I took a twenty year break in playing DnD, so I'm new to 5e. I know the ADnD and 3.5 rules best. So, that's where I'm coming from.
I love the artificier class. And, I love playing gnomes. The artificier class seems tailor made for gnomes. Tinkering. Magic. Tinkering magic. It seems like the most perfect thing in the world.
I have questions, though, especially after reading through the forums. Like most things in life, my interpretations and reactions seem off from the vast majority that surrounds me. I beg the indulgence of the forum on a few questions that might seem obvious to all y'all but are completely opaque to me.
(1) Homunculus is defined as a human-like creature that has been made other details vary depending on the source. While I get that the RAW states that the artificier determines the shape upon creation, which allows for infinite variations on form. The definition, I think, will have implications later in my questions.
(2) The homunculus can fly. That's okay because magic. I interpreted it as meaning it could fly despite the form you gave it, meaning, it didn't have to have wings. The examples given in the RAW are a mechanical bird, a winged vial, and a miniature cauldron.
(3) In the forums, there seems to be consensus that the homunculus can't talk. I don't get this at all. Is there a source that says so? All I can see is the line that the servant can understand the languages the creator knows. To me that doesn't say it can't speak. And, if you take a homunculus as being a miniature human-like creature with an intelligence of 10, I don't see any reason that it can't speak. What am I missing something here?
(4) The homunculus can channel magic. As written, the servant delivers a touch spell you cast. It doesn't say can cast. It doesn't say have cast into it. The ring of spell-storing says that you cast your spells into it ahead of time, one presumes just before a long rest so that your spells reset ready for use in all occasions. So, on the artificier's turn, do they cast the spell into the servant and then the servant delivers it? Or is it presumed that the homunculus can cast any spell the artificier can?
I would appreciate reading any and all opinions on the above. I know what I will argue with my DM and my preferences, but if I'm in error, I'm happy to change my interpretation and go along. I'm not trying to lawyer this -- is that still a thing in DnD, rules lawyering? -- I just want to play by the rules.
Well, thank you very much Arnti. Your responses are most helpful.
Perhaps the use of the term homunculus is a bit of a misnomer in the DnD realm, then.
I understand why people think the HS can't speak, but with an intelligence of 10 and the right design, I still don't see why not. Explicitly making it unable to speak ever under any circumstances just seems like a missed roleplaying opportunity to me. I accept that there is much in the world that I don't understand, so I'll just add this one to it.
The spell thing makes sense.
I hope you find your gem. Losing any of one's particular friends in a game is a difficult to accept.How did your HS die? Replacing them is the only real option. Let me know how it goes!
Huzzah! Jack
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Howdy y'all!
I took a twenty year break in playing DnD, so I'm new to 5e. I know the ADnD and 3.5 rules best. So, that's where I'm coming from.
I love the artificier class. And, I love playing gnomes. The artificier class seems tailor made for gnomes. Tinkering. Magic. Tinkering magic. It seems like the most perfect thing in the world.
I have questions, though, especially after reading through the forums. Like most things in life, my interpretations and reactions seem off from the vast majority that surrounds me. I beg the indulgence of the forum on a few questions that might seem obvious to all y'all but are completely opaque to me.
(1) Homunculus is defined as a human-like creature that has been made other details vary depending on the source. While I get that the RAW states that the artificier determines the shape upon creation, which allows for infinite variations on form. The definition, I think, will have implications later in my questions.
(2) The homunculus can fly. That's okay because magic. I interpreted it as meaning it could fly despite the form you gave it, meaning, it didn't have to have wings. The examples given in the RAW are a mechanical bird, a winged vial, and a miniature cauldron.
(3) In the forums, there seems to be consensus that the homunculus can't talk. I don't get this at all. Is there a source that says so? All I can see is the line that the servant can understand the languages the creator knows. To me that doesn't say it can't speak. And, if you take a homunculus as being a miniature human-like creature with an intelligence of 10, I don't see any reason that it can't speak. What am I missing something here?
(4) The homunculus can channel magic. As written, the servant delivers a touch spell you cast. It doesn't say can cast. It doesn't say have cast into it. The ring of spell-storing says that you cast your spells into it ahead of time, one presumes just before a long rest so that your spells reset ready for use in all occasions. So, on the artificier's turn, do they cast the spell into the servant and then the servant delivers it? Or is it presumed that the homunculus can cast any spell the artificier can?
I would appreciate reading any and all opinions on the above. I know what I will argue with my DM and my preferences, but if I'm in error, I'm happy to change my interpretation and go along. I'm not trying to lawyer this -- is that still a thing in DnD, rules lawyering? -- I just want to play by the rules.
Huzzah!
Jack
Well, thank you very much Arnti. Your responses are most helpful.
Perhaps the use of the term homunculus is a bit of a misnomer in the DnD realm, then.
I understand why people think the HS can't speak, but with an intelligence of 10 and the right design, I still don't see why not. Explicitly making it unable to speak ever under any circumstances just seems like a missed roleplaying opportunity to me. I accept that there is much in the world that I don't understand, so I'll just add this one to it.
The spell thing makes sense.
I hope you find your gem. Losing any of one's particular friends in a game is a difficult to accept.How did your HS die? Replacing them is the only real option. Let me know how it goes!
Huzzah!
Jack