I'm playing a 5e warlock with the Fey Touched feat, which I've never done before. My DM is learning the ropes still and I'm trying to play by the book to help him to learn the rules. In a recent session, I used Misty Step in a way that was in-character and surprising for the DM. He didn't complain at all and it was not until some days later that I read a post on here about the spell that I started to feel guilty for what I had done.
Discussions I've seen here and elsewhere online regarding the Misty Step spell not allowing for carrying a passenger do not make sense to me. I understand that the intention is to keep the spell from being overpowered at low level, but the main arguments against carrying a passenger do not explain the restriction well enough.
It is said that carrying a passenger is ruled out because the target and range are both "Self" and/or because the text does not specifically state that taking someone with you is possible. If these are both true, then the caster should appear at the other end of the jump naked and holding nothing, since "anything worn or carried" is not part of their body (self) and is not explicitly included in the spell description. If a character can Misty Step with everything worn or carried, and one can carry a backpack weighing as much as another character, then one should be able to Misty Step while carrying any character they can lift.
What am I missing here? Does "self" in 5e D&D always include all non-living material that one is wearing or carrying?
In investigating this subject in online discussions, I see that people regularly use Misty Step to escape bonds like rope, chain or shackles. But if one is tied up, then one is technically wearing the bindings unless they are wrapped around something like a tree or pole. So, why is it acceptable that a character should be able to choose to leave the bindings behind, but not all their gear and clothing?
Given that the spell is a one-time jump and only 30' and limited to a spot my warlock can see, it hardly seems overpowered that he--a goliath who is well under carrying capacity while holding another character--should be able to Misty Step.