So, I have a rogue named Finwick Hazelblossom. He is a high elf that (due to racial traits) has a cantrip. I chose Thaumaturgy because he is a hired killer. Would Thaumaturgy be able to generate the sound of footsteps within it's range of 30 feet? A tool like that sounds generally useful and like something my high elf would have.
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¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
You create an instantaneous sound that originates from a point of your choice within range, such as a rumble of thunder, the cry of a raven, or ominous whispers.
High Elves can only learn their cantrip from the Wizard spell list, Thaumaturgy is not on the Wizard spell list. You would need special DM approval to learn that spell as your racial cantrip (not to mention a homebrewed variant of the High Elf subrace to do it on DDB).
High Elves can only learn their cantrip from the Wizard spell list, Thaumaturgy is not on the Wizard spell list. You would need special DM approval to learn that spell as your racial cantrip (not to mention a homebrewed variant of the High Elf subrace to do it on DDB).
Our DM isn't restricting magic selection for our campaign
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¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
The “instantaneous” language is the complicating factor, since multiple footsteps are arguably not instantaneous. But neither are “ominous whispers”, so the spell is a little bit vague.
Within RAW, you probably cannot create the sound of footsteps moving in a particular direction, but you absolutely could make the sound of a floorboard or flagstone creaking, some pebbles shifting, stepping in a puddle, etc. - that might not be footfalls themselves (but there are enough stealthy races that footfalls are not the only thing a guard might listen for), but each of them would indicate to an observer that someone was moving in the direction of the sound.
I do think this goes against the intended purpose of the spell, which is to proudly announce that you're imbued with holy powers, but I think it technically works. Though, this is exactly what Minor Illusion is for, so I'd tell you to take that instead. And Minor Illusion doesn't have the verbal component that Thaumaturgy has, so it'll be more useful for sneaking.
The “instantaneous” language is the complicating factor, since multiple footsteps are arguably not instantaneous. But neither are “ominous whispers”, so the spell is a little bit vague.
I think it is contrasting the effects with the 1 minute effects. So while it isn't technically instantaneous, they saying that they are very short effects, not minute long ones. So, for example, the whispers might last a second or two, not for one minute.
An example of where the writers are trying too hard to avoid dictating to DMs what it can do and end up making it confusing instead. I think "momentarily" might have been a better word to use.
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Beardsinger's right, I think. If the OP is trying to use Thaumaturgy to get up to some sneaky skullduggery via acoustic misdirection, that's not what Thaumaturgy is, but the rules-supported minor illusion would be. Thaumaturgy is basically a "spotlight on me and the emotional tone I convey" spell. So, if the "footsteps" are attached to the character and sort of announce them into a room like The Batman or whatever, as a DM I'd say, "cool." But in practice Thaumaturgy is a cosmetic cantrip, not a utility one.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Toots would say there are some utility uses of Thaumaturgy, like slamming a door open/closed from 30 feet away. But for visual/auditory illusions like the OP wants I would of course suggest minor illusion.
Beardsinger's right, I think. If the OP is trying to use Thaumaturgy to get up to some sneaky skullduggery via acoustic misdirection, that's not what Thaumaturgy is, but the rules-supported minor illusion would be. Thaumaturgy is basically a "spotlight on me and the emotional tone I convey" spell. So, if the "footsteps" are attached to the character and sort of announce them into a room like The Batman or whatever, as a DM I'd say, "cool." But in practice Thaumaturgy is a cosmetic cantrip, not a utility one.
Ahhh thank you for clearing things up!
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¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
High Elves can only learn their cantrip from the Wizard spell list, Thaumaturgy is not on the Wizard spell list. You would need special DM approval to learn that spell as your racial cantrip (not to mention a homebrewed variant of the High Elf subrace to do it on DDB).
Our DM isn't restricting magic selection for our campaign
Wait, so you can be any class and have access to any spell? That's.... an insane thing to allow. I mean cool, good for you, but oof.
High Elves can only learn their cantrip from the Wizard spell list, Thaumaturgy is not on the Wizard spell list. You would need special DM approval to learn that spell as your racial cantrip (not to mention a homebrewed variant of the High Elf subrace to do it on DDB).
Our DM isn't restricting magic selection for our campaign
Wait, so you can be any class and have access to any spell? That's.... an insane thing to allow. I mean cool, good for you, but oof.
Toots would say there are some utility uses of Thaumaturgy, like slamming a door open/closed from 30 feet away. But for visual/auditory illusions like the OP wants I would of course suggest minor illusion.
Well, Toots is a bit of a dramaturge, so to speak.
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Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Beardsinger's right, I think. If the OP is trying to use Thaumaturgy to get up to some sneaky skullduggery via acoustic misdirection, that's not what Thaumaturgy is, but the rules-supported minor illusion would be. Thaumaturgy is basically a "spotlight on me and the emotional tone I convey" spell. So, if the "footsteps" are attached to the character and sort of announce them into a room like The Batman or whatever, as a DM I'd say, "cool." But in practice Thaumaturgy is a cosmetic cantrip, not a utility one.
Beardsinger's right, I think. If the OP is trying to use Thaumaturgy to get up to some sneaky skullduggery via acoustic misdirection, that's not what Thaumaturgy is, but the rules-supported minor illusion would be. Thaumaturgy is basically a "spotlight on me and the emotional tone I convey" spell. So, if the "footsteps" are attached to the character and sort of announce them into a room like The Batman or whatever, as a DM I'd say, "cool." But in practice Thaumaturgy is a cosmetic cantrip, not a utility one.
Ahhh thank you for clearing things up!
Right, I think of Thaumaturgy as a means of conveying, 'I have power...and my god[s] back me up' <que lightning and thunder>
But, i think also Prestidigitation is less of an illusion and more of a magical effect that fits your bill.
High Elves can only learn their cantrip from the Wizard spell list, Thaumaturgy is not on the Wizard spell list. You would need special DM approval to learn that spell as your racial cantrip (not to mention a homebrewed variant of the High Elf subrace to do it on DDB).
Our DM isn't restricting magic selection for our campaign
Wait, so you can be any class and have access to any spell? That's.... an insane thing to allow. I mean cool, good for you, but oof.
It was my idea, the campaign is taking place using the background of my book which takes place in a world where magic is the norm and everyone has an affinity for it to a certain extent.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
High Elves can only learn their cantrip from the Wizard spell list, Thaumaturgy is not on the Wizard spell list. You would need special DM approval to learn that spell as your racial cantrip (not to mention a homebrewed variant of the High Elf subrace to do it on DDB).
Our DM isn't restricting magic selection for our campaign
Wait, so you can be any class and have access to any spell? That's.... an insane thing to allow. I mean cool, good for you, but oof.
That's insane, not in a bad way I'm just in disbelief. There are many class and subclass abilities that are specifically designed around having certain magics being restricted to certain classes. Obviously you can do whatever you want but that is an almost fundamental change to the game and could invalidate many of the things that make certain classes, subclass, and races worth playing. As other are joking about the unlimited power of Warlocks and Sorcerers.
I, personally, would advise against this especially if your group is new to dnd. Magic can still be common but have the specifics of what people have learned to do be restricted. It could be like jobs. "Oh you're a sorcerer, then you went and learned these magics while the guys in Paladin school learned these skills." Something like that.
So, I have a rogue named Finwick Hazelblossom. He is a high elf that (due to racial traits) has a cantrip. I chose Thaumaturgy because he is a hired killer. Would Thaumaturgy be able to generate the sound of footsteps within it's range of 30 feet? A tool like that sounds generally useful and like something my high elf would have.
¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
It is possible but it would be instantaneous.
Id say yes.
High Elves can only learn their cantrip from the Wizard spell list, Thaumaturgy is not on the Wizard spell list. You would need special DM approval to learn that spell as your racial cantrip (not to mention a homebrewed variant of the High Elf subrace to do it on DDB).
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Our DM isn't restricting magic selection for our campaign
¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
The “instantaneous” language is the complicating factor, since multiple footsteps are arguably not instantaneous. But neither are “ominous whispers”, so the spell is a little bit vague.
Within RAW, you probably cannot create the sound of footsteps moving in a particular direction, but you absolutely could make the sound of a floorboard or flagstone creaking, some pebbles shifting, stepping in a puddle, etc. - that might not be footfalls themselves (but there are enough stealthy races that footfalls are not the only thing a guard might listen for), but each of them would indicate to an observer that someone was moving in the direction of the sound.
I do think this goes against the intended purpose of the spell, which is to proudly announce that you're imbued with holy powers, but I think it technically works. Though, this is exactly what Minor Illusion is for, so I'd tell you to take that instead. And Minor Illusion doesn't have the verbal component that Thaumaturgy has, so it'll be more useful for sneaking.
I think it is contrasting the effects with the 1 minute effects. So while it isn't technically instantaneous, they saying that they are very short effects, not minute long ones. So, for example, the whispers might last a second or two, not for one minute.
An example of where the writers are trying too hard to avoid dictating to DMs what it can do and end up making it confusing instead. I think "momentarily" might have been a better word to use.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
That would come under simple illusion, and is why you should be selecting only from wizard cantrips.
Edited to minor illusion - I still had my GURPS head on when I wrote this.
Yeah, my Forest Gnome Rogue recommends you pick Minor Illusion for that sort of purpose. Very handy.
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Beardsinger's right, I think. If the OP is trying to use Thaumaturgy to get up to some sneaky skullduggery via acoustic misdirection, that's not what Thaumaturgy is, but the rules-supported minor illusion would be. Thaumaturgy is basically a "spotlight on me and the emotional tone I convey" spell. So, if the "footsteps" are attached to the character and sort of announce them into a room like The Batman or whatever, as a DM I'd say, "cool." But in practice Thaumaturgy is a cosmetic cantrip, not a utility one.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Toots would say there are some utility uses of Thaumaturgy, like slamming a door open/closed from 30 feet away. But for visual/auditory illusions like the OP wants I would of course suggest minor illusion.
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Ahhh thank you for clearing things up!
¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
Wait, so you can be any class and have access to any spell? That's.... an insane thing to allow. I mean cool, good for you, but oof.
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Well, Toots is a bit of a dramaturge, so to speak.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Right, I think of Thaumaturgy as a means of conveying, 'I have power...and my god[s] back me up' <que lightning and thunder>
But, i think also Prestidigitation is less of an illusion and more of a magical effect that fits your bill.
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It was my idea, the campaign is taking place using the background of my book which takes place in a world where magic is the norm and everyone has an affinity for it to a certain extent.
¨Lord Modus never expected Zenith to return, alas--here we stand in front of the lord to bring us to our knees.¨ - an excerpt from The Aegis Neverland; Sabines Passion (made by me :D)
Sorcerer: “Oh the power, THE POWER!!”
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That's insane, not in a bad way I'm just in disbelief. There are many class and subclass abilities that are specifically designed around having certain magics being restricted to certain classes. Obviously you can do whatever you want but that is an almost fundamental change to the game and could invalidate many of the things that make certain classes, subclass, and races worth playing. As other are joking about the unlimited power of Warlocks and Sorcerers.
I, personally, would advise against this especially if your group is new to dnd. Magic can still be common but have the specifics of what people have learned to do be restricted. It could be like jobs. "Oh you're a sorcerer, then you went and learned these magics while the guys in Paladin school learned these skills." Something like that.
Buyers Guide for D&D Beyond - Hardcover Books, D&D Beyond and You - How/What is Toggled Content?
Everything you need to know about Homebrew - Homebrew FAQ - Digital Book on D&D Beyond Vs Physical Books
Can't find the content you are supposed to have access to? Read this FAQ.
"Play the game however you want to play the game. After all, your fun doesn't threaten my fun."
Nah, I say go for it. Breaking the game is fun. And if they're new, they probably won't even break it.