D&D 5e MANIFEST MIND, Order of Scribes Wizard

[@HorizonOfHope]

Last week I was attacked by a bear and all of my arms and legs were torn off and my entrails tugged out. With my last ebb of strength I subscribed to this channel and my limbs immediately grew back and the bear not only placed my guts back within me unscathed but also wrote me a sincere apology letter.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Sounds legit

[@aidandunne5978]

To start the semester, I was failing all my courses, and I was going to be expelled on grounds of creating an illegal aquarium on campus. In desperation, I subscribed to this channel, and suddenly, I aced all assignments, past and present, and was being presented an award for my innovative use of fish in creating a productive work environment.

[@jakewarman7277]

Rofl I love this

[@karatekoala4270]

Not saying that subscribing to the channel will allow you relentless endurance during a bear attack. But the evidence shows that it may have something to do with it.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

@@karatekoala4270 Better to be safe than sorry.

[@elijahthompson7049]

Okay but we *NEED* a spell breakdown for what spells get improved with this subclass

[@nicholass5621]

100% agree

[@CraigAWSellars]

All the spells 😂

[@jackhilton4285]

All of it bro Just keep stacking what ever it is, it only takes 2min/lvl it's nothing for you in long camp Remember if you find a spell book, don't copy the spells Instead of wasting money, just write your arcane sigil on it for a short rest BOOM, ALL of your spells are transferred to the new book You add all the spells for free!

[@DnDDeepDive]

Chris, you’re a genius. A true Scribe Wiz irl.

[@JacobSienk]

Colby, you inspire me to be a Gishy asshole in every game I play now. You are amazing, and I love seeing content you and Chris create separately, but even more the collaboration you’ve done since the playtest packets have been released, don’t ever quit being your best Gish self.

[@mrmuffins951]

This is just the coolest subclass. I wish they leaned into making some of its features into base wizard features with the playtests

[@SortKaffe]

I like putting up a Wall of Fire (dealing force damage) around your enemies and having your Manifest Mind hover on the opposite side, such that you can Pulse Wave them back into the AoE regardless of which direction they escape. However, ask your DM before assuming you can choose Dunamancy spells from Wildemount.

[@Llaqus]

Yep, I was thinking something similar when he brought up pulse wave. It's a great spell but depends on your DM if they will not only allow you use the source book but also since you're not a Dunamancy sub-class if they would let you take the spell at all since they are intended to only be used with Dunamancy casters only. You could however substitute it with a thunder wave, not as powerful but still gets the job done on at least two of the targets.

[@migueldelmazo5244]

Good use of Wilhelm scream. Great video TreantMonk. My favorite subclass among all subclasses.

[@travislahne9189]

I finally realized this would make a good blind wizard.

[@DrLongWang]

Ever since this subclass came out it’s been my favorite. Hopefully vids like this make the community give it more love.

[@ambrosedystopian1542]

I've been waiting for a while for the second half of this. It was actually on my mind earlier this week. This is like the echo knight for wizards. And yeah of course it's way better because it's for wizards😂

[@CJWproductions]

There's a lengthy thread on the Beyond forums about Misty Step and whether it works with Manifest Mind in the way you described here. I side with the faction that says it doesn't.

[@theepicduck6922]

Only missed opportunity was making your manifested mind Mega Mind.

[@pederw4900]

My first time seeing this was in the capable hands of Emily Axford on critical role, and she’s a notorious powergamer lol

[@Lantalia]

The trivial counter to a spectral mind is to put a bucket over it. Heck, depending on DM ruling, a cloak thrown over it may be sufficient. It can't pass through solid objects after all

[@Lemurion287]

I'm normally a forever DM, but I managed to play an Order of Scribes Wizard at a con last year and it's amazing how good the Manifest Mind was for me. However, there's one thing I think you missed, or at least glossed over. Since the Mind persists over a long rest, as long as the wizard is willing to move it wherever they want to see rather than conjure it in place, they can conjure its replacement without expending a spell slot so long as they hadn't conjured it that day. So just conjure it the day before the adventure, then boom--you can replace it for free as needed.

[@jeffreydoyle3143]

05:00 He got it

[@benyblancofrbx]

You've sold me with this one... even if it's just the first time watching one of your videos.. you got my sub.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Welcome!

[@minikawildflower]

I love these videos, because while my regular game is pretty light on combat and I don't need to worry about optimizing for maximum effectiveness, I feel like because of Chris I always have a good sense of like, a few go-to moves. My two main characters are a scribes wizard and twilight cleric, and I don't make NEARLY full use of all their potential, but whenever we go into combat I definitely feel like I know how to pitch in without dragging the group down (unlike a friend of mine who keeps walking his squishy sorcerer into melee combat and then begging for healing lol)

[@Getsugaru]

I'm an 8th level Scribe Wizard at the moment. A fun trick I use as an ambush technique (as well as a way to protect the party as a long rest) is ritual-casting Leomund's Tiny Hut and then leaving the Manifest Mind on the outside. Normally, the Hut prevents spellcasting from going through either direction, but with the Manifest Mind on the outside, I can cast spells while being within the perfect safety of my Hut. And if I don't want to burn a Spell-Platform usage that round (or I have a concentration spell like Flaming Snowball or Summon Undead running), I can use ranged weapons from within the Hut without penalty since "creatures and objects within the dome when you cast the spell can move through it freely." As a joke, I sometimes use my turn to manage the Manifest Mind and whatever BC spell I've running and then just stay inside the Hut reading a book instead of (seemingly) paying attention to the fight around me (something the party finds humorous since I have a tiny blank book I use as a prop to act this out when I do it; I also use slamming it shut as my somatic component for Counterspell). The party benefits too, since we see out but others can't see in; free sneak attack on an Elven Accuracy longbow specialist Rogue is juicy. 🐍

[@nooneknows3520]

Echo Knight and Scribes both summoning creatures to fight for them. Classic

[@stephenburley4581]

Among the list of things I don't *think* got covered (I might have missed it, there's so much in this video, holy shit, good work Treant)... Simulacrum stacks exponentially with this, because your Simulacrum can have their own Manifest Mind. Kinda makes me curious just how silly a high level build with Manifest Mind, Simulacrum and Echo Knight all worked in together would look.

[@pedrostormrage]

I can't manifest my own mind, but this video sure expanded my mind about that feature (I'm definitely looking at this subclass in a different way now).

[@Alceasy]

If I interpreted your X post correctly, I'd like to wish you a happy birthday !

[@deProfundisAdAstra]

These strats are delightful. I would generally never take pulse wave, but I have to try the pulse from above now!

[@adolfodef]

I would ask my DM to allow this combo: . Summon it with a bonus action (hovering 10 feet above an ally). . As a "Magic Action", a variant of the "Ready" action: "Ready: Shield" consuming a spellslot of level 1 (or higher) & lasting for 1 minute, or until is triggered with a reaction. . As a Reaction to an ally within 10 feet being hit (that my character can take, using the Manifested senses), it casts the Spell "Shield" [manifested as a Tiny 1 foot Sphere of invulnerability around it], that then can use up to 10 feet of its remaining movement to interpose itself like a flying Buckler Shield (increasing the effective AC of the ally by +1, possibly turning the hit into a miss). Once triggered, this protective effect lasts until the begining of my character next turn (or until the ally moves away by 5 feet or more), applying its benefit to all further attacks. It can also be used to move the Manifested Mind by targetting & grappling it with an attack (anyone), or with an action (allies). The contested STR & DEX of the Manifested+Shield is 1 & any save roll is treated like a Nat 1 (not an automatic failure).

[@Fl0wchart]

Gonna predict you talking about Absorb Elements being able to grant Damage Resistance to ANY and ALL damage types.

[@rcschmidt668]

One tactic… The manifest mind can be countered by an area within an antimagic field.

[@DeadpoolAli]

I friggin love these hyper analysis videos!!

[@MonochromaticPrism]

You can also use the mind to do something cheeky like ritual casting forbiddance inside a still-sealed tomb.

[@SarJulem]

All of a sudden resilient sphere and like spells has become viable. Just encase yourself in the sphere and away you go. Wall of force an enemy and conjure the manifested mind inside and let the sparks fly.

[@jchagasla]

Oh boy. Not optimized or anything, but I used to run a character whose concept was "a teenager", he was a kalashtar undying (really, not optimized you say?) warlock pact of the tome (with shillelagh and find familiar to express his confused nature) and I would flavor many of his magical interactions as the dual spirit of the kalashtar actually appearing as his mage hand and so on. Had this class been out then, this would be so intense! Maybe I'll try to reboot that table then.

[@bobbysimon1078]

12:40 Emily Axford actually did this play on Critical Role with her order of scribes wizard. What an awesome and versatile subclass

[@Apfeljunge666]

manifested mind is crazy, I agree, though I'm not sure pulse wave was a great example spell, considering how setting and subclass restricted it usually is.

[@thedeaderer8791]

This is why ur the GOAT bro❤

[@tyypo9567]

I think Treantmonk just gave me permission to add Pulse Wave to my non-dunamancy wizard!

[@matthewlenard8346]

Good afternoon, Chris I hope your days treat you well. I for one I'm super geek to see how you are going to optimize a scribe wizard on the full build in the next coming weeks. 😃

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Working on it now!

[@bchurchill49]

Love order of scribes. currently playing one but sub optimally as a summoner.

[@jackingjackrabit47]

I am playing a Plasmid Scribes Wizard now and we just reached level 11 I play it as a floating oooze ball It is so fun When i initially took scribes way back at lvl 2 over a year ago, I had not actually read the features, but it turned out to be the best fit for them This walkthrough is amazing and I now want to start throwing some of these techniques Thank you! Can’t wait to see more

[@iurigoes]

i really think they should change to cast on "a place u can see"

[@brianklingele5728]

One of the best spells to cast is Summon Greater Demon. Manifest the mind on the other side of the door. See your enemy. Summon a demon close to the enemy. Who cares about maintaining control. Let them battle each other down. When the demon is killed, go in and finish the very weakened enemy. Or if the demon wins, let them go back home. Meanwhile as they are fighting you can give the party a blow-by-blow description of the fight.

[@andrewshandle]

I'm sure by RAW the Misty Step example is "correct" but it just feels wrong. If anything, casting it via your Spectral Mind should move the SM, not the caster. A 330 foot Misty Step seems broken. Also your Purple Worm example seems to work that way (the SM Dimension Doors someone out of a location), so I'd argue that one of your example shouldn't work.

[@d_andrews]

This was my first instinct too, but both of these examples are actually the same. They both teleport you, and in the case of DD someone else too. However, they're being cast as if you were in the space where the mind is, which means that DD can bring along someone within 5ft of the mind and the range is relative to the position of the mind.

[@andrewshandle]

@@d_andrews in the DD example, did the Wizard first warp into the Worm then teleport out, or did the SM just teleport the person out?

[@satubock]

I like keeping the manifest mind out side of tiny hut when i cast it. Then I can still fight while in the hut if something comes upon us.

[@srmillard]

wow, almost like a mini simulacrum

[@harley_o_thor]

Oooh, since it counts as you are in its space for the casting, you can cast spells through it and not be in danger of being counterspelled keeping that 65+ft away from the enemy when you cant get that far away

[@thedude0000]

This came up in my session last night. I cast Tiny Hut for our party's long rest, but we were attacked. The party was popping in and out of the Hut; so, I obviously couldn't leave. Given Tiny Hut's language about spells and magical effects not passing through the barrier my DM ruled that Manifest Mind would not work. Just wanted to get your thoughts on it.

[@rallaa941]

I completely missed the fact it doesn't time-out. I need to be describing how my wizard's manifest mind is constantly floating around with him, in the form of the floating head of his long-dead wizard master that inhabits his spellbook.

[@mrmuffins951]

I’m really interested to see if the full build includes any levels of Tempest Cleric

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I did that build already. Check out the Shock Jock

[@Flaraen]

Can you cast spirit guardians through your manifest mind? Never mind about casting multiple fireballs, just wait until they're cooked in radiant damage. Edit: should've finished the video before posting, silly me!

[@benjamin_burke]

@@Flaraenhe addresses that in the video

[@Flaraen]

@@benjamin_burke I know, hence the edit

[@dustrockblues7567]

This thing is just an invincible attack drone...

[@RaethFennec]

This is the kind of always-on feature that martial classes deserve. Heck, even ranger. Putting something this incredibly useful on Wizard seems like the exact kind of reason why Wizard continues to be a bit too strong.

[@Mare_Man]

Wizard _should_ be strong.

[@sannylad9204]

I'd love if the build included wishlist spells to look out for to copy into the spellbook.

[@arcanerecovery2567]

Hey Chris, you know how the manifest mind can only remote cast spells equal to prof. times a day... are you aware of the Wildfire druid's 6th level feature that allows him to cast unlimited spells through his wildfire spirit... all spells except for those with a range of self. This sounds really powerful to me... am I missing something?

[@jeffreydoyle3143]

Your Wildfire spirit takes a Wildshape to summon as an action. You can only have 1. It CAN die fairly easily. Also wizards have more spell slots then druids have wildshape. Also technically it moves after your turn so you can't move it then use a spell through it; it must already be in place. (Many people just have summons take the same turn as the player though) Very powerful still.

[@tanna_k]

If you have manifest mind, would it be possible to cast Arcane Gate between your location and the mind since you're technically able to see both of those places at once?

[@LegitimateComenter4Yesme-hg4dg]

And here I was telling myself I would play a fighter and not a wizard.

[@ZulatobariGreatforge]

I’ve homebrewed it requires line of sight to create and goes away on a Long Rest, but it return I let it move through objects. Can’t stay in objects, gets shunted to where it started if it couldn’t make it through.

[@gorzillaau7761]

If the manifest mind can't go through walls, could a clever enemy just sit a pot over the top of it?

[@alucardhellsing125]

Can Manifest mind actually help with Misty Step? Misty Step is a range of self (thunder step is a range of 100ft) and it does say "teleport up to 30ft" and a ravine (or that ravine) would be more than 30ft

[@joshlimoges8054]

Are you able to cast spells using your manifested mind while in your magic jar container?

[@loganreidy7055]

What do you think about Tempest Cleric (2) -> Scribes Wizard (18)? The changing damage types will let me deal max damage on a spell once per long rest of a wizard spell

[@Spiceodog]

Hey treantmonk, off topic , but if I’m playing say a mooon Druid or a centaur and a party memeber is riding me and has mounted combatant, would there ability to redirect hits to them and give me evasion be enough to protect my concentration ? Should I still invest a feat into warcaster or resilient constitution or would it be a good time to take something else like telekinetic or vital sacrifice? Also, will your build use one of the feat backgrounds?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

It's always a good idea to protect your constitution saving throws (I would go res con), because the mounted combat evasion ability won't work for AOE's that target con.

[@grimdarkish]

Is the casting of a spell through your spectral mind tied to the spectral mind or to you? I understand the amount is proficiency per long rest, but if you can cast multiple special minds, then each of them can be used to cast spells through equal to your proficiency. Let's say my proficiency is 2. I cast 2 spells through my spectral mind. The enemy dispels it. I use a 1st level slot to summon another spectral mind and can now cast 2 more spells through it. RAW, yes?

[@JasonFightsCrime]

I used a manifested mind in a dungeon crawl. It was nuts. It felt like cheating.

[@GLORPDORP]

How would you rule counterspelling something being cast from the mind's space works? Say, the scribe wizard is 100' away, but is casting Hold Person through the mind that's only 30' away. Would Counterspell be legal, since the wizard counts as being in range for that spell, and therefore counts as being in range? Or would you say that Counterspell would be illegal, since even though the wizard counts as being 30' away for their own purposes, they're not actually in that square, and therefore out of range?

[@jeffreydoyle3143]

Interesting. I think that's ambiguous. The wizard treats it as if he was in the square but he "isn't". Technically the manifested mind is not a "Target: A creature in the process of casting a spell" for counterspell. I think RAW, the counterspell wouldn't work. However I wouldn't be so stingy on it needing to be a creature vs A spell is manifesting in this square-> counter that. By RAW, counterspell wouldn't work on a spell trap but I would allow it.

[@johngillan4475]

Thank you for your information video

[@TobiasWibberenz]

So if you can't use it for counterspell, can you use it to pretect you from counterspell instead ? i recently watched your "Treantmonk's Guide to Wizard" series, cause i started a wizard in our new game and you you talked about different ways to avoid counterspell. For example i want to polymorph a party member and both me and my mind can see the target and who ever isn't in range/sight can cast the polymorph safely, right ? i enjoyed your video like always and thanks for your hard work.

[@gyletre675]

This is definitely RuneScape

[@abcrasshadow9341]

So an interesting point if you have the cube of force magical item, you can have your manifested mind outside the cube and still perform effectively even if you block everything! As a bonus you can also do this with Trickster Clerics Invoke Duplicity, though you have to use your own senses (so when you use the 5th option to say nothing can pass through the barrier that could include light which is not the intension of the spell but ehh).

[@SH-pf4bp]

Great, thank you!!

[@jcmadcat82]

6th lvl wizard can just ritual cast a tiny hut and chill inside while the mind can go clear out the area. How many dispel magics will the enemy have?

[@AtelierGod]

I wonder which system Manifest mind vs Dispel magic would last longer? Spell slots, or Spell points?

[@way6719]

I'd argue Bill Nye is more like a lore bard.

[@Platemage-ev6nm]

Is Pulse wave legal for a Scribes wizard to take? I thought that spell was only available to chronurgy or graviturgy wizards?

[@dehro]

Not sure it would work with the antimagic gaze of a beholder or an antimagic footie

[@SoaresPatrick]

Thanks.

[@AndrewBrownK]

aw lost opportunity to make it vulnerable to psychic damage

[@funnyman359]

Fantastic video, but I will say it is not ideal that your choices of example battlemaps spoil several parts and areas of !SPOILER! Curse of Strahd

[@michaelpaul5438]

I see people talking about how it can't move through objects, so drop something like a towel or a bucket on it and there, problem solved. To me, the can of worms that opens is, can objects move through it? Because if the blanket stops it, couldn't it also theoretically be used to block doors or protect you from physical attacks or falling rocks? Unlike an immovable rod, it has no mention of a strength check to move it or a weight limit, like tenser's disk. To avoid such silliness, we just interpret it as the spectral mind can't move through walls or enter fully enclosed spaces, like a treasure chest and things that would collide with it pass right through. Has worked well so far.

[@mhelvens]

Can spells cast through the Manifest Mind be counterspelled (assuming the counterspeller is within range of the mind, but not within range of the Scribes wizard)?

[@luka2784]

I would think not, because counter spell's trigger is seeing a 'creature within 60ft', and A) the manifest mind is not a creature its an object so would not trigger and B) the mind is not actually casting the spell, the wizard is just from the minds place, so triggering creature, the scribe wizard, would not be within 60ft and so counter spell would not trigger.

[@mhelvens]

@@luka2784 Yes, I interpret it the same way, though there is room for nuance. Maybe casting it "as though in the mind's space" actually means manifesting an image of yourself there. 🤷‍♂

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I think they would need to see you casting the spell, and if they did and the manifested mind was within counterspell range, I think they can counterspell you.

[@luka2784]

@@TreantmonksTemple but the trigger for counterspell is 'which you take when you see a creature within 60 feet of you casting a spell'. If only the manifested mind, not the wizard, is within 60ft then surely they don't see any creatures within 60ft casting a spell as the mind doesn't count as a creature?

[@lironbi2180]

This could even be used in social interactions. Send your party into a meeting with your manifest mind while you wait outside. You can in theory cast most charm spells through your manifest mind without anyone realizing you cast it. This is assuming that the only indication of the spell is its V/S components.

[@ExecutiveGoth]

Firstly awesome video :) I'm having a little debate with my DM about the manifested mind and whether or not it can be targeted. He's stating that it would count as an object so still have AC and HP, but not be targetable by stuff like weapon attacks (but still by something like firebolt). What would the most structured RAW way to defend the mind not being targetable by stuff other than dispel magic? Thanks :) (I'm new-er to dnd so sorry if the question sounds dumb )

[@KevinT-k5z]

Awesome. Lol

[@theostern2714]

MANIFEST MIND says it creates a tiny object. Where do you see that it can't be harmed? I know it says its insubstantial, but insubstantial has no defined game effect. There are rules in the DMG for determining HPs of a tiny object. I am not saying it can be harmed, but I think it would be up to the DM and could be interpreted either way.

[@theostern2714]

For reference I would point you to the Shadowfell Brand Tattoo from Tasha's. "Shadowy Defense. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to become insubstantial for a moment, halving the damage you take. Then the reaction can't be used again until the next sunset."

[@theostern2714]

I guess this "The spectral mind stops manifesting if it is ever more than 300 feet away from you, if someone casts Dispel Magic on it, if the Awakened Spellbook is destroyed, if you die, or if you dismiss the spectral mind as a bonus action." likely means that's the only way to get rid of it, or they would have listed destroying the manifestation.

[@luka2784]

@@theostern2714 If it could be harmed, they would have given it hit points and an AC. You can see this with similar features like manifest echo.

[@JoschiChr]

So the scribe is gay and going to kill himself for it?

[@jonahsalyers5979]

Favorite use of scribes wizard so far: Our party was getting screwed up by the boss (a dragon). I blocked him off with a wall of force so we could flee and, after getting a substantial lead, began ritual casting Tiny Hut over one minute using the awakened spell book feature. Of course, wall of force dropped because of concentration, but we were far enough away that the dragon couldn’t catch up in a minute. We proceeded to short rest to heal and regain some abilities. The dragon was waiting for us. I put my manifested mind next to the dragon and caught it with a spherical wall of force. I then began to casually fireball the dragon at will from the manifested mind’s space before dropping the wall of force so the two rogues could finish it off with readied (sneak) attacks. My character is a chef so my spells are written in the margins of a cook book and my manifested mind is a spectral hobbit Gordon Ramsey named Gordon Took. My spellbook is The Gordon Took Cook Book.

[@wyattweber9983]

This really is the single coolest feature a wiz can get if you're not trying to gish. It's so nuts it seems like it should have been from a Crit Role book

[@TreantmonksTemple]

lol, no kidding!

[@Fl0wchart]

I play a Githyanki Scribe Wizard wielding a Rapier, and yes, you CAN Booming Blade from the Manifested Mind's location.

[@CitizenCain1]

​@@Fl0wchartNo. You can't. "You brandish the weapon used in the spell’s casting and make a melee attack with it against one creature within 5 feet of you. **On a hit**, the target suffers the weapon attack’s normal effects and then becomes sheathed in booming energy until the start of your next turn." If your weapon doesn't hit the enemy, the spell doesn't work.

[@Fl0wchart]

@@CitizenCain1 Yes. You can. When you cast a spell through your Manifested Mind, you treat it as if you are standing in your Manifested Mind's location. No ifs, ands, or buts. Rules as Written, you ARE standing in that spot. You can make attack rolls from that spot if they are part of the casting of that spell.

[@Annuhlynne]

LOOOOLLLL ​@@CitizenCain1

[@theresnoracelikegnome]

Great ideas. This feature is really good. One note, you can’t summon you Mind inside a Purple Worm because that space is not unoccupied.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Oh no, turns out I cheated!

[@theresnoracelikegnome]

@@TreantmonksTemple Look, I don’t think WotC have seen this video yet, so we have time. You need to run. Get your family and a few personal items and make for the American border as fast as you can. There’s a family in Maine who work for the Kobold Press underground. They can hide you.

[@mhelvens]

But it can move through creatures, so it's fine.

[@MagusKain]

Counterpoint. Any creature that has the ability to swallow has unoccupied space inside of it. It would have to to allow it to swallow creatures and put them in that space.

[@GreeneLighte]

Counter-counterpoint. Conjuring inside the purple worm would fail for the same reason you can't cast create water inside another creature. You can't conjure inside another creature (even the vacant spaces inside that creature).

[@valentinrafael9201]

I have recently ( this week ) had a campaign where I sent my book into this tomb and casted a magic circle from 300ft away...against undead...who were pretty much all melee...yeah...Their fault for going against wizards tbh. Maybe this is not the best time to make this joke, but the manifest mind is literally a predatory drone. It's a drone strike angle.

[@Lngbrdninjamasta]

There is a scribes wizard at my table. This will help me as a dm make sure the player is using these features right & increase their enjoyment of the character 🎉 Thanks

[@talkinggibberish]

Since the Spectral Mind can't move through objects, monsters can (temporarily) deal with it by putting a bucket over its head like its a bethesda game. Which also means there can be some funny benny hill music playing while they chase it with a butterfly net.

[@blalockj7788]

I pulled out my laptop just to post this same thing.

[@veldin25]

However it's also intangible, so I don't think it can support the bucket, only can't move through it while it's obeying normal physics haha

[@godminnette2]

Glad to see manifest mind being recognized for its strength. I played an archivist Artificer during the third Artificer UA, and it had the same feature. An excellent scout. The fact that it is a magical apparition that casts light is a downside compared to familiars that seem to just be a regular animal. As an artificer, I've hidden it inside of or just about flames before, manifesting as flame or bits of smoke. The misty step trick is something I hadn't considered - though obviously I didn't have it on my artificer.

[@kkrisztian2]

can be argued that Misty Step and Thunder step are working differently, for MS's Range is self (not the spectral object's place, but your original self) whereas Thunder Step's Range is 90 ft

[@burgernthemomrailer]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@kkrisztian2Misty Step has a range of self, but “you can cast it as if you were in the spectral mind’s space,” and the spell allows you to teleport to an unoccupied space within 30 feet of you, but you are currently considered to be in the mind’s space, so it still works out.

[@friday8531]

Raised an eyebrow at firewall a pit fiend. Seconds later i was reminded of who's temple i'm in

[@aetherwolf9288]

How do you use the spell (added to the stuff mentioned in the video): Prepare Knock. Your mind won’t be blocked by doors anymore. Also you can lure guards away from your position and right into a fireball from the mind. On a similar note prepare Arcane lock to remove guards from play (as they can’t burst out of the door). Because the mind is an object most spells can’t even target it so it has inherent protection against blindness/deafness. Finally there might be some idiotic stuff you can do with clone and magic jar (as those need a component decided by your size and as the manifested mind needs less space than you, you could theoretically clone yourself to be tiny. In conclusion this feature is way more powerful than I remember it to be and the scribe wizard as a hole is in my opinion the strongest wizard in terms of utility. Have a nice day AEther

[@terrypalmer193]

Sorry knock doesn’t open doors

[@aetherwolf9288]

@@terrypalmer193 Youre right

[@greoryryryryryr]

Play as a tiefling so you can use thaumaturgy to open doors.

[@aetherwolf9288]

@@greoryryryryryr this would be another use of your feature and probably a waste of your race selection.

[@DarrylCross]

Although the manifest mind cannot pass through objects, it is classified as a tiny object itself; it should be able to circumnavigate anything with a large enough space to pass a coin through. Even in our world is it rare that a door is perfectly fitted ceiling to floor - usually that is only for exterior doors that are meant to keep out the elements. A case could be made that some of the interior doors do have a way for something tiny to go over/under/around it. If there is any kind of ventilation or plumbing in the structure, you could possibly also send the manifest mind through that.

[@patrickhannon2694]

Hey Chris, did you know the wildfire Druid can do a lot of this with their level 6 ability too?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Yes, Wildfire is an underappreciated druid subclass.

[@GreeneLighte]

This is a really good rundown. The only thing I'd push back on as a DM is being in a beholder's antimagic cone. I would rule that this breaks your clearly magical connection to your manifest mind.

[@burgernthemomrailer]

Doesn’t matter. The only thing an Antimagic Field would do, assuming the spectral mind was not inside it, is cause your telepathy with it to cease functioning, but the ability to cast a spell through the spectral mind does not require the telepathy to be functioning.

[@kristianperez4108]

​@@burgernthemomrailerCreatures within an antimagic field cannot cast spells.

[@burgernthemomrailer]

@@kristianperez4108 You aren’t considered to be in the Antimagic Field when you cast the spell. “Whenever you cast a wizard spell on your turn, you can cast it as if you were in the spectral mind's space, instead of your own, using its senses.”

[@kristianperez4108]

@@burgernthemomrailer You can't cast it in the first place, so further consideration cannot happen. The same is true if someone tries to counterspell you. These things take precedence the moment you begin or try to begin casting the spell, the book only takes precedence once you have.

[@burgernthemomrailer]

@@kristianperez4108 Wrong. From the Antimagic Field spell: “A slot expended to cast a suppressed spell is consumed.” Ergo, a creature inside an Antimagic Field spell can still take the Cast a Spell action. The spell’s effect is simply suppressed. However, if you are not in a space affected by Antimagic Field at the moment of casting, then the spell’s effect is not suppressed, as you are not in a space affected by Antimagic Field.

[@nadirku]

I might be overly restrictive on this, but I think I would rule that you cannot cast spells from the manifested mind's space if you are in an anti-magic zone, since your main body would still be casting the spell.

[@Levyathyn]

If that's the hard rule of how you decide, then it stands to reason that spells cast from the mind's space can be counterspelled unless the enemy can see your body and is within range of it.

[@nadirku]

@@Levyathyn I am not sure I agree it follows that a caster being in an ant-magic zone preventing using manifested mind, or a familiar to cast a spell outside that zone means that counterspell can only target the caster... This might be harsh, and overly weaken Manifest Mind, and familiars, but I think I would rule counterspell could target either the caster, or the manifested mind/familiar. From a worldbuilding perspective, I would say that you are providing the power for the spell, so being an anti-magic zone would prevent you from supplying the power needed for the mind, or familiar to cast a spell. However, when casting a spell via the mind, or a familiar, they would be proactively coordinating casting the spell, making them a viable target for being counterspelled.

[@jugglejunk]

Scribes wizard combines hilariously well with echoknight if you cast Resilient sphere on yourself. Than manifest your echo and your mind outside of it and only a disintegrate spell can make you hittable again. 😁😁😁🤣🤪😜 Edit: works best with a gestalt campaign. Though I would be tempted to also either dip order domain or get some sorcerer for metamagic.

[@wesleyjudson599]

I will note, there are some interactions you mentioned here that are dubious RAW/RAI. Specifically, the antimagic cone and the misty step across the ravine. Explicitly; 1. The manifested mind ability itself would almost certainly be considered magical, and thus prevented by an antimagic field. 2. In addition, the 30ft limitation of misty step is probably referring to your own location, regardless of where you cast it from. I mention this because I don't want players to see the video, and assume it will always function this way. Similarly, GM's can and probably should interpret the ability to function in the two ways mentioned above.

[@pacha1500]

When this subclass came out I had an idea for a character but I ended up scrapping it, now I wanna play that character again. It was going to be a wizard who found a cursed spellbook, now that I understand how spectral mind really works it could be the ghost of the spellbook's creator

[@andreacristiano5452]

Thanks, I was struggling to understand how I could imagine a book becoming sentient as a manifested mind connected to mine. I guess this is the reason the class is not widely played: people struggle with the fantasy behind it.

[@Addddam0]

Tell me you're playing Curse of Strahd without telling me you're playing Curse of Strahd

[@McCrappy]

Only counter I can see for this is for an enemy to try to throw a blanket or a container over it. The mind doesn't have a stat block, so it doesn't have any ability to avoid being blanketed. Obviously, use this sparingly and only where it's plausible that a suitable object would be available to trap the mind Edit: Also, the player would have the option to use a spell to help the mind escape, so they're not screwed. Fire bolt, thunderwave, etc

[@MlMIC]

Ah only problem with that is that the mind is intangible, so potentially some objects just pass through, like a blanket, but yeah a crate or panels providing total cover could potentially work it seems

[@shanebernier2483]

I have had the absolute pleasure of playing an Order of Scribes wizard as part of a west marches game for several years now where, in addition to getting all the way from level 5-19, I have also been able to spearhead coordination with all the other wizard players in the game to collect every published spell in the game. I am thus both proud and very slightly disappointed that I had already figured out all of these tactics.

[@foldionepapyrus3441]

Many of these manifest mind bonus do still apply to familiar, with the familiar being in some ways more capable, just with that serious risk of being splatted. So always worth considering which one suits the way you want to play more. I'd also suggest some of the target self spells and that interaction are open to interpretation - you can cast a spell as if you were in the minds space great you can cast mistystep there, but can't actually target 'self' for the misty step as your 'self' is out of range. So I'd suggest you can misty step the Mind itself, but not your corporeal form from the mind's space as you are not there to target. Obviously like teleporting inside a creature the DM may or may not allow, but it could be interpreted both ways. I think I'd lean towards RAW meaning target 'self' would be targeting the tiny object you are casting through and not the casters own body - so you still gain from the vision bonus letting you see around obstacle but are limited to 30' from where you physically where.

[@aetherwolf9288]

8:48 There is actually a cost to it. A minor and mostly hidden one but a cost none the less. In the PHB it is specified that you can only take one of the “(no action required)” actions per turn. A secondary might be permitted by the Dm but than it takes a hole action to do. So as long as you share your vision with the mind you cant open doors, draw your weapon or pick up something unless you are willing to use up your action.

[@luka2784]

It doesn't say that you can take one "no action required" action, it says that you can only interact with one object or feature of the environment per turn without using an action. However, it says that you can 'You can communicate however you are able, through brief utterances and gestures, as you take your turn'. It seems much more likely that communicating with you manifested mind is supposed to come under the communication clause, not the object interaction clause. (PHB, chapter 9, your turn, other activity on your turn)

[@aetherwolf9288]

@@luka2784 In the german cover of the book it states that if you wish to interact with a second object you have to use your action. I interpret “Other activities” as such no action requires as they aren’t listed as an action or bonus action or anything else. In case of the manifested mind its even clearer as the mind is part of your environment and is a tiny object and you interact with it. Those informations are from the same part of the PHB you just mentioned so I highly recommend you double check for yourself if the german cover is wrong with this. But as far as I can tell: You’re argumentation is not complete and as such your evaluation is wrong.

[@luka2784]

@@aetherwolf9288 I see no reason to conclude that anything that says 'no action required' is an object interaction. I think that given specific beats general, and it is specifically stated that their is no action required to communicate with the mind, it would be a very strange ruling to say that sometimes you have to use your action. For instance, lets say I use my object interaction to open a door, and then want to communicate with the mind. I according to you, I wound now have to use my action for a feature that explicitly says no action required. Further more, in the section I referenced, separated to object interaction, their is text on communication, which I previously quoted, which I think would be must more applicable than the object interaction clause.

[@aetherwolf9288]

@@luka2784 Fair points. However your quote specifically only mentions gesticulated communication. Also there is a difference between features that explicitly stated that they require no action and such that don’t mention anything. For example the manifested mind requires no action. Telepathy as a spell doesn’t mention if the communication needs an action or not. I personally would interpret it as if it isn’t specified if it takes no action it acts similar to a sense (like the elder brains psychic links). However if it is specified they can be classed as an interaction (dismissing an echo for an echo knight or breaking the link for an elder brain). Even if you don’t agree the communication action just mentions gesticulated communication. Verbal communication has no direct limit (however it can be assumed to work similar to the sending spell rules).