D&D 5E Attunement

[GMforPowergamers]

OK, so I'm working on my game and trying to decide what does and doesn't need attunement. and I can't find the pattern.

Some wands do, most rings... but why would a magic missile wand not need it but a lighting bolt does?

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Jester David]

Generally if an item could be passed from person to person for a bonus, it requires attunement.
If an item is powerful enough that it should be one of your character's defining items, them it also requires attunment.

 

[Minigiant]

Basically anything that

• Grants a generally useful bonus
• Alters an ability score
• Gives a power big enough to define a character
• Gives a power big enough to mimic another PC archetype

need attunement.

 

[KarinsDad]

Some wands do, most rings... but why would a magic missile wand not need it but a lighting bolt does?

Magic Missile is 10.5 average points of damage for a single charge, 31.5 average points for a nova that could take out the wand.

Lightning Bolt is 18 to 36 (54 to 108 total vs. three foes) average points of damage for a single charge, 54 to 108 (162 to 324 total vs. three foes) average points for a nova that could take out the wand.

Even against a single foe, a wand of lightning bolt tends to do at least almost double damage. Against multiple foes, it really outshines a wand of magic missile.

 

[Tormyr]

Magic Missile is 10.5 average points of damage for a single charge, 31.5 average points for a nova that could take out the wand.

Lightning Bolt is 18 to 36 (54 to 108 total vs. three foes) average points of damage for a single charge, 54 to 108 (162 to 324 total vs. three foes) average points for a nova that could take out the wand.

Even against a single foe, a wand of lightning bolt tends to do at least almost double damage. Against multiple foes, it really outshines a wand of magic missile.

Huh. I hadn't noticed that the 3 charges max per use rule had gone away. Thanks.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

in the cure light thread the idea of a cure wounds wand came up and people assumed it would need attunement, but it is the same level as magic missile....

 

[SirAntoine]

Divine magic doesn't go with wands to me. Different flavor.

 

[Remathilis]

Divine magic doesn't go with wands to me. Different flavor.

But if a Bard made it, it'd be arcane and thus kosher?

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To the OP, I gather attunement is pretty much used whenever the designer/DM thinks the item is too powerful or useful. It limits who can use it and how many said items like it they can use. Beyond that, I gather there isn't much rhyme or reason.

 

[SirAntoine]

But if a Bard made it, it'd be arcane and thus kosher?

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To the OP, I gather attunement is pretty much used whenever the designer/DM thinks the item is too powerful or useful. It limits who can use it and how many said items like it they can use. Beyond that, I gather there isn't much rhyme or reason.

I wouldn't give bards any divine magic. I recommend you call their divine spells divine spells and magic, if you use them, though. That is, a bard has both arcane and divine spells by the book. That's how I interpret it anyway, but once again, bards wouldn't have those spells in my campaigns so I wouldn't encounter this problem.

 

[Diamabel]

I wouldn't give bards any divine magic. I recommend you call their divine spells divine spells and magic, if you use them, though. That is, a bard has both arcane and divine spells by the book. That's how I interpret it anyway, but once again, bards wouldn't have those spells in my campaigns so I wouldn't encounter this problem.

Your campaign, play it how you like.. but man, you really have it in for those poor bards!