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D&D 5E Identify

I do wonder how one would find out the command word for item during short rest...
"Cat! Dog! Absalom! Poop! Oh heck! Wizards are best! I created this magic item and all i got was a sword to the gut! Flame on! Its clobbering time! Me smash! Gah you try,elf..."
 

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I do wonder how one would find out the command word for item during short rest...
"Cat! Dog! Absalom! Poop! Oh heck! Wizards are best! I created this magic item and all i got was a sword to the gut! Flame on! Its clobbering time! Me smash! Gah you try,elf..."

[suddenly the staff performs a Retributive Strike]
 

Yes, I feel the same way. What I'm going to do is eliminate the short rest identification. I'll probably allow characters to make an ability check to come up with a good clue that they could guess on, and I would definitely allow experimentation. That was fun in 3e, and for high level characters with Knowledge (Arcana) meant they could identify a lot of things just by puzzling it out.

For the identify spell I'm considering changing it entirely. I'll give it a basic effect (perhaps identifying consumables or spell effects), and then say that you can get greater effects by casting it in higher level spell slots. Identifying your typical permanent item likely would require a 6th level spell slot.

This actually makes attunement a fun choice. As it is now, if you cast identify and it won't work (say because it's an artifact) you just get a null response--which tells you they aren't what they seem. With my house rule it would require a high-level spell slot to even get the null-response. Or you could end up with a sword that you can experiment with to unlock more of it's properties over time.
 
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In lieu of the identify spell, I usually allow players who are proficient in Arcana to make a check to identify it. Only a nat 20 Id's cursed items.
 

A little off topic.

IMC cursed items are the same item except for certain things or times cause complications to happen. Over time the curse will get stronger: basically a magical parasite or a demon possession etc
 

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