D&D 5E Ritual Spell Casting

[Yacobo]

Hello all,

I understand that spells tagged as ritual can be cast without using up a spell slot. However, if you have used up all your spell slots, can you still cast a ritual spell? For example, my druid has used up all his spell slots during a fight but now he would like to cast Detect Magic on some treasure.

Does he need to take a rest to recover spell slots or can he cast Detect Magic as a ritual despite not having an open spell slot? Does ritual casting presuppose that the caster has at least one open spell slot of the appropriate spell level?

Thank you.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

So long as Detect Magic is on your list of prepared spells, I'd say it's fine. It doesn't use a spell slot so it makes no difference if you've got a full set or none.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Characters with no spell slots at all can cast ritual spells thought the feat, so there is no reason that you'd need to have one available to do so.

 

[pdzoch]

The ritual takes ten minutes longer to cast than a prepared spell "readied" in a spell slot. The spell slot sort of work like readying a spell. Preparing them takes energy and more powerful spells take more energy to store. Young wizards lack the capacity to store too much magic energy (same for clerics and the divine spells, etc.), but more experienced wizards have more capacity. However, the casting a ritual version of a spell is the recalling one of the prepared spells again without using the spell energy stored to cast -- it just takes a little longer (10 minutes) to cast. Wizards can cast a ritual without having it prepared -- it just has to be in his spellbook.

 

[Yacobo]

Thanks to all for the quick responses! Happy gaming!

 

[steeldragons]

So long as Detect Magic is on your list of prepared spells, I'd say it's fine. It doesn't use a spell slot so it makes no difference if you've got a full set or none.

Why would you need Detect Magic prepared to cast/use a ritual? As you said, it doesnt' use/need a slot, so it makes no difference.

I'm confused.

 

[steeldragons]

double post

 

[Yacobo]

Ritual casting for Druids: a druid can cast a druid spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and the druid has the spell prepared.

Ritual casting for Wizards: a wizard can cast a wizard spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and the spell is in their spell book. The spells doesn't have to be prepared.

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

^ this. Op asked specifically if he could cast Detect Magic as a ritual as a Druid. Thems the rules.

 

[steeldragons]

Ahhh. Missed/forgot the druid part.

PS: Stupid unnecessary difference "rule". Gonna houserule that bad boy right out.