Can the Mold Earth Cantrip be used to create stone sling bullets? If so, how many per spell?
If you can create patterns in stone for 1 hour, could you not pattern up some bullet shapes, break them off from the main hillside and poof, you have some bullets for at least an hour (pattern duration). ?!?
With Mold Earth you can shape patterns in stones. Could you not make a bunch of lollipop patterns and simply kick them free?
Chicken... I guess two casters together could use Shape Water and Chill Touch (or something of like that) to make a bunch of ice bullets.
With Mold Earth I envision being able to do stuff like add cleavage to the Kings stone statue in the town square... or is it not even strong enough to do that?
I'd say that you could probably use the spell to loosen the earth in an area in such a way as to help find all the naturally occurring stones inside it. RAW I don't think there's anything about the spell that gives any indication that it's capable of something so specific... but honestly the request is so simple and fits in with the flavor of the spell, so if I was DM I would allow it.
Mold Earth is generally not powerful enough to reshape stone. The spell reads "you can cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone...", which states to me that the spell can only really affect surface change. This is somewhat counterbalanced by the "Create difficult terrain" feature of the spell, but a lot of what people tend to do with Mold earth is similar to what people do with Minor Illusion - i.e. wildly out of line with the intended use or level of the spell. Carving handholds in a stone wall, punching windows in a stone bunker, etching permanent messages in stone...basically all well beyond the spell's ability.
Stretching the spell into fabricating temporary sling bullets, especially with the help of a chisel or other stoneworking tool, is inventive enough (and overall harmless enough) that as a DM I'd likely allow it, especially if the character otherwise made extensive use of Mold Earth. It's actually one of my favorite cantrips and near the top of my list of Badass Utility Spell Nobody Likes As Much As They Should, but it's also Mold Earth, not Mold Stone.
Use shape water to spin it around the rock to erode it and just keep doing it till it's shaped since it doesn't state the speed of the water, just that it doesn't cause damage. Or use it to get inside a rock then freeze it to make the rock shatter
Again, Shape Water can just make sling stones (out of ice) itself, which last 1 hour. No need for fancy shenanigans with Mold Earth to try to make it do something it doesn't, just take Shape Water.
To take this one step further as to why this would probably not work, you have to consider the physics of a sling "bullet" (horrible term, honestly...). They need to be round like musket shot in order to fly properly. But more importantly, they need to be solid, and heavy to a point. Mold Earth doesn't say anything about compacting or crushing, or transforming dirt into stone. It is a little ambiguous as to what a "pattern" in the dirt or stone is, and whether or not the stone must be "loose" (ie river rocks lying on top of each other).
You might be able to convince your DM to allow you to reshape the stones to be round, but something tells me you're not going to actually be doing damage with sling berrings formed this way. You'd be able to distract a target, maybe break a window or pot depending on the type of glass/pottery.
Mold Earth is generally not powerful enough to reshape stone. The spell reads "you can cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone...", which states to me that the spell can only really affect surface change. This is somewhat counterbalanced by the "Create difficult terrain" feature of the spell, but a lot of what people tend to do with Mold earth is similar to what people do with Minor Illusion - i.e. wildly out of line with the intended use or level of the spell. Carving handholds in a stone wall, punching windows in a stone bunker, etching permanent messages in stone...basically all well beyond the spell's ability.
Stretching the spell into fabricating temporary sling bullets, especially with the help of a chisel or other stoneworking tool, is inventive enough (and overall harmless enough) that as a DM I'd likely allow it, especially if the character otherwise made extensive use of Mold Earth. It's actually one of my favorite cantrips and near the top of my list of Badass Utility Spell Nobody Likes As Much As They Should, but it's also Mold Earth, not Mold Stone.
Your conclusion to mold Earth is Wrong:
The First thing the spells states: "You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it in one of the following ways:"
Casting the spell gives "The Caster" a 5ft cube which is a Magical effect PHB pg. 204
You can "Manipulate" Dirt / Stone within that Cube's Magical effect.
What is to Manipulate: it is to handle or control of something.
The Spell is Transmutation: "Transmutation spells change the properties of a creature, object or environment." PHB 203
The Magic Transmutes the Dirt / Stone into a Malleable Cohesive Material, the magical material can be given Length, Width and Height within the Cube's effect and is held together by Magic for the duration of the spell.
This is the Mechanic's of the spell.
#2 bullet: "You cause shapes, colors or both to appear on the dirt or stone, spelling out words, creating images or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour." (RAW)
You target Dirt / Stone in a 5ft Cube (3-Dimension Effect) of which you can Manipulate within to cause shapes, colors or both to appear on the Dirt / Stone...etc
It states nothing about the (appearance) "appear on" being only in 2-Dimensional.
Where does it state in the spells description that it is only surface change???
Where in the spell's description it says to change the 5ft cube into a 5ft surface???
Where in the spell's description it says you could only Manipulate a 5ft surface???
How did you come to that conclusion??? I would like to know please?
A Fact by the Spell Description, you can Manipulate the Dirt / Stone in a 5ft cube. The Shape can appear on the Dirt / Stone as a 3-dimensionals with shapes and colors in a image of snarling wolf, shape Hand grips for climbing, shape a stone pebble to be more aerodynamic, shape a anchor point to tie a rope or shape a mustache onto a stone statue in 3-Dimensional for an hour.
So yes, Mold Earth can reshape stone,.... for 1 hour before it reverts back to normal.
Take Flaming sphere for example:
A 5-foot-diameter sphere of fire appears in an unoccupied space of your choice within range and lasts for the duration.
Does it mean a Flaming sphere "appears in" the ground of an unoccupied space?....... because it says appears in?
The First thing the spells states: "You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it in one of the following ways:"
Casting the spell gives "The Caster" a 5ft cube which is a Magical effect PHB pg. 204
You can "Manipulate" Dirt / Stone within that Cube's Magical effect.
What is to Manipulate: it is to handle or control of something.
The Spell is Transmutation: "Transmutation spells change the properties of a creature, object or environment." PHB 203
The Magic Transmutes the Dirt / Stone into a Malleable Cohesive Material, the magical material can be given Length, Width and Height within the Cube's effect and is held together by Magic for the duration of the spell.
This is the Mechanic's of the spell.
#2 bullet: "You cause shapes, colors or both to appear on the dirt or stone, spelling out words, creating images or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour." (RAW)
You target Dirt / Stone in a 5ft Cube (3-Dimension Effect) of which you can Manipulate within to cause shapes, colors or both to appear on the Dirt / Stone...etc
It states nothing about the (appearance) "appear on" being only in 2-Dimensional.
Where does it state in the spells description that it is only surface change???
Where in the spell's description it says to change the 5ft cube into a 5ft surface???
Where in the spell's description it says you could only Manipulate a 5ft surface???
How did you come to that conclusion??? I would like to know please?
A Fact by the Spell Description, you can Manipulate the Dirt / Stone in a 5ft cube. The Shape can appear on the Dirt / Stone as a 3-dimensionals with shapes and colors in a image of snarling wolf, shape Hand grips for climbing, shape a stone pebble to be more aerodynamic, shape a anchor point to tie a rope or shape a mustache onto a stone statue in 3-Dimensional for an hour.
So yes, Mold Earth can reshape stone,.... for 1 hour before it reverts back to normal.
Take Flaming sphere for example:
A 5-foot-diameter sphere of fire appears in an unoccupied space of your choice within range and lasts for the duration.
Does it mean a Flaming sphere "appears in" the ground of an unoccupied space?....... because it says appears in?
The spell is rather clear about what it does via the examples it provides. The second bullet point of mold earth can make images and patterns on (as in "on the surface of") the earth. It does not have the same capabilities as stone shape like you are describing.
The First thing the spells states: "You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it in one of the following ways:"
Casting the spell gives "The Caster" a 5ft cube which is a Magical effect PHB pg. 204
You can "Manipulate" Dirt / Stone within that Cube's Magical effect.
What is to Manipulate: it is to handle or control of something.
The Spell is Transmutation: "Transmutation spells change the properties of a creature, object or environment." PHB 203
The Magic Transmutes the Dirt / Stone into a Malleable Cohesive Material, the magical material can be given Length, Width and Height within the Cube's effect and is held together by Magic for the duration of the spell.
This is the Mechanic's of the spell.
#2 bullet: "You cause shapes, colors or both to appear on the dirt or stone, spelling out words, creating images or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour." (RAW)
You target Dirt / Stone in a 5ft Cube (3-Dimension Effect) of which you can Manipulate within to cause shapes, colors or both to appear on the Dirt / Stone...etc
It states nothing about the (appearance) "appear on" being only in 2-Dimensional.
Where does it state in the spells description that it is only surface change???
Where in the spell's description it says to change the 5ft cube into a 5ft surface???
Where in the spell's description it says you could only Manipulate a 5ft surface???
How did you come to that conclusion??? I would like to know please?
A Fact by the Spell Description, you can Manipulate the Dirt / Stone in a 5ft cube. The Shape can appear on the Dirt / Stone as a 3-dimensionals with shapes and colors in a image of snarling wolf, shape Hand grips for climbing, shape a stone pebble to be more aerodynamic, shape a anchor point to tie a rope or shape a mustache onto a stone statue in 3-Dimensional for an hour.
So yes, Mold Earth can reshape stone,.... for 1 hour before it reverts back to normal.
Take Flaming sphere for example:
A 5-foot-diameter sphere of fire appears in an unoccupied space of your choice within range and lasts for the duration.
Does it mean a Flaming sphere "appears in" the ground of an unoccupied space?....... because it says appears in?
The spell is rather clear about what it does via the examples it provides. The second bullet point of mold earth can make images and patterns on (as in "on the surface of") the earth. It does not have the same capabilities as stone shape like you are describing.
Here's the spell description:
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it in one of the following ways:
If you target an area of loose earth, you can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet away. This movement doesn’t have enough force to cause damage.
You cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone, spelling out words, creating images, or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour.
If the dirt or stone you target is on the ground, you cause it to become difficult terrain. Alternatively, you can cause the ground to become normal terrain if it is already difficult terrain. This change lasts for 1 hour.
Let me give you the correct reading of this, but first I will remove: "in one of the following ways:" from the Spell's Description and "You" from the beginning in the Number two description of the following ways.
Which reads this: (I only add one Word "to" , which completes the sentence as a whole.)
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it to cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the Dirt or Stone, spelling out words, creating images, or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour.
It is really clear that the Transmutation properties of the spell. To transform the proprieties into something Malleable by magic. PHB pg. 203
It is really clear that the Cube's effect, that you control "as a caster with magic" within the 3_Dimensional space of the spell PHB pg. 204
It is also clear that the Caster can Manipulate the material within the 3_Dimension space.
And lastly it is clear that you can make 3_Dimension form / object to Appear on the Dirt / Stone because you where able to Manipulate it in 3_Dimensional effect via Transmutation.
Those are the Mechanics of the spell.
You missed read the Second Bullet: Nothing about "what you can Manipulate" means only "images and patterns".
In fact it States: "You Cause Shape" which you can Manipulate a 3_Dimensions "image or pattern" in a 3_Dimensional space (Length, Width and Height) to give your object Depth and Texture to "Appear On" Dirt / Stone. Now if the caster wants it to be 2_Dimensional image that is the caster's choice.
Fact: You are not prevented from making a 3_Dimension (Length, Width and Height)creation to form /object / Image...etc to "Appear On" the Dirt / Stone
Fact: Mold Earth Duration only lasts 1 hour, Stone Shape has no Duration. This is why it is a cantrip
Fact: If you break off your 3_Dimension object from the "Appear On" Dirt / Stone and try to carry it away, the magic that was holding it's shape reforms back to Dirt / Stone. Reason why, you broke the magic that is was connected to the main anchor point.
Mold Earth is Stationary, while Stone Shape "objects" can carry on your person. ( minus the excavating of 5ft in Mold Earth)
What is the definition of Manipulate: handle or control (a tool, mechanism, etc.), typically in a skillful manner.
Handle or Control is the Transmuted material your working with., which is included as the spell's mechanics
The tool is the spell, which is included in the spell's mechanics. (5ft cube, "the cube's magical effect") = ( 5ft Length, 5ft Width and 5ft Height )
The Caster skillfully manipulates the material within the cube's magical effect and is able to make 3 Dimension shapes, images and patterns, which equals to forms or object. This is included as the spell's mechanics.
You cannot change the mechanics of the spell or change the wording.
Any Questions; please post it, I'll be happy to answer them.
Can the Mold Earth Cantrip be used to create stone sling bullets? If so, how many per spell?
If you can create patterns in stone for 1 hour, could you not pattern up some bullet shapes, break them off from the main hillside and poof, you have some bullets for at least an hour (pattern duration). ?!?
Per the Mechanics of the spell:
Transmutation: "Transmutation spells change the properties of a creature, object or environment." PHB 203
5Ft Cube, a cube (5ft Length x 5ft Width x 5ft Height) has area of Magical effect when you cast the spell = PHB pg. 204
You can "Manipulate" within that Cube's Magical effect in that 3_Dimensional space to Manipulate the dimensions to effect the Length, Width and Height of the now magical transmuted material.
Can the Mold Earth Cantrip be used to create stone sling bullets:
You can make a 3_Dimension bullet "Appear On" a stone, but if you try to break it off, separate it, you end the magic and it will revert back to it's original shape.
You can however pick up a tiny stone rock as ammunition, cast Mold Earth on it to make it more aerodynamic for the size and shape you need.
As a bonus effect, that ammunition is now considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity for 1 hour.
So, if you know going into a dungeon, ruin or soon to be encounter. You could make two stone ammunition's that is magical for an hour, before the magic dissipates and revert the ammunition back to normal.
Let me rephrase: No, a cantrip can not do the same thing as a level 4 spell. If you think it can, you are mistaken.
Really? please provide sources and examples of your statement, until then; it is your opinion.
I never said Mold Earth cantrip can do the same thing as a level 4 spell. This is my proof and evidence.
I State the Mold Earth facts of the Spell's Description and the Mechanics of it.
[REDACTED]
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it to cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the Dirt or Stone, spelling out words, creating images, or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour.
Magic itself is fluid and flows in a weave of sorts. (Not trying for a Yoda with a example of the force)
Lets use a Wooden box of 3ft x 3ft x 3ft filled up to 2/3 of dirt. Let's say the Box is the Cube Effect, as stated in PHB pg. 204
Now Lets say the I use 2 - 3ish cups of Water, that is the spell's transmutation ability to change the properties. As stated in PHB pg. 203
The spell allows the Magical Transmuted Material to be Manipulated, will use the mind or Mind's eye.
So lets use my Hands as my mind. I mix the water and collect the effected material
I Manipulate it to raise the material into 1/3 of the empty space of the Cubic Effect, 8 inches high, 8 inches wide and 8 inches long
I make a 4 shapes: 1 of an oval (head), 1 of a triangle (nose /snout), and 2 partially concave sphere's (eyes) within the material.
I color it Green, I use shaping patterns of scales.
I just made a 3_dimensional lizard head within the Mechanics Spell's Description to "Appear On" the Dirt.
Not "Appear In" the Dirt as a surface Image, others would say or believe.
You really can't any simpler than this.
Did this break the spell's description or mechanics of it?
Did this not follow the spell's description or mechanics of it?
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it in one of the following ways
The 5ft cube is the effected area of the spell, as stated in PHB pg. 204 and the effect doesn't go away until the caster has finished "Manipulating" dirt / stone.
You can Manipulate it the Dirt / Stone within that effected area.
Now, the spell is Transmutation; which the spell allows the caster to change the properties
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube [effect area is now Transmuted]. You Manipulate [ Material Transmuted by spell within the Area of Effect which allows the caster Manipulate] it to cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the Dirt or Stone, spelling out words, creating images, or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour.
You are focusing on the individual meanings of individual words in order to ignore the context of the sentence.
Mold earth's second bullet point can: "spell out words, create images, or shape patterns," via "causing shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone." That is the exact effect of the spell. Creating objects and handholds out of stone is not a "word", "image", or "pattern" therefore not something the spell can do.
Arguing "transmutation spells can change the properties of matter however I want" (paraphrased) is not "reading and understanding" a specific list of effects right. At all. Pretty much the opposite.
You are basically arguing that "the description 'a drawing of a house's has the word 'house' in it, and houses are something you can live in, so I can live inside the object this description goes to, because that is what words mean, and I can read, and you can't."
[Cut a lot of this comment out since it devolved into detailed examples of how much effort it takes to even find the <20% of the wall of text that applies to the argument (spoilers: the definition of transmutation and manipulate do not).]
You are focusing on the individual meanings of individual words in order to ignore the context of the sentence.
Mold earth's second bullet point can: "spell out words, create images, or shape patterns," via "causing shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone." That is the exact effect of the spell. Creating objects and handholds out of stone is not a "word", "image", or "pattern" therefore not something the spell can do.
Arguing "transmutation spells can change the properties of matter however I want" (paraphrased) is not "reading and understanding" a specific list of effects right. At all. Pretty much the opposite.
You are basically arguing that "the description 'a drawing of a house's has the word 'house' in it, and houses are something you can live in, so I can live inside the object this description goes to, because that is what words mean, and I can read, and you can't."
[Cut a lot of this comment out since it devolved into detailed examples of how much effort it takes to even find the <20% of the wall of text that applies to the argument (spoilers: the definition of transmutation and manipulate do not).]
"You are focusing on the individual meanings of individual words in order to ignore the context of the sentence."
"Mold earth's second bullet point can: "spell out words, create images, or shape patterns," via "causing shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone." That is the exact effect of the spell. Creating objects and handholds out of stone is not a "word", "image", or "pattern" therefore not something the spell can do."
Note: No, I was trying to simplify the sentence structure of the "Spell's Description" to flow into "in the following ways". You are the one who change the Second bullet point, but lets go with it.
First so far, you have not stated that the spell cannot create 3_Dimensions, I'm glad to hear.
I make a simple 3_Dimensional "O" or "T" lets make it 2ft in length, 2ft in Width, and 1ft in height. I have just made a Handhold / Foothold / Anchor Point to tie rope or hang my coat / "In a stone wall way" to block a door from coming inward....etc you get the point
"Arguing "transmutation spells can change the properties of matter however I want" (paraphrased) is not "reading and understanding" a specific list of effects right. At all. Pretty much the opposite."
Transmutation is part of the spells mechanics and help to understand why it happens or why it is the way it is.
For example: again, Transmutation spells change the properties of a creature, object or environment.
Take the Spell Polymorph: It is Transmutation, I could change a Construct into a living breathing small creature.
I cast Mold Earth on that stone wall by changing and rearranging the Atoms and create....blah, blah, blah,....etc
You are basically arguing that "the description 'a drawing of a house's has the word 'house' in it, and houses are something you can live in, so I can live inside the object this description goes to, because that is what words mean, and I can read, and you can't."
[Cut a lot of this comment out since it devolved into detailed examples of how much effort it takes to even find the <20% of the wall of text that applies to the argument (spoilers: the definition of transmutation and manipulate do not).]
To be honest here, I have know idea of what you were trying to write here?
How about this, does this description fit the boundaries of Mold Earth.
Which reads this: (I only add the Word "to" , which completes the sentence as a whole.)
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it to cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the Dirt or Stone, spelling out words, creating images, or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour.
Lets use a Wooden box of 3ft x 3ft x 3ft filled up to 2/3 of dirt. Let's say the Box is the Cube Effect, as stated in PHB pg. 204
Now Lets say the I use 2 - 3ish cups of Water, that is the spell's transmutation ability to change the properties. As stated in PHB pg. 203
The spell allows the Magical Transmuted Material to be Manipulated, will use the mind or Mind's eye.
So lets use my Hands as my mind. I mix the water and collect the effected material
I Manipulate it to raise the material into 1/3 of the empty space of the Cubic Effect, 8 inches high, 8 inches wide and 8 inches long
I make a 4 shapes: 1 of an oval (head), 1 of a triangle (nose /snout), and 2 partially concave sphere's (eyes) within the material.
I color it Green, I use shaping patterns of scales.
I just made a 3_dimensional lizard head within the Mechanics Spell's Description to "Appear On" the Dirt.
Not "Appear In" the Dirt as a surface Image, others would say or believe.
Can the Mold Earth Cantrip be used to create stone sling bullets? If so, how many per spell?
If you can create patterns in stone for 1 hour, could you not pattern up some bullet shapes, break them off from the main hillside and poof, you have some bullets for at least an hour (pattern duration). ?!?
Hmm. Mold Earth doesn't have an effect that lets you shape or break off pieces of stone. A DM might let you, but it isn't a written effect.
Mold Earth cannot, but Shape Water certainly can.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
With Mold Earth you can shape patterns in stones. Could you not make a bunch of lollipop patterns and simply kick them free?
Chicken... I guess two casters together could use Shape Water and Chill Touch (or something of like that) to make a bunch of ice bullets.
With Mold Earth I envision being able to do stuff like add cleavage to the Kings stone statue in the town square... or is it not even strong enough to do that?
I'd say that you could probably use the spell to loosen the earth in an area in such a way as to help find all the naturally occurring stones inside it. RAW I don't think there's anything about the spell that gives any indication that it's capable of something so specific... but honestly the request is so simple and fits in with the flavor of the spell, so if I was DM I would allow it.
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Mold Earth is generally not powerful enough to reshape stone. The spell reads "you can cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone...", which states to me that the spell can only really affect surface change. This is somewhat counterbalanced by the "Create difficult terrain" feature of the spell, but a lot of what people tend to do with Mold earth is similar to what people do with Minor Illusion - i.e. wildly out of line with the intended use or level of the spell. Carving handholds in a stone wall, punching windows in a stone bunker, etching permanent messages in stone...basically all well beyond the spell's ability.
Stretching the spell into fabricating temporary sling bullets, especially with the help of a chisel or other stoneworking tool, is inventive enough (and overall harmless enough) that as a DM I'd likely allow it, especially if the character otherwise made extensive use of Mold Earth. It's actually one of my favorite cantrips and near the top of my list of Badass Utility Spell Nobody Likes As Much As They Should, but it's also Mold Earth, not Mold Stone.
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Use shape water to spin it around the rock to erode it and just keep doing it till it's shaped since it doesn't state the speed of the water, just that it doesn't cause damage. Or use it to get inside a rock then freeze it to make the rock shatter
Again, Shape Water can just make sling stones (out of ice) itself, which last 1 hour. No need for fancy shenanigans with Mold Earth to try to make it do something it doesn't, just take Shape Water.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I'm an Artificer, we don't do anything the easy way 😁
To take this one step further as to why this would probably not work, you have to consider the physics of a sling "bullet" (horrible term, honestly...). They need to be round like musket shot in order to fly properly. But more importantly, they need to be solid, and heavy to a point. Mold Earth doesn't say anything about compacting or crushing, or transforming dirt into stone. It is a little ambiguous as to what a "pattern" in the dirt or stone is, and whether or not the stone must be "loose" (ie river rocks lying on top of each other).
You might be able to convince your DM to allow you to reshape the stones to be round, but something tells me you're not going to actually be doing damage with sling berrings formed this way. You'd be able to distract a target, maybe break a window or pot depending on the type of glass/pottery.
Your conclusion to mold Earth is Wrong:
The First thing the spells states: "You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it in one of the following ways:"
#2 bullet: "You cause shapes, colors or both to appear on the dirt or stone, spelling out words, creating images or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour." (RAW)
So yes, Mold Earth can reshape stone,.... for 1 hour before it reverts back to normal.
The spell is rather clear about what it does via the examples it provides. The second bullet point of mold earth can make images and patterns on (as in "on the surface of") the earth. It does not have the same capabilities as stone shape like you are describing.
Here's the spell description:
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube. You Manipulate it in one of the following ways:
Let me give you the correct reading of this, but first I will remove: "in one of the following ways:" from the Spell's Description and "You" from the beginning in the Number two description of the following ways.
Those are the Mechanics of the spell.
What is the definition of Manipulate: handle or control (a tool, mechanism, etc.), typically in a skillful manner.
You cannot change the mechanics of the spell or change the wording.
Any Questions; please post it, I'll be happy to answer them.
Per the Mechanics of the spell:
Can the Mold Earth Cantrip be used to create stone sling bullets:
I hope this answer's your question.
Let me rephrase: No, a cantrip can not do the same thing as a level 4 spell. If you think it can, you are mistaken.
Really? please provide sources and examples of your statement, until then; it is your opinion.
I never said Mold Earth cantrip can do the same thing as a level 4 spell. This is my proof and evidence.
I State the Mold Earth facts of the Spell's Description and the Mechanics of it.
You really can't any simpler than this.
[REDACTED]
I think the thing you're missing is the bit about "The rest of a spell entry describes the spell's effect."
That is to say, if it isn't in the description, it isn't in the effect. It really is that simple.
Edit: added link.
From the very start: Spells Description
Now, the spell is Transmutation; which the spell allows the caster to change the properties
You choose a portion of Dirt or Stone that you can see within range and that fits within a 5-foot cube [effect area is now Transmuted]. You Manipulate [ Material Transmuted by spell within the Area of Effect which allows the caster Manipulate] it to cause shapes, colors, or both to appear on the Dirt or Stone, spelling out words, creating images, or shaping patterns. The changes last for 1 hour.
Yep I read and understood it right. Yea
I wonder, did everyone else?
You are focusing on the individual meanings of individual words in order to ignore the context of the sentence.
Mold earth's second bullet point can: "spell out words, create images, or shape patterns," via "causing shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone." That is the exact effect of the spell. Creating objects and handholds out of stone is not a "word", "image", or "pattern" therefore not something the spell can do.
Arguing "transmutation spells can change the properties of matter however I want" (paraphrased) is not "reading and understanding" a specific list of effects right. At all. Pretty much the opposite.
You are basically arguing that "the description 'a drawing of a house's has the word 'house' in it, and houses are something you can live in, so I can live inside the object this description goes to, because that is what words mean, and I can read, and you can't."
[Cut a lot of this comment out since it devolved into detailed examples of how much effort it takes to even find the <20% of the wall of text that applies to the argument (spoilers: the definition of transmutation and manipulate do not).]
"You are focusing on the individual meanings of individual words in order to ignore the context of the sentence."
"Mold earth's second bullet point can: "spell out words, create images, or shape patterns," via "causing shapes, colors, or both to appear on the dirt or stone." That is the exact effect of the spell. Creating objects and handholds out of stone is not a "word", "image", or "pattern" therefore not something the spell can do."
Note: No, I was trying to simplify the sentence structure of the "Spell's Description" to flow into "in the following ways". You are the one who change the Second bullet point, but lets go with it.
"Arguing "transmutation spells can change the properties of matter however I want" (paraphrased) is not "reading and understanding" a specific list of effects right. At all. Pretty much the opposite."
You are basically arguing that "the description 'a drawing of a house's has the word 'house' in it, and houses are something you can live in, so I can live inside the object this description goes to, because that is what words mean, and I can read, and you can't."
[Cut a lot of this comment out since it devolved into detailed examples of how much effort it takes to even find the <20% of the wall of text that applies to the argument (spoilers: the definition of transmutation and manipulate do not).]
To be honest here, I have know idea of what you were trying to write here?
How about this, does this description fit the boundaries of Mold Earth.