Can Yew Wands be used as a focus for both druids and wizards?












30














As I was developing a level 4 character for a 5th edition D&D campaign I was playing with my friends, I settled on a multi-class character using the Druid and Wizard classes. When I went to choose a focus for the character, I saw the "yew wand" in the druid focus list and the "wand" in the wizard focus list. Could the yew wand then be used as a focus for both classes?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    Welcome to RPG.se! Please take the tour when you get a quick minute to learn more about us. I hope to see you around!
    – Rubiksmoose
    Nov 28 at 18:10










  • Possible duplicate of Can a multi-class spellcaster have one thing be two different focuses?
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 2




    What can yew do...
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 1




    @V2Blast not necessarily, because this doesn't necessarily have 2 types of foci. The question is more of "is the yew wand for a druidic focus the same kind of wand as a wizard focus".
    – Riker
    Nov 29 at 4:30
















30














As I was developing a level 4 character for a 5th edition D&D campaign I was playing with my friends, I settled on a multi-class character using the Druid and Wizard classes. When I went to choose a focus for the character, I saw the "yew wand" in the druid focus list and the "wand" in the wizard focus list. Could the yew wand then be used as a focus for both classes?










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    Welcome to RPG.se! Please take the tour when you get a quick minute to learn more about us. I hope to see you around!
    – Rubiksmoose
    Nov 28 at 18:10










  • Possible duplicate of Can a multi-class spellcaster have one thing be two different focuses?
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 2




    What can yew do...
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 1




    @V2Blast not necessarily, because this doesn't necessarily have 2 types of foci. The question is more of "is the yew wand for a druidic focus the same kind of wand as a wizard focus".
    – Riker
    Nov 29 at 4:30














30












30








30


1





As I was developing a level 4 character for a 5th edition D&D campaign I was playing with my friends, I settled on a multi-class character using the Druid and Wizard classes. When I went to choose a focus for the character, I saw the "yew wand" in the druid focus list and the "wand" in the wizard focus list. Could the yew wand then be used as a focus for both classes?










share|improve this question















As I was developing a level 4 character for a 5th edition D&D campaign I was playing with my friends, I settled on a multi-class character using the Druid and Wizard classes. When I went to choose a focus for the character, I saw the "yew wand" in the druid focus list and the "wand" in the wizard focus list. Could the yew wand then be used as a focus for both classes?







dnd-5e wizard druid arcane-focus






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Nov 28 at 18:08









Rubiksmoose

47.7k6237361




47.7k6237361










asked Nov 28 at 18:06









Pik

15113




15113








  • 1




    Welcome to RPG.se! Please take the tour when you get a quick minute to learn more about us. I hope to see you around!
    – Rubiksmoose
    Nov 28 at 18:10










  • Possible duplicate of Can a multi-class spellcaster have one thing be two different focuses?
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 2




    What can yew do...
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 1




    @V2Blast not necessarily, because this doesn't necessarily have 2 types of foci. The question is more of "is the yew wand for a druidic focus the same kind of wand as a wizard focus".
    – Riker
    Nov 29 at 4:30














  • 1




    Welcome to RPG.se! Please take the tour when you get a quick minute to learn more about us. I hope to see you around!
    – Rubiksmoose
    Nov 28 at 18:10










  • Possible duplicate of Can a multi-class spellcaster have one thing be two different focuses?
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 2




    What can yew do...
    – V2Blast
    Nov 29 at 4:22






  • 1




    @V2Blast not necessarily, because this doesn't necessarily have 2 types of foci. The question is more of "is the yew wand for a druidic focus the same kind of wand as a wizard focus".
    – Riker
    Nov 29 at 4:30








1




1




Welcome to RPG.se! Please take the tour when you get a quick minute to learn more about us. I hope to see you around!
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 28 at 18:10




Welcome to RPG.se! Please take the tour when you get a quick minute to learn more about us. I hope to see you around!
– Rubiksmoose
Nov 28 at 18:10












Possible duplicate of Can a multi-class spellcaster have one thing be two different focuses?
– V2Blast
Nov 29 at 4:22




Possible duplicate of Can a multi-class spellcaster have one thing be two different focuses?
– V2Blast
Nov 29 at 4:22




2




2




What can yew do...
– V2Blast
Nov 29 at 4:22




What can yew do...
– V2Blast
Nov 29 at 4:22




1




1




@V2Blast not necessarily, because this doesn't necessarily have 2 types of foci. The question is more of "is the yew wand for a druidic focus the same kind of wand as a wizard focus".
– Riker
Nov 29 at 4:30




@V2Blast not necessarily, because this doesn't necessarily have 2 types of foci. The question is more of "is the yew wand for a druidic focus the same kind of wand as a wizard focus".
– Riker
Nov 29 at 4:30










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















38














You might say something like: "Oh, well, a wizard can use a wand to cast spells, and a druid's yew wand is a wand, so the wizard can use that."



But a wizard's arcane focus isn't just any old wand. A wizard's arcane focus is an item which was specifically created to be an arcane focus. If the druid's yew wand wasn't specifically created to be an arcane focus, we should expect it not to work for a wizard.



Here's the full rules text:




Arcane Focus. 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. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.



Druidic Focus. A druidic focus might be a sprig of mistletoe or holly, a wand or scepter made of yew or another special wood, a staff drawn whole out of a living tree, or a totem object incorporating feathers, fur, bones, and teeth from sacred animals. A druid can use such an object as a spellcasting focus.




So: a super-literal reading of the rules would tell us that a wizard probably can't use a "druid's yew wand" as a focus, because the "druid's yew wand" wasn't "designed to channel the power of arcane spells".



But, if a wizard gets a piece of yew wood and runs it through the process of creating a wizard wand, the result will be a "wand made of yew wood" and a druid can use that just fine.





This is still a bit ambiguous. Xirema notes that the rules for multiclassing tell you that you can only use a focus for spells of the appropriate class, which seems to imply that the designers might have intended for foci to be separate.



Another relevant consideration is that multiclassing tends to result in worse classes than single characters anyway. If we were making this ruling based on game balance, we should probably try to be lenient to the multiclass character, since they're going to have a harder time compared to single classes.



But the gripping hand is that we on stackexchange can still be overruled by your DM. If any rules are ever unclear or ambiguous (and these rules are), the way to resolve them is to ask your DM to make a ruling.



Go ask your DM to make a ruling. : )






share|improve this answer























  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 30 at 11:34



















8














Yes.



Because a yew wand is a wand, a Yew Wand would be valid for both Druids and Wizards, so your character could use it for both their Wizard and their Druid spells.






share|improve this answer





























    -1














    Rules as Written, no.



    As written, an arcane focus is an arcane focus, and a druidic focus is a druidic focus. Everything else is just suggestions for descriptive text of what a specific focus might look like.



    Rules as Fun, sure!



    It totally makes sense for a cross-class character to double up their foci in a way that meets both requirements, so sure, go for it! (Pending DM permission, of course.) The only real, serious difference would be a matter of a few gold -- which is really no big deal for an adventurer of even 2nd level -- and potentially a question of how many hands you're using at any given time.



    I don't think the 'number of hands' issue is worth worrying about unless the DM really likes to get fiddly about things like that. Consider the following complaint:



    "Wait a minute, you're holding a torch in one hand and your arcane wand in the other, and you used your free object-interaction to put your wand away, so if you want to pull out your druidic focus you're going to have to use an action!"



    If your DM might say something like that, then you may have an issue with 'doubling up' like that, as it would remove something your DM is treating as a limiting factor on your spellcasting. If your DM wouldn't say that, then sure, there's very likely no problem with a dual-use wand.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 1




      The same item satisfies both classes requirements. The RAW do not say otherwise.
      – MarkTO
      Dec 5 at 14:16






    • 1




      The class requirement isn't "hold a stick of yew". The class requirement is "hold a druidic focus", which is a specific item in the equipment list. The fact that there is a potential overlap between possible general descriptions of two items doesn't mean those items are the same, any more than a crowbar is a crescent wrench just because both of them are generally "a length of metal held in the hand". By the RAW, if you buy or craft a druidic focus, you get a druidic focus. If you buy or craft an arcane focus, you get an arcane focus.
      – Darth Pseudonym
      Dec 5 at 14:49





















    -3














    You need two wands; the same wand cannot serve both classes



    From the Multiclassing rules, as written in the Player's Handbook, page 163:




    Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually...



    [...]



    ... Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.




    While a Yew Wand is almost certainly valid as a spellcasting focus for either a Druid or a Wizard, it's not valid for both at the same time. You'd need to acquire a second wand at the time you multiclass.



    If focuses were permitted to be shared between multiple classes, the wording would read something like "can be used only for the spells from the classes associated with that focus"






    share|improve this answer



















    • 5




      Why can't the focus be associated to more than one class?
      – NautArch
      Nov 28 at 19:47






    • 6




      I don't see that interpretation as valid. Each class checks validity independently. Is it a Wand? Works for Wizard. Is it a Yew Want? Works for Druid. Same wand? Irrelevant. One wand can work fine for both. There is nothing in what you cited to support your assertion.
      – MarkTO
      Nov 28 at 19:50






    • 6




      I'm just not seeing the same thing you are. The quote says a focus can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus - but it's not saying that the focus can't associate to two classes and it doesn't say it can only do one. Unless I'm missing something.
      – NautArch
      Nov 28 at 20:08






    • 6




      This logic would imply that you could not use the same holy symbol for paladin and priest levels of the same faith. That seems... obviously incorrect.
      – Ben Barden
      Nov 28 at 20:51






    • 2




      @BenBarden Strictly speaking, in 5th edition, Paladins don't draw their power from the same source that Clerics do; Clerics draw their power from their Divine Connection, Paladins draw from their own Willpower and Convictions.
      – Xirema
      Nov 28 at 20:57













    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "122"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f136432%2fcan-yew-wands-be-used-as-a-focus-for-both-druids-and-wizards%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes








    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    38














    You might say something like: "Oh, well, a wizard can use a wand to cast spells, and a druid's yew wand is a wand, so the wizard can use that."



    But a wizard's arcane focus isn't just any old wand. A wizard's arcane focus is an item which was specifically created to be an arcane focus. If the druid's yew wand wasn't specifically created to be an arcane focus, we should expect it not to work for a wizard.



    Here's the full rules text:




    Arcane Focus. 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. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.



    Druidic Focus. A druidic focus might be a sprig of mistletoe or holly, a wand or scepter made of yew or another special wood, a staff drawn whole out of a living tree, or a totem object incorporating feathers, fur, bones, and teeth from sacred animals. A druid can use such an object as a spellcasting focus.




    So: a super-literal reading of the rules would tell us that a wizard probably can't use a "druid's yew wand" as a focus, because the "druid's yew wand" wasn't "designed to channel the power of arcane spells".



    But, if a wizard gets a piece of yew wood and runs it through the process of creating a wizard wand, the result will be a "wand made of yew wood" and a druid can use that just fine.





    This is still a bit ambiguous. Xirema notes that the rules for multiclassing tell you that you can only use a focus for spells of the appropriate class, which seems to imply that the designers might have intended for foci to be separate.



    Another relevant consideration is that multiclassing tends to result in worse classes than single characters anyway. If we were making this ruling based on game balance, we should probably try to be lenient to the multiclass character, since they're going to have a harder time compared to single classes.



    But the gripping hand is that we on stackexchange can still be overruled by your DM. If any rules are ever unclear or ambiguous (and these rules are), the way to resolve them is to ask your DM to make a ruling.



    Go ask your DM to make a ruling. : )






    share|improve this answer























    • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      – mxyzplk
      Nov 30 at 11:34
















    38














    You might say something like: "Oh, well, a wizard can use a wand to cast spells, and a druid's yew wand is a wand, so the wizard can use that."



    But a wizard's arcane focus isn't just any old wand. A wizard's arcane focus is an item which was specifically created to be an arcane focus. If the druid's yew wand wasn't specifically created to be an arcane focus, we should expect it not to work for a wizard.



    Here's the full rules text:




    Arcane Focus. 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. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.



    Druidic Focus. A druidic focus might be a sprig of mistletoe or holly, a wand or scepter made of yew or another special wood, a staff drawn whole out of a living tree, or a totem object incorporating feathers, fur, bones, and teeth from sacred animals. A druid can use such an object as a spellcasting focus.




    So: a super-literal reading of the rules would tell us that a wizard probably can't use a "druid's yew wand" as a focus, because the "druid's yew wand" wasn't "designed to channel the power of arcane spells".



    But, if a wizard gets a piece of yew wood and runs it through the process of creating a wizard wand, the result will be a "wand made of yew wood" and a druid can use that just fine.





    This is still a bit ambiguous. Xirema notes that the rules for multiclassing tell you that you can only use a focus for spells of the appropriate class, which seems to imply that the designers might have intended for foci to be separate.



    Another relevant consideration is that multiclassing tends to result in worse classes than single characters anyway. If we were making this ruling based on game balance, we should probably try to be lenient to the multiclass character, since they're going to have a harder time compared to single classes.



    But the gripping hand is that we on stackexchange can still be overruled by your DM. If any rules are ever unclear or ambiguous (and these rules are), the way to resolve them is to ask your DM to make a ruling.



    Go ask your DM to make a ruling. : )






    share|improve this answer























    • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      – mxyzplk
      Nov 30 at 11:34














    38












    38








    38






    You might say something like: "Oh, well, a wizard can use a wand to cast spells, and a druid's yew wand is a wand, so the wizard can use that."



    But a wizard's arcane focus isn't just any old wand. A wizard's arcane focus is an item which was specifically created to be an arcane focus. If the druid's yew wand wasn't specifically created to be an arcane focus, we should expect it not to work for a wizard.



    Here's the full rules text:




    Arcane Focus. 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. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.



    Druidic Focus. A druidic focus might be a sprig of mistletoe or holly, a wand or scepter made of yew or another special wood, a staff drawn whole out of a living tree, or a totem object incorporating feathers, fur, bones, and teeth from sacred animals. A druid can use such an object as a spellcasting focus.




    So: a super-literal reading of the rules would tell us that a wizard probably can't use a "druid's yew wand" as a focus, because the "druid's yew wand" wasn't "designed to channel the power of arcane spells".



    But, if a wizard gets a piece of yew wood and runs it through the process of creating a wizard wand, the result will be a "wand made of yew wood" and a druid can use that just fine.





    This is still a bit ambiguous. Xirema notes that the rules for multiclassing tell you that you can only use a focus for spells of the appropriate class, which seems to imply that the designers might have intended for foci to be separate.



    Another relevant consideration is that multiclassing tends to result in worse classes than single characters anyway. If we were making this ruling based on game balance, we should probably try to be lenient to the multiclass character, since they're going to have a harder time compared to single classes.



    But the gripping hand is that we on stackexchange can still be overruled by your DM. If any rules are ever unclear or ambiguous (and these rules are), the way to resolve them is to ask your DM to make a ruling.



    Go ask your DM to make a ruling. : )






    share|improve this answer














    You might say something like: "Oh, well, a wizard can use a wand to cast spells, and a druid's yew wand is a wand, so the wizard can use that."



    But a wizard's arcane focus isn't just any old wand. A wizard's arcane focus is an item which was specifically created to be an arcane focus. If the druid's yew wand wasn't specifically created to be an arcane focus, we should expect it not to work for a wizard.



    Here's the full rules text:




    Arcane Focus. 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. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus.



    Druidic Focus. A druidic focus might be a sprig of mistletoe or holly, a wand or scepter made of yew or another special wood, a staff drawn whole out of a living tree, or a totem object incorporating feathers, fur, bones, and teeth from sacred animals. A druid can use such an object as a spellcasting focus.




    So: a super-literal reading of the rules would tell us that a wizard probably can't use a "druid's yew wand" as a focus, because the "druid's yew wand" wasn't "designed to channel the power of arcane spells".



    But, if a wizard gets a piece of yew wood and runs it through the process of creating a wizard wand, the result will be a "wand made of yew wood" and a druid can use that just fine.





    This is still a bit ambiguous. Xirema notes that the rules for multiclassing tell you that you can only use a focus for spells of the appropriate class, which seems to imply that the designers might have intended for foci to be separate.



    Another relevant consideration is that multiclassing tends to result in worse classes than single characters anyway. If we were making this ruling based on game balance, we should probably try to be lenient to the multiclass character, since they're going to have a harder time compared to single classes.



    But the gripping hand is that we on stackexchange can still be overruled by your DM. If any rules are ever unclear or ambiguous (and these rules are), the way to resolve them is to ask your DM to make a ruling.



    Go ask your DM to make a ruling. : )







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Nov 29 at 3:25

























    answered Nov 28 at 18:44









    Dan B

    35.5k765140




    35.5k765140












    • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      – mxyzplk
      Nov 30 at 11:34


















    • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
      – mxyzplk
      Nov 30 at 11:34
















    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 30 at 11:34




    Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – mxyzplk
    Nov 30 at 11:34













    8














    Yes.



    Because a yew wand is a wand, a Yew Wand would be valid for both Druids and Wizards, so your character could use it for both their Wizard and their Druid spells.






    share|improve this answer


























      8














      Yes.



      Because a yew wand is a wand, a Yew Wand would be valid for both Druids and Wizards, so your character could use it for both their Wizard and their Druid spells.






      share|improve this answer
























        8












        8








        8






        Yes.



        Because a yew wand is a wand, a Yew Wand would be valid for both Druids and Wizards, so your character could use it for both their Wizard and their Druid spells.






        share|improve this answer












        Yes.



        Because a yew wand is a wand, a Yew Wand would be valid for both Druids and Wizards, so your character could use it for both their Wizard and their Druid spells.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Nov 28 at 18:24









        MarkTO

        2,076322




        2,076322























            -1














            Rules as Written, no.



            As written, an arcane focus is an arcane focus, and a druidic focus is a druidic focus. Everything else is just suggestions for descriptive text of what a specific focus might look like.



            Rules as Fun, sure!



            It totally makes sense for a cross-class character to double up their foci in a way that meets both requirements, so sure, go for it! (Pending DM permission, of course.) The only real, serious difference would be a matter of a few gold -- which is really no big deal for an adventurer of even 2nd level -- and potentially a question of how many hands you're using at any given time.



            I don't think the 'number of hands' issue is worth worrying about unless the DM really likes to get fiddly about things like that. Consider the following complaint:



            "Wait a minute, you're holding a torch in one hand and your arcane wand in the other, and you used your free object-interaction to put your wand away, so if you want to pull out your druidic focus you're going to have to use an action!"



            If your DM might say something like that, then you may have an issue with 'doubling up' like that, as it would remove something your DM is treating as a limiting factor on your spellcasting. If your DM wouldn't say that, then sure, there's very likely no problem with a dual-use wand.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              The same item satisfies both classes requirements. The RAW do not say otherwise.
              – MarkTO
              Dec 5 at 14:16






            • 1




              The class requirement isn't "hold a stick of yew". The class requirement is "hold a druidic focus", which is a specific item in the equipment list. The fact that there is a potential overlap between possible general descriptions of two items doesn't mean those items are the same, any more than a crowbar is a crescent wrench just because both of them are generally "a length of metal held in the hand". By the RAW, if you buy or craft a druidic focus, you get a druidic focus. If you buy or craft an arcane focus, you get an arcane focus.
              – Darth Pseudonym
              Dec 5 at 14:49


















            -1














            Rules as Written, no.



            As written, an arcane focus is an arcane focus, and a druidic focus is a druidic focus. Everything else is just suggestions for descriptive text of what a specific focus might look like.



            Rules as Fun, sure!



            It totally makes sense for a cross-class character to double up their foci in a way that meets both requirements, so sure, go for it! (Pending DM permission, of course.) The only real, serious difference would be a matter of a few gold -- which is really no big deal for an adventurer of even 2nd level -- and potentially a question of how many hands you're using at any given time.



            I don't think the 'number of hands' issue is worth worrying about unless the DM really likes to get fiddly about things like that. Consider the following complaint:



            "Wait a minute, you're holding a torch in one hand and your arcane wand in the other, and you used your free object-interaction to put your wand away, so if you want to pull out your druidic focus you're going to have to use an action!"



            If your DM might say something like that, then you may have an issue with 'doubling up' like that, as it would remove something your DM is treating as a limiting factor on your spellcasting. If your DM wouldn't say that, then sure, there's very likely no problem with a dual-use wand.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              The same item satisfies both classes requirements. The RAW do not say otherwise.
              – MarkTO
              Dec 5 at 14:16






            • 1




              The class requirement isn't "hold a stick of yew". The class requirement is "hold a druidic focus", which is a specific item in the equipment list. The fact that there is a potential overlap between possible general descriptions of two items doesn't mean those items are the same, any more than a crowbar is a crescent wrench just because both of them are generally "a length of metal held in the hand". By the RAW, if you buy or craft a druidic focus, you get a druidic focus. If you buy or craft an arcane focus, you get an arcane focus.
              – Darth Pseudonym
              Dec 5 at 14:49
















            -1












            -1








            -1






            Rules as Written, no.



            As written, an arcane focus is an arcane focus, and a druidic focus is a druidic focus. Everything else is just suggestions for descriptive text of what a specific focus might look like.



            Rules as Fun, sure!



            It totally makes sense for a cross-class character to double up their foci in a way that meets both requirements, so sure, go for it! (Pending DM permission, of course.) The only real, serious difference would be a matter of a few gold -- which is really no big deal for an adventurer of even 2nd level -- and potentially a question of how many hands you're using at any given time.



            I don't think the 'number of hands' issue is worth worrying about unless the DM really likes to get fiddly about things like that. Consider the following complaint:



            "Wait a minute, you're holding a torch in one hand and your arcane wand in the other, and you used your free object-interaction to put your wand away, so if you want to pull out your druidic focus you're going to have to use an action!"



            If your DM might say something like that, then you may have an issue with 'doubling up' like that, as it would remove something your DM is treating as a limiting factor on your spellcasting. If your DM wouldn't say that, then sure, there's very likely no problem with a dual-use wand.






            share|improve this answer














            Rules as Written, no.



            As written, an arcane focus is an arcane focus, and a druidic focus is a druidic focus. Everything else is just suggestions for descriptive text of what a specific focus might look like.



            Rules as Fun, sure!



            It totally makes sense for a cross-class character to double up their foci in a way that meets both requirements, so sure, go for it! (Pending DM permission, of course.) The only real, serious difference would be a matter of a few gold -- which is really no big deal for an adventurer of even 2nd level -- and potentially a question of how many hands you're using at any given time.



            I don't think the 'number of hands' issue is worth worrying about unless the DM really likes to get fiddly about things like that. Consider the following complaint:



            "Wait a minute, you're holding a torch in one hand and your arcane wand in the other, and you used your free object-interaction to put your wand away, so if you want to pull out your druidic focus you're going to have to use an action!"



            If your DM might say something like that, then you may have an issue with 'doubling up' like that, as it would remove something your DM is treating as a limiting factor on your spellcasting. If your DM wouldn't say that, then sure, there's very likely no problem with a dual-use wand.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Nov 29 at 19:32

























            answered Nov 29 at 14:49









            Darth Pseudonym

            11.7k22865




            11.7k22865








            • 1




              The same item satisfies both classes requirements. The RAW do not say otherwise.
              – MarkTO
              Dec 5 at 14:16






            • 1




              The class requirement isn't "hold a stick of yew". The class requirement is "hold a druidic focus", which is a specific item in the equipment list. The fact that there is a potential overlap between possible general descriptions of two items doesn't mean those items are the same, any more than a crowbar is a crescent wrench just because both of them are generally "a length of metal held in the hand". By the RAW, if you buy or craft a druidic focus, you get a druidic focus. If you buy or craft an arcane focus, you get an arcane focus.
              – Darth Pseudonym
              Dec 5 at 14:49
















            • 1




              The same item satisfies both classes requirements. The RAW do not say otherwise.
              – MarkTO
              Dec 5 at 14:16






            • 1




              The class requirement isn't "hold a stick of yew". The class requirement is "hold a druidic focus", which is a specific item in the equipment list. The fact that there is a potential overlap between possible general descriptions of two items doesn't mean those items are the same, any more than a crowbar is a crescent wrench just because both of them are generally "a length of metal held in the hand". By the RAW, if you buy or craft a druidic focus, you get a druidic focus. If you buy or craft an arcane focus, you get an arcane focus.
              – Darth Pseudonym
              Dec 5 at 14:49










            1




            1




            The same item satisfies both classes requirements. The RAW do not say otherwise.
            – MarkTO
            Dec 5 at 14:16




            The same item satisfies both classes requirements. The RAW do not say otherwise.
            – MarkTO
            Dec 5 at 14:16




            1




            1




            The class requirement isn't "hold a stick of yew". The class requirement is "hold a druidic focus", which is a specific item in the equipment list. The fact that there is a potential overlap between possible general descriptions of two items doesn't mean those items are the same, any more than a crowbar is a crescent wrench just because both of them are generally "a length of metal held in the hand". By the RAW, if you buy or craft a druidic focus, you get a druidic focus. If you buy or craft an arcane focus, you get an arcane focus.
            – Darth Pseudonym
            Dec 5 at 14:49






            The class requirement isn't "hold a stick of yew". The class requirement is "hold a druidic focus", which is a specific item in the equipment list. The fact that there is a potential overlap between possible general descriptions of two items doesn't mean those items are the same, any more than a crowbar is a crescent wrench just because both of them are generally "a length of metal held in the hand". By the RAW, if you buy or craft a druidic focus, you get a druidic focus. If you buy or craft an arcane focus, you get an arcane focus.
            – Darth Pseudonym
            Dec 5 at 14:49













            -3














            You need two wands; the same wand cannot serve both classes



            From the Multiclassing rules, as written in the Player's Handbook, page 163:




            Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually...



            [...]



            ... Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.




            While a Yew Wand is almost certainly valid as a spellcasting focus for either a Druid or a Wizard, it's not valid for both at the same time. You'd need to acquire a second wand at the time you multiclass.



            If focuses were permitted to be shared between multiple classes, the wording would read something like "can be used only for the spells from the classes associated with that focus"






            share|improve this answer



















            • 5




              Why can't the focus be associated to more than one class?
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 19:47






            • 6




              I don't see that interpretation as valid. Each class checks validity independently. Is it a Wand? Works for Wizard. Is it a Yew Want? Works for Druid. Same wand? Irrelevant. One wand can work fine for both. There is nothing in what you cited to support your assertion.
              – MarkTO
              Nov 28 at 19:50






            • 6




              I'm just not seeing the same thing you are. The quote says a focus can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus - but it's not saying that the focus can't associate to two classes and it doesn't say it can only do one. Unless I'm missing something.
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 20:08






            • 6




              This logic would imply that you could not use the same holy symbol for paladin and priest levels of the same faith. That seems... obviously incorrect.
              – Ben Barden
              Nov 28 at 20:51






            • 2




              @BenBarden Strictly speaking, in 5th edition, Paladins don't draw their power from the same source that Clerics do; Clerics draw their power from their Divine Connection, Paladins draw from their own Willpower and Convictions.
              – Xirema
              Nov 28 at 20:57


















            -3














            You need two wands; the same wand cannot serve both classes



            From the Multiclassing rules, as written in the Player's Handbook, page 163:




            Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually...



            [...]



            ... Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.




            While a Yew Wand is almost certainly valid as a spellcasting focus for either a Druid or a Wizard, it's not valid for both at the same time. You'd need to acquire a second wand at the time you multiclass.



            If focuses were permitted to be shared between multiple classes, the wording would read something like "can be used only for the spells from the classes associated with that focus"






            share|improve this answer



















            • 5




              Why can't the focus be associated to more than one class?
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 19:47






            • 6




              I don't see that interpretation as valid. Each class checks validity independently. Is it a Wand? Works for Wizard. Is it a Yew Want? Works for Druid. Same wand? Irrelevant. One wand can work fine for both. There is nothing in what you cited to support your assertion.
              – MarkTO
              Nov 28 at 19:50






            • 6




              I'm just not seeing the same thing you are. The quote says a focus can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus - but it's not saying that the focus can't associate to two classes and it doesn't say it can only do one. Unless I'm missing something.
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 20:08






            • 6




              This logic would imply that you could not use the same holy symbol for paladin and priest levels of the same faith. That seems... obviously incorrect.
              – Ben Barden
              Nov 28 at 20:51






            • 2




              @BenBarden Strictly speaking, in 5th edition, Paladins don't draw their power from the same source that Clerics do; Clerics draw their power from their Divine Connection, Paladins draw from their own Willpower and Convictions.
              – Xirema
              Nov 28 at 20:57
















            -3












            -3








            -3






            You need two wands; the same wand cannot serve both classes



            From the Multiclassing rules, as written in the Player's Handbook, page 163:




            Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually...



            [...]



            ... Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.




            While a Yew Wand is almost certainly valid as a spellcasting focus for either a Druid or a Wizard, it's not valid for both at the same time. You'd need to acquire a second wand at the time you multiclass.



            If focuses were permitted to be shared between multiple classes, the wording would read something like "can be used only for the spells from the classes associated with that focus"






            share|improve this answer














            You need two wands; the same wand cannot serve both classes



            From the Multiclassing rules, as written in the Player's Handbook, page 163:




            Spells Known and Prepared. You determine what spells you know and can prepare for each class individually...



            [...]



            ... Similarly, a spellcasting focus, such as a holy symbol, can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus.




            While a Yew Wand is almost certainly valid as a spellcasting focus for either a Druid or a Wizard, it's not valid for both at the same time. You'd need to acquire a second wand at the time you multiclass.



            If focuses were permitted to be shared between multiple classes, the wording would read something like "can be used only for the spells from the classes associated with that focus"







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited Nov 28 at 20:53

























            answered Nov 28 at 19:04









            Xirema

            15.6k24694




            15.6k24694








            • 5




              Why can't the focus be associated to more than one class?
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 19:47






            • 6




              I don't see that interpretation as valid. Each class checks validity independently. Is it a Wand? Works for Wizard. Is it a Yew Want? Works for Druid. Same wand? Irrelevant. One wand can work fine for both. There is nothing in what you cited to support your assertion.
              – MarkTO
              Nov 28 at 19:50






            • 6




              I'm just not seeing the same thing you are. The quote says a focus can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus - but it's not saying that the focus can't associate to two classes and it doesn't say it can only do one. Unless I'm missing something.
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 20:08






            • 6




              This logic would imply that you could not use the same holy symbol for paladin and priest levels of the same faith. That seems... obviously incorrect.
              – Ben Barden
              Nov 28 at 20:51






            • 2




              @BenBarden Strictly speaking, in 5th edition, Paladins don't draw their power from the same source that Clerics do; Clerics draw their power from their Divine Connection, Paladins draw from their own Willpower and Convictions.
              – Xirema
              Nov 28 at 20:57
















            • 5




              Why can't the focus be associated to more than one class?
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 19:47






            • 6




              I don't see that interpretation as valid. Each class checks validity independently. Is it a Wand? Works for Wizard. Is it a Yew Want? Works for Druid. Same wand? Irrelevant. One wand can work fine for both. There is nothing in what you cited to support your assertion.
              – MarkTO
              Nov 28 at 19:50






            • 6




              I'm just not seeing the same thing you are. The quote says a focus can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus - but it's not saying that the focus can't associate to two classes and it doesn't say it can only do one. Unless I'm missing something.
              – NautArch
              Nov 28 at 20:08






            • 6




              This logic would imply that you could not use the same holy symbol for paladin and priest levels of the same faith. That seems... obviously incorrect.
              – Ben Barden
              Nov 28 at 20:51






            • 2




              @BenBarden Strictly speaking, in 5th edition, Paladins don't draw their power from the same source that Clerics do; Clerics draw their power from their Divine Connection, Paladins draw from their own Willpower and Convictions.
              – Xirema
              Nov 28 at 20:57










            5




            5




            Why can't the focus be associated to more than one class?
            – NautArch
            Nov 28 at 19:47




            Why can't the focus be associated to more than one class?
            – NautArch
            Nov 28 at 19:47




            6




            6




            I don't see that interpretation as valid. Each class checks validity independently. Is it a Wand? Works for Wizard. Is it a Yew Want? Works for Druid. Same wand? Irrelevant. One wand can work fine for both. There is nothing in what you cited to support your assertion.
            – MarkTO
            Nov 28 at 19:50




            I don't see that interpretation as valid. Each class checks validity independently. Is it a Wand? Works for Wizard. Is it a Yew Want? Works for Druid. Same wand? Irrelevant. One wand can work fine for both. There is nothing in what you cited to support your assertion.
            – MarkTO
            Nov 28 at 19:50




            6




            6




            I'm just not seeing the same thing you are. The quote says a focus can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus - but it's not saying that the focus can't associate to two classes and it doesn't say it can only do one. Unless I'm missing something.
            – NautArch
            Nov 28 at 20:08




            I'm just not seeing the same thing you are. The quote says a focus can be used only for the spells from the class associated with that focus - but it's not saying that the focus can't associate to two classes and it doesn't say it can only do one. Unless I'm missing something.
            – NautArch
            Nov 28 at 20:08




            6




            6




            This logic would imply that you could not use the same holy symbol for paladin and priest levels of the same faith. That seems... obviously incorrect.
            – Ben Barden
            Nov 28 at 20:51




            This logic would imply that you could not use the same holy symbol for paladin and priest levels of the same faith. That seems... obviously incorrect.
            – Ben Barden
            Nov 28 at 20:51




            2




            2




            @BenBarden Strictly speaking, in 5th edition, Paladins don't draw their power from the same source that Clerics do; Clerics draw their power from their Divine Connection, Paladins draw from their own Willpower and Convictions.
            – Xirema
            Nov 28 at 20:57






            @BenBarden Strictly speaking, in 5th edition, Paladins don't draw their power from the same source that Clerics do; Clerics draw their power from their Divine Connection, Paladins draw from their own Willpower and Convictions.
            – Xirema
            Nov 28 at 20:57




















            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Role-playing Games Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.





            Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.


            Please pay close attention to the following guidance:


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f136432%2fcan-yew-wands-be-used-as-a-focus-for-both-druids-and-wizards%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            How to change which sound is reproduced for terminal bell?

            Can I use Tabulator js library in my java Spring + Thymeleaf project?

            Title Spacing in Bjornstrup Chapter, Removing Chapter Number From Contents