D&D 5E DM's: How Do You Justify NPC's Having Magic/Abilities That Don't Exist in the PHB?

jasper · Nov 12, 2022

Micah Sweet said:
I agree in principle. So if the NPC wizard casts a spell that cannot be learned by PCs, where did it come from?

the dungeon master

Incenjucar · Nov 12, 2022

If you want a spell that players can't use you just make the requirements to cast outside of their ability to obtain.

Maxperson · Nov 12, 2022

pontinyc said:
Looking for some input on how you DM's justify in-game mechanics or magical effects that some npc's may have, but aren't listed in the PHB? For ex., you want your BBEG to appear in hologram/projected form before the pc's and kill one of his own minions with Power Word: Kill. His projected image then sits and has a conversation with the PC's, inviting them to join his forces.

Fun idea but there's nothing in the PHB to allow this specifically. How does one justify the fact that this individual has access to magic that isn't available to the PC's and what might you say to the party wizard who says they want to learn to do that?

Many thanks in advance for any thoughts!

I don't justify it at all. Just like I occasionally put in some way that a PC gets some ability not in the books, ways to get abilities are also available to NPCs. The players know this and don't really ask how NPC X got Y ability.

nevin · Nov 12, 2022

pontinyc said:
Looking for some input on how you DM's justify in-game mechanics or magical effects that some npc's may have, but aren't listed in the PHB? For ex., you want your BBEG to appear in hologram/projected form before the pc's and kill one of his own minions with Power Word: Kill. His projected image then sits and has a conversation with the PC's, inviting them to join his forces.

Fun idea but there's nothing in the PHB to allow this specifically. How does one justify the fact that this individual has access to magic that isn't available to the PC's and what might you say to the party wizard who says they want to learn to do that?

Many thanks in advance for any thoughts!

the same way I justify homebrew weapons, magical effects I give to PC's that aren't in the book. Things that people aren't expecting are surprising, games that have surprises tend to be more fun.

Maxperson · Nov 12, 2022

Lanefan said:
Fine, except if the PCs just saw someone use this previously-unknown ritual then that someone has a spellbook somewhere and that ritual's gonna be in it.

Sure, but it required the sacrifice of an elf that had a very specific set of traits that only show up once every 10,000 years or so on average. Oh, well.

Maxperson · Nov 12, 2022

Micah Sweet said:
I agree in principle. So if the NPC wizard casts a spell that cannot be learned by PCs, where did it come from?

A ritual. A god granted him the ability. A dying dragon fused its essence with him. A deal with the devil. And on and on.

nevin · Nov 12, 2022

You don't have to justify everything. Let the players wonder where it came from.

overgeeked · Nov 12, 2022

pontinyc said:
How does one justify the fact that this individual has access to magic that isn't available to the PC's

NPCs don’t follow the same rules as the PCs. No justification needed.

pontinyc said:
and what might you say to the party wizard who says they want to learn to do that?

You say no.

bedir than · Nov 12, 2022

Micah Sweet said:
I agree in principle. So if the NPC wizard casts a spell that cannot be learned by PCs, where did it come from?

The Monster Manual

Oofta · Nov 12, 2022

Micah Sweet said:
I agree in principle. So if the NPC wizard casts a spell that cannot be learned by PCs, where did it come from?

Cannot be learned or unavailable? I always assume that just seeing a spell cast doesn't mean you know how to cast a spell, if you even can. A wizard may see a cleric cast a cure wounds, it doesn't mean they know how to do it.

D&D 5E DM's: How Do You Justify NPC's Having Magic/Abilities That Don't Exist in the PHB?

jasper

Rotten DM

Incenjucar

Legend

Maxperson

Morkus from Orkus

nevin

Hero

Maxperson

Morkus from Orkus

Maxperson

Morkus from Orkus

nevin

Hero

overgeeked

B/X Known World

bedir than

Full Moon Storyteller

Oofta

Legend

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