So i'm going to be playing an Aberrant mind sorc in RotFM. I will get Mage Hand and Mind Sliver free. I'm already planning on BB, Prestigitation, Minor Illusion. What should i take for my last cantrip? What should i take at level 4 when i get another cantrip?
My plan is to focus on CC and disables. So bonus question, any fun leveled spells that are a must have?
I'd take an attack roll cantrip such as firebolt chill touch or ray of frost.
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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.
I'd take an attack roll cantrip such as firebolt chill touch or ray of frost.
Yeah, I would go Chill Touch or Ray of Frost too. IMO, the debuffs are better than the damage die.
100% agree. IMO firebolt is overrated, my first choice is ray of frost, followed by chill touch. I take firebolt when it's thematic or all I can get.
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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.
So i'm going to be playing an Aberrant mind sorc in RotFM. I will get Mage Hand and Mind Sliver free. I'm already planning on BB, Prestigitation, Minor Illusion. What should i take for my last cantrip? What should i take at level 4 when i get another cantrip?
My plan is to focus on CC and disables. So bonus question, any fun leveled spells that are a must have?
Assuming BB means Booming Blade (sorry, not familiar with the acronym!), it seems like you may want to consider ranged options. I personally prefer cantrips with control options for tactically defensive reasons, meaning something like Ray of Frost which deals respectable damage at range but also slows your foes by 10ft, allowing you to increase the gap between you and pressures.
Between melee cantrips, I personally prefer Shocking Grasp over Booming Blade for the tactically defensive utility, where a successful hit causes your foe to lose their reaction, allowing you to escape their reach without provoking attacks of opportunity!
I'd second the recommendation for Shocking Grasp or for switching it out to Green Flame Blade. Booming Blade is more of a spell for people who want to be in melee so they can lock down enemies. It's really not a great spell for a spellcaster who is rather squishy.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Booming Blade also creates a loud sound when the target creature moves. If you are choosing to take the Subtle Spell metamagic because you want your sorc to do sneaky shenanigans a lot, that would often lead to less than ideal situations.
No it doesn't. Thunderclap and Thunderwave make loud sounds that are audible from a long distance, it says so in their descriptions. Booming Blade deals thunder damage but does not say anything about it giving off such a sound so it's therefore no noisier than any other spell.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I think he's referring to Booming blade doing Thunder damage, which by its nature of being the force of sound/the impact of pressure from something like an explosion implies Thunder Damage should create a loud bang. Personally never been satisfied with the name "Thunder Damage" for this reason and think Force Damage would have better described it, rather that the latter describing damage from arcane energy.
No it doesn't. Thunderclap and Thunderwave make loud sounds that are audible from a long distance, it says so in their descriptions. Booming Blade deals thunder damage but does not say anything about it giving off such a sound so it's therefore no noisier than any other spell.
If the name is "Booming Blade" and it does Thunder damage, that indicates that there is a "boom," as in a loud sound in low pitch. This strongly implies a very audible resonance being made when the effect is triggered. It's not called "Whisper Blade," is it?
Nobody said it was a completely silent spell. The point is that regardless of the name, it doesn't make any more noise than casting something like Shocking Grasp or Chill Touch would. Otherwise it would say so in the description.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
It causes Thunder damage and it's called Booming Blade. Maybe your DM would rule that it causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that it automatically alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
It causes Thunder damage and it's called Booming Blade. Maybe your DM would rule that it causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that it automatically alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
A sword hitting a suit of armor also causes sound. Maybe your DM would rule that a big strong raging Barbarian swinging his great axe at an enemy in plate armor causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that nearly every combat alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
It causes Thunder damage and it's called Booming Blade. Maybe your DM would rule that it causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that it automatically alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
A sword hitting a suit of armor also causes sound. Maybe your DM would rule that a big strong raging Barbarian swinging his great axe at an enemy in plate armor causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that nearly every combat alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
Look, generally, any combat makes some kind of sound. But in some situations, every bit of stealthiness (is that a word?) matters. Say there are 2 guards stationed outside a solid stone tower. You and the party need to get in without alerting the people inside the tower. An Assassin/Fighter could very well get the drop on both of them and take them out without making much of any noise at all using surprise + critical and Extra Attack. Could a Sorcerer/Hexblade do the same thing? Maybe. My point is that many DMs would rule that no amount of stealth makes Booming Blade equivalent to a well-aimed surprise short sword if you want to keep your presence unknown (short of a Silence spell cast on the subject of the Booming Blade).
It causes Thunder damage and it's called Booming Blade. Maybe your DM would rule that it causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that it automatically alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
A sword hitting a suit of armor also causes sound. Maybe your DM would rule that a big strong raging Barbarian swinging his great axe at an enemy in plate armor causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that nearly every combat alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
Look, generally, any combat makes some kind of sound. But in some situations, every bit of stealthiness (is that a word?) matters. Say there are 2 guards stationed outside a solid stone tower. You and the party need to get in without alerting the people inside the tower. An Assassin/Fighter could very well get the drop on both of them and take them out without making much of any noise at all using surprise + critical and Extra Attack. Could a Sorcerer/Hexblade do the same thing? Maybe. My point is that many DMs would rule that no amount of stealth makes Booming Blade equivalent to a well-aimed surprise short sword if you want to keep your presence unknown (short of a Silence spell cast on the subject of the Booming Blade).
Yes, combat in general makes noise. Booming Blade makes noise, but so does nearly everything that people do in combat. Even if you're invisible, you're still not hidden because of the noise that you make by moving around.
So while Booming Blade would eliminate the stealth aspect, so would nearly everything that characters would do during combat. If you need to kill someone without drawing attention, it's not like Fire Bolt, Shocking Grasp, Toll the Dead, etc. would work. They're not as loud as Booming Blade, but they're still far from silent. But there's also a limit to how far away someone would hear the combat. If you're 50ft away from a sword fight, you're much more likely to hear it than if you're 300ft away. If you close the door before combat, sound will be much more muffled.
Many DMs would rule that no amount of stealth makes Booming Blade equivalent to a well aimed surprise short sword, but they also would rule that no amount of stealth would make Shocking Grasp equivalent to a well aimed surprise short sword either.
If everyone's post is going to state "Many DMs" / "Some DMs", I think it's pretty straight forward that you have to discuss with your DM whether spells like Booming Blade make sound or not, are quiet or loud if they do.
This is how the Player's Handbook describes Thunder Damage, as food for thought:
Thunder. A concussive burst of sound, such as the effect of the thunderwave spell, deals thunder damage.
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.
Friends is useful, but mostly if you can alter your appearance easily: i.e. if your PC is a Changeling or you are multi-classing with Warlock and pick up the Mask of Many Faces Invocation. Disguise yourself as Enemy C pretending to represent Enemy A and get Enemy B to hate that Enemy C (and by association, Enemy A) after Enemy B does you a favor? Sowing dissension in the enemy ranks without using a spell slot...both strategic and comedy gold.
So i'm going to be playing an Aberrant mind sorc in RotFM. I will get Mage Hand and Mind Sliver free. I'm already planning on BB, Prestigitation, Minor Illusion. What should i take for my last cantrip? What should i take at level 4 when i get another cantrip?
My plan is to focus on CC and disables. So bonus question, any fun leveled spells that are a must have?
I'd take an attack roll cantrip such as firebolt chill touch or ray of frost.
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
Yeah, I would go Chill Touch or Ray of Frost too. IMO, the debuffs are better than the damage die.
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100% agree. IMO firebolt is overrated, my first choice is ray of frost, followed by chill touch. I take firebolt when it's thematic or all I can get.
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
friends?
Assuming BB means Booming Blade (sorry, not familiar with the acronym!), it seems like you may want to consider ranged options. I personally prefer cantrips with control options for tactically defensive reasons, meaning something like Ray of Frost which deals respectable damage at range but also slows your foes by 10ft, allowing you to increase the gap between you and pressures.
Between melee cantrips, I personally prefer Shocking Grasp over Booming Blade for the tactically defensive utility, where a successful hit causes your foe to lose their reaction, allowing you to escape their reach without provoking attacks of opportunity!
I'd second the recommendation for Shocking Grasp or for switching it out to Green Flame Blade. Booming Blade is more of a spell for people who want to be in melee so they can lock down enemies. It's really not a great spell for a spellcaster who is rather squishy.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Booming Blade also creates a loud sound when the target creature moves. If you are choosing to take the Subtle Spell metamagic because you want your sorc to do sneaky shenanigans a lot, that would often lead to less than ideal situations.
No it doesn't. Thunderclap and Thunderwave make loud sounds that are audible from a long distance, it says so in their descriptions. Booming Blade deals thunder damage but does not say anything about it giving off such a sound so it's therefore no noisier than any other spell.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I think he's referring to Booming blade doing Thunder damage, which by its nature of being the force of sound/the impact of pressure from something like an explosion implies Thunder Damage should create a loud bang. Personally never been satisfied with the name "Thunder Damage" for this reason and think Force Damage would have better described it, rather that the latter describing damage from arcane energy.
If the name is "Booming Blade" and it does Thunder damage, that indicates that there is a "boom," as in a loud sound in low pitch. This strongly implies a very audible resonance being made when the effect is triggered. It's not called "Whisper Blade," is it?
Nobody said it was a completely silent spell. The point is that regardless of the name, it doesn't make any more noise than casting something like Shocking Grasp or Chill Touch would. Otherwise it would say so in the description.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
It causes Thunder damage and it's called Booming Blade. Maybe your DM would rule that it causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that it automatically alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
A sword hitting a suit of armor also causes sound. Maybe your DM would rule that a big strong raging Barbarian swinging his great axe at an enemy in plate armor causes no more sound than an Arcane Trickster casting Mage Hand, but some DMs would definitely rule that nearly every combat alerts nearby creatures of your presence.
Look, generally, any combat makes some kind of sound. But in some situations, every bit of stealthiness (is that a word?) matters. Say there are 2 guards stationed outside a solid stone tower. You and the party need to get in without alerting the people inside the tower. An Assassin/Fighter could very well get the drop on both of them and take them out without making much of any noise at all using surprise + critical and Extra Attack. Could a Sorcerer/Hexblade do the same thing? Maybe. My point is that many DMs would rule that no amount of stealth makes Booming Blade equivalent to a well-aimed surprise short sword if you want to keep your presence unknown (short of a Silence spell cast on the subject of the Booming Blade).
Yes, combat in general makes noise. Booming Blade makes noise, but so does nearly everything that people do in combat. Even if you're invisible, you're still not hidden because of the noise that you make by moving around.
So while Booming Blade would eliminate the stealth aspect, so would nearly everything that characters would do during combat. If you need to kill someone without drawing attention, it's not like Fire Bolt, Shocking Grasp, Toll the Dead, etc. would work. They're not as loud as Booming Blade, but they're still far from silent. But there's also a limit to how far away someone would hear the combat. If you're 50ft away from a sword fight, you're much more likely to hear it than if you're 300ft away. If you close the door before combat, sound will be much more muffled.
Many DMs would rule that no amount of stealth makes Booming Blade equivalent to a well aimed surprise short sword, but they also would rule that no amount of stealth would make Shocking Grasp equivalent to a well aimed surprise short sword either.
If everyone's post is going to state "Many DMs" / "Some DMs", I think it's pretty straight forward that you have to discuss with your DM whether spells like Booming Blade make sound or not, are quiet or loud if they do.
This is how the Player's Handbook describes Thunder Damage, as food for thought:
Friends is terrible, I would never take it.
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
Seconded, Friends is one of the worst cantrips in the game.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Friends is useful, but mostly if you can alter your appearance easily: i.e. if your PC is a Changeling or you are multi-classing with Warlock and pick up the Mask of Many Faces Invocation. Disguise yourself as Enemy C pretending to represent Enemy A and get Enemy B to hate that Enemy C (and by association, Enemy A) after Enemy B does you a favor? Sowing dissension in the enemy ranks without using a spell slot...both strategic and comedy gold.