If I target something with True Strike and then cast Scorching Ray on it (either the next round or by using the Quicken Spell metamagic ability), do I have advantage on only one of the attack rolls or would it apply to all of them? Based on True Strike's wording I'm guessing it's the former but I wanted to check. The same goes for other effects that grant advantage, like Guiding Bolt and Tides of Fate.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
The spell description specifies that it grants advantage to your first attack on your next turn. So quicken spell would not help (except to cast true strike as a bonus action) and it would only grant advantage to the first ray from Scorching Ray.
Note the wording difference on this and the smite spells, branding smite, for example. Branding smite is definitely designed to be used on the same turn, whereas true strike is definitely designed to be used on the next turn.
True strike is truly awful. It can't benefit the turn it is cast, must maintain concentration, only benefits 1 attack, is mathematically worse than just making 2 attacks.
The best case use of it is the turn before you use a high level slot for an attack spell (which most will be saves anyway) and in this case it is actually more beneficial for an ally to just use the help action.
I mean, I don't like this. Sure it still says next turn and it is concentration, but unlike a reckless attack, this seems to provide zero down side, so it should be something you should do with every bonus action (maybe even to the detriment to other class features). It is entirely too strong to simply make it a bonus action. It takes a cantrip from worthless to best. Cantrips shouldn't be so good.
I mean, I don't like this. Sure it still says next turn and it is concentration, but unlike a reckless attack, this seems to provide zero down side, so it should be something you should do with every bonus action (maybe even to the detriment to other class features). It is entirely too strong to simply make it a bonus action. It takes a cantrip from worthless to best. Cantrips shouldn't be so good.
Well you couldn't use it every turn since the rule regarding BA spells would prevent you from casting anything but a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action if you used this version. Anytime you wanted to cast a leveled spell with an Action you couldn't also cast this spell during that turn. It would turn the spell into a setup turn spell. Its probably too strong for Gish builds this way but for pure casters its actually pretty cool.
Only on the first round. Turn 1: bonus action True Strike, Fire Bolt with no bonus. Turn 2 - Infinity: Bonus action True Strike, Fire Bolt with Advantage.
So then how would you improve it to make it not mathematically terrible spell to cast?
I just don't think the idea of the spell is very good for a cantrip. I'll say that I don't think that simply making it a bonus action is too strong. I just still don't think I'd ever really use it. Even if I'm not using my bonus action for anything else, I'm probably using my concentration for something else.
What I would do, personally, is make it a bonus action, no concentration, applies to the next attack you make within a certain duration (a minute, maybe), and make it a 1st-level spell.
Yeah, but all of those “next attack you make in the next minute” spells are concentration. That’s part of why Favored Foe is such a Favored Feature.
What if it were a Cantrip, BA to cast, Concentration, next attack by ending of next turn gets a flat +1 (+2?) to hit. Still improves probability to hit, but doesn’t double Crit%? Would that be more level appropriate?
And I kinda don't think they should be. Hunter's Mark is actually worth concentration, since it's a persistent effect. Concentration for a one-time effect feels really wrong to me (readying a spell is a different situation, but I'm not convinced I like it even there).
If I target something with True Strike and then cast Scorching Ray on it (either the next round or by using the Quicken Spell metamagic ability), do I have advantage on only one of the attack rolls or would it apply to all of them? Based on True Strike's wording I'm guessing it's the former but I wanted to check. The same goes for other effects that grant advantage, like Guiding Bolt and Tides of Fate.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
The spell description specifies that it grants advantage to your first attack on your next turn. So quicken spell would not help (except to cast true strike as a bonus action) and it would only grant advantage to the first ray from Scorching Ray.
Note the wording difference on this and the smite spells, branding smite, for example. Branding smite is definitely designed to be used on the same turn, whereas true strike is definitely designed to be used on the next turn.
True strike is truly awful. It can't benefit the turn it is cast, must maintain concentration, only benefits 1 attack, is mathematically worse than just making 2 attacks.
The best case use of it is the turn before you use a high level slot for an attack spell (which most will be saves anyway) and in this case it is actually more beneficial for an ally to just use the help action.
It does seem like it was written specifically to preclude any theoretically useful applications of it, yes.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
That’s why I wrote this replacement. All I changed was that it uses a bonus action to cast, 100% more useful.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I mean, I don't like this. Sure it still says next turn and it is concentration, but unlike a reckless attack, this seems to provide zero down side, so it should be something you should do with every bonus action (maybe even to the detriment to other class features). It is entirely too strong to simply make it a bonus action. It takes a cantrip from worthless to best. Cantrips shouldn't be so good.
Yeah, I'm imagining a High Elf rogue that combines this with Elven Accuracy. That would be problematic.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Well you couldn't use it every turn since the rule regarding BA spells would prevent you from casting anything but a cantrip with a casting time of 1 action if you used this version. Anytime you wanted to cast a leveled spell with an Action you couldn't also cast this spell during that turn. It would turn the spell into a setup turn spell. Its probably too strong for Gish builds this way but for pure casters its actually pretty cool.
Check out my latest homebrew: Mystic Knight (Fighter) v1.31
I would think you would use it most often in conjunction with Cantrips like Firebolt anyway so still way too beefy as a bonus action.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
I dunno, having to maintain concentration on a Cantrip for an entire turn before you can even actually use it is still a pretty big down side.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Only on the first round. Turn 1: bonus action True Strike, Fire Bolt with no bonus. Turn 2 - Infinity: Bonus action True Strike, Fire Bolt with Advantage.
Or any rogue that picks up Magic Initiate.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Until they step on a caltrop and lose concentration.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
a DC 10 Concentration check is not that hard. It gets even easier with War Caster Feat.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
That would also only cost 1 turn of advantage, you are just going to get it back next turn.
So then how would you improve it to make it not mathematically terrible spell to cast?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I just don't think the idea of the spell is very good for a cantrip. I'll say that I don't think that simply making it a bonus action is too strong. I just still don't think I'd ever really use it. Even if I'm not using my bonus action for anything else, I'm probably using my concentration for something else.
What I would do, personally, is make it a bonus action, no concentration, applies to the next attack you make within a certain duration (a minute, maybe), and make it a 1st-level spell.
Yeah, but all of those “next attack you make in the next minute” spells are concentration. That’s part of why Favored Foe is such a Favored Feature.
What if it were a Cantrip, BA to cast, Concentration, next attack by ending of next turn gets a flat +1 (+2?) to hit. Still improves probability to hit, but doesn’t double Crit%? Would that be more level appropriate?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
And I kinda don't think they should be. Hunter's Mark is actually worth concentration, since it's a persistent effect. Concentration for a one-time effect feels really wrong to me (readying a spell is a different situation, but I'm not convinced I like it even there).
I don’t disagree with you, but it was easier to change how Rangers interact with Hunter’s Mark than it would have been to change all those spells.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting