My party pushed an enemy ship's mage off a schooner into the sea. Unortunately, the mage's spellbook went into the water with him. This poses a problem since I'd planned the spellbook as treasure. What repercussions are there to having a spellbook get soaked all the way through, do you think? Does the ink run? Are spells lost? Does the book fall apart and become unusable in two months? Or does a simple prestidigitation dry it out? Heck, does a cantrip work on a magic item (and is a spellbook a magic item?!)?!
D&D 5E Repercussions for spellbook that got wet?
- Thread starter Hijinx
- Start date
bedir than
Full Moon Storyteller
I think you could easily say "there's no effect. It's a magic book, a book that is literally the core of magic for that person." If you think your players would enjoy that do it.
You could also say "most spells were damaged, but a few pages seem to be salvageable." That could be fun too. There's a reward, but also consequences.
You could also say "most spells were damaged, but a few pages seem to be salvageable." That could be fun too. There's a reward, but also consequences.
delericho
Legend
For this one, the answer is "no", at least by default. Note that some spellbooks may well be layered with various traps and protective spells and so may become a magic item.
For the rest of it...
It's really up to you. And since it's happened to an NPC, I would suggest asking yourself, "what's most interesting?" You might want to bring that NPC back as an increasingly-desperate Wizard who has lost his spellbook and is now trying to steal one from the PCs, or perhaps he's out for revenge, or something. Or you might not care.
If it was a PC's spellbook, I'd be inclined to be much more generous, and only have the book damaged if it suffered serious immersion for a decent spell of time. Because loss of a spellbook is pretty devastating to a Wizard, even in 5e, and you probably don't want the next several sessions to become "Bob's efforts to get a new spellbook" to the exclusion of all else.
In the event of long-term immersion, this is pretty much exactly what I'd go with.
For anything less than that long-term immersion, this is what I'd recommend.
(Alternately, one thing I've considered is breaking the link between the Wizard's spellbook and his "spells known" - that is, allow the Wizard to 'know' any spells in any spellbook he can read (up to his maximum allowed known, of course). That means that a spellbook loss is much less devastating in general provided he can quickly get any other spellbook, although he may now find he can cast a different selection of spells as a result.)
jgsugden
Legend
The correct answer is: "Whatever is more fun."
A side quest to repair the book, to find the spellcaster's backup book, etc... might be fun. If it fits into the game, add it and have that fun. Having ramifications for certain actions adds some '"'realism'"' to the game and can be fun.
If you are on a timeline and want to keep the game moving, make it trivial to fix and go ahead with your planned fun. It'll be a decision mostly forgotten in a few minutes.
A side quest to repair the book, to find the spellcaster's backup book, etc... might be fun. If it fits into the game, add it and have that fun. Having ramifications for certain actions adds some '"'realism'"' to the game and can be fun.
If you are on a timeline and want to keep the game moving, make it trivial to fix and go ahead with your planned fun. It'll be a decision mostly forgotten in a few minutes.
Jeff Carlsen
Adventurer
The concept of a travel spellbook exists for this very reason. It could be used as a warning to the party wizard to protect his spellbook.
The enemy mage probably has a real spellbook at home, and his travel spellbook is likely wrapped and protected from the elements. But the longer it is under water, the fewer spells will be recoverable.
The enemy mage probably has a real spellbook at home, and his travel spellbook is likely wrapped and protected from the elements. But the longer it is under water, the fewer spells will be recoverable.
Jaelommiss
First Post
As long as the spellbook isn't disturbed too much before drying out it should be fine. Wet paper is extremely easy to damage, so careless handling before it dries would be a real risk. Assuming there is no druid or cleric in the party, keeping the book closed until you can bring it to a temple for a quick Destroy Water (not RAW, but as a DM I'd have a hard time finding a reason why it shouldn't work) would prevent any damage. I might ask for a Dex check to use it while soaked to avoid tearing anything, and then base how much can be recovered on that.
I'd allow prestidigitation to dry the book, though the pages would certainly remain swollen from absorbed water if there was a significant delay. I agree with the others that it would then fall apart after some time. Destroy Water would entirely eliminate that.
Although it is a modern book that was made with modern materials, I have a paperback book that was completely submerged for some time. Other than being swollen horribly (twice as big as it used to be, spine curling backwards to accommodate the increase) the text is fully legible and the pages are only a little bit stiffer. It has been read a few times since then, but not to nearly the same extent that a spellbook would be.
This situation raises a number of interesting implications. Suppose the wizard fights water elementals. If engulfed, is the book damaged? What about a gelatinous cube? Running through a burning structure? Or a Wall of Water spell? I would assume that the cover on a spellbook is made strongly to resist damage, but how long does it last before needing to be replaced? Would a Mending cantrip keep it in good condition? If you're playing an episodic hack'n'slash game does any of this even matter? Are we going to consider water damage to the rogue's leather armour? What about if the paladin swims in the ocean? Will his armour rust? Do rainy days cause problems? Is travelling through a swamp going to destroy equipment? Will rations spoil if they get wet? And, again, does any of this add anything to the game. I would argue no, excluding perhaps heavy exploration and wilderness survival games. And then, most importantly, why is the spellbook worthy of being singled out for this?
I'd allow prestidigitation to dry the book, though the pages would certainly remain swollen from absorbed water if there was a significant delay. I agree with the others that it would then fall apart after some time. Destroy Water would entirely eliminate that.
Although it is a modern book that was made with modern materials, I have a paperback book that was completely submerged for some time. Other than being swollen horribly (twice as big as it used to be, spine curling backwards to accommodate the increase) the text is fully legible and the pages are only a little bit stiffer. It has been read a few times since then, but not to nearly the same extent that a spellbook would be.
This situation raises a number of interesting implications. Suppose the wizard fights water elementals. If engulfed, is the book damaged? What about a gelatinous cube? Running through a burning structure? Or a Wall of Water spell? I would assume that the cover on a spellbook is made strongly to resist damage, but how long does it last before needing to be replaced? Would a Mending cantrip keep it in good condition? If you're playing an episodic hack'n'slash game does any of this even matter? Are we going to consider water damage to the rogue's leather armour? What about if the paladin swims in the ocean? Will his armour rust? Do rainy days cause problems? Is travelling through a swamp going to destroy equipment? Will rations spoil if they get wet? And, again, does any of this add anything to the game. I would argue no, excluding perhaps heavy exploration and wilderness survival games. And then, most importantly, why is the spellbook worthy of being singled out for this?
hafrogman
Adventurer
Given that it's an enemy spellbook/treasure one of these is probably the best answer. If it ever happens to a player's book, the correct answer is that any spells memorized/cast from it over the next few days are slightly ... damper than normal.
Steaming Hands.
Mist of Sleep.
Marine Missile.
Charles Wright
First Post
If I were a spellcaster with a spellbook going on a see voyage, I would have taken steps to protect my book from water in the first place.
joshinminn
Explorer
Put it in a bowl of uncooked rice over night.
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