Can a Spell with “Self” Range be Cast by Homunculus Servant?

Question

I’m playing an artificer for the first time and trying to decide whether or not to use an infusion for the homunculus servant. But I’m wondering about the channel magic ability. It says

The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch.

I’d like to know if I can use a spell with a range of self in place of a spell with a range of touch.

As far as I understand it, broader ranges are inclusive of smaller ranges, so if you can cast a spell at sixty feet, you can also cast it at fifteen feet because fifteen feet is closer than sixty feet. And if you can cast it at a distance of touch you can cast it on yourself, because you are closer than the furthest thing you can touch.

Can the same reasoning that applies to the effect of the spell apply to the ability to cast the spell?

Question to answer: if a creature has the ability to cast a spell at a range of touch, is there any reason why it would not have the ability to cast a spell with a range of self? If the DM allows this, would it cause any problems, or are there any spells that would be overpowered or have unreasonable side-effects if a homunculus could cast spells centered on itself?

Answer 1

Touch and Self are entirely separate ranges for spells

The section on "Range" states:

[...] Most spells have ranges expressed in feet. Some spells can target only a creature (including you) that you touch. Other spells, such as the shield spell, affect only you. These spells have a range of self. [...]

The ranges are entirely separate, and though spells with a range of touch can be cast on yourself (in most cases; some spells may require that they be cast on a creature other than yourself), this does not give them a range of Self.

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In all honesty, I can't find any truly definitive way of showcasing that Touch range spells are not also Self range spells other than the fact that the rules never explicitly make such a claim and that this is the conclusion I have seen most people come to. That said, ruling otherwise as a houserule would probably effect some features in unintended ways such as the Sorcerer's Twinned Spell Metamagic feature no longer working with Touch range spells:

[...] When you cast a spell that targets only one creature and doesn’t have a range of self, you can spend a number of sorcery points equal to the spell’s level to target a second creature in range with the same spell (1 sorcery point if the spell is a cantrip). [...]

This feature does work with spells with a range of Touch, and only doesn't work with spells with a range of Self.

Answer 2

Allowing self spells to be considered touch spells would be unbalancing.

Spell casters are already very versatile and powerful characters. The downside is often the risk of exposure to melee combat. Increasing the versatility of the self range spells and decreasing the risk to the caster would allow the character to outshine others.

Improves the uses of cantrips

Increases the range for cantrips like produce flame and lightning lure as the humunculus could be 120 feet away from the artificer. In the case of lightning lure it also allows the caster to avoid pulling the opponent toward themselves.

It would make the sword burst cantrip much nastier as the caster could us it without putting themselves in melee range of enemies. If the homunculus could cast it effectively turns the spell into a re-useable grenade.

Taking a level(s) of Wizard opens up the use of a lot of spells via scrolls.

Many of the self ranged spells are powerful as they have to originate from the caster, and the caster has to put themselves in harms way to use them optimally. Allowing the homunculus to take the risk would be a great boon to the caster.

Many self buffs would also benefit the homunculus allowing to to soak up some of the opponent's action economy. E.g. mirror image makes the homnuculus difficult to hit. Combined with damaging spells, it also make them difficult to ignore.

Using the homunculus as the point of origin increase the versatility of spells and greatly decreases the danger to the caster. Examples include:

• Gust of Wind wouldn't have to blow things away from the caster.
• Thuderwave without risking being near enemies.
• Burning hands gains range and angles of attack.
• Lightning Bolt has more options for lines of effect.

Answer 3

if a creature has the ability to cast a spell at a range of touch, is there any reason why it would not have the ability to cast a spell with a range of self?

The homonculus delivers a spell you cast...

(emphasis mine). The homonculus is not a caster: it's just a delivery mechanism (like your hand) for touch spells. The caster is always "you" ... so spells with a range of "self" affect the thing casting the spell ("you" per this text).

A familar has a similar ability ( https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Find%20Familiar#content ) but I could find no reference where a familiar could deliver anything but touch spells .

Here's an example where "self" has a "special" category, that's different from anything else:

Can my sorcerer use Twinned Spell to affect a particular spell?

You can use Twinned Spell on a spell that ...

• targets only one creature
• doesn’t have a range of self
• is incapable of targeting more than one creature at the spell’s current level

Emphasis mine, source https://media.wizards.com/2020/dnd/downloads/SA-Compendium.pdf