Add intrigue and interaction to magic items with these identification rules.
Identifying Magic Items
Category: Spell Breakdowns
What Am I Counterspelling?
Counterspell is a spell you cast as a reaction to stop another spell: Xanathar's Guide to Everything (XGE) introduced an optional rule for identifying a spell. It also costs a reaction: This creates a tension between identifying a spell and deciding to counter it. You can only spend your reaction on one. The grand implication … Continue reading What Am I Counterspelling?
No, You Can’t Cast Magic Missile at the Darkness (and Other Weird Rules)
A primer on magic missile, and its weird rules interactions.
Spell Fix: Avoid the Zone of Truth Torture Chamber
Fixing up an social spell so it does what it says without pushing the player characters to torturing the subject.
Blade Cantrip Changes
Examining the updates to Green-Flame Blade and Booming Blade and their new interactions with metamagic, feats, spells, and class features.
You Can Fit 100 Intellect Devourers on the Outside of Leomund’s Tiny Hut
We offer this selection today in honor of Lenard Lakofka, who passed away on October 23, 2020. Lakofka was the player of Leomund and the creator of the Leomund's Tiny Hut spell. Lakofka ran a column in Dragon magazine called "Leomund's Tiny Hut" that ran from October 1979 (Dragon #30) until April 1986 (Dragon #108). … Continue reading You Can Fit 100 Intellect Devourers on the Outside of Leomund’s Tiny Hut
Reverse Illusions
Illusion magic in D&D 5th Edition tends to function a certain way. These spells create some sensory effect which a creature can make an investigation check to discern. Here's a list of spells that work this way (spell level in parentheses): Minor Illusion (C)Disguise Self (1st)Distort Value (1st)Silent Image (1st)Phantasmal Force (2nd)Major Image (3rd)Hallucinatory Terrain … Continue reading Reverse Illusions
Sleep Spell Reawakening
If the sleep spell is keeping you up at night, because of confusing mechanics or soft scaling, come take a look under the hood and sample two sleep spell solutions.
Animate Objects Fix
Animate Objects is a 5th level spell in D&D 5e that turns objects in your environment into living weapons. Come along as we tackle balance and action economy issues, and deliver a precise rework.
De-Magnify Gravity
I was checking out the new Explorer's Guide to Wildemount when I came across an absolute gem: Magnify Gravity. This spell is awesome! Super flavorful, must-take spell. Anytime I start thinking "must take" a red flag goes up. Let's check out the balance and see what knobs we can turn to tune it.
