Apologies .. Long post . So I have just realized that the group I am DMing over has been using "prepared spells and spell slots wrong and I am looking for confirmation . My question is in regards to the Paladins "Divine Smite" ability . I know it uses a spell slot but does the Paladin lose one of their prepared spells in the process ? For example , let's say our Paladin is level 6 , Charisma 18(+4) . 3( half level ) + 4(Charisma modifier) , from these numbers our Paladin can prepare 7 spells , but according to the table , the Paladin is limited to casting 4 First level and 2 Second level spells . Spells prepared are as follows "First level": Cure Wounds(2) , Bless , Thunderous Smite , "Second level" : Lesser Restoration and Aid . Combat ensues , our beloved Paladin cast "Thunderous Smite" and used the Divine Smite ability twice . He used 3 spell slots in the battle , afterwards he healed two of the party members with a "Cure Wounds" each . For the remainder of the day , until he gets a full rest , our Paladin has one spell slot that can be used for a DIvine Smite or Bless correct ?
The are completely different things. You only lose a spell slot, and can use it once per hit. So, here’s what happens:
I, Johnny Bravo the paladin, have Bane, Bless, Aid, Cure Wounds, and Thunderous Smite prepared. I cast Thunderous Smite, and attack once. Hit, smite. Extra 2d8 damage. I attack again (extra attack), hit, smite, extra 2d8 damage. I have all my spell slots except for the 2 I spent on my smite attacks, and the Thunderous Smite spell. I can use those spell slots to cast any spell I have prepared, and do not lose any prepared spells.
With those 5 spells prepared , can you cast one more than once ? Or would you have to prepare it twice or 3 times even ? Example : You have 5 slots , you prepare Cure Wounds 3 times , Bless and Thunderous Smite . Or would you have to wait until a full rest ?
I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding what you mean, but prepared spells and spell slots are fairly separate concepts in 5e (Not played the others so can't say for them) If so, the way I view it is to think of it in Final Fantasy style terms. Your prepared spells are your known spells, like thunder, blizzard and such, and your spell slots is your pool of MP to cast them.
To use your hypothetical 5 prepared, 5 slot paladin. Those 5 prepared spells are up to 5 separate spells so you can have your cure wounds, bless, thunderous smite, and two others. You only need to prepare each spell once, as casting it consumes a spell slot instead of the prepared spell.
The spell slots is what lets you cast those spells. You can cast your prepared spells as many times as you have slots, in any combination that you can afford, and the spells remain prepared. You could cure 3 times, smite once, and bless once for example, or just use cure wounds all 5 times if you need a lot of healing, and they will all remain prepared. You'd need a rest to regain the slots though.
As for smite, that is a separate concept. It's a little rarer, but it's effectively an action that uses a spell slot (MP) but isn't a spell in itself (And can be stacked with other spells for fun!). It's also not unique to Paladins as Rangers also have an ability that costs a spell slot but isn't a spell (Can't recall other classes that use slots for skills but I'm sure there are probably more)
With those 5 spells prepared , can you cast one more than once ? Or would you have to prepare it twice or 3 times even ? Example : You have 5 slots , you prepare Cure Wounds 3 times , Bless and Thunderous Smite . Or would you have to wait until a full rest ?
You may cast any spell any number of times. Look back at Johnny Bravo the paladin and his spells. He has all his spells prepared from earlier. If he casts Bless, he can cast Bless again, same with Bane and Aid. Prepared spells don’t go away. You cant, however, prepare the same spell over and over. And there’s no need to!
Prepared spell (and smite) are options you can choose from, the menu if you will.
Spell slots are the number of bites or dishes you can consume before having an empty plate.
If *Holly Nicely* A paladin of 5th has 4 first and 2 second level slots.
1) She can not cast a 2nd level level spell in a first level slot.
2) When she casts a spell or smites it uses up a slot as appropriate. - This does not change what spells you have prepared you still have them all prepared so you can cast a cure wounds then cure wounds again providing you have a spell slot left.
3) You could even cast cure wounds in a second level slot, increasing the healing it provides if you had the slot available and the first level spell prepared because it is a spell than can be 'upcast'. *spells that can be upcast specifically mention they can be in their description.
Perfect Thank you all for clarity , I am just prepping for this weekend and I wanted to make sure that myself and the group I am DM'ing for are using prepared spells and slots correctly .
The are completely different things. You only lose a spell slot, and can use it once per hit. So, here’s what happens:
I, Johnny Bravo the paladin, have Bane, Bless, Aid, Cure Wounds, and Thunderous Smite prepared. I cast Thunderous Smite, and attack once. Hit, smite. Extra 2d8 damage. I attack again (extra attack), hit, smite, extra 2d8 damage. I have all my spell slots except for the 2 I spent on my smite attacks, and the Thunderous Smite spell. I can use those spell slots to cast any spell I have prepared, and do not lose any prepared spells.
I am officially making Bohnny Javo the Paladin now. I can do the voice extremely well, maxing his charisma and strength and making him dumb as stones. He will worship a goddess of beauty and his casting focus will be his hand mirror or comb. He will literally attempt to seduce anything remotely female.
Team Strategist: " Okay guys we need to rescue the hostage from those drow priestesses, if we sneak around the side we can get the drop on them and maybe leave before the rest not- wheres Bonny?
Bhonny Javo is leaning on a stalagmite next to the priestess
Bhonny Javo: "Well hey there, Tall, Dark and Spooky; why don't we forget about the little guy there and you and I go get a smoothie?" She cracks her whip, drow poison visibly covering the length "I'll take that as a maybe?"
Apologies .. Long post .
So I have just realized that the group I am DMing over has been using "prepared spells and spell slots wrong and I am looking for confirmation . My question is in regards to the Paladins "Divine Smite" ability . I know it uses a spell slot but does the Paladin lose one of their prepared spells in the process ? For example , let's say our Paladin is level 6 , Charisma 18(+4) . 3( half level ) + 4(Charisma modifier) , from these numbers our Paladin can prepare 7 spells , but according to the table , the Paladin is limited to casting 4 First level and 2 Second level spells . Spells prepared are as follows "First level": Cure Wounds(2) , Bless , Thunderous Smite , "Second level" : Lesser Restoration and Aid .
Combat ensues , our beloved Paladin cast "Thunderous Smite" and used the Divine Smite ability twice . He used 3 spell slots in the battle , afterwards he healed two of the party members with a "Cure Wounds" each . For the remainder of the day , until he gets a full rest , our Paladin has one spell slot that can be used for a DIvine Smite or Bless correct ?
The are completely different things. You only lose a spell slot, and can use it once per hit. So, here’s what happens:
I, Johnny Bravo the paladin, have Bane, Bless, Aid, Cure Wounds, and Thunderous Smite prepared. I cast Thunderous Smite, and attack once. Hit, smite. Extra 2d8 damage. I attack again (extra attack), hit, smite, extra 2d8 damage. I have all my spell slots except for the 2 I spent on my smite attacks, and the Thunderous Smite spell. I can use those spell slots to cast any spell I have prepared, and do not lose any prepared spells.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
With those 5 spells prepared , can you cast one more than once ? Or would you have to prepare it twice or 3 times even ? Example : You have 5 slots , you prepare Cure Wounds 3 times , Bless and Thunderous Smite . Or would you have to wait until a full rest ?
I'm not sure if I'm misunderstanding what you mean, but prepared spells and spell slots are fairly separate concepts in 5e (Not played the others so can't say for them) If so, the way I view it is to think of it in Final Fantasy style terms. Your prepared spells are your known spells, like thunder, blizzard and such, and your spell slots is your pool of MP to cast them.
To use your hypothetical 5 prepared, 5 slot paladin. Those 5 prepared spells are up to 5 separate spells so you can have your cure wounds, bless, thunderous smite, and two others. You only need to prepare each spell once, as casting it consumes a spell slot instead of the prepared spell.
The spell slots is what lets you cast those spells. You can cast your prepared spells as many times as you have slots, in any combination that you can afford, and the spells remain prepared. You could cure 3 times, smite once, and bless once for example, or just use cure wounds all 5 times if you need a lot of healing, and they will all remain prepared. You'd need a rest to regain the slots though.
As for smite, that is a separate concept. It's a little rarer, but it's effectively an action that uses a spell slot (MP) but isn't a spell in itself (And can be stacked with other spells for fun!). It's also not unique to Paladins as Rangers also have an ability that costs a spell slot but isn't a spell (Can't recall other classes that use slots for skills but I'm sure there are probably more)
You may cast any spell any number of times. Look back at Johnny Bravo the paladin and his spells. He has all his spells prepared from earlier. If he casts Bless, he can cast Bless again, same with Bane and Aid. Prepared spells don’t go away. You cant, however, prepare the same spell over and over. And there’s no need to!
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Prepared spell (and smite) are options you can choose from, the menu if you will.
Spell slots are the number of bites or dishes you can consume before having an empty plate.
If *Holly Nicely* A paladin of 5th has 4 first and 2 second level slots.
1) She can not cast a 2nd level level spell in a first level slot.
2) When she casts a spell or smites it uses up a slot as appropriate. - This does not change what spells you have prepared you still have them all prepared so you can cast a cure wounds then cure wounds again providing you have a spell slot left.
3) You could even cast cure wounds in a second level slot, increasing the healing it provides if you had the slot available and the first level spell prepared because it is a spell than can be 'upcast'. *spells that can be upcast specifically mention they can be in their description.
Perfect
Thank you all for clarity , I am just prepping for this weekend and I wanted to make sure that myself and the group I am DM'ing for are using prepared spells and slots correctly .
Happy to help! Hope the game goes well =)
I am officially making Bohnny Javo the Paladin now. I can do the voice extremely well, maxing his charisma and strength and making him dumb as stones. He will worship a goddess of beauty and his casting focus will be his hand mirror or comb. He will literally attempt to seduce anything remotely female.
Team Strategist: " Okay guys we need to rescue the hostage from those drow priestesses, if we sneak around the side we can get the drop on them and maybe leave before the rest not- wheres Bonny?
Bhonny Javo is leaning on a stalagmite next to the priestess
Bhonny Javo: "Well hey there, Tall, Dark and Spooky; why don't we forget about the little guy there and you and I go get a smoothie?"
She cracks her whip, drow poison visibly covering the length
"I'll take that as a maybe?"
DM: Roll for initiative