Clearly based off Light cantrip. It always struck me that underdark and/or shady folk would want some option besides the "impenetrable" dark of the darkness spell which is very obvious. Something to make above ground exploration and scouting less painful. Maybe just more a more subtle patch of deeper gloom that wouldn't jump out like "pitch black darkness spell" can. I could also maybe say it could give you a slight advantage on survival rolls for not being in direct sunlight like in a desert? Comments? Phrasing improvement? exploits I don't see? Yes, I am aware this would help out a lot with penalties for Drow, and those class abilities that require dim light or light obscured.
You touch one object that is no larger than 10 feet in any dimension. Until the spell ends, the object shades an area within a 40 foot radius from the effects of illumination. This gloom causes the any non-magical illumination shed into the area to be reduced by 1 step. Brightly Lit becomes Dimly Lit, Dimly Lit becomes Normal Darkness, Normal Darkness becomes slightly deeper Normal Darkness. At the time of casting, you may choose if this effect appears sinister or soothing in nature. This spell has no effect on illumination from any magical source and darkvision can penetrate it as normal. The spell ends if you cast it again or dismiss it as an action.
If you target an object held or worn by a hostile creature, that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw to avoid the spell.
Not just Drow, but any race with that "Keen Darkvision" issue (deep gnome, kobolds?). Which is why I certainly think this would have been developed for just the same reasons that the light cantrip was. Seriously, Darkness spell is like the nuclear option... Additionally useful I think for shadow stepping monks or some other spells where you have bonus effects in areas of dim light or darkness like Shadow Blade (new XGE spell). This is where I can see the abuse, no need to burn a 2nd level darkness, roll a "shadow ball" into the brightly lit area and boom... shadow step where you need to. Honestly, I thought about it originally as more of one of those cool "atmosphere" effects like thaumaturgy. What was going through my head was the lines from Desperado ... "it seemed like the light dimmed just for him". Or being "wrapped in shadows and darkness".
This seems like a good spell, for sure. The only suggestion I would make is to elaborate a little on what the choice between "sinister or soothing in nature" means. To me, it seems like whether darkness were sinister or soothing to a viewer would depend on the viewer's personality. Is it a purely visual effect, and if so, how is one choice different than the other? Is there a neutral option (neither sinister or soothing)?
Hey Bill_D! Please let me know when you put this up in the homebrew spells, I would very much like to make it an integral part of my Shadow Mind subclass :)
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
I like it, and I would use it in game, but I'm not sure about this part... "Normal Darkness becomes slightly deeper Normal Darkness" can you elaborate on what that means mechanically? Is a step of darkness deeper than normal darkness even necessary? Normal darkness gives total concealment already, so what would "deeper darkness" do?
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"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
I like it, and I would use it in game, but I'm not sure about this part... "Normal Darkness becomes slightly deeper Normal Darkness" can you elaborate on what that means mechanically? Is a step of darkness deeper than normal darkness even necessary? Normal darkness gives total concealment already, so what would "deeper darkness" do?
Maybe it's harder to look into even with Darkvision? (just speculating, otherwise I don't personally see a use for it)
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Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
I like it, and I would use it in game, but I'm not sure about this part... "Normal Darkness becomes slightly deeper Normal Darkness" can you elaborate on what that means mechanically? Is a step of darkness deeper than normal darkness even necessary? Normal darkness gives total concealment already, so what would "deeper darkness" do?
Maybe it's harder to look into even with Darkvision? (just speculating, otherwise I don't personally see a use for it)
Regular darkness already blocks all sight except darkvision. The 2nd level spell Darkness blocks darkvision. A cantrip should not duplicate an effect from a higher level spell.
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"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing) You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
No mechanical effect intended or stated from "a slightly deeper" Normal Darkness. It would be descriptive at that point as it is still just Normal Darkness. Someone could learn or know with arcana that a Normal Darkness that seems deeper than it should may be under this spell effect. Rephrasing to Normal Darkness simply seems deeper and darker than it should.
Just like being able to choose whether the effect seemed sinister or soothing. Purely RP descriptive like is included in several other cantrips - thaumaturgy or the like. I intended the noticeable minor weal/woe feeling because it felt to me like a Fae cantrip... And Fae don't do neutral well :) and not based on the observer but how the caster chose to shape the spell.
Descriptions like the area around him is shielded from the glaring light like a shady spot in the forest, or the shadows around him stretch and claw and the light seems to struggle weakly from their grasp. No game effect but entirely mood setting. Especially if you start establishing a theme for say an NPC. When the Fae Queen is mad, the shadows get sinister...when she is furious and in the mood to be really vicious... They become gentle and soothing... Oh crap....
I didnt realize homebrew was global....will add soon
Set up in homebrew with some tweaks from above. Thanks for feedback and discussion. Made it public and it was accepted pretty quick. So you should be able to grab it now...
Clearly based off Light cantrip. It always struck me that underdark and/or shady folk would want some option besides the "impenetrable" dark of the darkness spell which is very obvious. Something to make above ground exploration and scouting less painful. Maybe just more a more subtle patch of deeper gloom that wouldn't jump out like "pitch black darkness spell" can. I could also maybe say it could give you a slight advantage on survival rolls for not being in direct sunlight like in a desert? Comments? Phrasing improvement? exploits I don't see? Yes, I am aware this would help out a lot with penalties for Drow, and those class abilities that require dim light or light obscured.
Gloom (Creeping Shadows or Dappled Shade)
Level - Cantrip Cast Time: 1 action Range/Area: Touch (40ft radius) Components: V, M*
Duration: 1 hour School: Evocation Attack/Save: DEX Save Damage/Effect: Creation
You touch one object that is no larger than 10 feet in any dimension. Until the spell ends, the object shades an area within a 40 foot radius from the effects of illumination. This gloom causes the any non-magical illumination shed into the area to be reduced by 1 step. Brightly Lit becomes Dimly Lit, Dimly Lit becomes Normal Darkness, Normal Darkness becomes slightly deeper Normal Darkness. At the time of casting, you may choose if this effect appears sinister or soothing in nature. This spell has no effect on illumination from any magical source and darkvision can penetrate it as normal. The spell ends if you cast it again or dismiss it as an action.
If you target an object held or worn by a hostile creature, that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw to avoid the spell.
* - (a pinch of soot or ash)
Not just Drow, but any race with that "Keen Darkvision" issue (deep gnome, kobolds?). Which is why I certainly think this would have been developed for just the same reasons that the light cantrip was. Seriously, Darkness spell is like the nuclear option...
Additionally useful I think for shadow stepping monks or some other spells where you have bonus effects in areas of dim light or darkness like Shadow Blade (new XGE spell). This is where I can see the abuse, no need to burn a 2nd level darkness, roll a "shadow ball" into the brightly lit area and boom... shadow step where you need to.
Honestly, I thought about it originally as more of one of those cool "atmosphere" effects like thaumaturgy. What was going through my head was the lines from Desperado ... "it seemed like the light dimmed just for him". Or being "wrapped in shadows and darkness".
This (very well crafted) spell gives a whole new meaning to the Gloom Stalker Ranger subclass.
Also, comes perfectly handy with my Shadow Mind Rogue subclass (Magic initiate FTW) :P
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
This seems like a good spell, for sure. The only suggestion I would make is to elaborate a little on what the choice between "sinister or soothing in nature" means. To me, it seems like whether darkness were sinister or soothing to a viewer would depend on the viewer's personality. Is it a purely visual effect, and if so, how is one choice different than the other? Is there a neutral option (neither sinister or soothing)?
And that's all I have to say about that.
Hey Bill_D! Please let me know when you put this up in the homebrew spells, I would very much like to make it an integral part of my Shadow Mind subclass :)
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
I like it, and I would use it in game, but I'm not sure about this part... "Normal Darkness becomes slightly deeper Normal Darkness" can you elaborate on what that means mechanically? Is a step of darkness deeper than normal darkness even necessary? Normal darkness gives total concealment already, so what would "deeper darkness" do?
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
"Orcs are savage raiders and pillagers with stooped postures, low foreheads, and piggish faces with prominent lower canines that resemble tusks." MM p245 (original printing)
You don't OWN your books on DDB: WotC can change them any time. What do you think will happen when OneD&D comes out?
No mechanical effect intended or stated from "a slightly deeper" Normal Darkness. It would be descriptive at that point as it is still just Normal Darkness. Someone could learn or know with arcana that a Normal Darkness that seems deeper than it should may be under this spell effect. Rephrasing to Normal Darkness simply seems deeper and darker than it should.
Just like being able to choose whether the effect seemed sinister or soothing. Purely RP descriptive like is included in several other cantrips - thaumaturgy or the like. I intended the noticeable minor weal/woe feeling because it felt to me like a Fae cantrip... And Fae don't do neutral well :) and not based on the observer but how the caster chose to shape the spell.
Descriptions like the area around him is shielded from the glaring light like a shady spot in the forest, or the shadows around him stretch and claw and the light seems to struggle weakly from their grasp. No game effect but entirely mood setting. Especially if you start establishing a theme for say an NPC. When the Fae Queen is mad, the shadows get sinister...when she is furious and in the mood to be really vicious... They become gentle and soothing... Oh crap....
I didnt realize homebrew was global....will add soon
Set up in homebrew with some tweaks from above. Thanks for feedback and discussion. Made it public and it was accepted pretty quick. So you should be able to grab it now...
Nice work dude, this seems like a nice and well balanced cantrip all around!
This is very nice cantrip, I would love to see it on a Shadow Sorcerer.