D&D 5E Vehicle Spells?

[bedir than]

How there isn't a spell to create a flying carriage is beyond me. Every year this fat dude flies around the world delivering gifts via flying carriage. There has to be magic involved.

 

[dave2008]

There are some vehicle related spells in the UA: Modern Magic

They are intended for modern/sci-fy vehicles, but could be adapted to other vehicles fairly easily. Particularly:
Find Vehicle & Protection from Ballistics

Also found some homebrew spelljammer spells that could be used here: Spelljammer Spells

 

[LordEntrails]

Summon Bugatti?

Grease/Lightning?

Go Grease Lighting!
...
Burning up the quarter mile!

 

[jmartkdr2]

I assume they just got left off the list because it's unlikely for adventurers to need them, since vehicles are not part of the normal game progression.

Some ballpark, gut-instinct ideas:

For short-term enchantments, (ie hasting your cart for a quick getaway) I might require an upcasted spell slot, depending on vehicle size (so a cart might be +1 but a ship might be +5 or so).

For long-term enchantments (basically making it permanently magical) I wouldn't increase the spell level needed - I would simply up the materials cost. The factor would again depend on the size and probably result is some very big numbers, but hypothetically if you can make boots of speed you can make a carrack of speed. You just need a literal boatload of go-faster leaves (or whatever the material component is).

To summon a vehicle via spell, I'd set the minimum at the spell level that allows spells the make buildings that big and allows spells offering equivalent mobility. So to make a magic wagon, you'd need at least that much interior space (rope trick covers that at level 2) and lets you travel at least that fast magically (phantom steed covers the horses at level 3) so I'd make it at least level 3.

(I don't know the designers' reasons, but I do know the best time to add magic vehicles to your game is when you're sick of dealing with overland travel - and that will vary quite a bit from table to table.)

 

[rgoodbb]

Aarakocra and Tieflings would certainly get the monopoly on being guards for Captain Correconi's Cloud-Caravan.

You would want an outer footrail enbued with the featherfall spell or something similar to magnetisation.

Feels like a great combat in the making.

 

[Coroc]

Summon Bugatti?

Go Grease Lighting!
...
Burning up the quarter mile!

Summon Tesla of course, you enemy of the environment you! Wait until I tell Greta ...

 

[Oofta]

How there isn't a spell to create a flying carriage is beyond me. Every year this fat dude flies around the world delivering gifts via flying carriage. There has to be magic involved.

That's just a mass fly cast by a demon disguised as an animal. No demon amongst the reindeer you say? Well why do you think Rudolph's nose glows so bright? Hmm?

 

[Fenris-77]

Farie Fire for ground effects, Continual Flame on the tailpipes and Thaumaturgy for a dramatic entrance. That's one pimped out wagon, what more could you really need?

 

[Ashrym]

• Animate objects works.
• Control weather is good for wind based vehicles.
• Fabricate can create vehicles. Creation can supply materials if needed.
• Levitate an object on which others stand is an elevator method. Telekinesis can be used similarly.
• Shape water can move the water, create shapes, or freeze it. A small ice boat seems most relevant.

A spell caster can cast creation for materials over a few minutes, fabricate the vehicle, then use animate objects to give it propulsion that can include flying.

Teleport can teleport creatures or an object. If the creatures fit within an object that happens to be a vehicle meant to carry people that also fits within the restrictions my first thought is to allow that use for teleport as well.

The only real issue is that actually propelling objects tends to have a limited duration for travel. If my PC has a small raft with a sail he can levitate while piloting it he can propel it with the wind naturally but that's still 10 minutes per spell. That's fine for an 18th level wizard with spell mastery but why bother at all over phantom steed if that's the scenario.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

• Animate objects works.
• Control weather is good for wind based vehicles.
• Fabricate can create vehicles. Creation can supply materials if needed.
• Levitate an object on which others stand is an elevator method. Telekinesis can be used similarly.
• Shape water can move the water, create shapes, or freeze it. A small ice boat seems most relevant.

A spell caster can cast creation for materials over a few minutes, fabricate the vehicle, then use animate objects to give it propulsion that can include flying.

Teleport can teleport creatures or an object. If the creatures fit within an object that happens to be a vehicle meant to carry people that also fits within the restrictions my first thought is to allow that use for teleport as well.

The only real issue is that actually propelling objects tends to have a limited duration for travel. If my PC has a small raft with a sail he can levitate while piloting it he can propel it with the wind naturally but that's still 10 minutes per spell. That's fine for an 18th level wizard with spell mastery but why bother at all over phantom steed if that's the scenario.

Thus, new spells.