Mold earth, shape water, gust, prestidigitation and of coarse create water (1st level spell) would all be invaluable in an exposure/survival setting for keeping cool, hydrated, and making a functional shelter to stay cool during the hottest parts of the day and coldest parts of the night. Cantrip creativity is what you are trying to reach for. These would be great ways to slough off the effects of extreme exhaustion, which can KILL a character within 6 levels or just keep them delerious long enough for something else to kill them.
Sounds good, though it would be counter-productive in this instance.
The characters are bound up and left exposed to the elements. The antagonists are using it to mentally break them, while giving them the minimal care to keep them physically alive.
So the characters can't cast or anything.
If they can’t cast or anything, why the heck are you asking us to recommend Cantrips for them to use?!?
Mold earth, shape water, gust, prestidigitation and of coarse create water (1st level spell) would all be invaluable in an exposure/survival setting for keeping cool, hydrated, and making a functional shelter to stay cool during the hottest parts of the day and coldest parts of the night. Cantrip creativity is what you are trying to reach for. These would be great ways to slough off the effects of extreme exhaustion, which can KILL a character within 6 levels or just keep them delerious long enough for something else to kill them.
Sounds good, though it would be counter-productive in this instance.
The characters are bound up and left exposed to the elements. The antagonists are using it to mentally break them, while giving them the minimal care to keep them physically alive.
So the characters can't cast or anything.
If they can’t cast or anything, why the heck are you asking us to recommend Cantrips for them to use?!?
Wow, every single person has misunderstood your intent. If it is the villains, then you use the GM caveat of creating magic that fits your needs. What would you intend the villains to do? Are they plaguing the PCs with annoying sounds to keep them on edge. Major Image and Minor Illusion would be perfect for just about anything you want. You could use Invisible Stalker to keep the players on edge by always feeling like someone is right behind them. Are you just planning on messing with them, or actually putting them in harms way while surviving naked and isolated? Animal Friendship, Summon Animal, Speak with Animals could all be methods of having the sparse life in the area frustrate the party. Imagine a pack of moles digging under the groups camp all night and then rising up in a swarm after the entire area is trapped. I mean, villains are able to do extraordinary things with mundane methods.
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
Mold earth, shape water, gust, prestidigitation and of coarse create water (1st level spell) would all be invaluable in an exposure/survival setting for keeping cool, hydrated, and making a functional shelter to stay cool during the hottest parts of the day and coldest parts of the night. Cantrip creativity is what you are trying to reach for. These would be great ways to slough off the effects of extreme exhaustion, which can KILL a character within 6 levels or just keep them delerious long enough for something else to kill them.
Sounds good, though it would be counter-productive in this instance.
The characters are bound up and left exposed to the elements. The antagonists are using it to mentally break them, while giving them the minimal care to keep them physically alive.
So the characters can't cast or anything.
If they can’t cast or anything, why the heck are you asking us to recommend Cantrips for them to use?!?
I'm not.
I'm looking for cantrips for the VILLAINS to use.
OOOOOOOHHH OK! grab a familiar and use spare the dying to keep them alive prestidigitation to alter their temp ect. if the weather is bad enough that they take exhaustion you could bring them to the second to last exhaustion level and let them rest 1 day per exhaustion then exhaust them again. the familiar gives you ranged spare the dying ( you could also reduce them to 0 then spare the dying to punish them). and it acts as a ranged monitor as long as its close enough or knows where to come get you
The reason I didn't think it was "for the villains" is because the villians, who are the captors, don't need any magic. They can just provide what is needed using regular resources like blankets, keeping the captive area relatively clean(ish), and providing cover. It would super simple and easy for the captors to keep the captives alive, without any need of magic whatsoever - in fact it would be much, much, easier than using magic.
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maybe that's the flaw of the villains the cant conceive NOT using magic. why eat the food when i can teleport into the same space as a cabbage and just line it up with my empty stomach. their wanton use of magic makes them dangerous; as they desperately find new and inventive ways to avoid doing anything even if the magical method really isnt paying dividends. "cleaning dishes? isnt that a demons job? conjure up a couple and let em at it for a bit"
The reason I didn't think it was "for the villains" is because the villians, who are the captors, don't need any magic. They can just provide what is needed using regular resources like blankets, keeping the captive area relatively clean(ish), and providing cover. It would super simple and easy for the captors to keep the captives alive, without any need of magic whatsoever - in fact it would be much, much, easier than using magic.
Yes, it would be easier.
But - part of the point is the villains are using the natural elements as a form of low-level form of torture on a group of innocent NPCs. (Or possibly one or more PCs.) Yes, there are certainly more efficient ways of torturing people into submission. They are using this approach because it fits the character of the villains.
Although the villains want to break the prisoners, they don't want to permanently damage them. Hence, its important to make sure they don't catch anything.
Yes, a DM could hand-wave all this, but i preferred to find something more by-the-book.
Not a big deal.
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If they can’t cast or anything, why the heck are you asking us to recommend Cantrips for them to use?!?
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Here give them one of these:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/1389847-reusable-tiny-hut
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I'm not.
I'm looking for cantrips for the VILLAINS to use.
Wow, every single person has misunderstood your intent. If it is the villains, then you use the GM caveat of creating magic that fits your needs. What would you intend the villains to do? Are they plaguing the PCs with annoying sounds to keep them on edge. Major Image and Minor Illusion would be perfect for just about anything you want. You could use Invisible Stalker to keep the players on edge by always feeling like someone is right behind them. Are you just planning on messing with them, or actually putting them in harms way while surviving naked and isolated? Animal Friendship, Summon Animal, Speak with Animals could all be methods of having the sparse life in the area frustrate the party. Imagine a pack of moles digging under the groups camp all night and then rising up in a swarm after the entire area is trapped. I mean, villains are able to do extraordinary things with mundane methods.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
OOOOOOOHHH OK! grab a familiar and use spare the dying to keep them alive prestidigitation to alter their temp ect. if the weather is bad enough that they take exhaustion you could bring them to the second to last exhaustion level and let them rest 1 day per exhaustion then exhaust them again. the familiar gives you ranged spare the dying ( you could also reduce them to 0 then spare the dying to punish them). and it acts as a ranged monitor as long as its close enough or knows where to come get you
The reason I didn't think it was "for the villains" is because the villians, who are the captors, don't need any magic. They can just provide what is needed using regular resources like blankets, keeping the captive area relatively clean(ish), and providing cover. It would super simple and easy for the captors to keep the captives alive, without any need of magic whatsoever - in fact it would be much, much, easier than using magic.
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.
maybe that's the flaw of the villains the cant conceive NOT using magic. why eat the food when i can teleport into the same space as a cabbage and just line it up with my empty stomach. their wanton use of magic makes them dangerous; as they desperately find new and inventive ways to avoid doing anything even if the magical method really isnt paying dividends. "cleaning dishes? isnt that a demons job? conjure up a couple and let em at it for a bit"
Yes, it would be easier.
But - part of the point is the villains are using the natural elements as a form of low-level form of torture on a group of innocent NPCs. (Or possibly one or more PCs.) Yes, there are certainly more efficient ways of torturing people into submission. They are using this approach because it fits the character of the villains.
Although the villains want to break the prisoners, they don't want to permanently damage them. Hence, its important to make sure they don't catch anything.
Yes, a DM could hand-wave all this, but i preferred to find something more by-the-book.
Not a big deal.