Light is party dependent. For one, if lots of people have dark vision, it’s usually not very useful. For two, if someone else has it, you probably don’t need it. Mending is one of those that’s useful only a couple times per campaign, but when it is, it’s clutch. Thaumaturgy is fun for role play, and its value often depends on how creative you are, and what your DM allows. For example, can you use it on a stuck but otherwise unlocked door to bypass a str check?
Yeah that's about where I'm at. Hard to gauge, being a bit newer, especially to casters. Haven't seen Mend or Thaumaturgy used much if at all, but I do want to try being more useful out of combat. Light's benefit seems more defined - if you don't have a good amount of Darkvision in your group, you'll need it in the dark. But you may also just not need it. Something to sus out at the start of the campaign.
Might Word of Radiance be better than one of the utility spells? Was already planning to take Toll the Dead and pickup Sacred Flame via the Spellfire Spark origin feat. So felt good on damage cantrips. And as a Light Cleric, Radiance of the Dawn is way better.
Something to note about Thaumaturgy is that its 5.5e version now does have a very specific mechanical benefit: if you use the "booming voice" effect, it provides advantage on Intimidation checks while active. I've ended up using this a few times.
Word of Radiance is great if you think you're going to be in melee combat a lot. If your Cleric is more of a back-line support caster, you're not going to find yourself using it very much.
The thing with clerics is, their cantrips are kind of meh. There's guidance, one of the best, arguably the best, utility spell in the game, and then there's everything else. And they don't really have a cantrip with an attack roll, which is always nice for those high save/low AC enemies.
Something to note about Thaumaturgy is that its 5.5e version now does have a very specific mechanical benefit: if you use the "booming voice" effect, it provides advantage on Intimidation checks while active. I've ended up using this a few times.
Word of Radiance is great if you think you're going to be in melee combat a lot. If your Cleric is more of a back-line support caster, you're not going to find yourself using it very much.
That's helpful thank you! Booming Voice sounds like the Voice in Dune, lol...
The thing with clerics is, their cantrips are kind of meh. There's guidance, one of the best, arguably the best, utility spell in the game, and then there's everything else. And they don't really have a cantrip with an attack roll, which is always nice for those high save/low AC enemies.
In my limited play I found Toll the Dead to be quite powerful for a Cantrip. You are right however about no attack roll option, but I think having one that targets WIS and one that targets DEX hopefully will have me covered. If neither of those work, then Guiding Bolt is there at level 1.
Something to note about Thaumaturgy is that its 5.5e version now does have a very specific mechanical benefit: if you use the "booming voice" effect, it provides advantage on Intimidation checks while active. I've ended up using this a few times.
Word of Radiance is great if you think you're going to be in melee combat a lot. If your Cleric is more of a back-line support caster, you're not going to find yourself using it very much.
That's helpful thank you! Booming Voice sounds like the Voice in Dune, lol...
You can also always prepare Command (or Suggestion, though it's not on the Cleric list) if you want to feel like a Bene Gesserit.
After Guidance, which 2 utility Cleric cantrips would you pick and why?
I'm looking between: Light, Mending, and Thaumaturgy.
Thx!
Light is party dependent. For one, if lots of people have dark vision, it’s usually not very useful. For two, if someone else has it, you probably don’t need it.
Mending is one of those that’s useful only a couple times per campaign, but when it is, it’s clutch.
Thaumaturgy is fun for role play, and its value often depends on how creative you are, and what your DM allows. For example, can you use it on a stuck but otherwise unlocked door to bypass a str check?
Yeah that's about where I'm at. Hard to gauge, being a bit newer, especially to casters. Haven't seen Mend or Thaumaturgy used much if at all, but I do want to try being more useful out of combat. Light's benefit seems more defined - if you don't have a good amount of Darkvision in your group, you'll need it in the dark. But you may also just not need it. Something to sus out at the start of the campaign.
Might Word of Radiance be better than one of the utility spells? Was already planning to take Toll the Dead and pickup Sacred Flame via the Spellfire Spark origin feat. So felt good on damage cantrips. And as a Light Cleric, Radiance of the Dawn is way better.
Something to note about Thaumaturgy is that its 5.5e version now does have a very specific mechanical benefit: if you use the "booming voice" effect, it provides advantage on Intimidation checks while active. I've ended up using this a few times.
Word of Radiance is great if you think you're going to be in melee combat a lot. If your Cleric is more of a back-line support caster, you're not going to find yourself using it very much.
pronouns: he/she/they
The thing with clerics is, their cantrips are kind of meh. There's guidance, one of the best, arguably the best, utility spell in the game, and then there's everything else. And they don't really have a cantrip with an attack roll, which is always nice for those high save/low AC enemies.
That's helpful thank you! Booming Voice sounds like the Voice in Dune, lol...
In my limited play I found Toll the Dead to be quite powerful for a Cantrip. You are right however about no attack roll option, but I think having one that targets WIS and one that targets DEX hopefully will have me covered. If neither of those work, then Guiding Bolt is there at level 1.
You can also always prepare Command (or Suggestion, though it's not on the Cleric list) if you want to feel like a Bene Gesserit.
pronouns: he/she/they
I think this is why Baldur's Gate 3 added Produce Flame to its Cleric spell list.
pronouns: he/she/they