So basically I have a bard that I am about to multiclass into a wizard. I’d like to know if it’s possible to not need a grimoire specifically but be able to write my spells by writing them on or carving them into my characters lute? Obviously the space on the instrument used to write spells on and challenges of carving the spells would be limiting/possibly difficult, which is a whole other bag of issues I’m not worrying about just yet. I just want to know if this is at all possible? I’ve read the phg and it doesn’t seem to say anywhere that you must use a spell book to write your spells in, nor that there’s much difference from writing in a spell book vs say, a piece of wood you carry with you. However, I could have possibly missed somewhere where it says you cannot.
Either way any help or insight given is much appreciated, thank you.
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The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head. He went galumphing back.
RAW, no a spellbook is required, and a spellbook is defined:
Spellbook. Essential for wizards, a spellbook is a leather-bound tome with 100 blank vellum pages suitable for recording spells.
As a DM, I would have no problem with it. Especially if you are also using the Lute as your Arcane Focus for Bardic Spells. The opportunity to have that become a major focal point for your character would be too good to pass up. There can be consequences for putting all of one's eggs in a single basket...
As long as you are mechanically using the "spellbook" correctly - i.e. spending the correct amount of gold and time to inscribe your spells - and using the "spellbook" in the morning to prepare your spells - then I don't see any problem with it. It's nice flavour.
But yes - RAW the spellbook is an actual book. That said - there is a class table in XGtE that has one option for the spellbook being "Small stones inscribed with spells and kept in a cloth bag". If that is an option the book specifically allows then I don't see why your idea wouldn't be allowed.
Yeah, I would be more on Emmber’s side on this topic than Pedroig’s. The spell book has mechanical requirements that once fulfilled, allow any flavor you’d like.
Yeah, I would be more on Emmber’s side on this topic than Pedroig’s. The spell book has mechanical requirements that once fulfilled, allow any flavor you’d like.
Wait a second, I'm on Emmber's side too, in otherwords would allow it despite of RAW.
My favorite alt "spellbook" I've used was in a campaign set 100 years in our world's future and I had all my spells programmed into a holoprojector watch.
This polished Eberron dragonshard fits in the hand and stores information similar to a book. The shard can hold the equivalent of one book that’s no more than 320 pages long. A shard can be created blank or already filled with information. When the shard is created, the creator can set a passphrase that must be spoken to access the information stored within.
While holding the shard, you can use an action to open your mind to the shard, seeing its content in your mind. On subsequent rounds, reading the text or scribing new text on blank “pages” in the shard requires concentration (as if concentrating on a spell) and takes the same amount of time it takes you to read and write normally. Thinking of a particular phrase or topic draws you to the first section in the shard that addresses it.
A wizard can use a spellshard as a spellbook, with the usual cost in gold and time to “scribe” a spell into the shard.
This polished Eberron dragonshard fits in the hand and stores information similar to a book. The shard can hold the equivalent of one book that’s no more than 320 pages long. A shard can be created blank or already filled with information. When the shard is created, the creator can set a passphrase that must be spoken to access the information stored within.
While holding the shard, you can use an action to open your mind to the shard, seeing its content in your mind. On subsequent rounds, reading the text or scribing new text on blank “pages” in the shard requires concentration (as if concentrating on a spell) and takes the same amount of time it takes you to read and write normally. Thinking of a particular phrase or topic draws you to the first section in the shard that addresses it.
A wizard can use a spellshard as a spellbook, with the usual cost in gold and time to “scribe” a spell into the shard.
And since it fits in a hand, I see no reason it couldn't be a decoration on your instrument if you are attached to having one item for spellbook/bardic focus
RAW, no a spellbook is required, and a spellbook is defined:
Spellbook. Essential for wizards, a spellbook is a leather-bound tome with 100 blank vellum pages suitable for recording spells.
As a DM, I would have no problem with it. Especially if you are also using the Lute as your Arcane Focus for Bardic Spells. The opportunity to have that become a major focal point for your character would be too good to pass up. There can be consequences for putting all of one's eggs in a single basket...
aside from the spellshard, a spellbook can be pretty much anything:
Spellbook
Your wizard character’s most prized possession — your spellbook — might be an innocuous-looking volume whose covers show no hint of what’s inside. Or you might display some flair, as many wizards do, by carrying a spellbook of an unusual sort. If you don’t own such an item already, one of your goals might be to find a spellbook that sets you apart by its appearance or its means of manufacture.
Spellbooks
d6
Spellbook
1
A tome with pages that are thin sheets of metal, spells etched into them with acid
2
Long straps of leather on which spells are written, wrapped around a staff for ease of transport
3
A battered tome filled with pictographs that only you can understand
4
Small stones inscribed with spells and kept in a cloth bag
5
A scorched book, ravaged by dragon fire, with the script of your spells barely visible on its pages
6
A tome full of black pages whose writing is visible only in dim light or darkness
Just joining the consensus that I would probably have allowed that. However it might depend on the setting - if an important feature of the world is that magic is written and copied etc, I would might have said that in THIS world, that doesn't work.
What about a dwarven wizard who insists on carving his spells into stone-tablets - or the walls of his tower. Then you're talking heavy magic!
So basically I have a bard that I am about to multiclass into a wizard. I’d like to know if it’s possible to not need a grimoire specifically but be able to write my spells by writing them on or carving them into my characters lute?
Obviously the space on the instrument used to write spells on and challenges of carving the spells would be limiting/possibly difficult, which is a whole other bag of issues I’m not worrying about just yet.
I just want to know if this is at all possible? I’ve read the phg and it doesn’t seem to say anywhere that you must use a spell book to write your spells in, nor that there’s much difference from writing in a spell book vs say, a piece of wood you carry with you.
However, I could have possibly missed somewhere where it says you cannot.
Either way any help or insight given is much appreciated, thank you.
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head. He went galumphing back.
RAW, no a spellbook is required, and a spellbook is defined:
As a DM, I would have no problem with it. Especially if you are also using the Lute as your Arcane Focus for Bardic Spells. The opportunity to have that become a major focal point for your character would be too good to pass up. There can be consequences for putting all of one's eggs in a single basket...
As long as you are mechanically using the "spellbook" correctly - i.e. spending the correct amount of gold and time to inscribe your spells - and using the "spellbook" in the morning to prepare your spells - then I don't see any problem with it. It's nice flavour.
But yes - RAW the spellbook is an actual book.
That said - there is a class table in XGtE that has one option for the spellbook being "Small stones inscribed with spells and kept in a cloth bag". If that is an option the book specifically allows then I don't see why your idea wouldn't be allowed.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
Yeah, I would be more on Emmber’s side on this topic
than Pedroig’s. The spell book has mechanical requirements that once fulfilled, allow any flavor you’d like.Wait a second, I'm on Emmber's side too, in otherwords would allow it despite of RAW.
Awesome, this is exactly the info I was looking for. Thank you all :)
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head. He went galumphing back.
My favorite alt "spellbook" I've used was in a campaign set 100 years in our world's future and I had all my spells programmed into a holoprojector watch.
IN Eberron you get a spellshard which CAN be used for a spellbook.
Spellshard
Wondrous item, common
This polished Eberron dragonshard fits in the hand and stores information similar to a book. The shard can hold the equivalent of one book that’s no more than 320 pages long. A shard can be created blank or already filled with information. When the shard is created, the creator can set a passphrase that must be spoken to access the information stored within.
While holding the shard, you can use an action to open your mind to the shard, seeing its content in your mind. On subsequent rounds, reading the text or scribing new text on blank “pages” in the shard requires concentration (as if concentrating on a spell) and takes the same amount of time it takes you to read and write normally. Thinking of a particular phrase or topic draws you to the first section in the shard that addresses it.
A wizard can use a spellshard as a spellbook, with the usual cost in gold and time to “scribe” a spell into the shard.
And since it fits in a hand, I see no reason it couldn't be a decoration on your instrument if you are attached to having one item for spellbook/bardic focus
aside from the spellshard, a spellbook can be pretty much anything:
Spellbook
Your wizard character’s most prized possession — your spellbook — might be an innocuous-looking volume whose covers show no hint of what’s inside. Or you might display some flair, as many wizards do, by carrying a spellbook of an unusual sort. If you don’t own such an item already, one of your goals might be to find a spellbook that sets you apart by its appearance or its means of manufacture.
Spellbooks
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Just joining the consensus that I would probably have allowed that. However it might depend on the setting - if an important feature of the world is that magic is written and copied etc, I would might have said that in THIS world, that doesn't work.
What about a dwarven wizard who insists on carving his spells into stone-tablets - or the walls of his tower. Then you're talking heavy magic!
Ludo ergo sum!
There was an NPC in one module who had his spells inscribed on his body wrappings and it was considered his spellbook.