As title asks, how do the three main Holy Symbols differ from one another, enough to be separate selections?
Sure, Emblem is weightless, Amulet is a pound, and Reliquary's 2, but, why? And is weight all that differs between them? What even is an "emblem" exactly, in the context of D&D?
A Reliquary is a chamber that holds a holy relic. It is often made in an ornate fashion and in a manner that allows the relic to be viewed but not handled. Modern small reliquaries in the range of 2 pounds would be made of metal with glass panels and a ring on the top to allow it to be carried. The metal would be shiny gold-like surfaced, polished brass or covered in gold leaf.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I'm sure it has more to do with stuff from older editions. In 5e, emblems go on shields or armor (making them your focus), amulet is a necklace, and reliquary I have no idea because by definition they are not supposed to be used as wands.
>90% go with emblem for the convenience. If shield = focus, you can cast M spells with sword and board.
<1% use reliquary because they also don't know how to use it and it is the largest option.
The rest use amulet either as a necklace or like a wand. Hold it for M spells.
A reliquary is "a tiny box holding a fragment of a sacred relic".
So, would you normally just present the tiny box in the spell casting, or would you take the fragment from the box and proudly present it on each spell casting?
I would think the cleric would hold it up in his hands like an offering pose, possibly kneeling on one or both knees. Somehow presenting it to his deity.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
What does "not supposed to be used like wands" mean exactly?
Is there a relevant excerpt from a book you could copypaste?
I was thinking of them as like backpack sized shrines, but I guess they are actually more of a jewelry box in size and appearance. Still hard to hold and wave around a 6 inch box 1 handed.
I'm not saying it can't be done, just that it isn't designed to (not as a rule, just by definition).
The kind of reliquary a first level character might be toting around would be pretty small - something designed to hold a tooth or finger bone, for example.
You could wear that around your neck, around your wrist, etc...
The kind of reliquary a first level character might be toting around would be pretty small - something designed to hold a tooth or finger bone, for example.
You could wear that around your neck, around your wrist, etc...
It weighs 2 lb RAW. So at least twice the size of an amulet.
The kind of reliquary a first level character might be toting around would be pretty small - something designed to hold a tooth or finger bone, for example.
You could wear that around your neck, around your wrist, etc...
It weighs 2 lb RAW. So at least twice the size of an amulet.
Might just be higher density.
Maybe it's somewhat like waving a book around?
I'd say probably though that a reliqiuary you can wear on your neck is essentially an amulet at that point.
You know in the movies when the crazy priest is running around with a “box” (could be any shape), often made of glass and gold, and it has the skeletal/mummified remains of some dead saint’s arm and hand, or skull, or a chunk of the cross or some such holy “relic” sometimes they hook the ring at the top onto a staff of some kind and wave that around as they invoke their god to smite heathens or some such other? That’s a reliquary. They were real popular further crusades.
pardon the dumb question, but when you're not talking about the precise fact of holding a shield with an emblem in combat, isn't the nature of the holy symbol just a matter of flavor? is there any reason it couldn't be an armband or a belt buckle or a tattoo?
pardon the dumb question, but when you're not talking about the precise fact of holding a shield with an emblem in combat, isn't the nature of the holy symbol just a matter of flavor? is there any reason it couldn't be an armband or a belt buckle or a tattoo?
Armband: I'd rule that as Amulet reflavor.
Belt Buckle: Amulet.
Tattoo: I can see a DM being more hesitant, since a tattoo can't normally easily be removed from the owner's possession as easily as a box, necklace, or shield.
As title asks, how do the three main Holy Symbols differ from one another, enough to be separate selections?
Sure, Emblem is weightless, Amulet is a pound, and Reliquary's 2, but, why? And is weight all that differs between them? What even is an "emblem" exactly, in the context of D&D?
All me Hombews:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUnYn1tRvbkKOPpAkWOVlpe2S3JVLpV_LDOVzKG2DgQ/edit?usp=drivesdk
A Reliquary is a chamber that holds a holy relic. It is often made in an ornate fashion and in a manner that allows the relic to be viewed but not handled. Modern small reliquaries in the range of 2 pounds would be made of metal with glass panels and a ring on the top to allow it to be carried. The metal would be shiny gold-like surfaced, polished brass or covered in gold leaf.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I'm sure it has more to do with stuff from older editions. In 5e, emblems go on shields or armor (making them your focus), amulet is a necklace, and reliquary I have no idea because by definition they are not supposed to be used as wands.
>90% go with emblem for the convenience. If shield = focus, you can cast M spells with sword and board.
<1% use reliquary because they also don't know how to use it and it is the largest option.
The rest use amulet either as a necklace or like a wand. Hold it for M spells.
What does "not supposed to be used like wands" mean exactly?
Is there a relevant excerpt from a book you could copypaste?
All me Hombews:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUnYn1tRvbkKOPpAkWOVlpe2S3JVLpV_LDOVzKG2DgQ/edit?usp=drivesdk
A reliquary is "a tiny box holding a fragment of a sacred relic".
So, would you normally just present the tiny box in the spell casting, or would you take the fragment from the box and proudly present it on each spell casting?
I would think the cleric would hold it up in his hands like an offering pose, possibly kneeling on one or both knees. Somehow presenting it to his deity.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I was thinking of them as like backpack sized shrines, but I guess they are actually more of a jewelry box in size and appearance. Still hard to hold and wave around a 6 inch box 1 handed.
I'm not saying it can't be done, just that it isn't designed to (not as a rule, just by definition).
The kind of reliquary a first level character might be toting around would be pretty small - something designed to hold a tooth or finger bone, for example.
You could wear that around your neck, around your wrist, etc...
It weighs 2 lb RAW. So at least twice the size of an amulet.
Might just be higher density.
Maybe it's somewhat like waving a book around?
I'd say probably though that a reliqiuary you can wear on your neck is essentially an amulet at that point.
All me Hombews:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUnYn1tRvbkKOPpAkWOVlpe2S3JVLpV_LDOVzKG2DgQ/edit?usp=drivesdk
You know in the movies when the crazy priest is running around with a “box” (could be any shape), often made of glass and gold, and it has the skeletal/mummified remains of some dead saint’s arm and hand, or skull, or a chunk of the cross or some such holy “relic” sometimes they hook the ring at the top onto a staff of some kind and wave that around as they invoke their god to smite heathens or some such other? That’s a reliquary. They were real popular further crusades.
And the Imperium of Man in the 41st millennium loves them too.
Some can be super tiny, like locket sized.
(I think I have pieces of a couple of saints in tiny reliqu somewhere?)
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pardon the dumb question, but when you're not talking about the precise fact of holding a shield with an emblem in combat, isn't the nature of the holy symbol just a matter of flavor? is there any reason it couldn't be an armband or a belt buckle or a tattoo?
Armband: I'd rule that as Amulet reflavor.
Belt Buckle: Amulet.
Tattoo: I can see a DM being more hesitant, since a tattoo can't normally easily be removed from the owner's possession as easily as a box, necklace, or shield.
All me Hombews:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WUnYn1tRvbkKOPpAkWOVlpe2S3JVLpV_LDOVzKG2DgQ/edit?usp=drivesdk