Do wands have a finite number of charges like in 1e? I'm guessing no, since you can only use them once per day (or twice if you overcharge).
As I understand it they are basically like an extra spell slot for the spell contained in the wand, usable once per day (and you can push it to try using it one extra time).
Otherwise, there are no charges for them.
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Each Wand is safely useable once per day. You can try to use it a second time, but that risks breaking or outright destroying the Wand.
Those are the only limitations. You can otherwise use the Wand as often as you want.
What they said.
Also this needs to be in the rules forum.
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Also a little optimisation guidance.
Wands are good for spells you will cast every day and don't fall out of favour as you level up.
If a spell is niche but impactful when it comes up, get a scroll... even if you need multiple scrolls of it, generally it takes 10 spell casts with a wand to break even with scroll purchases. Made worse by scrolls being more economical to craft.
Don't wait until you need it to have a wand or scroll drawn, use spare actions in advance or ideally start combat with a wand or scroll in hand. Also, get a familiar with manual dexterity and independent :)
I wonder... could you balance a level 10 spell Magic Wand by making it cast its spell less frequently? Like, a Magic Wand that can cast Gate 1/week, or even 1/month?
I'm actually not entirely sure that you can't just create a standard wand with a level 10 spell in it. The only thing preventing it is the lack of a wand item for a 10th level spell. I don't see anything in the actual crafting rules specifying a maximum level.
However, I don't think it is intended to be allowed to create a wand with a 10th level spell. The restrictive rules for getting 10th level spell slots kinda implies that 10th level spells are supposed to be in very limited supply.
As for homebrewing equipment that can cast 10th level spells, I would think it should be created as an Artifact rather than just a normal wand. You could make it look and act like a wand if you want. As for casting rate, that would be determined entirely by the campaign, so I don't expect there to be general rules for it.
Going by the pattern, it would be a level 21 item, and therefore couldn't be crafted by a PC, since the first requirement is that the item is your level or lower.
Going by the pattern, it would be a level 21 item, and therefore couldn't be crafted by a PC, since the first requirement is that the item is your level or lower.That's the reason why I asked if making a wand that can cast a level 9 spell every week or every month would be balanced... A Magic Wand that casts a level 9 spell every day would be a level 21 magic item, but maybe one that casts that same spell every week or every month could be created as a level 20 item...
Since there are no rules for it, you are well into the homebrew territory here. So balance it how you wish to for your games. It is going to be up to the GM and the players at the table to decide what is or isn't appropriate.
Check scrolls for a baseline. They are the existing means of casting a spell fewer than 1/day for comparison. I don't know but assume 10th level scrolls exist? If not, it seems unlikely any amount of limited use will allow a wand to reproduce the same
10th level scrolls do exist.
