I play an artificer, and love my homunculus servant - a mechanical tressym named Meepo. But it feels like something is lost in that there is now no reason not to have a homunculus as a 2024 artificer. It’s effectively a class feature.
In 2014 Homunculus Servant was an Infusion, and it used to require your BA to tell it to attack. In 2024 its an artificer-exclusive 2nd level ritual spell with a duration of Instantaneous. Artificers can replace all of their level 1+ spells on a Long Rest. Homunculi no longer need a BA to command - they’re just a permanent extra ally. So an artificer really should be casting Homunculus Servant when they reach level 5, and then swapping the spell out the next day. They only need to prepare it again if the homunculus dies.
So I think it’ll now be unusual to see an artificer without a homunculus, unless I’ve missed something?
It's now a level 2 spell and not an infusion. So you can't get it until much later. If I'm understanding the new Artificer book right. So you can't even get it until level 5. So it's effectively a higher level familiar.
Yes… though given the valuable component many artificers wouldn’t have had them from 2nd level (when they could technically take the infusion) before.
My point is more that because the homunculus is so low cost in 2024, it’s effectively a class feature now. I think it’ll be unusual to see a level 5+ artificer without a homunculus.
It's now a level 2 spell and not an infusion. So you can't get it until much later. If I'm understanding the new Artificer book right. So you can't even get it until level 5. So it's effectively a higher level familiar.
In the old Artificer wasn't it a level 6 required Infusion to have it.
It's now a level 2 spell and not an infusion. So you can't get it until much later. If I'm understanding the new Artificer book right. So you can't even get it until level 5. So it's effectively a higher level familiar.
In the old Artificer wasn't it a level 6 required Infusion to have it.
Nope, no prerequisite.
I'm personally fine with a buff to the Homunculus. Especially the Telepathy. Artificer needed a rebalance anyway.
It doesn't scale with your level or proficiency anymore... only with spell level. So it's going to be mostly a scout at higher levels.
I don’t think that’s a huge change. People will probably cast at the highest level they can if they have a spell slot unused at the end of the day. So at artificer level 20 they’ll still have an attack of +11, dmg about 8.5, while their hp goes from 26 to 30.
Probably still mostly a scout, but if you really need bodies on the field, then it’s something.
It's now a level 2 spell and not an infusion. So you can't get it until much later. If I'm understanding the new Artificer book right. So you can't even get it until level 5. So it's effectively a higher level familiar.
In the old Artificer wasn't it a level 6 required Infusion to have it.
Nope, no prerequisite.
I'm personally fine with a buff to the Homunculus. Especially the Telepathy. Artificer needed a rebalance anyway.
Agreed - telepathy is much appreciated!
I don’t think the homunculus has been buffed much (besides the telepathy). They’ve just made it essentially 0 cost for any artificer to create one, which reduces the diversity in artificer builds. Not a huge problem, though it means battle smiths’ now probably have two robotic creations to act for on their turns.
It's now a level 2 spell and not an infusion. So you can't get it until much later. If I'm understanding the new Artificer book right. So you can't even get it until level 5. So it's effectively a higher level familiar.
In the old Artificer wasn't it a level 6 required Infusion to have it.
Nope, no prerequisite.
I'm personally fine with a buff to the Homunculus. Especially the Telepathy. Artificer needed a rebalance anyway.
A 100gp gem was a prerequisite. You don't generally find those laying around at early levels unless your DM is just giving it to you. That was basically the limiter in my games. And that's still there in the new version.
It is arguably ineligible to be your spell-storing item (at higher levels), which was a method to use the old homunculus as a way to cast those spells effectively as a bonus action. So that feels like a downgrade.
It's now a level 2 spell and not an infusion. So you can't get it until much later. If I'm understanding the new Artificer book right. So you can't even get it until level 5. So it's effectively a higher level familiar.
In the old Artificer wasn't it a level 6 required Infusion to have it.
Nope, no prerequisite.
I'm personally fine with a buff to the Homunculus. Especially the Telepathy. Artificer needed a rebalance anyway.
A 100gp gem was a prerequisite. You don't generally find those laying around at early levels unless your DM is just giving it to you. That was basically the limiter in my games. And that's still there in the new version.
It is arguably ineligible to be your spell-storing item (at higher levels), which was a method to use the old homunculus as a way to cast those spells effectively as a bonus action. So that feels like a downgrade.
You misunderstand the use of "prerequisite" here. I was speaking in the terms used for infusions; the old infusions listed "Prerequisite:" before any feature that could only be taken at higher levels.
As for the interaction with Spell-Storing Object, there's no change here in terms of compatibility. The item that must be used is the same (and the gem that served as its "heart"/core was a part of a creature, making it ineligible to be used as a spellcasting focus) and the homunculus is still capable of using the object.
You misunderstand the use of "prerequisite" here. I was speaking in the terms used for infusions; the old infusions listed "Prerequisite:" before any feature that could only be taken at higher levels.
As for the interaction with Spell-Storing Object, there's no change here in terms of compatibility. The item that must be used is the same (and the gem that served as its "heart"/core was a part of a creature, making it ineligible to be used as a spellcasting focus) and the homunculus is still capable of using the object.
I understood you, just saying that there were other prerequisites that effectively serve the same purpose as an official Prerequisite.
And the SSI did not need to be used as a focus to cast its stored spells, the creature just needed to be holding it - which is much more fuzzily defined term than something like "wield." One common meaning of hold is to contain, which a homunculus is certainly doing to its heart. Pedantic, but that's RAW for you.
You misunderstand the use of "prerequisite" here. I was speaking in the terms used for infusions; the old infusions listed "Prerequisite:" before any feature that could only be taken at higher levels.
As for the interaction with Spell-Storing Object, there's no change here in terms of compatibility. The item that must be used is the same (and the gem that served as its "heart"/core was a part of a creature, making it ineligible to be used as a spellcasting focus) and the homunculus is still capable of using the object.
I understood you, just saying that there were other prerequisites that effectively serve the same purpose as an official Prerequisite.
And the SSI did not need to be used as a focus to cast its stored spells, the creature just needed to be holding it - which is much more fuzzily defined term than something like "wield." One common meaning of hold is to contain, which a homunculus is certainly doing to its heart. Pedantic, but that's RAW for you.
"While holding the object, a creature can take a Magic action to produce the spell’s effect from it, using your spellcasting ability modifier."
New SSI is fully usable by a homunculus servant.
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I play an artificer, and love my homunculus servant - a mechanical tressym named Meepo. But it feels like something is lost in that there is now no reason not to have a homunculus as a 2024 artificer. It’s effectively a class feature.
In 2014 Homunculus Servant was an Infusion, and it used to require your BA to tell it to attack. In 2024 its an artificer-exclusive 2nd level ritual spell with a duration of Instantaneous. Artificers can replace all of their level 1+ spells on a Long Rest. Homunculi no longer need a BA to command - they’re just a permanent extra ally. So an artificer really should be casting Homunculus Servant when they reach level 5, and then swapping the spell out the next day. They only need to prepare it again if the homunculus dies.
So I think it’ll now be unusual to see an artificer without a homunculus, unless I’ve missed something?
It's now a level 2 spell and not an infusion. So you can't get it until much later. If I'm understanding the new Artificer book right. So you can't even get it until level 5. So it's effectively a higher level familiar.
Yes… though given the valuable component many artificers wouldn’t have had them from 2nd level (when they could technically take the infusion) before.
My point is more that because the homunculus is so low cost in 2024, it’s effectively a class feature now. I think it’ll be unusual to see a level 5+ artificer without a homunculus.
It doesn't scale with your level or proficiency anymore... only with spell level. So it's going to be mostly a scout at higher levels.
In the old Artificer wasn't it a level 6 required Infusion to have it.
Nope, no prerequisite.
I'm personally fine with a buff to the Homunculus. Especially the Telepathy. Artificer needed a rebalance anyway.
I don’t think that’s a huge change. People will probably cast at the highest level they can if they have a spell slot unused at the end of the day. So at artificer level 20 they’ll still have an attack of +11, dmg about 8.5, while their hp goes from 26 to 30.
Probably still mostly a scout, but if you really need bodies on the field, then it’s something.
Agreed - telepathy is much appreciated!
I don’t think the homunculus has been buffed much (besides the telepathy). They’ve just made it essentially 0 cost for any artificer to create one, which reduces the diversity in artificer builds. Not a huge problem, though it means battle smiths’ now probably have two robotic creations to act for on their turns.
A 100gp gem was a prerequisite. You don't generally find those laying around at early levels unless your DM is just giving it to you. That was basically the limiter in my games. And that's still there in the new version.
It is arguably ineligible to be your spell-storing item (at higher levels), which was a method to use the old homunculus as a way to cast those spells effectively as a bonus action. So that feels like a downgrade.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
You misunderstand the use of "prerequisite" here. I was speaking in the terms used for infusions; the old infusions listed "Prerequisite:" before any feature that could only be taken at higher levels.
As for the interaction with Spell-Storing Object, there's no change here in terms of compatibility. The item that must be used is the same (and the gem that served as its "heart"/core was a part of a creature, making it ineligible to be used as a spellcasting focus) and the homunculus is still capable of using the object.
I think an artiffcer with homunculus is still less powerful than any paladin build at the same level. I'd say its fine.
I understood you, just saying that there were other prerequisites that effectively serve the same purpose as an official Prerequisite.
And the SSI did not need to be used as a focus to cast its stored spells, the creature just needed to be holding it - which is much more fuzzily defined term than something like "wield." One common meaning of hold is to contain, which a homunculus is certainly doing to its heart. Pedantic, but that's RAW for you.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
"While holding the object, a creature can take a Magic action to produce the spell’s effect from it, using your spellcasting ability modifier."
New SSI is fully usable by a homunculus servant.