I don't think I'd allow it as described, but a rare/very rare magical crossbow bolt that casts Faerie Fire on a successful hit (DC 13-15ish) could work.
Doesn't have the grant advantage aspect, but you can cast light on a bolt which would make sure your opponent is in bright light on a hit. (Useful if you have limited darkvision in your party, or a monster that gets bonuses in poorly lit areas)
you're just extending the range of the spell....and then, only during daytime in the vast majority of cases (the range of faerie fire is 60 feet. that's the limit of most races darkvision except drow i think. so none of your characters can see beyond 60 feet anyway to hit whatever you're wanting to light up).
If the idea is a "tracer" round, consider a magic crossbow that casts Mind Spike or Hunter's Mark spells. It'll actually trace the target, then.
Faerie Fire is useless as a tracer. It just lights them up a bit which isn't what a tracer is. In real a tracer is a bolt or dart than leaves behind a way to track the target - a bright liquid left in the area as they move, or an electronic signal or a harmless but radioactive isotope that a reader can detect. This is why it's called a tracer: to trace where they've been.
But yeah. in any case you're definitely in homebrew territory.
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If the idea is a "tracer" round, consider a magic crossbow that casts Mind Spike or Hunter's Mark spells. It'll actually trace the target, then.
Faerie Fire is useless as a tracer. It just lights them up a bit which isn't what a tracer is. In real a tracer is a bolt or dart than leaves behind a way to track the target - a bright liquid left in the area as they move, or an electronic signal or a harmless but radioactive isotope that a reader can detect. This is why it's called a tracer: to trace where they've been.
unless of course the bolt is the object that the spell was cast on - that's not homebrew at all (although light would be a cheaper way to do it). the only homebrew part would be that it then, in turn, lights up the target on impact.
btw, 'in real' tracers don't 'leave behind a way to track the target'...not sure where you're getting that idea...maybe silly string perhaps but certainly not irl tracers.
If the idea is a "tracer" round, consider a magic crossbow that casts Mind Spike or Hunter's Mark spells. It'll actually trace the target, then.
Faerie Fire is useless as a tracer. It just lights them up a bit which isn't what a tracer is. In real a tracer is a bolt or dart than leaves behind a way to track the target - a bright liquid left in the area as they move, or an electronic signal or a harmless but radioactive isotope that a reader can detect. This is why it's called a tracer: to trace where they've been.
unless of course the bolt is the object that the spell was cast on - that's not homebrew at all (although light would be a cheaper way to do it). the only homebrew part would be that it then, in turn, lights up the target on impact.
btw, 'in real' tracers don't 'leave behind a way to track the target'...not sure where you're getting that idea...maybe silly string perhaps but certainly not irl tracers.
Persistance of vision effects. Tracer rounds emit light and when seen using normal human vision appear as a streak rather than a point source since the cells in the eye take some time to lose the signal (just like when you have a bright spot persist after you close your eyes). Any light source attached to fired ammunition (like a light cantrip cast on the bolt) will likely give a similar effect.
Persistance of vision effects. Tracer rounds emit light and when seen using normal human vision appear as a streak rather than a point source since the cells in the eye take some time to lose the signal (just like when you have a bright spot persist after you close your eyes). Any light source attached to fired ammunition (like a light cantrip cast on the bolt) will likely give a similar effect.
a point or a streak, its not leaving anything behind. if it left something behind, there'd be something there after it left. how your body processes that single point of light has nothing to do with the idea that something was left behind.
Would it be possible to cast Faerie Fire on a crossbow bolt, which on a sucessful hit would light the target up as per the spell?
Not under RAW, but if your DM says yes....
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I don't think I'd allow it as described, but a rare/very rare magical crossbow bolt that casts Faerie Fire on a successful hit (DC 13-15ish) could work.
Doesn't have the grant advantage aspect, but you can cast light on a bolt which would make sure your opponent is in bright light on a hit. (Useful if you have limited darkvision in your party, or a monster that gets bonuses in poorly lit areas)
Just make a magic ammunition type that does this. Read through Creating a Magic Item in the DMG.
Thanks for your input, people.
you're just extending the range of the spell....and then, only during daytime in the vast majority of cases (the range of faerie fire is 60 feet. that's the limit of most races darkvision except drow i think. so none of your characters can see beyond 60 feet anyway to hit whatever you're wanting to light up).
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If the idea is a "tracer" round, consider a magic crossbow that casts Mind Spike or Hunter's Mark spells. It'll actually trace the target, then.
Faerie Fire is useless as a tracer. It just lights them up a bit which isn't what a tracer is. In real a tracer is a bolt or dart than leaves behind a way to track the target - a bright liquid left in the area as they move, or an electronic signal or a harmless but radioactive isotope that a reader can detect. This is why it's called a tracer: to trace where they've been.
But yeah. in any case you're definitely in homebrew territory.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
unless of course the bolt is the object that the spell was cast on - that's not homebrew at all (although light would be a cheaper way to do it). the only homebrew part would be that it then, in turn, lights up the target on impact.
btw, 'in real' tracers don't 'leave behind a way to track the target'...not sure where you're getting that idea...maybe silly string perhaps but certainly not irl tracers.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Persistance of vision effects. Tracer rounds emit light and when seen using normal human vision appear as a streak rather than a point source since the cells in the eye take some time to lose the signal (just like when you have a bright spot persist after you close your eyes). Any light source attached to fired ammunition (like a light cantrip cast on the bolt) will likely give a similar effect.
a point or a streak, its not leaving anything behind. if it left something behind, there'd be something there after it left. how your body processes that single point of light has nothing to do with the idea that something was left behind.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks