I have a player who is an experienced player. Our party consists of path of Devotion Paladin, Bladesinger Wizard (the player), Thief Rogue, College of Eloquence Bard, College of Whispers Bard, and Battle Master Fighter. It’s already a strong party and the two bards can throw a wrench in a lot of stuff.
My campaign is doing a time jump (homebrew) of 2-2.5 years following the end of Phandelver. The wizard (who is a Changeling) is asking if he can pick up the following rituals during this time jump:
- water breathing
- unseen servant
- tensers floating disk
- phantom steed
- magic mouth
- leonmunds tiny hut
- illusory script
- identify
- gentle repose
- find familiar
- detect magic
- comprehend languages
- augury
- alarm
My response to him was as follows:
“I want to be a yes DM, but also you’re so low of level that many of these will subvert a lot of potential enemy actions. It feels like a little too much utility for [level] 5. With two bards, it’s already ridiculous with what you all can get away with.”
I did say that I am willing to let him have a few though.
Am I being too strict? If not, how many would you allow?
Want book are you going off of? I would write them down and make scrolls available or have him pay gold to have a random wizard teach him. I dont think it’s unreasonable but i would make it cost. Also time is another thing that would keep him from being able to use them. Also mats cost to so wouldnt be to bad. Can you tell more about your campaign?
I ran Lost Mine of Phandelver with them all (the original). Now we’re doing a time jump of 2-2.5 years where Gundren has the Forge up and running but the effects it produces are inconsistent and not permanent. That said, they do last longer and there is a market. This has built up Phandalin from a small town to a larger town. Their group will get a cut of the profits Gundren gets from his business.
In the meantime, there is a growing force called the Malachite Sovereignty led by a ruthless ruler (secretly a green dragon) who is ordering ruthless attacks and capturing ground while subjugating the people. It is working its way west toward Neverwinter and south with aims to eventually go after Waterdeep after Neverwinter falls.
In short, the goal of the Malachite Sovereignty is to find a way to control Tiamat and have an army to lead a resistance against Vecna who is planning to remake all of reality to his making (using Eve of Ruin).
Homebrew will be levels 5-10 and lead into Eve of Ruin at level 10 IF they defeat the Malachite Sovereignty. Otherwise, campaign will end if they die.
This sounds like down time and for him he would need a tutor and have him calculate time.