Skip to main content
added 190 characters in body
Source Link
Nobody the Hobgoblin
  • 135.4k
  • 17
  • 393
  • 818

Yes, if you have a magic item that does that

The problem, is that the rules on PH p. 151 that describe arcane foci say:

An arcane focus is a special item— an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells

and you can read that to mean not any wand or staff can do that, only one designed to act as an arcane focus.

And none of the wands or staffs in the DMG says it is designed to channel the power of arcane spells, or that it can be used as an arcane focus. There also are several items that say they can explicitly, including the Astral Shard, which is a crystal. If any wand, staff or crystal had this capacity, there would be no need to say so. This has been discussed in great detail in Does every magic rod, wand, crystal, orb, and staff count as an arcane focus?.

Now, as you can see from the answers to that Q&A, not only is the overwhelming community consensus that you should allow such magic wands and staffs to be usable as an arcane focus, it also is the repeatedly documented designer intent that this is possible.

In addition, if your DM designed a magic item like an Orb of Fiery Death that said it can be used as an arcane focus and adds +3 to your spell attack rolls for firebolt, then that would of course work too.

By all means, if your DM allows it, use your magical wand as an arcane focus. We have been doing so in our group, and it has not caused any issues, to the contrary, we think it is much more fun this way. If your wizard finds an awesome wand of the war mage in their adventures, it would really suck if they could not use it as the wand they use for their focus, and instead would have to use a boring old normal wand, just because that one says it can be used.

Yes, if you have a magic item that does that

The problem, is that the rules on PH p. 151 that describe arcane foci say:

An arcane focus is a special item— an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells

and you can read that to mean not any wand or staff can do that, only one designed to act as an arcane focus.

And none of the wands or staffs in the DMG says it is designed to channel the power of arcane spells, or that it can be used as an arcane focus. This has been discussed in great detail in Does every magic rod, wand, crystal, orb, and staff count as an arcane focus?.

Now, as you can see from the answers to that Q&A, not only is the overwhelming community consensus that you should allow such magic wands and staffs to be usable as an arcane focus, it also is the repeatedly documented designer intent that this is possible.

In addition, if your DM designed a magic item like an Orb of Fiery Death that said it can be used as an arcane focus and adds +3 to your spell attack rolls for firebolt, then that would of course work too.

By all means, if your DM allows it, use your magical wand as an arcane focus. We have been doing so in our group, and it has not caused any issues, to the contrary, we think it is much more fun this way. If your wizard finds an awesome wand of the war mage in their adventures, it would really suck if they could not use it as the wand they use for their focus, and instead would have to use a boring old normal wand, just because that one says it can be used.

Yes, if you have a magic item that does that

The problem, is that the rules on PH p. 151 that describe arcane foci say:

An arcane focus is a special item— an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells

and you can read that to mean not any wand or staff can do that, only one designed to act as an arcane focus.

And none of the wands or staffs in the DMG says it is designed to channel the power of arcane spells, or that it can be used as an arcane focus. There also are several items that say they can explicitly, including the Astral Shard, which is a crystal. If any wand, staff or crystal had this capacity, there would be no need to say so. This has been discussed in great detail in Does every magic rod, wand, crystal, orb, and staff count as an arcane focus?.

Now, as you can see from the answers to that Q&A, not only is the overwhelming community consensus that you should allow such magic wands and staffs to be usable as an arcane focus, it also is the repeatedly documented designer intent that this is possible.

In addition, if your DM designed a magic item like an Orb of Fiery Death that said it can be used as an arcane focus and adds +3 to your spell attack rolls for firebolt, then that would of course work too.

By all means, if your DM allows it, use your magical wand as an arcane focus. We have been doing so in our group, and it has not caused any issues, to the contrary, we think it is much more fun this way. If your wizard finds an awesome wand of the war mage in their adventures, it would really suck if they could not use it as the wand they use for their focus, and instead would have to use a boring old normal wand, just because that one says it can be used.

added 379 characters in body
Source Link
Nobody the Hobgoblin
  • 135.4k
  • 17
  • 393
  • 818

Yes, if you have a magic item that does that

The problem, is that unless it says so, a magicalthe rules on PH p. 151 that describe arcane foci say:

An arcane focus is a special item— an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells

and you can read that to mean not any wand or staff can do that, does notonly one designed to act as an arcane focus. 

And none of the wands or staffs in the DMG says it doesis designed to channel the power of arcane spells, or that it can be used as an arcane focus. This has been discussed in great detail in Does every magic rod, wand, crystal, orb, and staff count as an arcane focus?.

Now, as you can see from the answers to that Q&A, not only is the overwhelming community consensus that you should allow such magic wands and staffs to be usable as an arcane focus, it also is the repeatedly documented designer intent that this is possible.

In addition, if your DM designed a magic item like an Orb of Fiery Death that said it can be used as an arcane focus and adds +3 to your spell attack rolls for firebolt, then that would of course work too.

By all means, if your DM allows it, use your magical wand as an arcane focus. We have been doing so in our group, and it has not caused any issues, to the contrary, we think it is much more fun this way. If your wizard finds an awesome wand of the war mage in their adventures, it would really suck if they could not use it as the wand they use for their focus, and instead would have to use a boring old normal wand, just because that one says it can be used.

Yes, if you have a magic item that does that

The problem, is that unless it says so, a magical wand or staff, does not act as an arcane focus. And none of the wands or staffs in the DMG says it does. This has been discussed in great detail in Does every magic rod, wand, crystal, orb, and staff count as an arcane focus?.

Now, as you can see from the answers to that Q&A, not only is the overwhelming community consensus that you should allow such magic wands and staffs to be usable as an arcane focus, it also is the repeatedly documented designer intent that this is possible.

In addition, if your DM designed a magic item like an Orb of Fiery Death that said it can be used as an arcane focus and adds +3 to your spell attack rolls for firebolt, then that would of course work too.

By all means, if your DM allows it, use your magical wand as an arcane focus. We have been doing so in our group, and it has not caused any issues, to the contrary, we think it is much more fun this way. If your wizard finds an awesome wand of the war mage in their adventures, it would really suck if they could not use it as the wand they use for their focus, and instead would have to use a boring old normal wand, just because that one says it can be used.

Yes, if you have a magic item that does that

The problem, is that the rules on PH p. 151 that describe arcane foci say:

An arcane focus is a special item— an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells

and you can read that to mean not any wand or staff can do that, only one designed to act as an arcane focus. 

And none of the wands or staffs in the DMG says it is designed to channel the power of arcane spells, or that it can be used as an arcane focus. This has been discussed in great detail in Does every magic rod, wand, crystal, orb, and staff count as an arcane focus?.

Now, as you can see from the answers to that Q&A, not only is the overwhelming community consensus that you should allow such magic wands and staffs to be usable as an arcane focus, it also is the repeatedly documented designer intent that this is possible.

In addition, if your DM designed a magic item like an Orb of Fiery Death that said it can be used as an arcane focus and adds +3 to your spell attack rolls for firebolt, then that would of course work too.

By all means, if your DM allows it, use your magical wand as an arcane focus. We have been doing so in our group, and it has not caused any issues, to the contrary, we think it is much more fun this way. If your wizard finds an awesome wand of the war mage in their adventures, it would really suck if they could not use it as the wand they use for their focus, and instead would have to use a boring old normal wand, just because that one says it can be used.

Source Link
Nobody the Hobgoblin
  • 135.4k
  • 17
  • 393
  • 818

Yes, if you have a magic item that does that

The problem, is that unless it says so, a magical wand or staff, does not act as an arcane focus. And none of the wands or staffs in the DMG says it does. This has been discussed in great detail in Does every magic rod, wand, crystal, orb, and staff count as an arcane focus?.

Now, as you can see from the answers to that Q&A, not only is the overwhelming community consensus that you should allow such magic wands and staffs to be usable as an arcane focus, it also is the repeatedly documented designer intent that this is possible.

In addition, if your DM designed a magic item like an Orb of Fiery Death that said it can be used as an arcane focus and adds +3 to your spell attack rolls for firebolt, then that would of course work too.

By all means, if your DM allows it, use your magical wand as an arcane focus. We have been doing so in our group, and it has not caused any issues, to the contrary, we think it is much more fun this way. If your wizard finds an awesome wand of the war mage in their adventures, it would really suck if they could not use it as the wand they use for their focus, and instead would have to use a boring old normal wand, just because that one says it can be used.