There are a handful of spells worded like "each creature within range" or "each target your choose within range" or similar that I think would be affected, but there aren't many; so few in fact I can't remember many off hand. They're usually buff or debuff spells that sorcerers don't get though, so you'd probably need to pick them somehow to do this. For example Divine Soul could get bless, but your average Sorcerer won't.
Otherwise no, areas of effect are separate from a spell's range.
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All spells have a range that is included in the spell and that (and only that is doubles).
For example Slow has a range of 120ft and the description says "You alter time around up to six creatures of your choice in a 40-foot cube within range." If you cast slow with distant spell the range is doubles to you can now "alter time around up to six creatures of your choice in a 40-foot cube within 240ft"
Some spells have a range of self and these are not affected by distant spell even if an area is included in brackets with the range, an example here is spirit guardians has a range of self (15ft radius) and is therefore not affected by distant spell
This compares with a spells like bless that has a range of 30ft and affects "up to three creatures of your choice within range" if you have access to bless and cast it with distant spel you are able to choose creatures up to 60ft from you.
Okay so are there any ways to increase the radius area of effect for spells then?
Only by upcasting certain spells, like bonnkansan said; there is currently no official metamagic for increasing the size of an area of effect, only Careful Spell for making it a bit easier to use larger area spells when you have allies around.
Is there something specific you're looking to increase in area? Spells like fireball/vitriolic sphere don't usually need it as they cover plenty of area already, and if you hit 6th-level spells you could always throw around a few circles of death if you really want a pocket nuke.
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Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I'm wanting to increase the AOE of my Spirit Guardians spell. Currently its at 15ft radius. I'm wanting to be able to cast Plant Growth to slow people down as they get within range. Or to increase my Antilife Shell radius so people cant get to me with reach weapons.
Does anyone know if the sorcerer's metamagic "Distant Spell" affect the radius of an AOE spell as well as the distance to center the AOE spell?
MetaMagic - Distant Spell
When you cast a spell that has a range of 5 feet or greater, you can spend 1 sorcery point to double the range of the spell.
When you cast a spell that has a range of touch, you can spend 1 sorcery point to make the range of the spell 30 feet.
If not, does anyone know how to increase the radius of AOE spells?
Generally it does not increase the size of the AOE, it only increases the distance from you to where the spell can be centered.
Some spells allow you to upcast them in order to increase the radius of their AOE. Fog Cloud is one such example.
There are a handful of spells worded like "each creature within range" or "each target your choose within range" or similar that I think would be affected, but there aren't many; so few in fact I can't remember many off hand. They're usually buff or debuff spells that sorcerers don't get though, so you'd probably need to pick them somehow to do this. For example Divine Soul could get bless, but your average Sorcerer won't.
Otherwise no, areas of effect are separate from a spell's range.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
All spells have a range that is included in the spell and that (and only that is doubles).
For example Slow has a range of 120ft and the description says "You alter time around up to six creatures of your choice in a 40-foot cube within range." If you cast slow with distant spell the range is doubles to you can now "alter time around up to six creatures of your choice in a 40-foot cube within 240ft"
Some spells have a range of self and these are not affected by distant spell even if an area is included in brackets with the range, an example here is spirit guardians has a range of self (15ft radius) and is therefore not affected by distant spell
This compares with a spells like bless that has a range of 30ft and affects "up to three creatures of your choice within range" if you have access to bless and cast it with distant spel you are able to choose creatures up to 60ft from you.
Okay so are there any ways to increase the radius area of effect for spells then?
Only by upcasting certain spells, like bonnkansan said; there is currently no official metamagic for increasing the size of an area of effect, only Careful Spell for making it a bit easier to use larger area spells when you have allies around.
Is there something specific you're looking to increase in area? Spells like fireball/vitriolic sphere don't usually need it as they cover plenty of area already, and if you hit 6th-level spells you could always throw around a few circles of death if you really want a pocket nuke.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I'm wanting to increase the AOE of my Spirit Guardians spell. Currently its at 15ft radius. I'm wanting to be able to cast Plant Growth to slow people down as they get within range. Or to increase my Antilife Shell radius so people cant get to me with reach weapons.