Message

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• Level: Cantrip
• School: Transmutation
• Class: Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard
• Casting Time: Action
• Range: 120 feet
• Components: S, M (a copper wire)
• Duration: 1 round

You point toward a creature within range and whisper a message. The target (and only the target) hears the message and can reply in a whisper that only you can hear.

You can cast this spell through solid objects if you are familiar with the target and know it is beyond the barrier. Magical silence; 1 foot of stone, metal, or wood; or a thin sheet of lead blocks the spell.

Tactical Usage

Message provides essential battlefield communication capabilities, allowing discrete coordination and information sharing without alerting enemies to party strategies or tactical adjustments. Use it to relay important intelligence about enemy positions, weaknesses, or tactical opportunities to allies who are positioned too far away for whispered communication. The spell excels during stealth operations where verbal communication might compromise concealment, enabling silent coordination for complex maneuvers or synchronized actions. Apply it to warn allies of impending dangers, traps, or enemy movements that they might not have detected independently. The 120-foot range covers most combat encounters and allows communication across significant distances during exploration or reconnaissance missions. Use it to coordinate spellcasting timing, ensuring maximum effectiveness from area effects or combinations that require precise coordination. The spell proves invaluable for maintaining party cohesion when members are separated by terrain, obstacles, or tactical positioning requirements.

Spell Combinations

Message synergizes excellently with stealth and invisibility magic, providing communication capabilities that don't compromise concealment spells or reveal hidden positions to enemies. Combine it with divination spells to share important information gathered through magical detection, ensuring all party members benefit from reconnaissance discoveries. The spell works well with illusion magic by coordinating deceptive strategies and ensuring all participants understand their roles in complex deception plans. Use it alongside battlefield control spells to coordinate positioning and timing for maximum tactical advantage from area effects or movement restrictions. Pair it with summoning magic to provide instructions or tactical updates to allies who are managing summoned creatures during complex encounters. The spell complements social manipulation magic by allowing discrete coordination during negotiations, intimidation, or deception attempts. Combine with healing magic to prioritize targets and coordinate medical assistance during combat without revealing tactical information to enemies.

Material Component Details

Message requires a copper wire as its material component, representing the conductive connection needed to establish the magical communication link between caster and target. The copper wire doesn't need to be particularly long or valuable, though many practitioners prefer thin, flexible wire that can be easily concealed or integrated into other equipment. Some spellcasters incorporate copper wire into jewelry, clothing, or accessories, allowing discrete access to the component during social situations where obvious spellcasting might be inappropriate. The wire can be reused repeatedly as it isn't consumed during casting, making it a one-time investment that provides ongoing utility throughout adventuring careers. Specialized versions might use wire made from different copper alloys or enchanted materials, though standard copper serves the spell's requirements perfectly well. The component can be integrated into spellcasting focuses or component pouches, ensuring availability when communication becomes necessary. The symbolic connection between copper's conductive properties and the spell's communication function enhances the magical resonance.

Creator Notes

Message provides excellent utility for party coordination without overwhelming encounter balance or trivializing communication challenges in adventures. The spell's limitations prevent it from replacing face-to-face conversation while offering genuine tactical advantages for discrete coordination and information sharing. When designing encounters, consider how the spell affects enemy awareness and whether opponents might have means of detecting or intercepting magical communications. The short duration requires tactical thinking about when and how to use the communication window most effectively. Be prepared for creative applications where players use the spell for problem-solving, investigation, or social maneuvering beyond simple battlefield coordination. The spell encourages teamwork and strategic thinking while maintaining the importance of positioning and tactical awareness during encounters.

Environmental Interactions

The spell can penetrate solid barriers if the caster is familiar with the target and knows their location, though specific materials block the magical connection entirely. One foot of stone, metal, or wood blocks the spell, requiring knowledge of building construction and material thickness for effective use in structural environments. Thin sheets of lead completely prevent the spell regardless of thickness, making it ineffective in areas specifically warded against magical communication. Magical silence prevents both the initial whisper and the target's reply, rendering the spell useless in areas affected by silence effects. The spell functions normally underwater, in extreme weather, or other environmental conditions that might impair normal speech, as the magical nature transcends physical sound transmission. Areas of concentrated magical energy might interfere with the connection or cause message distortion, though normal environmental magic doesn't affect the spell's reliability.

Common Rulings & Clarifications

You must point toward the target creature within range, requiring knowledge of their approximate location and clear gesture toward their position even if they're not visible. The message is heard only by the intended target, preventing accidental eavesdropping by nearby creatures unless they have special abilities to intercept magical communications. The target can reply with a whisper that only you hear, creating a brief two-way communication channel for the duration of the spell. The spell allows communication through language barriers if both participants understand each other's languages, but doesn't provide translation abilities for unknown tongues. Creatures that are deafened cannot hear the message, though they might still be able to reply if they understand the magical connection has been established. The pointing gesture must be toward the target's actual location, preventing the spell from being used to locate missing persons or determine positions of hidden creatures. The whispered communication uses the same languages the participants would normally speak, requiring shared linguistic understanding for effective communication.

Alternative Applications

Beyond tactical coordination, Message serves numerous creative and strategic purposes throughout different campaign scenarios and social interactions. Use it to maintain contact with allies during social events, negotiations, or diplomatic functions where discrete communication provides strategic advantages. The spell proves valuable for conducting private conversations in public spaces, allowing sensitive information exchange without risk of eavesdropping by hostile parties. Apply it for romantic or personal communications that require privacy, enabling intimate conversations across distances or in situations where physical proximity isn't possible. The spell can serve investigative purposes by coordinating with informants, witnesses, or allied investigators who need to share information secretly. Use it for commercial applications by coordinating with business partners or allies during negotiations, auctions, or other economic activities where private communication provides advantages. The spell enables discrete warnings or alerts in dangerous social situations where open communication might escalate tensions or reveal important information to hostile parties.

Related Spells

Message belongs to the transmutation tradition of communication and information transfer, sharing thematic elements with other long-distance communication magic like Sending or Telepathic Bond. Compare it to Animal Messenger, which provides physical message delivery, and Sending, which offers superior range but at higher spell level cost. The spell relates to other cantrips that provide utility functions like Minor Illusion, Mage Hand, or Prestidigitation, representing fundamental magical abilities available to most spellcasters. Consider it alongside divination magic that gathers information, as Message provides the means to share discoveries efficiently with allies who need tactical intelligence. The spell shares communication applications with social magic like Charm Person or Suggestion, often supporting manipulation strategies through coordination and information sharing. Telepathy abilities and mind-reading magic provide alternative communication methods but with different mechanics and resource requirements. The spell connects to stealth and infiltration magic that benefits from discrete coordination capabilities.

Scaling Analysis

Message does not scale with character level or spell slot expenditure, maintaining consistent utility as a cantrip throughout character progression from early to end-game adventures. The spell's value increases with party size and tactical complexity, becoming more important as groups develop sophisticated coordination strategies and encounter more challenging scenarios. Its utility scales with campaign style and social complexity, proving more valuable in intrigue-focused adventures or political campaigns where discrete communication provides significant advantages. At higher levels, the spell remains relevant for maintaining communication during complex magical effects, planar travel, or encounters with creatures that have advanced sensory or magical abilities. The cantrip's unlimited use becomes increasingly valuable as characters face more frequent situations requiring coordination, from simple dungeon exploration to complex heist operations. Consider the spell's strategic importance compared to other cantrip choices, particularly for characters who serve leadership or coordination roles within their parties.

Narrative Flavor

When cast, Message begins with the caster pointing discretely toward their intended target while whispering words that seem to shimmer and fade as they leave their lips, carried by invisible magical currents. The spell manifests as a thin strand of ethereal energy that flows from the caster's lips directly to the target's ear, bypassing all intervening space and obstacles through magical resonance. The target experiences the message as a clear whisper that seems to come from inside their own mind rather than through normal hearing, creating an intimate and unmistakable magical communication. The magical connection appears differently to those with special sight: some see gossamer threads of silver light, others perceive brief flashes of copper-colored energy, while some detect the spell as gentle ripples in the fabric of reality itself. As the message is delivered, both participants feel a subtle magical presence that indicates the connection is active and available for response, creating awareness of the communication channel's existence. The reply travels back along the same magical pathway, carrying the whispered response directly to the caster's consciousness with the same clarity and privacy as the original message. When the spell concludes, both participants often retain a brief sense of connection and shared understanding, as if the magical communication has created a momentary bond that enhances their coordination and mutual awareness.