I have a question Re this spell. Mainly: Can you reverse it? Ie can you put out the fire you created? I know it doesn't say that in the spell but would this actually change the power of the spell if added as a homebrew rule? I mainly ask because other than Prestidigitation there appear to be NO spells that actually put out fires, and I have a char concept for a magical firefighter.
I know it targets nonmagical fires, but I think for the use Melamber has in mind ("I mainly ask because other than Prestidigitation there appear to be NO spells that actually put out fires, and I have a char concept for a magical firefighter.") I think it would work fine :)
I would say that not concentrating on the spell puts out the [magical] fire. That said there might be a mundane fire left over.
I'm often take this cantrips because I like it in any kind of "survivalist" DnD game... as starting a fire is easy... especially one that stays burning and keeps you warm even without fuel.
Side note. I do get a little annoyed at how many different non-combat cantrips there are and how few cantrips you get.
Create Bonfire (is combat, but with non combat uses) (c): 5' cube of fire that deals damage (no fuel just concentration) Dancing Lightings (c): four 10' lights. Light: 20'/20' of light for 1 hour. Mage Hand: manipulate 10lbs at 30' Mending: repair <1' in damage Message: 120' whisper and reply. Minor Illusion: 5' cube of illusion for 1 minute that is sound or image. Mold Earth: move 5' cube of earth 5', shape/color 5' of earth, (un)make 5' of difficult terrain, up to two at a time. Prestidigitation: small harmless illusion, clean/soil a cubic foot, mark an object, light or snuff a candle/torch/camfpire (requires fuel), mark an object, handheld illusion. up to three at the same time. Shape Water: shape, color, and freeze up to two 5' cubes of water. Druidcraft: druid's Prestidigitation... slightly unique twists. Guidance: AMAZING, bonus to skill checks out of combat it's almost always useful Resistance: Guidance for saves, amazing when you need it but less generally useful Thaumaturgy: cleric's Prestidigitation... slightly unique twists.
That's 14 different cantrips with none to limited combat usage. Most casters get 2-3 cantrips! It's actually one of my biggest reasons for multiclassing is getting more cantrips. So many of the cantrips.
On the face, Produce Flame is the best. It deals damage and creates light. But Light makes more light that lasts longer. Dancing Lights aren't as bright, but there are more of them. Fire Bolt has greater range, and deals more damage.
Therefore, I would be careful not to add additional features to one cantrip. Virtually all casters get multiple cantrips. There are ones which will put out a flame, like Control Flames mentioned before. Candles can be put out by Prestidigitation. Knowing the limitations of spells and how they compare maintains the balance of the game.
All that being said, I do miss spell reversal from earlier editions of D&D.
I know it targets nonmagical fires, but I think for the use Melamber has in mind ("I mainly ask because other than Prestidigitation there appear to be NO spells that actually put out fires, and I have a char concept for a magical firefighter.") I think it would work fine :)
Mold Earth can be useful if you want to redirect an existing body of water. If you're dealing with a large fire, Control Weather will let you create hard rain in a 5 mile radius. It takes some time, but it might be the only recourse if the fire's already out of control.
I considered that one, but it says it'll extinguish "candles, torches, and similar unprotected flames" so it seems to be intended to only put out light sources, not large areas of fire.
I have a question Re this spell. Mainly: Can you reverse it? Ie can you put out the fire you created? I know it doesn't say that in the spell but would this actually change the power of the spell if added as a homebrew rule? I mainly ask because other than Prestidigitation there appear to be NO spells that actually put out fires, and I have a char concept for a magical firefighter.
In Xanathar's Guide to Everything you have the Control Flame cantrip that does exactly this :)
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
The target of Control Flames must be a non-magical fire, while Create Bonfire creates a magical fire.
I think the simplest way is just losing concentration for Create Bonfire, assuming you are the caster.
If the caster is an enemy, well, you need to make the caster lose concentration or have a special item which extinguishes magical flames.
I know it targets nonmagical fires, but I think for the use Melamber has in mind ("I mainly ask because other than Prestidigitation there appear to be NO spells that actually put out fires, and I have a char concept for a magical firefighter.") I think it would work fine :)
Subclass: Dwarven Defender - Dragonborn Paragon
Feats: Artificer Apprentice
Monsters: Sheep - Spellbreaker Warforged Titan
Magic Items: Whipier - Ring of Secret Storage - Collar of the Guardian
Monster template: Skeletal Creature
I would say that not concentrating on the spell puts out the [magical] fire.
That said there might be a mundane fire left over.
I'm often take this cantrips because I like it in any kind of "survivalist" DnD game... as starting a fire is easy... especially one that stays burning and keeps you warm even without fuel.
Side note. I do get a little annoyed at how many different non-combat cantrips there are and how few cantrips you get.
Create Bonfire (is combat, but with non combat uses) (c): 5' cube of fire that deals damage (no fuel just concentration)
Dancing Lightings (c): four 10' lights.
Light: 20'/20' of light for 1 hour.
Mage Hand: manipulate 10lbs at 30'
Mending: repair <1' in damage
Message: 120' whisper and reply.
Minor Illusion: 5' cube of illusion for 1 minute that is sound or image.
Mold Earth: move 5' cube of earth 5', shape/color 5' of earth, (un)make 5' of difficult terrain, up to two at a time.
Prestidigitation: small harmless illusion, clean/soil a cubic foot, mark an object, light or snuff a candle/torch/camfpire (requires fuel), mark an object, handheld illusion. up to three at the same time.
Shape Water: shape, color, and freeze up to two 5' cubes of water.
Druidcraft: druid's Prestidigitation... slightly unique twists.
Guidance: AMAZING, bonus to skill checks out of combat it's almost always useful
Resistance: Guidance for saves, amazing when you need it but less generally useful
Thaumaturgy: cleric's Prestidigitation... slightly unique twists.
That's 14 different cantrips with none to limited combat usage. Most casters get 2-3 cantrips!
It's actually one of my biggest reasons for multiclassing is getting more cantrips.
So many of the cantrips.
Cantrips are a carefully balanced beast. Consider the differences between Fire Bolt, Produce Flame, Light, and Dancing Lights.
On the face, Produce Flame is the best. It deals damage and creates light. But Light makes more light that lasts longer. Dancing Lights aren't as bright, but there are more of them. Fire Bolt has greater range, and deals more damage.
Therefore, I would be careful not to add additional features to one cantrip. Virtually all casters get multiple cantrips. There are ones which will put out a flame, like Control Flames mentioned before. Candles can be put out by Prestidigitation. Knowing the limitations of spells and how they compare maintains the balance of the game.
All that being said, I do miss spell reversal from earlier editions of D&D.
Formatting Tooltips, because I always forget
SWEET! I had totally overlooked Control Flames! My Firefighter will LIVE!
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Gust of Wind also puts out exposed flames sometimes.
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I considered that one, but it says it'll extinguish "candles, torches, and similar unprotected flames" so it seems to be intended to only put out light sources, not large areas of fire.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Nothing wider than 10 feet, no. I'd rule it's 50% for each 5 ft cube, which is likely to reignite extinguished areas, as fire does.
Formatting Tooltips, because I always forget