While you are holding the wand, you can use an action to conjure skeletons and zombies, calling forth as many of them as you can divide 500 hit points among, each undead having average hit points. <snip irrelevant> While attuned to the wand, Orcus can summon any kind of undead, not just skeletons and zombies.
That 500 hp meant Orcus could summon, say, 6xdemilich or 12x flameskull, which was problematic.
The 2024 wand of Orcus' summoning mechanic is
While holding the wand, you can take a Magic action to conjure 15 Skeletons and 15 Zombies. <snip irrelevant> While holding the wand, Orcus can summon any kind of Undead, not just skeletons and zombies.
So... Orcus can just summon 30 x lich? Or if you think it's implied to be two different types of undead, mix in other high CRs.
Also, the updated statbloc for Orcus says this, so maybe he is meant to be as limited as before.
Conjure Undead (1/Day). While holding the Wand of Orcus, Orcus conjures Undead creatures whose combined average hit points don’t exceed 500. These creatures magically rise up from the ground or otherwise form in unoccupied spaces within 300 feet of Orcus and obey his commands until they are destroyed or until he dismisses them as an action.
Also, the updated statbloc for Orcus says this, so maybe he is meant to be as limited as before.
MotM predates the 2024 DMG.
Until they print a new Orcus block, that doesn't matter. Either the old Orcus block still provides guidance or there is no Orcus block. Even the legacy block and item interacted in a similar manner, the result was the same: The action that actually matters is the one on his block. The item is just telling that the creature variety limit is lifted for him.
The Description states: Any creature besides Orcus that tries to attune to the wand makes a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, the creature takes 10d6 Necrotic damage. On a failed save, the creature dies and, if it is a Humanoid, turns into a zombie.
Am I to assume that if you pass the DC17 Con Save, you take the Necrotic damage AND are attuned to the item? I ask as it doesn't say if the attunement is successful, just states the damage on a success, or death on a failure.
Cheers!
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Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty. Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers; Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas. Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
The Description states: Any creature besides Orcus that tries to attune to the wand makes a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, the creature takes 10d6 Necrotic damage. On a failed save, the creature dies and, if it is a Humanoid, turns into a zombie.
Am I to assume that if you pass the DC17 Con Save, you take the Necrotic damage AND are attuned to the item? I ask as it doesn't say if the attunement is successful, just states the damage on a success, or death on a failure.
They don't say the attunement is unsuccessful, either. Since attuning on an attunement attempt is expected, it would have to say it wouldn't work.
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The 2014 wand of Orcus' summoning mechanic was
That 500 hp meant Orcus could summon, say, 6xdemilich or 12x flameskull, which was problematic.
The 2024 wand of Orcus' summoning mechanic is
So... Orcus can just summon 30 x lich? Or if you think it's implied to be two different types of undead, mix in other high CRs.
Better make sure ha doesn't get the wand then. ;)
Also, the updated statbloc for Orcus says this, so maybe he is meant to be as limited as before.
MotM predates the 2024 DMG.
Until they print a new Orcus block, that doesn't matter. Either the old Orcus block still provides guidance or there is no Orcus block. Even the legacy block and item interacted in a similar manner, the result was the same: The action that actually matters is the one on his block. The item is just telling that the creature variety limit is lifted for him.
Reguarding the Wand of Orcus,
The Description states:
Any creature besides Orcus that tries to attune to the wand makes a DC 17 Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, the creature takes 10d6 Necrotic damage. On a failed save, the creature dies and, if it is a Humanoid, turns into a zombie.
Am I to assume that if you pass the DC17 Con Save, you take the Necrotic damage AND are attuned to the item?
I ask as it doesn't say if the attunement is successful, just states the damage on a success, or death on a failure.
Cheers!
Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty.
Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers;
Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas.
Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
They don't say the attunement is unsuccessful, either. Since attuning on an attunement attempt is expected, it would have to say it wouldn't work.