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

[pontinyc]

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!

 

[FrogReaver]

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!

No justification required.

For the wizard wanting to learn that - 'you know of no spell that has that effect'. Even if you did it might be a spell like 'healing word' that you cannot learn.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

The PHB, is not and should not be the be all and end all of magic in the fictional world. Potentially there are all sorts of known and unknown rituals floating out there that the PCs do not know about or that never get introduced in the campaign.

 

[Lanefan]

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 usually don't even try. Instead, NPCs are largely limited to what PCs can do as they all exist in the same setting using the same mechanical framework (5e as written really gets this wrong).

That said, "magic items" can explain away a lot of weird things; though you'll have to be prepared for said items to belong to the PCs once all is said and done.

 

[Lanefan]

The PHB, is not and should not be the be all and end all of magic in the fictional world. Potentially there are all sorts of known and unknown rituals floating out there that the PCs do not know about or that never get introduced in the campaign.

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.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

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.

Seeing is not the same as the full documentation of ritual. It matters also as to the type of campaign one is running. We are not all playing the same game as you are.

 

[MichaelSomething]

DM Empowerment

 

[Vaalingrade]

Magic.

It's right there in the name.

 

[dave2008]

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!

Most of the time no explanation is needed. There are many magical things in the world beyond the scope of the PCs and it is just assumed there is magic and spells beyond the options in the PHB. My players understand that so they don't typically ask. I mean it is not like the PCs are limited to the spells in the PHB either. PCs can research and develop new and unique spells just like NPCs.

If your looking for a justification for your own edification, well it depends on the particular circumstances. Unique spells, or even existing spells, used in combination with rituals and magic items can create a vast array of effects. Having some combination of those three can create unique magic that would be very difficult for PCs to recreate if that is your goal.

 

[dave2008]

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.

Not all spells and rituals are written in spell books. No to mention the effect described could be created through a combination of ritual, spells, and magic item(s) the way I see it. I guess a PC could try to recreate that, but it is usually not worth the effort.