D&D 5E Player's Handbook Official Errata

There's a new printing of the 5E Player's Handbook a'coming. It "corrects some typos while clarifying a few rules." But for those of us who already have a 5E Player's Handbook, there's a one-page PDF of official errata now available. It contains 51 items, covering classes, equipment, feats, spells, and more.

Download it right here! The errata has already been incorporated into the free Basic Rules.

 

[DaveDash]

The intent was that spells which can target multiples can't be twinned. My read of it was that way from the get go, and I've seen that I'm correct in my read because it's been clarified again, and again, and again, over the last 5-6 months. And now, it's in the errata (and new printings of the PHB) with it being clear that if the spell can target multiple critters the spell cannot be twinned.

Quit your whinging, and either house rule it, or accept it. It's NOT a change, it's just your group misread it, and that's why they are errataing it.

If it was perfectly clear and understandable from the beginning it wouldn't have required errata.

 

[Athinar]

"Wizard, Spellbook: A spellbook doesn't contain cantrips." Does that mean if a Wizard finds a scroll for a cantrip, he can't copy it into his spellbook & learn it?

You should never find a scroll with a Cantrip written on it

 

[Mistwell]

If it was perfectly clear and understandable from the beginning it wouldn't have required errata.

Half this stuff was just clarifications for those who misunderstood the text. Are you honestly saying none of this errata is stuff you already thought was how it worked?

 

[DaveDash]

Half this stuff was just clarifications for those who misunderstood the text. Are you honestly saying none of this errata is stuff you already thought was how it worked?

It had multiple possible interpretations IMO, since you can cast a Scorching Ray at ONE target.

Since that seemed like a much more natural fit for the Sorcerer and was hardly game breaking we went with that interpretation.

 

[Mistwell]

It had multiple possible interpretations IMO, since you can cast a Scorching Ray at ONE target.

Since that seemed like a much more natural fit for the Sorcerer and was hardly game breaking we went with that interpretation.

I understand. I don't think that was a crazy or illogical interpretation. I can see it. I was more talking in general about this errata - a lot of it is stuff I think most people already understood that way anyway.

 

[Ashrym]

You should never find a scroll with a Cantrip written on it

Spell scrolls with cantrips are on the tables. A person cannot add it to the spell book.

 

[Coredump]

Immolate is a great spell for a Blaster Sorceror, you can still twin spell it for multiple targets, heighten it instead for single targets, boost its duration for more damage over time, Maximize Damage, or use flexible casting to cast it more often, or cast elemental bane on it for to squeeze out more damage over time.

Which is exactly why I think sorcerers should get access to more metamagic than they do now. They only get a few spells, so they should have a lot of options on how they cast them.

 

[Coredump]

The intent was that spells which can target multiples can't be twinned. My read of it was that way from the get go, and I've seen that I'm correct in my read because it's been clarified again, and again, and again, over the last 5-6 months. And now, it's in the errata (and new printings of the PHB) with it being clear that if the spell can target multiple critters the spell cannot be twinned.

Quit your whinging, and either house rule it, or accept it. It's NOT a change, it's just your group misread it, and that's why they are errataing it.

Maybe next time you want to attack someone's post... you should bother to actually *read* the post first. Since you are *agreeing* with everything I said, and have been saying.....

 

[Coredump]

Not sure if this has already been discussed, but: this clarification to Magic Initiate is kind of a big deal, if it turns out to work as described above.

Magic Initiate says "You learn that spell and can cast it at its lowest level."

The Errata clarifies that the restriction "Once you cast it, you must finish a long rest before you can cast it again" is limited "only to the casting granted by the feat."

So how does this all interact with spellcasting? It's worth pointing out that the feat does NOT grant a Spell Slot, 1st level or otherwise.

The rules for Multiclassed spellcasters are irrelevant, here. Magic Initiate does not grant a level in a spellcasting class.

So, we only have the rules from each spellcasting class's "Spellcasting" description. And the rules in Chapter 10: Spellcasting.

This passage from Chapter 10, "Known and Prepared Spells" is interesting:

The Magic Initiate feat says you "learn" the spell. That sure sounds like "always fixed in mind." Perhaps it should be treated that same way.

The Wizard's "Preparing and Casting Spells" description says "The Wizard table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot o f the spell’s level or higher."

The crux, then, is if the spell you "learn" from Magic Initiate counts as one of "your spells." I'd rule YES. So, you can use a Wizard slot to cast it.

However, that section furthermore says "You prepare the list of wizard spells that are available for you to cast. To do so. choose a number of wizard spells from your spellbook equal to your Intelligence modifier + your wizard level (minimum of one spell)."

Magic Initiate effectively bypasses the normal limit on Prepared Spells or Spells Known. It bypasses one of the main restrictions on spellcasting classes. The feat should probably be renamed "Magical Talent."

Hi bolded the important part.

As a wizard, you only have permission to use spell slots to cast wizard spells. So if you use Magic Initiate to learn a wizard spell, you can cast it with your spell slots. If you used MI to learn a sorc/druid/etc spell....then you can't use your slots to cast it.

There is no change from the very recent Sage Advice article that says the same thing.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

As a wizard, you only have permission to use spell slots to cast wizard spells. So if you use Magic Initiate to learn a wizard spell, you can cast it with your spell slots. If you used MI to learn a sorc/druid/etc spell....then you can't use your slots to cast it.

There is no change from the very recent Sage Advice article that says the same thing.

This is true. It's also a really, really stupid way for the rules to work. If you take a single level in another caster class you learn multiple spells (along with all the other benefits) and can use any of your spell slots to cast any spells you learn via that class. I don't see any good reason not to let you effectively use the multiclass spellcasting rules with that single 1st level spell you gain from Magic Initiate.

Again though, according to the Sage Advice interpretation of RAW, you can't. Ignore the RAW and the Sage Advice and go with what's more fun (and I can't see the more generous method not being more fun in this case).