You have to include a number of charges with the magic item, and have the spell require charges to cast. So, if you put one charge on the item that refreshes at Dawn, and have the spell require one charge to cast, then they would only be able to cast that spell Once and have to wait until after sunrise to be able to cast it again. That’s how all of the official magic items that work that way are done.
I have an off-shoot question for this: Is it possible to have multiple spells in the same item that all can only be cast 1x a day and have that reflected on player's sheets?
Example: I gave my player an item that has 7 spells that can each only be cast once a day at their respective levels. I noticed that if I give the item 7 charges, and only have the Min and Max set to 1 on the spell (designating that the spells can't be up-cast, but aren't at-will), it's not a once a day usage for each. Instead, the 7 charges on the item can still be spent on any of the spells at any time until all 7 charges have been used (which is how charges normally work). Any work around for this? Or do I simply have my player just keep track of what he's cast already?
I have an off-shoot question for this: Is it possible to have multiple spells in the same item that all can only be cast 1x a day and have that reflected on player's sheets?
Example: I gave my player an item that has 7 spells that can each only be cast once a day at their respective levels. I noticed that if I give the item 7 charges, and only have the Min and Max set to 1 on the spell (designating that the spells can't be up-cast, but aren't at-will), it's not a once a day usage for each. Instead, the 7 charges on the item can still be spent on any of the spells at any time until all 7 charges have been used (which is how charges normally work). Any work around for this? Or do I simply have my player just keep track of what he's cast already?
Unfortunately not.
You can see this on items like an instrument of the bards where each spell is only supposed to have a single use, but the item has seven charges (one for each spell), so as far as the character sheet is concerned you can cast the same spell multiple times, even though the item description says you can't.
So for now you just have to be very clear in your description, and hope that players read it. It's a bit annoying, as we know that single use spells are possible on other homebrew (feats, racial traits, sub-class features etc.) but the options for magic items aren't the same. DDB are supposed to be working on a "generic features system" which might make more of these things universal, but who knows when that will happen?
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I have an off-shoot question for this: Is it possible to have multiple spells in the same item that all can only be cast 1x a day and have that reflected on player's sheets?
Example: I gave my player an item that has 7 spells that can each only be cast once a day at their respective levels. I noticed that if I give the item 7 charges, and only have the Min and Max set to 1 on the spell (designating that the spells can't be up-cast, but aren't at-will), it's not a once a day usage for each. Instead, the 7 charges on the item can still be spent on any of the spells at any time until all 7 charges have been used (which is how charges normally work). Any work around for this? Or do I simply have my player just keep track of what he's cast already?
Unfortunately not.
You can see this on items like an instrument of the bards where each spell is only supposed to have a single use, but the item has seven charges (one for each spell), so as far as the character sheet is concerned you can cast the same spell multiple times, even though the item description says you can't.
So for now you just have to be very clear in your description, and hope that players read it. It's a bit annoying, as we know that single use spells are possible on other homebrew (feats, racial traits, sub-class features etc.) but the options for magic items aren't the same. DDB are supposed to be working on a "generic features system" which might make more of these things universal, but who knows when that will happen?
I know this is an old enough thread but just wanted to chime in here as I've faced the same issue (and yes, it STILL not possible to have multiple single-use spells actually be single use on the character sheets!) - BUT, a workaround is doable if you create multiple making items. If the main/actual magic item requires attunement, only one of the separated items should have the requirement.
I was just granted a magic item that requires attunement and allows Blur to be cast once per day and Misty Step three times per day. So I ended up simply creating two items, one that requires attunement, has one charge, and can cast Blur. The other doesn't require attunement, has three charges, and can cast Misty Step for one charge each time.
Now, granted, this workaround is only really viable for items with a few spells attached. It's not really feasible to have to create 7 individual items just to have something like the Doss Lute work correctly! But it IS more reliable than having players try to remember "Did I already cast X through this, or did I use that charge for something else?", especially between sessions.
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How do I make it so a spell that can be cast through a magic item doesn't say "At will"? That would mean that they could cast it limitlessly.
You have to include a number of charges with the magic item, and have the spell require charges to cast. So, if you put one charge on the item that refreshes at Dawn, and have the spell require one charge to cast, then they would only be able to cast that spell Once and have to wait until after sunrise to be able to cast it again. That’s how all of the official magic items that work that way are done.
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I have an off-shoot question for this:
Is it possible to have multiple spells in the same item that all can only be cast 1x a day and have that reflected on player's sheets?
Example: I gave my player an item that has 7 spells that can each only be cast once a day at their respective levels. I noticed that if I give the item 7 charges, and only have the Min and Max set to 1 on the spell (designating that the spells can't be up-cast, but aren't at-will), it's not a once a day usage for each. Instead, the 7 charges on the item can still be spent on any of the spells at any time until all 7 charges have been used (which is how charges normally work). Any work around for this? Or do I simply have my player just keep track of what he's cast already?
Unfortunately not.
You can see this on items like an instrument of the bards where each spell is only supposed to have a single use, but the item has seven charges (one for each spell), so as far as the character sheet is concerned you can cast the same spell multiple times, even though the item description says you can't.
So for now you just have to be very clear in your description, and hope that players read it. It's a bit annoying, as we know that single use spells are possible on other homebrew (feats, racial traits, sub-class features etc.) but the options for magic items aren't the same. DDB are supposed to be working on a "generic features system" which might make more of these things universal, but who knows when that will happen?
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I know this is an old enough thread but just wanted to chime in here as I've faced the same issue (and yes, it STILL not possible to have multiple single-use spells actually be single use on the character sheets!) - BUT, a workaround is doable if you create multiple making items. If the main/actual magic item requires attunement, only one of the separated items should have the requirement.
I was just granted a magic item that requires attunement and allows Blur to be cast once per day and Misty Step three times per day. So I ended up simply creating two items, one that requires attunement, has one charge, and can cast Blur. The other doesn't require attunement, has three charges, and can cast Misty Step for one charge each time.
Now, granted, this workaround is only really viable for items with a few spells attached. It's not really feasible to have to create 7 individual items just to have something like the Doss Lute work correctly! But it IS more reliable than having players try to remember "Did I already cast X through this, or did I use that charge for something else?", especially between sessions.