SPELL TATTOO

This supplement provides optional rules for tattooing spells onto living creatures, as
well as the mechanics for casting a spell from a tattoo.

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Sources
Spell Tattoo is a variant of the fifth edition magic item, Spell Scroll (Dungeon Master’s Guide,
Chapter 7).

Spell Tattoo Artist is a combination of the fifth edition downtime activity, Scribing a Spell Scroll
(Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Chapter 2) and the background, Guild Artisan (Player’s
Handbook, Part 1). This variant background can also be found on D&D Beyond at
https://www.dndbeyond.com/backgrounds/95663-spell-tattoo-artist.

Additional verbage and inspiration obtained from the third edition Tattoo Magic (Feat) (Races of
Faerûn, Appendix; and Lords of Darkness, Appendix).

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only.
Spell Tattoo (version 1.0)
Treasure Backgrounds
Magic Item Spell Tattoo Artist

pell Tattoo
Tattoo, varies
A spell tattoo bears the words of a single spell, written in a
mystical cipher. If the spell is on your class’s spell list, you
can read the tattoo and cast its spell without providing any
material components. Otherwise, the tattoo is unintelligible.
Casting the spell by reading the tattoo requires the spell’s
normal casting time. Once the spell is cast, the ink pattern
or design vanishes from the bearer’s skin. If the casting is
interrupted, the tattoo is not lost. To cast the tattooed spell,
the tattoo must be clearly visible to the caster. Tattoos can
not effectively be read from a character’s own torso.
If the spell is on your class’s spell list but of a higher level
than you can normally cast, you must make an ability check
using your spellcasting ability to determine whether you
cast it successfully. The DC equals 10 + the spell’s level. On
a failed check, the tattoo disappears with no other effect.
The level of the tattooed spell determines the spell’s
saving throw DC and attack bonus, as well as the tattoo’s
rarity, as shown in the Spell Tattoo table.
Spell Tattoo
Spell Level Rarity Save DC Attack Bonus
Cantrip Common 13 +5
1st Common 13 +5
2nd Uncommon 13 +5
3rd Uncommon 15 +7
A wizard spell on a spell tattoo can be copied just as
spells in spellbooks can be copied. When a spell is copied
from a spell tattoo, the copier must succeed on an
Intelligence (Arcana) check with a DC equal to 10 + the
spell's level. If the check succeeds, the spell is successfully
copied. Whether the check succeeds or fails, the spell tattoo
disappears.
A Dispel Magic spell can erase one spell tattoo if the
tattoo is targeted, or all spell tattoos on a creature if the
creature is targeted.
You have spent several years perfecting the art of tattooing
magical spells onto living creatures. With time and
patience, you can can transfer a spell to a tattoo, creating a
spell tattoo.
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Sleight of Hand
Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher's supplies, Painter's
supplies
Equipment: Calligrapher's supplies, a set of traveler’s
clothes, a bag of scrap practice leathers, and a pouch
containing 15 gp
Feature: Tattoo Magic
As a proficient Spell Tattoo Artist, you can create single-use
tattoos, called spell tattoos, that store known spells of third
level or lower.
Resources: You have learned to modify Calligrapher’s
supplies by hardening special quills and have developed
unique ink recipes for your tattoos. Scribing a spell tattoo
takes an amount of time and money related to the level of
the spell the character wants to scribe, as shown in the
Spell Tattoo Costs table. In addition, you must provide any
material components required for the casting of the spell.
Moreover, you must have the spell prepared, or it must be
among your known spells, in order to scribe a tattoo of that
spell.
If the tattooed spell is a cantrip, the version on that the
tattoo works as if the caster were 1st level.
Spell Tattoo Costs
Spell Level Time Cost
Cantrip 1 day 20 gp
1st 1 day 35 gp
2nd 3 days 350 gp
3rd 1 workweek 700 gp
Placement: The tattoo must be inked onto a creature
with a corporeal body. Regardless of size, a humanoid has
room on its body for one spell tattoo on each appendage
and each side of its torso (six in total).
Complications: Crafting a spell tattoo is a meticulous
task. When tattooing a third level spell, there is a 10
percent chance of a complication (see Tattoo Complications
table).

SPELL TATTOO OPTIONAL RULES

Spell Tattoo Complications
d6 Bond
d6 Tattoo Complications
1 The workshop where I learned my trade is the most
1 You bought up the last of the rare ink used for important place in the world to me.
tattooing, angering a tattoo artist in the closest town.
2 I created a great work for someone, and then found
2 The priest of a temple of good (or a potential rival) them unworthy of it. I’m still looking for someone
accuses you of trafficking in dark magic. worthy to recreate my greatest work.
3 The creature bleeds excessively during the process, 3 I owe my mentor a great debt for forging me into the
requiring it to rest for 1 day after completion of the person I am today.
tattoo.
4 I pursue wealth to secure someone’s love.
4 Due to a strange error in creating the tattoo, it is
5 One day I will return to my mentor and prove that I
instead a random spell of the same level.
am the greatest artisan of them all.
5 The creature’s skin takes well to tattoos, reducing
6 I will get revenge on the evil forces that destroyed my
time by 1 day.
place of business and ruined my livelihood.
6 A thief (or a potential rival) attempts to break into
your workroom.
d6 Flaw
1 I’ll do anything to get my hands on something rare or
Suggested Characteristics priceless.
Spell Tattoo Artists are among the most interesting people
2 I’m quick to assume that someone is trying to cheat
in the world — until they set down their tools and take up me.
an adventuring career. They understand the value of hard
work and the importance of community, but they’re 3 No one must ever learn that I once stole money from
vulnerable to sins of greed and covetousness. my best client.
4 I’m never satisfied with what I have — I always want
more.
d8 Personality Trait
5 I would kill to acquire a noble title.
1 I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing
6 I’m horribly jealous of anyone who can outshine my
right. I can’t help it — I’m a perfectionist.
handiwork. Everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by rivals.
2 I’m a snob who looks down on those who can’t
appreciate fine art.
3 I always want to know how things work and what
makes people tick.
4 I’m full of witty aphorisms and have a proverb for
every occasion.
5 I’m rude to people who lack my commitment to hard
work and fair play.
6 I like to talk at length about my profession.
7 I don’t part with my money easily and will haggle
tirelessly to get the best deal possible.
8 I’m well known for my work, and I want to make sure
everyone appreciates it. I’m always taken aback when
people haven’t heard of me.

d6 Ideal
1 Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to
strengthen the bonds of community and the security
of civilization. (Lawful)
2 Generosity. My talents were given to me so that I
could use them to benefit the world. (Good)
3 Freedom. Everyone should be free to pursue his or
her own livelihood. (Chaotic)
4 Greed. I’m only in it for the money. (Evil)
5 People. I’m committed to the people I care about,
not to ideals. (Neutral)
6 Aspiration. I work hard to be the best there is at my
craft. (Any)

SPELL TATTOO OPTIONAL RULES