D&D 5E Drawmij's Instant Summons: Am I Missing Something?

[raleel]

Though, to second guess myself, you guys have a point that 'crushing the sapphire' might be what they mean by destroy. My apologies for missing that bit.

AD

Compare to Simulacrum

Components: V, S, M (snow or ice in quantities
sufficient to made a life-size copy of the duplicated
creature; some hair, fingernail clippings, or other
piece of that creature’s body placed inside the snow
or ice; and powdered ruby worth 1,500 gp, sprinkled
over the duplicate and consumed by the spell)

clearly, there is language to say that the spell makes it go away.

I suspect the intention was to make it a 1000gp insta-summon. However, it is so niche it makes me really think it might be fine. They already constrain it by weight, it's a rare slot, etc etc etc.

 

[AmerginLiath]

"Now where did I leave that remote control?"

checks under all the couch cushions in the tower...

 

[edhel]

Jim Ward (Drawmij) is still alive and I'm sure you can contact him online. Ask him what his original reason for this spell was.

EDIT: Wikipedia actually tells the origin of the spell:

By Ward's own account, the spell originated during a session in Gygax's original Greyhawk campaign during which the players were stranded in a dungeon; Ward's character owned a magical item which would have rescued the party, but had left it in an inn before setting out. Ward remarked to Gygax that wizards should have access to a spell which allowed them to recall any item in their possession to their hand; Gygax promptly devised instant summons, which did exactly that.

 

[Falling Icicle]

The first use I thought of was putting it on your spellbook so you could recall it if it's stolen. Then I read the spell and realized that you can't recall it while it is in someone else's possession. So, yeah, I too am having a hard time of thinking of any good uses for this very expensive spell.

 

[txshusker]

Y
note, it does not say the sapphire is destroyed as most spell components are. So.. could you reuse a sapphire after you Mended it?

the spell specifically says you cannot use the same sapphire for this spell again.

 

[raleel]

Fair enough, although I suspect the intention there is to make it so you can't have 5 castings on the same gem without crushing it.

 

[Stalker0]

I agree its pretty darn limited, more of an npc spell.

Also the fact that you lose the item forever if you don't recall it by a certain point is a big turnoff.

 

[Dausuul]

I agree its pretty darn limited, more of an npc spell.

Also the fact that you lose the item forever if you don't recall it by a certain point is a big turnoff.

I think you're thinking of Leomund's secret chest. There's no time limit on DIS.

 

[Stormonu]

Limited use, but it's one of those spells that when you really need that item, it's worth whatever cost.

Possible uses:

1) Wizard summons replacement/primary spellbook
2) Pass through a security check "unarmed" and summon a weapon or other item beyond the checkpoint
3) Rearm after capture and (couple with an item spell to transform the gem into a badge on your clothing)
4) Safely travel from one place to another without worry that an important item will be stolen in transit (just summon it at your destination)
5) Tie to an item with limited use; summon the item when you need it and not have to carry it everywhere

 

[Antz7766]

Hah. I can just picture the scenario where a wizard carry around a patch full of sapphires tied to different situational items, finally got in a situation where one of the item will save them:

Wizard: "I got this one guys!"
<crushes sapphire>
Wizard: "@#$!...... Wrong sapphire....."