D&D 5E Cartomancer feat - OP at high levels

[Maxperson]

But as a 1st level Cleric/16th level Bard I could pick a 9th level Cleric spell since I would have 9th level slots!

That's how it is written, but I would require someone in my game to be able to cast the spell in order to pick it. Not for balance reasons, but rather because it doesn't make sense for someone who is a level 1 cleric to create something with a 9th level cleric spell.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

If a player really wanted to use this for theme reasons I would have it work similarly to a ring of spell storing. You cast the spell into the card in the morning, using a slot (and material components if applicable), then can activate it later as a bonus action.

So only spells you can cast, no extra slot, but can cast two spells in one round.

 

[Distracted DM]

If a player really wanted to use this for theme reasons I would have it work similarly to a ring of spell storing. You cast the spell into the card in the morning, using a slot, then can activate it later as a bonus action.

So only spells you can cast, no extra slot, but can cast two spells in one round.

Would you require it to be a spell they know, or does it just have to be on their class list?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Would you require it to be a spell they know, or does it just have to be on their class list?

Only known spells. For logical reasons. It doesn't make sense for a sorcerer to be able to cast a spell they don't know. I would allow spells from other sources, such as feats or race, to be stored though.

 

[Distracted DM]

Only known spells. For logical reasons. It doesn't make sense for a sorcerer to be able to cast an spell the don't know. I would allow spells from other sources, such as feats or race, to be stored though.

Yeah it's a super weirdly designed feat. The other thing is, it's VERY different from the Unearthed Arcana version. It's like someone saw the UA version, and just decided to throw it all out and write up a new one just before the book went to ship.

 

[Maxperson]

If a player really wanted to use this for theme reasons I would have it work similarly to a ring of spell storing. You cast the spell into the card in the morning, using a slot (and material components if applicable), then can activate it later as a bonus action.

So only spells you can cast, no extra slot, but can cast two spells in one round.

That's a lot of investment just to set up an extra cantrip in one round of the day. Or are you saying you'd allow them two spells of 1st level or higher in one round, which is actually pretty good?

 

[Nikosandros]

The physical version is also very expensive, and the digital version is missing the booklet describing the cards.

That one is a real head-scratcher for me.

 

[Nikosandros]

If a player really wanted to use this for theme reasons I would have it work similarly to a ring of spell storing. You cast the spell into the card in the morning, using a slot (and material components if applicable), then can activate it later as a bonus action.

So only spells you can cast, no extra slot, but can cast two spells in one round.

Seems reasonable. The feat is very poorly written, but I feel that one should go with a reasonable interpretation instead of trying to divine what the designer and/or the editor might have been thinking.