Can I cast the spell symbol, putting the symbol on an object like a weapon or a shield or maybe anything else I can hold? So for example like a dagger with the symbol on it set to trigger at shapechangers so you could just hold it up to a suspected shapechanger to test it and if it's triggered and they are, they take 10d10 on a failing save, or it just goes away because it ends when triggered, so you'd know it was a shapechanger
If you choose an object, that object must remain in its place; if the object is moved more than 10 feet from where you cast this spell, the glyph is broken, and the spell ends without being triggered.
So it will work as long as you don't move more than 10 feet after you've cast it. Doesn't seem too useful.
I don't think there's anything in the text to preclude you from putting it on a carried object of some kind as long as that object has a surface, however, you wouldn't be able to carry it far:
If you choose an object, that object must remain in its place; if the object is moved more than 10 feet from where you cast this spell, the glyph is broken, and the spell ends without being triggered.
Here is the spell description. It is pretty specific about where and on what it can be cast.
"When you cast this spell, you inscribe a harmful glyph either on a surface (such as a section of floor, a wall, or a table) or within an object that can be dosed to conceal the glyph (such as a book, a scroll, or a treasure chest). If you choose a surface, the glyph can cover an area of the surface no larger than 10 feet in diameter, if you choose an object, that object must remain in its place; if the object is moved more than 10 feet from where you cast this spell, the glyph is broken, and the spell ends without being triggered."
It can only be cast on an object that can be closed AND that object can't be moved more than 10' from the location where it was cast.
You CAN set the glyph to trigger only if a specific type of creature opens the box or approaches the object.
"You can further refine the trigger so the spell is activated only under certain circumstances or according to a creature's physical characteristics (such as height or weight). or physical kind (for example, the ward could be set to affect hags or shapechangers). You can also specify creatures that don't trigger the glyph, such as those who say a certain password."
However, the effect is indiscriminate. If a shapeshifter opens the box and triggers the symbol then any creature within 60' for the next 10 minutes is affected by the symbol - not just the creature who triggered it.
"Each creature in the sphere when the glyph activates is targeted by its effect, as is a creature that enters the sphere for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there."
This actually makes the symbol spell somewhat useless. Some of the effects will incapacitate targets on a failed save which you would think would make for a great ambush. However, the ambushers can't approach within 60' of the folks who fail the save without having to make their own save. This does allow for 10 rounds of ranged attacks since the spell doesn't allow for any subsequent saving throws but the ranged attacks will be normal rolls since the advantage from incapacitated or stunned is cancelled by the fact that the targets are probably prone (though if stunned targets remain standing then this might be the best choice of effect).
Symbol is also 7th level and costs 1000gp for each casting ..
Not useless, it's good at what it does (setting a magical security checkpoint for visitors to your sanctum). Once it pops, you can send in your golem or undead minion or whatever to arrest the interlopers, and then get down to the business of interrogating them to figure which one is secretly a shapechanger or whatever.
Back to OP's question... Mellie has it. Feel free to put it on a guard's shield or anything else with a "surface," just be aware that that shield can never be carried away from the duty station by the guard wielding it or else you've wasted 1000 gp of material components. Definitely safer to stick it on the gate than the guard's equipment!
Not useless, it's good at what it does (setting a magical security checkpoint for visitors to your sanctum). Once it pops, you can send in your golem or undead minion or whatever to arrest the interlopers, and then get down to the business of interrogating them to figure which one is secretly a shapechanger or whatever.
Back to OP's question... Mellie has it. Feel free to put it on a guard's shield or anything else with a "surface," just be aware that that shield can never be carried away from the duty station by the guard wielding it or else you've wasted 1000 gp of material components. Definitely safer to stick it on the gate than the guard's equipment!
1) I'm not sure a shield can be considered a surface in the context of the spell. A shield is an object and the spell specifically calls out surfaces like floors/walls/tables or objects that can be closed. If surface included anything that has a surface then the entire section about objects that close is meaningless since EVERY object in existence has a surface including objects that close. There would be no point in mentioning objects that close if surfaces included anything in existence with a surface.
2) Once triggered the symbol affects (and continues to affect) anything within 60' for 10 minutes so putting the symbol on something at a guard post is probably going to knock out all the guards as well as anyone else within 60' when the symbol is triggered. So if you want to use the symbol as a detector of unwanted creatures you would need to put it in the middle of a 120' long corridor with guards at both ends and something immune to the effect of the symbol that can run in and either attack or restrain anything that may fail its save against the symbol.
Considering the spell is 1000gp/case .. it seems overly complex for something that might be managed with a guard post and a Zone of Truth spell.
So here's a loop hole. If you use it on a surface large enough, you can cast symbol. Then just pick up the wall. If this is to ridiculous for you, you can use enlarge and reduce on the wall after casting symbol and taking it to make it a little reasonable.
So here's a loop hole. If you use it on a surface large enough, you can cast symbol. Then just pick up the wall. If this is to ridiculous for you, you can use enlarge and reduce on the wall after casting symbol and taking it to make it a little reasonable.
Barbarian: "Just cast it on the side of a house and carry around the house. That is what I would do."
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Can I cast the spell symbol, putting the symbol on an object like a weapon or a shield or maybe anything else I can hold? So for example like a dagger with the symbol on it set to trigger at shapechangers so you could just hold it up to a suspected shapechanger to test it and if it's triggered and they are, they take 10d10 on a failing save, or it just goes away because it ends when triggered, so you'd know it was a shapechanger
From symbol.
So it will work as long as you don't move more than 10 feet after you've cast it. Doesn't seem too useful.
I don't think there's anything in the text to preclude you from putting it on a carried object of some kind as long as that object has a surface, however, you wouldn't be able to carry it far:
Umm no?
Here is the spell description. It is pretty specific about where and on what it can be cast.
"When you cast this spell, you inscribe a harmful glyph either on a surface (such as a section of floor, a wall, or a table) or within an object that can be dosed to conceal the glyph (such as a book, a scroll, or a treasure chest). If you choose a surface, the glyph can cover an area of the surface no larger than 10 feet in diameter, if you choose an object, that object must remain in its place; if the object is moved more than 10 feet from where you cast this spell, the glyph is broken, and the spell ends without being triggered."
It can only be cast on an object that can be closed AND that object can't be moved more than 10' from the location where it was cast.
You CAN set the glyph to trigger only if a specific type of creature opens the box or approaches the object.
"You can further refine the trigger so the spell is activated only under certain circumstances or according to a creature's physical characteristics (such as height or weight). or physical kind (for example, the ward could be set to affect hags or shapechangers). You can also specify creatures that don't trigger the glyph, such as those who say a certain password."
However, the effect is indiscriminate. If a shapeshifter opens the box and triggers the symbol then any creature within 60' for the next 10 minutes is affected by the symbol - not just the creature who triggered it.
"Each creature in the sphere when the glyph activates is targeted by its effect, as is a creature that enters the sphere for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there."
This actually makes the symbol spell somewhat useless. Some of the effects will incapacitate targets on a failed save which you would think would make for a great ambush. However, the ambushers can't approach within 60' of the folks who fail the save without having to make their own save. This does allow for 10 rounds of ranged attacks since the spell doesn't allow for any subsequent saving throws but the ranged attacks will be normal rolls since the advantage from incapacitated or stunned is cancelled by the fact that the targets are probably prone (though if stunned targets remain standing then this might be the best choice of effect).
Symbol is also 7th level and costs 1000gp for each casting ..
Not useless, it's good at what it does (setting a magical security checkpoint for visitors to your sanctum). Once it pops, you can send in your golem or undead minion or whatever to arrest the interlopers, and then get down to the business of interrogating them to figure which one is secretly a shapechanger or whatever.
Back to OP's question... Mellie has it. Feel free to put it on a guard's shield or anything else with a "surface," just be aware that that shield can never be carried away from the duty station by the guard wielding it or else you've wasted 1000 gp of material components. Definitely safer to stick it on the gate than the guard's equipment!
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Oh wow I accidentally skipped an entire paragraph of the spell description. Lol.
1) I'm not sure a shield can be considered a surface in the context of the spell. A shield is an object and the spell specifically calls out surfaces like floors/walls/tables or objects that can be closed. If surface included anything that has a surface then the entire section about objects that close is meaningless since EVERY object in existence has a surface including objects that close. There would be no point in mentioning objects that close if surfaces included anything in existence with a surface.
2) Once triggered the symbol affects (and continues to affect) anything within 60' for 10 minutes so putting the symbol on something at a guard post is probably going to knock out all the guards as well as anyone else within 60' when the symbol is triggered. So if you want to use the symbol as a detector of unwanted creatures you would need to put it in the middle of a 120' long corridor with guards at both ends and something immune to the effect of the symbol that can run in and either attack or restrain anything that may fail its save against the symbol.
Considering the spell is 1000gp/case .. it seems overly complex for something that might be managed with a guard post and a Zone of Truth spell.
So here's a loop hole. If you use it on a surface large enough, you can cast symbol. Then just pick up the wall. If this is to ridiculous for you, you can use enlarge and reduce on the wall after casting symbol and taking it to make it a little reasonable.
Also known as CrafterB and DankMemer.
Here, have some homebrew classes! Subclasses to? Why not races. Feats, feats as well. I have a lot of magic items. Lastly I got monsters, fun, fun times.
Barbarian: "Just cast it on the side of a house and carry around the house. That is what I would do."