The spell in an Enspelled item is fixed at the point the item is created. So, if you are crafting the item yourself, you select what spell it has as part of the crafting process. If you find one as treasure, it's not like a blank slate that you can fill with a spell of your choice, it already has a spell fixed to it.
So, it'll basically be the same as a spell scroll; either the DM decides what spell to put in the item, or possibly makes a roll of some kind off a list of the appropriate spell schools and level, if they wanted to assign something at random. But they'd have to pull together that list on their own. It's not something that already exists anywhere (but would be pretty simple to do using the filters on DDB).
I assume the default expectation is "DM just picks something".
Sorry if i wasn't entirely clear, how do i select the spell so it appears on DnD Beyond? Creating a custom spell doesn't work because I can't fix the Attack Bonus.
Sorry if i wasn't entirely clear, how do i select the spell so it appears on DnD Beyond? Creating a custom spell doesn't work because I can't fix the Attack Bonus.
Ah, sorry. I understand the issue now. In DDB, you can only add the generic "enspelled" item, which doesn't specify what spell it has, or what rarity/bonus it has, or etc. The only way I've been able to manage it is to edit the item and change the name to "Enspelled Leather Armor of Shield" or whatever. Has no mechanical impact, but at least you know what you have.
Hopefully this gets tweaked or improved at some point, because a LOT of people are going to be making use of Enspelled items, I think.
believe me i am. I got a thief that is gonna abuse the holy heck outa using her armor as a BA. I made a custom item based off it but it still won't let me fix the AB.
just my issue is, just like spell scrolls, you can't fix the attack bonus.
believe me i am. I got a thief that is gonna abuse the holy heck outa using her armor as a BA. I made a custom item based off it but it still won't let me fix the AB.
just my issue is, just like spell scrolls, you can't fix the attack bonus.
I don’t believe that works- all the item says is “you may expend a charge to cast its spell”, and the DMG also says it usually takes a Magic Action to use an item, not a Utilize.
Some magic items allow the user to cast a spell from the item. The spell is cast at the lowest possible spell and caster level, doesn’t expend any of the user’s spell slots, and requires no components unless the item’s description notes otherwise. The spell uses its normal casting time, range, and duration, and the user of the item must concentrate if the spell requires Concentration.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
It’s at least a fuzzy area. The feature does specify that it allows the use of the Magic Action “to use a magic item that requires an action”. It depends on whether or not casting a spell with a magic item qualifies as “using a magic item that requires an action”; notably the glossary entry for Magic Action simply lists casting a spell without qualifiers alongside “using a magic item that requires an action”, which seems to suggest all spellcasting is discrete from say the Lightning Strike feature of a Staff of Thunder and Lightning.
It’s at least a fuzzy area. The feature does specify that it allows the use of the Magic Action “to use a magic item that requires an action”. It depends on whether or not casting a spell with a magic item qualifies as “using a magic item that requires an action”; notably the glossary entry for Magic Action simply lists casting a spell without qualifiers alongside “using a magic item that requires an action”, which seems to suggest all spellcasting is discrete from say the Lightning Strike feature of a Staff of Thunder and Lightning.
Funnily enough I was going to use the Immovable Rod as an example, but the 2024 version specifies than you need a Utilize action to activate/deactivate it, not a Magic action
They actually did some sneaky things with the new actions on a number of magic items. To pick another example, an Alchemy Jug needs a Magic action to name and produce a specific liquid, but a Utilize action to pour it out -- so a thief could do all that in one turn with Fast Hands
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Again, it’s ambiguous because the Magic Action in the glossary seems to specifically make a distinction between casting a spell and other uses of a magic item that specifically reference taking the Magic Action. It looks a lot like casting a spell is a separate option, whereas the Thief feature only seems to interact with cases where the item says “you may use a Magic Action to X”. Could be wrong, but the wording on Thief correlates with the description of one part of the action that is presented as discrete from spellcasting.
They even talked about this EXACT scenario in the Thief reveal.
Crawford said nothing in the video about casting a spell from a magic item, only using Fast Hands to activate a magic item that requires a Magic action. The exact quote is:
"The thief will be able to take a magic item that requires a Magic action for activation, and thanks to Fast Hands, now activate it as a Bonus Action"
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Anyone know how to select what spell you're going to add to the item?
The spell in an Enspelled item is fixed at the point the item is created. So, if you are crafting the item yourself, you select what spell it has as part of the crafting process. If you find one as treasure, it's not like a blank slate that you can fill with a spell of your choice, it already has a spell fixed to it.
So, it'll basically be the same as a spell scroll; either the DM decides what spell to put in the item, or possibly makes a roll of some kind off a list of the appropriate spell schools and level, if they wanted to assign something at random. But they'd have to pull together that list on their own. It's not something that already exists anywhere (but would be pretty simple to do using the filters on DDB).
I assume the default expectation is "DM just picks something".
Sorry if i wasn't entirely clear, how do i select the spell so it appears on DnD Beyond? Creating a custom spell doesn't work because I can't fix the Attack Bonus.
I also created a homebrew item just for it but it still will not let me do a fixed attack bonus.
Ah, sorry. I understand the issue now. In DDB, you can only add the generic "enspelled" item, which doesn't specify what spell it has, or what rarity/bonus it has, or etc. The only way I've been able to manage it is to edit the item and change the name to "Enspelled Leather Armor of Shield" or whatever. Has no mechanical impact, but at least you know what you have.
Hopefully this gets tweaked or improved at some point, because a LOT of people are going to be making use of Enspelled items, I think.
believe me i am. I got a thief that is gonna abuse the holy heck outa using her armor as a BA. I made a custom item based off it but it still won't let me fix the AB.
just my issue is, just like spell scrolls, you can't fix the attack bonus.
You cannot simply add a spell to an item with 2024 homebrew? You certainly can when making a 2014/legacy item
no thats what i had to do. just DnD Beyond still doesnt understand fixed attack bonuses.
I don’t believe that works- all the item says is “you may expend a charge to cast its spell”, and the DMG also says it usually takes a Magic Action to use an item, not a Utilize.
That sounds more like an issue of the spell you are trying to make rather than adding said spell to an item
Correct. But thieves now can use a magic item as a bonus action.
well kinda. i figured out by homebrewing. its just now the limitations of Beyond
That doesn't work, sorry
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
It’s at least a fuzzy area. The feature does specify that it allows the use of the Magic Action “to use a magic item that requires an action”. It depends on whether or not casting a spell with a magic item qualifies as “using a magic item that requires an action”; notably the glossary entry for Magic Action simply lists casting a spell without qualifiers alongside “using a magic item that requires an action”, which seems to suggest all spellcasting is discrete from say the Lightning Strike feature of a Staff of Thunder and Lightning.
Funnily enough I was going to use the Immovable Rod as an example, but the 2024 version specifies than you need a Utilize action to activate/deactivate it, not a Magic action
They actually did some sneaky things with the new actions on a number of magic items. To pick another example, an Alchemy Jug needs a Magic action to name and produce a specific liquid, but a Utilize action to pour it out -- so a thief could do all that in one turn with Fast Hands
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Sorry my friend but it's quite capable and absolutely works.
Level 3: Fast Hands
As a Bonus Action, you can do one of the following.
Sleight of Hand. Make a Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check to pick a lock or disarm a trap with Thieves’ Tools or to pick a pocket.
Use an Object. Take the Utilize action, or take the Magic action to use a magic item that requires that action.
They even talked about this EXACT scenario in the Thief reveal.
Again, it’s ambiguous because the Magic Action in the glossary seems to specifically make a distinction between casting a spell and other uses of a magic item that specifically reference taking the Magic Action. It looks a lot like casting a spell is a separate option, whereas the Thief feature only seems to interact with cases where the item says “you may use a Magic Action to X”. Could be wrong, but the wording on Thief correlates with the description of one part of the action that is presented as discrete from spellcasting.
Even if it works, not a lot of DM's out there who would allow it.
we need a Sage Advice on it then
Crawford said nothing in the video about casting a spell from a magic item, only using Fast Hands to activate a magic item that requires a Magic action. The exact quote is:
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)