So, where otherwise not specifically described in the spell, are there any rules, guidelines or suggestions as to how much leeway an individual caster has to tailor the appearance of the effects of their magic? For example, Mage Armor says a "protective magical force" surrounds you. Can or would you allow a unique appearance to that magical force? Maybe a fey-based warlock is surrounded by translucent wooden "armor" or a storm sorcerer is encased in shimmering lightning-like shield, etc. Or Magic Missile creates glowing darts of magical force. could you change what color they glow or choose a specific look to the darts if you wanted? For example Cloak and Dagger's light knives vs Gambit's force daggers... Could you change the color of the mote of fire from Fire Bolt? (as long as it was clearly "fiery") Maybe the lightning from your shocking grasp is purple? Would you allow minor changes to sounds like that? Like the crackling of the fire bolt has the faint undertone of "screams of the damned"? Or your lightning bolt has the undertone of giggling children because you worship a trickster god?
Just looking at ways to make an NPC or Character more memorable and descriptively fun.
Some follow up questions for thought: Would you say that it was static with how they learned the spell (so they couldn't change it every time)? Allow spontaneous type casters to change but not "book" casters? Would you limit colors based on the damage/spell type (like force is always purple, and fire is always red, and life is always green)? Would you allow skills to influence how "impressive" the spell looked? Not for a mechanical effect, but for RP purposes. Would you allow or require a theme? Like a shadow sorcerer having all their spells tinged with wisps of darkness and subtle whispering voices interwoven in them? Any predictions for how this might be abused or break something?
My question does also revolve around whether there is some rule or such that says this is allowed. There are a lot of books and I was hoping there was somewhere that even mentions this in any way.
Well, damn. thanks Coder, I know you are really familiar with the different rulebooks and Sage Advice stuff. I didn't really equate that with the RP aspect of calling your fighter a "samurai" even though you weren't the official sub-class. It just felt like there might be some Meta stuff somewhere because of the default "weave of magic" explanation. Like all spells should look the same because they have the same source. Especially when I know there are adventures out there where the cosmetic effects of spells are forced to be different because of the plane/environment (Curse of Strahd I am looking at you). And really not just the cosmetic effect of spells are changed sometimes (again, Curse of Strahd I am gazing at you).
Because of those, I thought there might be some rule buried somewhere that gives a guide for when and how to implement.
Yup. I didn't bring up Curse of Strahd since the player isn't in control of that. Likewise, I didn't bring up Spiritual Weapon and Spirit Guardians since the customization is already built into the spell's rules.
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So, where otherwise not specifically described in the spell, are there any rules, guidelines or suggestions as to how much leeway an individual caster has to tailor the appearance of the effects of their magic?
For example, Mage Armor says a "protective magical force" surrounds you. Can or would you allow a unique appearance to that magical force? Maybe a fey-based warlock is surrounded by translucent wooden "armor" or a storm sorcerer is encased in shimmering lightning-like shield, etc.
Or Magic Missile creates glowing darts of magical force. could you change what color they glow or choose a specific look to the darts if you wanted? For example Cloak and Dagger's light knives vs Gambit's force daggers...
Could you change the color of the mote of fire from Fire Bolt? (as long as it was clearly "fiery")
Maybe the lightning from your shocking grasp is purple?
Would you allow minor changes to sounds like that? Like the crackling of the fire bolt has the faint undertone of "screams of the damned"? Or your lightning bolt has the undertone of giggling children because you worship a trickster god?
Just looking at ways to make an NPC or Character more memorable and descriptively fun.
Some follow up questions for thought:
Would you say that it was static with how they learned the spell (so they couldn't change it every time)? Allow spontaneous type casters to change but not "book" casters?
Would you limit colors based on the damage/spell type (like force is always purple, and fire is always red, and life is always green)?
Would you allow skills to influence how "impressive" the spell looked? Not for a mechanical effect, but for RP purposes.
Would you allow or require a theme? Like a shadow sorcerer having all their spells tinged with wisps of darkness and subtle whispering voices interwoven in them?
Any predictions for how this might be abused or break something?
The fun part of dnd is that you can theme anything. The mechanics may be the same, but whose to say two wizards spells look exactly the same?
My Warlock for example just picked up a fallen allies bow to make his temporary pact weapon, and will be firing his eldritch blasts as arrows fron it.
My question does also revolve around whether there is some rule or such that says this is allowed. There are a lot of books and I was hoping there was somewhere that even mentions this in any way.
There isn't, but as long as the change is only cosmetic, it's harmless. You have Jeremy Crawford's blessing, if that means anything to you.
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Well, damn. thanks Coder, I know you are really familiar with the different rulebooks and Sage Advice stuff. I didn't really equate that with the RP aspect of calling your fighter a "samurai" even though you weren't the official sub-class. It just felt like there might be some Meta stuff somewhere because of the default "weave of magic" explanation. Like all spells should look the same because they have the same source. Especially when I know there are adventures out there where the cosmetic effects of spells are forced to be different because of the plane/environment (Curse of Strahd I am looking at you). And really not just the cosmetic effect of spells are changed sometimes (again, Curse of Strahd I am gazing at you).
Because of those, I thought there might be some rule buried somewhere that gives a guide for when and how to implement.
Yup. I didn't bring up Curse of Strahd since the player isn't in control of that. Likewise, I didn't bring up Spiritual Weapon and Spirit Guardians since the customization is already built into the spell's rules.
The Forum Infestation (TM)