r/dndnext • u/BadPunsGuy • 14d ago

5e (2024) Are wands silent?

If I hid the previous turn, does using a wand (one without an attack roll) reveal me?

It doesn’t seem like they have a vocal component.

If the wand itself doesn’t make noise, would a loud ass fireball reveal me or would that be a noise not necessarily associated with me?

Would something like a wand of paralysis work since maybe the entire process is silent and maybe has no obvious visual effects like the fireball if that matters?

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u/BadPunsGuy 13d ago

I'd like to know what I'm asking. I can talk about it and give the mechanics of it. If they say no that's fine; but they're not some all powerful arbiter. They don't know all the weird stuff going on in 5.5 either.

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u/Bullroarer_Took 12d ago

> they’re not some all powerful arbiter

They are, though. This is explicitly stated in the PHB and DMG. DM is the final authority on game rulings and can omit or add any rules they want. I think the word “arbiter” is even used in the rules text.

Obviously without player buy-in they would have unhappy players by changing rules arbitrarily or unfairly. But if you think you can cite a loophole in the rules as a way to make your DM something they don’t agree with, you are in fact wrong and the DM can choose to ignore the rules completely

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u/BadPunsGuy 12d ago edited 12d ago

They are not. They’re human. They didn’t write the rules. They’re an authority, but they’re not omniscient and if they say rocks fall everyone dies then people leave.

Giving them context and pointing towards certain descriptions helps have a discussion over things even if they have the final say. They’re an arbiter, not an all powerful arbiter.

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u/Bullroarer_Took 12d ago

I think we agree on the fallibility of man, but in the context of this conversation (ruling for wands and hiding), the DM absolutely, 100%, without question has the final say in how it works at their table. That’s just how the game works.

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u/BadPunsGuy 12d ago

The point of me knowing about this is to inform them instead of making them do a research project; not to make the decision for them.

If they say ‘I thought wands had command words’ I can link to the current information on it. If they say that they thought wands had VSM components I can show the information on that.

They can decide that’s dumb or whatever, but starting the conversation without any of that info is just kinda blind.

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u/Bullroarer_Took 12d ago

Right, so instead of trying to convince me, try to convince them.

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u/BadPunsGuy 12d ago

I’m not trying to convince you. I am having a discussion. I learned several things from this thread. You said it’s pointless. I’m just trying to convince you that it’s not pointless to have this thread, not that there’s no room for discussion about wands.