Unearthed Arcana: Artificer 2024 questions

After reading the first release of the new Artificer I have a couple of questions. 
I'm not sure if anybody will really have answers but at least we can discuss.

Homunculus Servant

I'm curious about the Gem part of it. In the 2014 version, when the Homunculus Servant was dying, you could re-use the heart to rebuild one.

The item you infuse serves as the creature’s heart, around which the creature’s body instantly forms. If you or the homunculus dies, it vanishes, leaving its heart in its space.

In the new version it says that the spell consumes the gem, so what happens if the servant dies?

a gem or crystal worth 100+ GP, which the spell consumes

Steel Defender

In the 2014 version, we could use mending to resotre 2d6 HP to the construct. 

If the mending spell is cast on the defender, it regains 2d6 hit points.

Now there is just no mention of it. I assume we should still be able to do that. The Eldritch Canon still has that option

casting Mending on the cannon restores 2d6 Hit Points to it

I think since the Homunculus Servant spell consumes its component, there's no way to get that gem back if it dies. To create another Homunculus Servant you would have to cast the spell again and provide another gem. I agree that's a bit frustrating.

I suspect the reference to Mending was removed from the Steel Defender because a) it already has its own self-healing ability and b) all the normal healing spells work on constructs now. There is a general theme throughout 5e design that healing shouldn't be free. Just about every healing effect costs something — a spell slot, a limited use feature, a magic item charge, a consumable item — and having a cantrip that can heal something doesn't fit that paradigm.

Yeah having to run around with a bunch of 100gp gems won't be fun if there is really no way for us to repair or re-invoke it after death.

a) it already has its own self-healing ability

It was already the case in the previous edition. If we really can't use Mending anymore, that makes it a pretty significant nerf in QOL in my opinion. 
But since it does not say "we cannot" use Mending, I guess it's up to the DM to agree or not. 

Homunculus Servant

One thing to note about the "new" Homunculus Servant Spell is that it does not specify what happens when the HS dies. Unlike the Infusion it's no longer described as vanishing when it or the caster dies. Presumably the HS leaves a corpse and can be revived or resurrected. Generally speaking that would be MORE expensive than just casting the HS spell again... but if the Party Cleric wanted to say expend their Divine Intervention to cast a reviving spell then they could do so without using any material components.

Still, here's hoping they remove the "the gem is consumed" part from the spell. I did suggest as much in the feedback survey.

The spell also lacks the any text of the HS being able to decide its own actions if the caster is incapacitated which the Infusion allowed. This is probably an oversight because they copied text from the "Summon ___" spells and each of those spells requires concentration to maintain, meaning if the caster were incapacitated the spell would end. With the HS spell the HS remains if the caster is unconscious (or dies) but RAW can only take the Dodge action, until the caster returns to awareness.

My guess though is that with a finalized HS spell they'd cover those edge cases again.

Steel Defender

I think they removed Mending being able to heal them intentionally since normal healing works on constructs now. However, healing spells do not work on objects and the Eldritch Cannon remains a Magical Object not a construct. So the only way for it to regain hit points, is via mending... It's still mostly pointless to spend minutes in the Cannon's hour long lifespan repairing it, especially considering you can only explode the cannon when it reaches 0 HP now.

I hope they rethink Homunculus Servant somewhat. On one hand, I appreciate that you can rebuild it same day. On the other hand, since you can put the spell in an item that can be given away, your whole party can make them. I think you should be restricted to one per Artificer.

I do like that it doesn't count against your infusions.

I get that it's a second level spell maybe to keep people from getting it with a single level multiclass, but it's sad to not get it until 6th level - I had a lot of fun playing with it at 2nd level and practicing to see if I liked playing with a pet before I chose to go battlesmith.

I also wish it kept its gem - maybe make it a more expensive gem. Mine has backstory around a gem of sentimental value that powers it.

I prefer using a spell slot for homunculus servant.  It seemed like a tax on infusions for many artificers before.  It's easier to swap a spell in and out on a long rest than a plan / infusion on leveling up.

Arrived here with the same question about whether the gem is consumed. The best answer I can find is that the spell does not specifically say that the gem is consumed when the spell is cast, therefore it is not consumed. So if the homunculus is killed then the gem could be collected and used again.

Quote from MongooseGef >>

Arrived here with the same question about whether the gem is consumed. The best answer I can find is that the spell does not specifically say that the gem is consumed when the spell is cast, therefore it is not consumed. So if the homunculus is killed then the gem could be collected and used again.

The reason people here were saying it was consumed is that you're posting in an old thread about the pre-release Unearthed Arcana version of it, which did in fact say it was consumed.

The actual published version of the Homunculus Servant spell does not say the component is consumed, and therefore it is not consumed. Unlike the 5e version, the gem isn't even actually incorporated into the summoned creature, so there's nothing stopping you from using the gem for something else while it's active. (The spell does say you can only have one Homunculus Servant active at a time, but there are other spells the gem could serve as a material component for.)