D&D 5E UA Spell Versatility: A deeper dive

[Maxperson]

In the most literal sense of theory? Yes.

In practice, I tend to make up an NPCs spell list on the fly, so I would never even be able to tell if they were switching their spell list every few weeks or not. Either they are enemies and dead, or they are allies and the players are likely only seeing them cast one or two spells anyways

I play my games with more realism than many. The world moves on without PC interaction, so NPCs will be engaging in this if it remains possible to engage in. Not many, but some would. I feel that it shouldn't be possible to swap out entire lists over the matter of days. If it was like 1 per month, it wouldn't be so bad, but it would also be next to useless for PCs at that point.

Maybe if only one slot can be designated as swapable and forget the level limitation, it would give versatility without being too restrictive or allowing entire spell list swaps.

 

[Salthorae]

I play my games with more realism that many. The world moves on without PC interaction, so NPCs will be engaging in this if it remains possible to engage in. Not many, but some would. I feel that it shouldn't be possible to swap out entire lists over the matter of days. If it was like 1 per month, it wouldn't be so bad, but it would also be next to useless for PCs at that point.

Maybe if only one slot can be designated as swapable and forget the level limitation, it would give versatility without being too restrictive or allowing entire spell list swaps.

That's where I am too I think. A downtime activity that took weeks of time or something. But once per long rest is too much for me.

 

[Maxperson]

That's where I am too I think. A downtime activity that took weeks of time or something. But once per long rest is too much for me.

I'm okay with once per long rest if it's only 1 spell slot.

 

[5ekyu]

A Sorcerer with 15 spells known can have a completely different set of spells known over 15 days than they did have. That is my biggest problem with the ability honestly. That sorcerers can completely change out their entire spells known list given enough time.

Sure it's only same level swaps, but still. A sorcerer is defined by their spells known... if they can just be totally different in two weeks it really weakens the class for me.

Yeah well I will leave you to sweat out the potential of that tier4 sorc with 15 dpells swsppingbover a couple weeks keeping levels as is vs a wizard with a minimum of 38 in their spellbook and prepping around 22 each day of whatever levels spread they have.

Me, at tier 2 we are looking at a lot more restrictive divisions of levels of spells and the swapping within levels of my source's 6-10 known spread over 3-5 levels just doesnt give me much to sweat over.

Most of the time, when my wizards swap for mission, its gonna vary the levels distribution a good deal. That keep same level for the quick swap is significant to me, even if not to you out there at tier-4.

 

[5ekyu]

That's where I am too I think. A downtime activity that took weeks of time or something. But once per long rest is too much for me.

In my games, I had established swapping spells out for the "knoens" was a "homebase ritual" something you setup in a lair or stronghold with significant cost.

It might be worthwhile to have a cost associated with a rest swap.

But, like I said, I am more interested in exploring versatile meta-magic and invocations - could really get into those in place of spell versatility.

 

[MoonSong]

In my games, I had established swapping spells out for the "knoens" was a "homebase ritual" something you setup in a lair or stronghold with significant cost.

It might be worthwhile to have a cost associated with a rest swap.

But, like I said, I am more interested in exploring versatile meta-magic and invocations - could really get into those in place of spell versatility.

But then we have an outright contradiction with sorcerer power being innate. It shouldn't be a thing that relies on external factors.

 

[5ekyu]

But then we have an outright contradiction with sorcerer power being innate. It shouldn't be a thing that relies on external factors.

Hmmm...not to me. The sorcerer has innate power. But like when it requires material components it can be focused or directed by means of external factors.

In this case, I see these external rituals and runes etc as setting up a tuning station.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I don't think that is clear that my reading is not the intent. I don't think the feature is intended to allow the complete re-writing of all spells known in a week or two. That seems really over the top to me.

Given that your interpretation is:

* massively complicated, and requires vastly increased record keeping;

* pointless;

* also does not fit the text.

I am absolutely certain you are wrong.

Yes it is massively over the top. No, I would never include it in our games (and the other players are agreed about that). Nevertheless, the intent is you can change any of your spells for any other spell on your class list on a long rest.

 

[Quartz]

The magical secrets rules state specifically that those are bard spells from me.

But they're not on the Bard list, so if you swap them out, you can't swap them back in.

 

[Ashrym]

But they're not on the Bard list, so if you swap them out, you can't swap them back in.

That's the only questionable part. It depends on if a person considers the bard list customized by taking secrets or not. I'm not getting into that because I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. Just DM call.