D&D 5E Copying spells into your spellbook

[Rya.Reisender]

Can you do while traveling only one during downtime? Also do you need to have the whole time required at once or can you copy half the spell and then continue later?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

It doesn't say anything about needing to do it all at once, so I would say that you can split it up however you need to. I would probably insist that you do it in increments of at least one hour at a time, though. Your DM could rule otherwise, but I honestly wouldn't expect that.

 

[Rya.Reisender]

And can someone do that while traveling?

 

[thalmin]

And can someone do that while traveling?

You know you shouldn't text while driving

 

[discosoc]

And can someone do that while traveling?

Depends on what you mean by "traveling" and, of course, the GM. If you want your guy doing it while riding horseback, or any a normal type carriage or something, I'd rule that it can't be done. If you mean spending an hour or so of each night at camp copying spells, then sure.

 

[Celebrim]

Can you do while traveling only one during downtime?

I would allow it while travelling by coach, palanquin, ship, flying carpet or other similar conveyance provided you had some space to yourself to work in, but not while engaged in any more strenuous method (or packed together like sardines). Unless the character had considerable experience travelling in this manner (5 ranks in Ride, 5 ranks in Boating, etc.), I'd also probably require a skill check of some sort to avoid spilling the ink or otherwise ruining the page, and hence the effort and materials. Travelling and doing down time stuff at the same time IMO ought to carry some slight risk.

Also do you need to have the whole time required at once or can you copy half the spell and then continue later?

I would usually allow you to break up the task into smaller pieces. However, something that is conceivably time dependent - brewing a potion for example - probably requires your full uninterrupted attention.

 

[Zax]

I would allow it while travelling by coach, palanquin, ship, flying carpet or other similar conveyance provided you had some space to yourself to work in, but not while engaged in any more strenuous method (or packed together like sardines). Unless the character had considerable experience travelling in this manner (5 ranks in Ride, 5 ranks in Boating, etc.), I'd also probably require a skill check of some sort to avoid spilling the ink or otherwise ruining the page, and hence the effort and materials. Travelling and doing down time stuff at the same time IMO ought to carry some slight risk.

I recently rode Amtrack's Acela train from Washington, DC to New York. For those unfamiliar, it's a fast, express train with a pretty smooth ride.

While traveling, I was trying to hand write some notes for work. The results were pretty bad. I could hardly read what I wrote. That little bit of train movement was enough to make legible writing difficult. Not that it cannot be done - it is just difficult.

Large ship on calm seas or flying carpet (magical conveyance).... I could see that. Coach or small boat - virtually impossible. The above quoted post makes a lot of sense. At most, I could see a skill check with severe penalties to the roll based on actual method of travel. A failed roll would lose expensive ink and ruin the parchment.

Generally, writing spells is a very demanding task that requires concentration. It is not like writing a book or taking notes. It should be more like a precision map or blueprint. Sit in the back seat of a car with a straight-edge, protractor and mechanical pencil then try to create a precision drawing. Not as easy as it sounds.

 

[Rya.Reisender]

On the other hand the rules on traveling say that the people in the front are looking out for danger up front, the group in the rear is looking out for danger from behind and the others are free to do something else like drawing a map and foraging.

So even if it's realistically not possible, it seems you should be able to use the time as for off-time activity according to the rules?