D&D 5E Spellcasting Monsters, Spell Slotlessness, Bonus Actions, and Intent

[Charlaquin]

Is the rule about being limited to casting one (non-cantrip) spell per turn still in 5.5? Because I would say that such rule applies to monsters as well.

It is, but it has been reworked. Instead of not being able to use your action to cast a spell other than a cantrip if you cast a spell as a bonus action, action type no longer has anything to do with it. The rule is simply that you can only cast one spell using a spell slot per turn. This is much simpler, but it does mean that by RAW monsters can cast a non-cantrip spell with their action and their bonus action since they don’t actually use spell slots, and PCs who have features that allows them to cast a spell without expending a spell slot (like most species’ innate spells allow them to do), they can use such an ability in the same turn that they cast a bonus action spell.

 

[Charlaquin]

Was this change done in 5.5 PHB or before (e.g. Tasha)?

The 2024 PHB.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I am cool with it.

 

[Demetrios1453]

n/m

Misread the original post

 

[Chaltab]

Even if it's allowed under the rules, it's a terrible idea to do so since the players cannot.

The players can. As long as one of the spells is not cast with a spell slot, anyone can do what the OP described.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Really, we don't even get a story of how your sister's boyfriend's second cousin's barber's favorite pizza delivery driver's best friend swore off D&D forever after some nameless caster got off two fireballs in 1 round before dying the next round. Standards have really slipped around here.

 

[Li Shenron]

The 2024 PHB.

Thanks! Then it is simply not a concern for me.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It is, but it has been reworked. Instead of not being able to use your action to cast a spell other than a cantrip if you cast a spell as a bonus action, action type no longer has anything to do with it. The rule is simply that you can only cast one spell using a spell slot per turn. This is much simpler, but it does mean that by RAW monsters can cast a non-cantrip spell with their action and their bonus action since they don’t actually use spell slots, and PCs who have features that allows them to cast a spell without expending a spell slot (like most species’ innate spells allow them to do), they can use such an ability in the same turn that they cast a bonus action spell.

If this ever happened at my table, my players would immediately balk because it breaks setting logic and consistency. And they would IMO be right to do so. A spellcasting monster analogous in the fiction to a PC ought to abide by the same restrictions unless there's a specific in-fiction reason why they don't.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The players can. As long as one of the spells is not cast with a spell slot, anyone can do what the OP described.

PC spells generally use spell slots (except cantrips). But for some reason 5.5 monsters don't.

 

[James Gasik]

There are ways to cast spells without slots though. A Wand, for example.