So i will be starting Icewind dale tommorrow and playing a Tabaxi Illusion Wizard and i want to find a way to use a Pocket watch as my spell book. Any ideas?
I am one of the people with the lax rules for spellbooks. I think everything that could be used to contain information (especially in wiriting) could possibly be made into a spellbook (ofc. you'd still adhere to the restrictions for transcribing spells etc.). Maybe your watch can have a compartment in which you keep a bunch of very thin sheets of paper? Maybe the spells are etched with acid into the clocks metal? Maybe the glass of the clock itself can be engraved with small runic writing that you can only decipher with a build in magnifing glass? In any way you'd need something in the value of the paper/ink to transcribe it. The fluff shouldnt be a way around the crunch.
To be clear(and maybe I wasn't): I don't think you should just say "Okay, I have this thing and it can just bada bing bada bong transcribe spells without cost or time." I think you should have something like "Ink" and something like "Paper" that you should have to buy so you can transcribe Spells from Spellscrolls. But other than that I think the restriction of making it a book is pretty much just flavor you could change. That said we're talking magic in a world of magic, how do you know how much text is needed for a spell? Maybe a wizard could cast fireball with just the explanation: "Take Sulfur in one hand, bat shit in the other, clap." So I'd argue spellbooks don't have to be "hundrets of pages" long.
That seems to be a difference between playstyles. I know Wizards CAN loose the spellbook and it is a pretty big problem, but I don't think any of the DMs would even consider doing that. So if it's a reality that you could loose your spellbook in any way it would be a bit of a buff to grant it being easy to hide/protect.
Where did you get the standart length of 100 pages for a spellbook?
You could go for a "Chronomancer" watch. The spells runes/glyphs etc are encoded on the watch face by scribing them in the air over the watch, the magic is then absorbed in the watch. When you long rest you wind the watch up which causes the spells scribed to appear like a projection in the air before you and you manipulate the hands of the watch like a combination lock to memorise each spell. I think I would DM it as an increased cost to replace it if it was lost/stolen though as the watch is a lot more complicated than a book.
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If you are illusion maybe work into your backstory that you cast an illusion spell on the pocket watch, so that every time a second goes by on the clock, if you are looking at the clock you see a spell.
It would require tinkering / replacing parts as a substitute for the paper or material costs...but essentially, your "preparation" would be entering specific sequences of runes or etchings based on the positioning of the arms of the clock...once you set them..."click"...you've prepared that spell, and move on to the next one.
For added roleplay, I can see you mentally "freezing" that moment in "time" when you memorized the spell with the pocket watch.
In particular, this seems like it was MADE for a Divination Wizard, who would likely do something similar with portents.
Maybe the chain that connects the pocket watch contains small precious gems that often are associated with powerful magic...that'd be your material cost for copying spells.
...honestly, I really like this concept.
If Xanathar's Guide proposes a sack of precious stones with etchings on them as a spell book; I don't see why a pocket watch couldn't be used as well.
As an illusionist you could reflavor a minor Illusion cantrip as a way to show the Spell-description. If you set the the time to 1:01 you get your first transcribed spell of the first Level in the watch, 1:02 the second First-Level spell and so forth. Click on the pin and a minor illusion shows the detailed information floating above the watch. Klick again to prepare the spell, setting the Clock to 1:00 and all prepared spells glow on your watch on the minute markers.
Tinkering tool and watch components could be a cool way to flavor the material costs of spelldescription.
I have done it in the past, for example when adventurers got imprisonned. One of the classic modules (A3) finishes with the adventurers imprisoned.
As for the standard length, it's in the PH: Essential for wizards, a spellbook is a leather-bound tome with 100 blank vellum pagessuitable for recording spells.
Note that in any case, it takes 2 hours to copy one level of spell, it cannot just be a few words....
But it doesn't take the full 2 hours just to write down the spell. That's just the last step in the process.
Copying that spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.
Most of the 2 hours is spent understanding the concept, deciphering new notation and practising sounds/gestures. You then transcribe it in you own notation. Notation implies symbols rather than words. So a wizards record of a spell might only take up a small amount of space if they have a clear notation system.
There are quite a few NPCs in published WotC adventures for 5e that have non-traditional spellbooks.
I recall, without looking it up for specifics, one Wizard's body-wrap had his spells inscribed on it and was considered the spellbook.
A spellbook belonging to a caster heavily inspired by Egyptian themes is going to look a lot different than one who is inspired by a campaign set in Arthurian legend.
Just to add to the conversation, of course the spellbook is an essential item to any Wizard, but the only downside to lose it is the impact to change your prepared spells every day.
Your prepared spells are already memorized and you don’t need your spellbook to cast them.
I have done it in the past, for example when adventurers got imprisonned. One of the classic modules (A3) finishes with the adventurers imprisoned.
As for the standard length, it's in the PH: Essential for wizards, a spellbook is a leather-bound tome with 100 blank vellum pagessuitable for recording spells.
Note that in any case, it takes 2 hours to copy one level of spell, it cannot just be a few words....
But it doesn't take the full 2 hours just to write down the spell. That's just the last step in the process.
Copying that spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.
Most of the 2 hours is spent understanding the concept, deciphering new notation and practising sounds/gestures. You then transcribe it in you own notation. Notation implies symbols rather than words. So a wizards record of a spell might only take up a small amount of space if they have a clear notation system.
Exactly. Writing down the words is the easy part.
You're gesturing and practicing the somatic components, and how to use and array the material components. Over and over and over again until it becomes rote.
Much like a modern day stage magician practicing their tricks in front of a mirror or on camera until they get it perfect.
You're not just practicing the patter and writing down what someone else has done.
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So i will be starting Icewind dale tommorrow and playing a Tabaxi Illusion Wizard and i want to find a way to use a Pocket watch as my spell book. Any ideas?
I am one of the people with the lax rules for spellbooks. I think everything that could be used to contain information (especially in wiriting) could possibly be made into a spellbook (ofc. you'd still adhere to the restrictions for transcribing spells etc.). Maybe your watch can have a compartment in which you keep a bunch of very thin sheets of paper? Maybe the spells are etched with acid into the clocks metal? Maybe the glass of the clock itself can be engraved with small runic writing that you can only decipher with a build in magnifing glass? In any way you'd need something in the value of the paper/ink to transcribe it. The fluff shouldnt be a way around the crunch.
As always you should ask your dm if thats okay.
To be clear(and maybe I wasn't): I don't think you should just say "Okay, I have this thing and it can just bada bing bada bong transcribe spells without cost or time." I think you should have something like "Ink" and something like "Paper" that you should have to buy so you can transcribe Spells from Spellscrolls. But other than that I think the restriction of making it a book is pretty much just flavor you could change. That said we're talking magic in a world of magic, how do you know how much text is needed for a spell? Maybe a wizard could cast fireball with just the explanation: "Take Sulfur in one hand, bat shit in the other, clap." So I'd argue spellbooks don't have to be "hundrets of pages" long.
That seems to be a difference between playstyles. I know Wizards CAN loose the spellbook and it is a pretty big problem, but I don't think any of the DMs would even consider doing that. So if it's a reality that you could loose your spellbook in any way it would be a bit of a buff to grant it being easy to hide/protect.
Where did you get the standart length of 100 pages for a spellbook?
You could go for a "Chronomancer" watch. The spells runes/glyphs etc are encoded on the watch face by scribing them in the air over the watch, the magic is then absorbed in the watch. When you long rest you wind the watch up which causes the spells scribed to appear like a projection in the air before you and you manipulate the hands of the watch like a combination lock to memorise each spell. I think I would DM it as an increased cost to replace it if it was lost/stolen though as the watch is a lot more complicated than a book.
If you are illusion maybe work into your backstory that you cast an illusion spell on the pocket watch, so that every time a second goes by on the clock, if you are looking at the clock you see a spell.
Simple:
It would require tinkering / replacing parts as a substitute for the paper or material costs...but essentially, your "preparation" would be entering specific sequences of runes or etchings based on the positioning of the arms of the clock...once you set them..."click"...you've prepared that spell, and move on to the next one.
For added roleplay, I can see you mentally "freezing" that moment in "time" when you memorized the spell with the pocket watch.
In particular, this seems like it was MADE for a Divination Wizard, who would likely do something similar with portents.
Maybe the chain that connects the pocket watch contains small precious gems that often are associated with powerful magic...that'd be your material cost for copying spells.
...honestly, I really like this concept.
If Xanathar's Guide proposes a sack of precious stones with etchings on them as a spell book; I don't see why a pocket watch couldn't be used as well.
As an illusionist you could reflavor a minor Illusion cantrip as a way to show the Spell-description.
If you set the the time to 1:01 you get your first transcribed spell of the first Level in the watch, 1:02 the second First-Level spell and so forth. Click on the pin and a minor illusion shows the detailed information floating above the watch. Klick again to prepare the spell, setting the Clock to 1:00 and all prepared spells glow on your watch on the minute markers.
Tinkering tool and watch components could be a cool way to flavor the material costs of spelldescription.
there's a reason why it's called a spell-BOOK. (hint hint)
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
But it doesn't take the full 2 hours just to write down the spell. That's just the last step in the process.
Most of the 2 hours is spent understanding the concept, deciphering new notation and practising sounds/gestures. You then transcribe it in you own notation. Notation implies symbols rather than words. So a wizards record of a spell might only take up a small amount of space if they have a clear notation system.
There are quite a few NPCs in published WotC adventures for 5e that have non-traditional spellbooks.
I recall, without looking it up for specifics, one Wizard's body-wrap had his spells inscribed on it and was considered the spellbook.
A spellbook belonging to a caster heavily inspired by Egyptian themes is going to look a lot different than one who is inspired by a campaign set in Arthurian legend.
Just to add to the conversation, of course the spellbook is an essential item to any Wizard, but the only downside to lose it is the impact to change your prepared spells every day.
Your prepared spells are already memorized and you don’t need your spellbook to cast them.
Exactly. Writing down the words is the easy part.
You're gesturing and practicing the somatic components, and how to use and array the material components. Over and over and over again until it becomes rote.
Much like a modern day stage magician practicing their tricks in front of a mirror or on camera until they get it perfect.
You're not just practicing the patter and writing down what someone else has done.