
saving throw is 8 + your Proficiency modifier +
your Charisma modifier.
• As an action, you can teleport to any unoccupied
spot you can see within 60 feet.
Once you’ve used this feature, you cannot use it
again until you’ve completed a long rest.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Wizard Subclass
Technomage
Correct application of magitech principles requires a
comprehensive understanding of aetherial flux and its
effect on the underlying metallic substrate. Failure to
correctly align the arcane vectors could lead to an
embarrassing Gilbert-Pretzel event, and nobody wants
that.
Zontas Serrow, portal technomage
As a technomage, you are an expert at leveraging
your arcane expertise to create magitech devices.
Your years of magical study and aetherial research
allow you to infuse objects with magical potential.
Magitech Expertise
2nd-level Technomage feature
You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill if you don’t
already have it. Your proficiency bonus is doubled
whenever you use this skill to make an ability check.
Infuse with Aetherium
2nd-level Technomage feature
You have learned how to enhance mundane objects
with aetherium. Whenever you finish a short or long
rest, you can touch a construct or mundane object to
augment it with aetherium, transforming it into a
magical item if it is not already.
You can apply up to your proficiency bonus
number of augmentations. However, no single object
can possess more than two augmentations and no
more than one of each type of augmentation. If you
create a new augmentation exceeding your
maximum, you choose which previous augmentation
to dismiss.
The augmentations remain indefinitely but end
immediately when you become incapacitated or die.
You can apply the following augmentations:
• Enhance Damage. You augment a weapon or the
unarmed strikes of a construct to deal additional
damage equal to half your Intelligence modifier
rounded down (minimum of 1), with the damage
type chosen at the time of augmentation from the
following: acid, cold, fire, lightning, poison, or
thunder.
• Structural Enhancement. You augment a
construct or object, making it more resistant to
attack. The object’s armor class increases by 1.
• Infused Spell. You can augment a construct or
handheld object (such as a weapon, spellcasting
© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd.
focus, or tool) to store a cantrip you know that
requires 1 action to cast.
While holding the object, a creature can take an
action to produce the spell’s effect from it, using
your spellcasting ability modifier and DC. If the
spell requires concentration, the creature must
concentrate. Opposing spellcasters can
counterspell spells invoked from the object as
normal. Once a creature uses the infused object to
cast a spell, it must complete a short or a long rest
before being able to do so again.
The spell stays in the object until it’s been used
a number of times equal to your Intelligence
modifier (minimum of once) or until the
augmentation is dismissed.
Enhanced Infused Spell
6th-level Technomage feature
You can now augment objects with spells from your
spellbook that you can cast in addition to cantrips
you know. Infusing a spell in this way does not
expend a spell slot, and the spell is stored at its
normal level. You can infuse objects with spells that
have a casting time of 1 action and that are of a level
no higher than half your proficiency bonus.
Empowered Spell Infusions
10th-level Technomage feature
Spells you have infused into an object can now be
cast twice before requiring a short or a long rest to
cast it again.
Arcane Resilience
14th-level Technomage feature
You can now infuse an object with resistance against
magic. Any creature possessing the infused object
has advantage on saving throws against spells and
magical attacks, and the creature has resistance
against the damage of spells and magical attacks.
You cannot infuse more than one object with this
enhancement. Attempting to infuse a second object
with this enhancement causes the previously infused
object to lose this enhancement.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1

New Spells
Spells
Level Spell School Conc. Ritual Class
0 Aether Shroud Conjuration N N Warlock, Wizard
2nd Aether Soul-Link Necromancy N N Warlock
3rd Siren’s Call Enchantment Y N Bard, Sorcerer, Wizard
4th Conjure Aether Mephits Conjuration Y N Druid, Wizard
4th Wall of Aether Evocation Y N Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
5th Conjure Aether Elemental Conjuration Y N Druid, Wizard
5th Soul Tide Conjuration N N Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard

© 2023 Ghostfire Gaming Pty Ltd. 9

AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Spell Descriptions
Aether Shroud
Conjuration cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You conjure a cloud of shimmering aether that
strikes a target you can see within range. The target
must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take
1d6 force damage and be sheathed in the aetherial
energy until the start of your next turn. If the target
casts a spell or makes a magical attack before then,
the target takes 1d6 poison damage, and this aether
shroud spell ends. Creatures with the Aetheric
Adaption trait are immune to this poison damage.
This spell’s force and poison damage increase by
1d6 when you reach 5th level (2d6), 11th level
(3d6), and 17th level (4d6).
Aether Soul-Link
2nd-level necromancy
Casting Time: One Action
Range: Self
Components: None
Duration: Instantaneous
You exchange a portion of your life force, channeling
it into a spell you are concentrating on. You lose a
number of hit dice equal to the level of the spell you
are concentrating on as though you spent it. The
spell you’re concentrating on extends based on its
original duration:
• A spell with a duration measured in rounds
extends its duration by a number of rounds equal
to your Charisma modifier.
• A spell with a duration measured in minutes
extends its duration by a number of minutes equal
to your Charisma modifier.
• A spell with a duration measured in hours extends
its duration by one hour.
• A spell with a duration measured in days extends
its duration by 1 day.
Once a spell has had its duration extended in this
way, it cannot benefit from another casting of Aether
Soul-Link.
Conjure Aether Elemental
5th-level conjuration
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Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S, M (a small piece of aetherium)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
You call forth an aether elemental that materializes
within an unoccupied space within range. The
elemental disappears when it drops to 0 hit points or
when the spell ends.
The elemental is friendly to you and your
companions for the duration. Roll initiative for the
elemental, which has its own turns. It obeys any
verbal commands that you issue to it (no action
required by you). If you don’t issue any commands to
the elemental, it defends itself from hostile creatures
but otherwise takes no actions.
If your concentration is broken, the elemental
doesn’t disappear. Instead, you lose control of the
elemental, it becomes hostile toward you and your
companions, and it might attack. An uncontrolled
elemental can’t be dismissed by you, and it
disappears 1 hour after you summoned it.
Conjure Aether Mephits
4th level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 90 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour
You summon four aether mephits that appear in
unoccupied spaces that you can see within range. An
aether mephit summoned by this spell disappears
when it drops to 0 hit points or when the spell ends.
The summoned creatures are friendly to you and
your companions. Roll initiative for the summoned
creatures as a group, which has its own turns. They
obey any verbal commands that you issue to them
(no action required by you). If you don’t issue any
commands to them, they defend themselves from
hostile creatures but otherwise take no actions.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell with a
6th-level slot you summon 8 aether mephits, and 12
aether mephits with an 8th-level slot.
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AETHERIAL EXPANSE KICKSTARTER
Playtest: Subclasses Pack #1
Conjure Wall of Aether
4th-level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, S, M ( a small piece of aetherium)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
A shimmering wall of aether materializes on the
ground at a point you choose within range. You can
make the wall up to 60 feet long, 20 feet high, and 1
foot thick, or a ringed wall up to 20 feet in diameter,
20 feet high, and 1 foot thick.
The wall consists of a roiling mass of solid, liquid,
and gaseous forms of aether. The wall glows faintly
with flickering lights that dance across its surface,
providing dim light out to 30 feet. Areas behind the
wall are lightly obscured. The wall vanishes when
the spell ends. The wall’s space is difficult terrain.
When the wall appears, each creature within its
area must make a Constitution saving throw. On a
failed save, the creature takes 2d8 force damage and
2d8 poison damage, or half as much damage on a
successful save. A creature that ends its turn in the
wall’s area takes 2d8 force damage and 2d8 poison
damage. Creatures with Aetheric Adaption are
immune to the wall’s poison damage.
Any ranged attack that enters the wall’s space has
disadvantage on the attack roll. Creatures within 10
feet of the aetherial wall have advantage on saving
throws to resist the effects of spells, spell attacks,
and spell-like abilities.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of 5th level or higher, the damage increases
by 1d8 force damage for each slot level above 4th.
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Siren’s Call
3rd-level enchantment
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: 60 feet (centered on you)
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
You sing an enthralling piece of music, causing
creatures of your choice that you can see within
range and that can hear you succeed on a Wisdom
saving throw or become distracted by you. While
distracted by this spell, creatures have disadvantage
on attacks each turn unless they spend at least half
of their movement and end that movement closer to
you.
Creatures that can't be charmed or are deafened
automatically succeed on this saving throw.
The spell ends if you are incapacitated or can no
longer speak.
Soul Tide
5th-level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self (20 ft radius)
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous
You conjure a flood of disembodied souls from the
depths of the Shining Sea to wash over foe and ally
alike. The tide of ethereal energy surges outward
from you in a 20-foot radius with you at the center.
The energy passes through solid objects but is
stopped by magical barriers like those made by a
wall of force or resilient sphere spell.
You and your allies within range each gain a
number of temporary hit points equal to your
spellcasting ability modifier. Additionally, your
enemies within range must each make a Charisma
saving throw. On a failure, a creature suffers force
damage equal to your spellcasting ability modifier, is
pushed away from you until it is outside the spell’s
radius, and is knocked prone. On a success, the
creature suffers only half damage, is pushed only 5
feet away from you, and is not knocked prone.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of 6th level or higher, the temporary hit
points and damage increase by 1d6 for each slot
level above 5th. Additionally, if cast with a 7th or
8th-level spell slot, the radius increases to 25 feet. If
cast with a 9th-level spell slot, the radius increases
to 30 feet.
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