Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.
How does this reaction work? Does it only activate if it gets attacked since its a reaction? Do I have to use my action as an artificer in order to cast a spell that has a range of touch? Do I have to use a bonus action for it to work or can I feasibly attack with a cantrip and then during the homunculus turn, attack again with another cantrip? For example, I cast a fire bolt, then use bonus action to use force ballista, then use homunculus reaction to attack with another touch cantrip?
I'm really confused how the action economy works with the Homunculus.
In combat, the homunculus shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours.
The Channel Magic feature uses the Homunculus Servant's reaction because the artificer is casting the spell with a range of touch on the artificer's turn and reactions are the only action the HS can take outside of its turn. This is separate from the bonus action the artificer needs to take to command the HS.
Artificer casts touch spell as action/bonus action ---> HS uses its reaction to deliver spell ---> Artificer continues/ends turn ---> HS starts its turn, takes whatever action it was commanded to take, if any
If the artificer casts shocking grasp, the HS can use its reaction to deliver it, then the artificer can use their bonus action to command the HS, which the HS performs during its turn taken immediately after the artificer ends their turn.
I think one other option is for the artificer to ready an action to cast a touch spell that goes off when the homunculus moves with reach of a target. That would allow the homunculus to move to a target than it wasn’t already adjacent to. Because the homunculus goes on the artificer’s same initiative, and right after the artificer, there would be few chances for your concentration to get broken in the meantime. The artificer could still use a bonus action to command the homunculus to take one of the listed actions on its turn too.
Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.
How does this reaction work? Does it only activate if it gets attacked since its a reaction? Do I have to use my action as an artificer in order to cast a spell that has a range of touch? Do I have to use a bonus action for it to work or can I feasibly attack with a cantrip and then during the homunculus turn, attack again with another cantrip? For example, I cast a fire bolt, then use bonus action to use force ballista, then use homunculus reaction to attack with another touch cantrip?
I'm really confused how the action economy works with the Homunculus.
The Channel Magic feature uses the Homunculus Servant's reaction because the artificer is casting the spell with a range of touch on the artificer's turn and reactions are the only action the HS can take outside of its turn. This is separate from the bonus action the artificer needs to take to command the HS.
Artificer casts touch spell as action/bonus action ---> HS uses its reaction to deliver spell ---> Artificer continues/ends turn ---> HS starts its turn, takes whatever action it was commanded to take, if any
If the artificer casts shocking grasp, the HS can use its reaction to deliver it, then the artificer can use their bonus action to command the HS, which the HS performs during its turn taken immediately after the artificer ends their turn.
Hope that clarifies things for you.
I think one other option is for the artificer to ready an action to cast a touch spell that goes off when the homunculus moves with reach of a target. That would allow the homunculus to move to a target than it wasn’t already adjacent to. Because the homunculus goes on the artificer’s same initiative, and right after the artificer, there would be few chances for your concentration to get broken in the meantime. The artificer could still use a bonus action to command the homunculus to take one of the listed actions on its turn too.
Does it work if I ready my spell until the homonculus gets close to the target?