I'm planning on playing a human sorcerer and will need some way to illuminate dark places. I'm looking over the cantrips available to sorcerers for the best method for providing easily managed light:
Light - good flexibility with the ability to cast on an object carried by an enemy creature, color change, or ammunition to illuminate areas far away, No concentration required
Prestidigitation - could be used to light torches and has incredible flexibility to be used in many other ways, No concentration required
Dancing Lights - creates multiple light sources to illuminate a larger area, and sources can be moved easily as a bonus action, but requires concentration
Create Bonfire - though the spell does not state that it provides a light radius, PHB 183 states that "Even gloomy days provide bright light, as do torches, lanterns, fires, and other sources of illumination within a specific radius." There is some interpretation on how much light this bonfire would provide. This spell has an offensive damage use and could be used as battlefield control to block off entrances, but does require concentration
As a sorcerer, spell choices matter more than most spellcasters and I'd like to select a cantrip which not only provides an effective form of illumination but would have many other uses as well. How have you all solved vision issues for the few races which are not gifted with darkvision?
I like Light the best, as you can cast it on your hat/helmet/glasses and have both your hands free and the light is where ever you are looking. That and no concentration, you have better spells that need that very limited resource. Light does have the drawback of 20' so no ammo seeing super far way.
Prestidigitation is still a great spell that is very useful. I would still take that as well.
My current character is a half-drow divine sorcerer with drow magic. We carry a torch until it's time to roll init, then I will use dancing lights to keep the area illuminated for the party. I don't think it's the /best/ solution, but it's what we have available to us right now since nobody has the light cantrip.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Honestly, if you could only take one of these spells, I recommend Prestidigitation. It has so many potential uses for utility or social purposes.
Lighting through mundane means (torches, lanterns) isn't glamorous but usually works fine except in niche situations, in my experience. Magical lighting tends to matter most if you're around or underwater. Otherwise, the Light spell tends to work better in combat situations (cast it on the fighter who's in melee) and Dancing Lights tends to be better for exploration with its range and mobility.
Not a sorcerer, but I have a liazardfolk Cleric who has the same no-Darkvision issue.
His solution is the Light cantrip (free cantrip from Light Domain). He casts it on a javelin and carries it around that way. If he senses combat, he throws the javelin at a soft target (say a bad guy or a wooden shield) so everyone can see.
As a lizard folk, he can use defeated enemies to make new javelins so its a no cost solution.
A javelin isn’t ammunition so you shouldn’t have to make new ones but if a lizardman is throwing javelins at me made out of body parts, I’m going to be running away as fast as I can.
My Half Drow Shadow Sorcerer uses the light Cantrip for the none darkvision folks in the party. That and you may need light to read by, as his Dancing Lights is concentrate and want that open if needed.
You don't want to waste concentration on your light source. Prestidigitation is a generally useful spell that can light torches and lanterns for you. That should be good enough until 3rd level when you can cast continual flame
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I'm planning on playing a human sorcerer and will need some way to illuminate dark places. I'm looking over the cantrips available to sorcerers for the best method for providing easily managed light:
Light - good flexibility with the ability to cast on an object carried by an enemy creature, color change, or ammunition to illuminate areas far away, No concentration required
Prestidigitation - could be used to light torches and has incredible flexibility to be used in many other ways, No concentration required
Dancing Lights - creates multiple light sources to illuminate a larger area, and sources can be moved easily as a bonus action, but requires concentration
Create Bonfire - though the spell does not state that it provides a light radius, PHB 183 states that "Even gloomy days provide bright light, as do torches, lanterns, fires, and other sources of illumination within a specific radius." There is some interpretation on how much light this bonfire would provide. This spell has an offensive damage use and could be used as battlefield control to block off entrances, but does require concentration
As a sorcerer, spell choices matter more than most spellcasters and I'd like to select a cantrip which not only provides an effective form of illumination but would have many other uses as well. How have you all solved vision issues for the few races which are not gifted with darkvision?
I like Light the best, as you can cast it on your hat/helmet/glasses and have both your hands free and the light is where ever you are looking. That and no concentration, you have better spells that need that very limited resource. Light does have the drawback of 20' so no ammo seeing super far way.
Prestidigitation is still a great spell that is very useful. I would still take that as well.
My current character is a half-drow divine sorcerer with drow magic. We carry a torch until it's time to roll init, then I will use dancing lights to keep the area illuminated for the party. I don't think it's the /best/ solution, but it's what we have available to us right now since nobody has the light cantrip.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Use mage hand to carry a bullseye lantern. You can shine a the light on the bad guys but stay in the dark.
Honestly, if you could only take one of these spells, I recommend Prestidigitation. It has so many potential uses for utility or social purposes.
Lighting through mundane means (torches, lanterns) isn't glamorous but usually works fine except in niche situations, in my experience. Magical lighting tends to matter most if you're around or underwater. Otherwise, the Light spell tends to work better in combat situations (cast it on the fighter who's in melee) and Dancing Lights tends to be better for exploration with its range and mobility.
Not a sorcerer, but I have a liazardfolk Cleric who has the same no-Darkvision issue.
His solution is the Light cantrip (free cantrip from Light Domain). He casts it on a javelin and carries it around that way. If he senses combat, he throws the javelin at a soft target (say a bad guy or a wooden shield) so everyone can see.
As a lizard folk, he can use defeated enemies to make new javelins so its a no cost solution.
A javelin isn’t ammunition so you shouldn’t have to make new ones but if a lizardman is throwing javelins at me made out of body parts, I’m going to be running away as fast as I can.
You are correct in that they are not ammunition, however situationally they can be lost:
My Half Drow Shadow Sorcerer uses the light Cantrip for the none darkvision folks in the party. That and you may need light to read by, as his Dancing Lights is concentrate and want that open if needed.
You don't want to waste concentration on your light source. Prestidigitation is a generally useful spell that can light torches and lanterns for you. That should be good enough until 3rd level when you can cast continual flame