Can you please balance your game? Like, it’d be nice if Owls weren’t just hands down better than every other familiar in 99% of the cases. It’d be nice if Fireball wasn’t hands down better than most Level *4* spells 95% of the time. Both of those game elements are working as intended.

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 28, 2017

But it’s virtually always better to have an owl than any other familiar. Why is it intended for one familiar to be so mechanically superior? "Better" is defined differently for different players. If I want my character to have a cat, it doesn't matter to me that an owl can fly and has other advantages. I want a cat, which understandably lacks those advantages.

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 29, 2017

With the Firearms section of the DMG, the Renaissance ones have prices, while the others are priceless due to how strong they are. Does this mean the Renaissance Firearms/Explosives balanced for regular 5e play?

The Renaissance firearms are used in almost every session of my home D&D campaign. I’d say they’re ready for use. 😀 #DnD https://t.co/9spJbHKeuE

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 27, 2017

What do you do for proficiency? Do some classes get it or do they have to feat/downtime to learn?

— Michael H (@Hooj19) November 27, 2017

The rule on firearms in the DMG has a section on proficiency. I follow the guideline there, determining proficiency on a case-by-case basis. The gun-toting ranger in my campaign is from the gun-making city, where proficiency with martial weapons includes firearms. #DnD https://t.co/0ZSGaPD3FS

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 28, 2017

TL;DR – DMs should rule it based on their individual settings? Yes.

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 28, 2017

@JeremyECrawford can a pixie polymorphed into an orca still cast spells from the pixie's innate spellcasting list?

— adamTwright (@adamTwright) November 9, 2017

A pixie must handle its pixie dust to cast its innate spells. #DnD https://t.co/CN44t1BqcP

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 9, 2017

@JeremyECrawford Can you cast shapechange on yourself and still be able to cast your own spells? For example, transforming into a Marilith? Also, could a Marilith use bladesong? Having a heated discussion atm

— Austin Gray (@Austin_Khaz) November 8, 2017

The shapechange spell says you retain your class features and can use them if your new form is physically capable of doing so. Spellcasting is a class feature, and the rule on components (PH, 203) says what is physically required to cast spells. #DnD https://t.co/ZDXGyaYQoE

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 8, 2017

I figured since Mariliths didnt have the Spellcasting feature, they would be unable to cast spells. My mistake, might have confused it with True Polymorph maybe?

— Austin Gray (@Austin_Khaz) November 8, 2017

The text of one spell has no bearing on how another spell works. #DnD https://t.co/yaN6A7R8HC

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 8, 2017

So… the Marilith could cast spells because they have hands and can speak?
This question comes up a lot and I think the lack of a solid "Yes" or "No" is what makes it keep returning.

— Bart Auringer (@ShivaX51) November 8, 2017

The rule on spell components tells you what is required: speech to utter verbal components, a hand for somatic components, and the ability to handle material components. See PH, 203. #DnD https://t.co/AMzNhuQHQP

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 8, 2017

Mount related question: My Paladin basically uses his Find Steed as a companion (he never rides it, it has its own initiative in battle), this isn’t breaking the spirit of the spell, right? Hasn’t been gamebreaking or anything, just curious.That's a great way to use the spell. 🐎

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) November 8, 2017

@JeremyECrawford Is it expected that a caster casting counterspell doesn’t know what spell their enemy is casting nor what level it is cast at?

— SlyFlourish (@SlyFlourish) December 2, 2017

When a monster casts a spell, some DMs say what spell is being cast and some DMs don’t. Either approach is fine. The rules assume magic is mysterious, and you don’t know what’s being cast. By extension, counterspell gives you no special knowledge when you cast it. #DnD https://t.co/RlOWNVQAcI

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) December 3, 2017

@JeremyECrawford @mikemearls since Compulsion doesn't work on creatures who are immune to charms does it count as a charm spell?

— Nick Robertson (@BeautyByNick) September 13, 2017

"Charm spell" has no meaning in the rules. A spell refers to the charmed condition if that condition is relevant. #DnD https://t.co/fhQIydfMTA

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 13, 2017

So it doesn’t create the charmed condition but creatures that are immune to the condition are immune to the spell for some reason?That's correct.

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 13, 2017

No problem!

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 13, 2017

how about the bard's instruments. they give disadv on saves vs charm, only against the condition or all spells that mention charming?

— cobus belterman (@CobusBelterman) September 13, 2017

Instrument of the bards benefits a spell "that causes targets to become charmed on a failed save" (DMG, 176). Charmed—the condition. #DnD https://t.co/vGrKCLXgdD

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 13, 2017

my bard has the bandalore and now I’m thinking I might have been cheating with hypnotic pattern 😰 Hypnotic pattern imposes the charmed condition, as stated in its text.

— Jeremy Crawford (@JeremyECrawford) September 13, 2017