D&D 5E Ritual Tag: When to use?

[The Shadow]

There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason to which spells get the ritual tag. For example, the cleric spell Forbiddance gets it, yet the rather similar wizard spell Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum does not.

Ritual spells are heavily clustered toward the lower levels, too. No spell above 6th level has the tag, and precious few above 3rd. (Weirdly, no 4th level spells have it, though a few 5th and 6th level ones do.)

I've considered applying it much more freely, but of course this has the potential to make spellcasters, especially wizards and Tome warlocks, more powerful. Some spells would be nearly useless as rituals, of course... I can't imagine a 10 minute casting time for Fireball would be very helpful, except perhaps during a pitched battle between two armies.

How do you suppose this would work: Any spell without the ritual tag can be cast as a ritual, but it's treated as one spell level higher. You must be able to cast spells of that level before you can cast it as a ritual.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

High level spells don't have it because high level spells are powerful enough that they should always require you to spend a spell slot. That's the logic there.

 

[fuindordm]

I've wondered about this too. For wizards I've considered letting them research the ritual version of a utility spell that doesn't have the tag.

I love the new PH but I don't think much thought was put into choosing the spells for each class and the precise attributes for each spell.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I would keep it as is. Being able to use even more spells as rituals would be far too good for casters. Pretty much spells that have the ritual tag are decently useful spells that a caster would not want to spend a spell slot on. Seriously just keep it as is.

 

[The Shadow]

I would keep it as is. Being able to use even more spells as rituals would be far too good for casters. Pretty much spells that have the ritual tag are decently useful spells that a caster would not want to spend a spell slot on. Seriously just keep it as is.

Okay, but once PC's start researching spells, what criteria should we use to determine if they should be rituals?

 

[Quartz]

How do you suppose this would work: Any spell without the ritual tag can be cast as a ritual, but it's treated as one spell level higher. You must be able to cast spells of that level before you can cast it as a ritual.

Then you wouldn't be able to cast 9th level spells as Rituals. Strangely, the archetypical ritual spell is Gate, and that doesn't have the option.

You might say that 7th & 8th level spells require an hour and 9th level spells require a ceremony as well (e.g. a church service).

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Okay, but once PC's start researching spells, what criteria should we use to determine if they should be rituals?

If it says it is in the book? Unless you mean letting them make their own custom spells. In which I say don't let them.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Then you wouldn't be able to cast 9th level spells as Rituals. Strangely, the archetypical ritual spell is Gate, and that doesn't have the option.

You might say that 7th & 8th level spells require an hour and 9th level spells require a ceremony as well (e.g. a church service).

Those spells should never be rituals. Gate included it should always cost a spell slot.

 

[fuindordm]

Off the top of my head, I'd say that it's reasonable for a spell to have a ritual version if:
1. Its primary purpose is not to damage or inconvenience another creature.
2. Multiple castings per day would not increase the power of the party or greatly affect the implied setting.

I guess by definition a ritual is a spell that can be used by educated noncasters or some full casters without using up spell slots. That means things like Gate, Raise Dead and so on should definitely be left out.

I'd also be inclined to suggest that the ritual version of a spell should have a significant material component cost.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=16760]The Shadow[/MENTION] Applying the ritual tag is definitely a mix of "feel" and "rules." Even in the case of the similar Forbiddance & Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum, there are some key differences...

Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum covers a 100'x100'x100 area whereas Forbiddan only covers a roughly 60'x60'x10 area.

Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum can be improved by casting with higher level spell slots (rituals cannot).

Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum does NOT require 1,000 gp of powdered ruby like Forbiddance (rituals often have components with gold value).

Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum gives you much control of the degree of Abjuration, letting you do things like block sound and/or (dark)vision & block divination spells. Because of this, it takes 1 year of repeat casting to make the Sanctum permanent, whereas only 30 days for Forbiddance.

That said...

It is very odd that Forbiddance can deal damage to interloping creatures of the type you choose. That is NOT the norm for rituals!

As general guidelines for determining what spells can be "ritualized"...

• Rituals don't require Concentration, but have set casting times (e.g. this is why Find the Path is not a ritual).
• Rituals can't be improved by expending higher level spell slots.
• Rituals have material components with a gp value.
• Rituals should not stack (e.g. can't cast Forbiddance twice on an area). See [MENTION=5435]fuindordm[/MENTION]'s earlier comment.
• Rituals don't have direct combat application (though can be used strategically with time to prepare for a fight). They are mainly exploration magic.
• Rituals seem to be predominantly Abjurations & Divinations, with a few rituals of Conjuration, Enchantment, Illusion, Necromancy, and Transmutation. The one Evocation ritual in PHB is Leomund's Tiny Hut - a very Conjuration sort of "Evocation."
• Rituals seem to be 6th level and lower spells.