OK, as an alternative to mold earth arguments, I offer Unseen Servant.
The servant can remotely active traps, can cross the poison-gas filled room to deactivate the trap, can reach things you can't (it can fly), can be summoned on the otherside of a barred entry like a prison to get the key for you f the key is left within 60 ft of you, it has physical presence to block a narrow doorway, can move unseen without footsteps around enemies for you, can scout ahead round corners a bit then come back to write / signal if the way is clear. If you have spell mastery you can summon a crapload and have them work together - even with their Strength of 2, they could still do a lot, even slow down an enemy. They can also tickle the enemy in combat to provide the Help action giving you advantage without any risk (take that, familiars!).
And of course, they can carry your bags, clean your room, cook a basic meal, give you massages or hug you when you need it.
*applause* now that... is a spell underused. And a good pitch.
I remember playing a game once where the dungeon was full of all these little annoying traps and the DM basically wouldn't let us continue without triggering them (it was an Adventurer's League game, and that particular DM has a bit of a reputation for things like that). About halfway through the dungeon I realized, "Oh crap, I've had Unseen Servant this whole time and forgot to use it". Once I did the whole thing became a lot easier... until the DM decided that any time I tried to ritual-cast it we would get attacked by wandering monsters so the group just soldiered on and started triggering traps on ourselves again.
I remember playing a game once where the dungeon was full of all these little annoying traps and the DM basically wouldn't let us continue without triggering them (it was an Adventurer's League game, and that particular DM has a bit of a reputation for things like that). About halfway through the dungeon I realized, "Oh crap, I've had Unseen Servant this whole time and forgot to use it". Once I did the whole thing became a lot easier... until the DM decided that any time I tried to ritual-cast it we would get attacked by wandering monsters so the group just soldiered on and started triggering traps on ourselves again.
Okay, picture this... you walk into a room and see 6 levers. The Rogue investigates it searching for traps, rolls a 20, and the DM says, "you can see that the levers connect to a panel in the wall, and each lever needs to be pulled simultaneously to activate." "So... it's not trapped?" "That's all you can tell about it." Immediately, every caster says they're just going to stand in the other room and use Mage Hand to pull the lever, but he says they're not allowed to. So everyone decides they'll just tie rope around each lever to pull them from the other room... again, he wouldn't allow that. So we all roll our eyes and just pull the levers... and an explosion goes off and a panel in the wall opens to reveal a note from the wizard we had just killed mocking us for falling for his incredibly obvious trap.
Okay, picture this... you walk into a room and see 6 levers. The Rogue investigates it searching for traps, rolls a 20, and the DM says, "you can see that the levers connect to a panel in the wall, and each lever needs to be pulled simultaneously to activate." "So... it's not trapped?" "That's all you can tell about it." Immediately, every caster says they're just going to stand in the other room and use Mage Hand to pull the lever, but he says they're not allowed to. So everyone decides they'll just tie rope around each lever to pull them from the other room... again, he wouldn't allow that. So we all roll our eyes and just pull the levers... and an explosion goes off and a panel in the wall opens to reveal a note from the wizard we had just killed mocking us for falling for his incredibly obvious trap.
I’d tell the DM to get lost for railroading me into that trap that way. And since it was an event that I paid for I’d get a refund from the organizers. 2-3 times of that jerk losing money for pulling stunts like that and he wouldn’t be an AL DM any more!
Mold Earth also has the interesting ability to generate a lot of comments. Not sure how useful in-game but that’s something!
Maybe create a thematic argument between the Paladin and Ranger about best defensive measures using Mold Earth, which you as the trickster can bring up later as reasons you didn’t steal the fancy sword (although you did).
Okay, picture this... you walk into a room and see 6 levers. The Rogue investigates it searching for traps, rolls a 20, and the DM says, "you can see that the levers connect to a panel in the wall, and each lever needs to be pulled simultaneously to activate." "So... it's not trapped?" "That's all you can tell about it." Immediately, every caster says they're just going to stand in the other room and use Mage Hand to pull the lever, but he says they're not allowed to. So everyone decides they'll just tie rope around each lever to pull them from the other room... again, he wouldn't allow that. So we all roll our eyes and just pull the levers... and an explosion goes off and a panel in the wall opens to reveal a note from the wizard we had just killed mocking us for falling for his incredibly obvious trap.
And at that point I'd stand up from the table and walk away. That's not players vs world. That's DM vs players. And at a sanctioned official event, no less.
Okay, picture this... you walk into a room and see 6 levers. The Rogue investigates it searching for traps, rolls a 20, and the DM says, "you can see that the levers connect to a panel in the wall, and each lever needs to be pulled simultaneously to activate." "So... it's not trapped?" "That's all you can tell about it." Immediately, every caster says they're just going to stand in the other room and use Mage Hand to pull the lever, but he says they're not allowed to. So everyone decides they'll just tie rope around each lever to pull them from the other room... again, he wouldn't allow that. So we all roll our eyes and just pull the levers... and an explosion goes off and a panel in the wall opens to reveal a note from the wizard we had just killed mocking us for falling for his incredibly obvious trap.
Sorry, this is a terrible story but I'm laughing hysterically. It's like watching a really bad movie that is supposed to be serious but instead comes across as awesome slapstick!
As a side note I had an interesting idea for unique use of a spell that gets mixed reviews at best. The Contagion has had a checkered history and is now at least understandable in it's current definition (poisoned on a hit for at least 3 rounds with possible catastrophy for the target on failed saves.). My thought, and I will probably never actually see this in a real game because it is SO specific, is to use it on an incapacitated foe that would recover if it took damage (think enchanters hynotic gaze or vengenance paladin's abjure enemy.). In those cases you usually wait until you have crowd controlled the minions etc... before taking on the incapacitated enemy by himself. Contagion, bestow curse and bane don't damage the enemy. My thought is why not use these and specifically Contagion? There is a chance that it would end the fight on this incapacitated enemy. In an extreme example you could even hit the incapacitated enemy with a bestow curse if possible in order to give disadvantage on con saving throws before (or during) the Contagion. Hitting the enemy with a bane might help as well. Just some thoughts I've been having.
This idea would require either several casters working together or one multi-classed caster that is high level.
Mending: Use for smuggling. Find a hollow object with a circumference less than one foot, such as certain types of fruit. Hide small, high-value contraband such as jewels, packets of drugs, or other such items. Break open the fruit, stuff the high-value item inside, use Mending to restore the outer shell to original condition. Good for getting small items past tight security, or for hiding caches of coin for the next time your DM starts a game with "you all come to with huge headaches, stripped of all your gear and coin in an alleyway..."
Disguise Self: If you're a warlock with Mask of Many Faces or possess this as part of a Hat of Disguise, use it actively. Use your turn in combat to take on the appearance of something terrifying - a fire-haired, venom-fanged demon, a humanoid mass of spiders, Slenderman, whatever it is you think would terrify your enemies. Play it up as your character shedding their mortal disguise to take on their true form, or invoking a horrific transformation rather than just disguising themselves. Especially good if you're a tiefling and it'd absolutely make sense - in the minds of uneducated rubes and back-alley bandits - for you to have a True Devil Form. Watch a bemused DM (if they're good at their jobs) struggle to figure out if this is Performance, Deception, or Intimidation. Alter Self can be used similarly, though it's less forgiving of fanciful flare like flaming horns and such.
Heat metal isn't really underused but there is a creative way to use it. I was playing a bard bought some ball bearing and had my dwarf friend use them to make metal tips for my crossbow bolts, I then fired them into enemies and then cast heat metal which gave me a free 2d8 damage every turn as long as I did not break concentration
actually did this in a game, but made it 4 deep (a tad paranoid?) of course one of the guys decided to cast light on the whole structure and acted like a beacon for every enemy in the area
actually did this in a game, but made it 4 deep (a tad paranoid?) of course one of the guys decided to cast light on the whole structure and acted like a beacon for every enemy in the area
The whole structure was no larger than 10 feet in any dimension?
otiluke's resillient sphere is a great spell in rescue or escort missions since you can put the vip in the ball and they are completely safe, and it can also completely disable enemy combatants, if your barbarian has an high carry capacity you can pick up and steal an enemy
but what happens if you cast catapult on the ball? mobile, offensive usage of the spell?
cloudkill can be used by an yuan-ti pureblood or an party with an spellcaster who knows hero's feast as an very weird stealth tool so that is kinda neat, useful for necromancers
vampiric touch heals extra if you use hexblades curse or the death cleric feature
glyph of warding can be utilized to concentrate on multple spells at once
you can combine feeblemind wih control undead to "dumb down" powerful undead before controlling them
glibness + infernal calling + bard
glibness + counterspell + bard
jims magic missile deals bonus crit damage, combined with hold person and oh boy
an familliar remains lojal and forced to follow your commands after true polymorph, so have an commoner as your servant
continual flame can be put on any object, regardless of its size or how flammable it is, put it on your armor and on copses before you cast animate dead to look cooler, cast it on your house
lillusory script and legal ducuments
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i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere being weightless technically makes it ineligible as a target for Catapult, which has a minimum weight of 1lb, but it sounds fun so I would probably allow it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere being weightless technically makes it ineligible as a target for Catapult, which has a minimum weight of 1lb, but it sounds fun so I would probably allow it.
Since it’s weightless... after being catapulted, gravity doesn’t effect it. And the momentum from being catapulted takes it into the atmosphere and off the planet, perpetually in motion until enough wind resistance slows it down to a stop wherever that may be distance wise.....
I would allow it as well. And then call for a dc 10 basic intelligence check to see who remembers about gravity. (Essentially giving them time to rethink the decision)
there was a movie “Explorers” in 1985. That essentially did this concept.
That’s brilliant! Thank you!
Professional computer geek
*applause* now that... is a spell underused. And a good pitch.
Blank
I remember playing a game once where the dungeon was full of all these little annoying traps and the DM basically wouldn't let us continue without triggering them (it was an Adventurer's League game, and that particular DM has a bit of a reputation for things like that). About halfway through the dungeon I realized, "Oh crap, I've had Unseen Servant this whole time and forgot to use it". Once I did the whole thing became a lot easier... until the DM decided that any time I tried to ritual-cast it we would get attacked by wandering monsters so the group just soldiered on and started triggering traps on ourselves again.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
That sounds awful.
Your secret is safe with my indifference - Percy
Okay, picture this... you walk into a room and see 6 levers. The Rogue investigates it searching for traps, rolls a 20, and the DM says, "you can see that the levers connect to a panel in the wall, and each lever needs to be pulled simultaneously to activate." "So... it's not trapped?" "That's all you can tell about it." Immediately, every caster says they're just going to stand in the other room and use Mage Hand to pull the lever, but he says they're not allowed to. So everyone decides they'll just tie rope around each lever to pull them from the other room... again, he wouldn't allow that. So we all roll our eyes and just pull the levers... and an explosion goes off and a panel in the wall opens to reveal a note from the wizard we had just killed mocking us for falling for his incredibly obvious trap.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
I’d tell the DM to get lost for railroading me into that trap that way. And since it was an event that I paid for I’d get a refund from the organizers. 2-3 times of that jerk losing money for pulling stunts like that and he wouldn’t be an AL DM any more!
Professional computer geek
Mold Earth also has the interesting ability to generate a lot of comments. Not sure how useful in-game but that’s something!
Maybe create a thematic argument between the Paladin and Ranger about best defensive measures using Mold Earth, which you as the trickster can bring up later as reasons you didn’t steal the fancy sword (although you did).
And at that point I'd stand up from the table and walk away. That's not players vs world. That's DM vs players. And at a sanctioned official event, no less.
Dude.... are you ok?
Sorry, this is a terrible story but I'm laughing hysterically. It's like watching a really bad movie that is supposed to be serious but instead comes across as awesome slapstick!
Lot's of stuff ...
As a side note I had an interesting idea for unique use of a spell that gets mixed reviews at best. The Contagion has had a checkered history and is now at least understandable in it's current definition (poisoned on a hit for at least 3 rounds with possible catastrophy for the target on failed saves.). My thought, and I will probably never actually see this in a real game because it is SO specific, is to use it on an incapacitated foe that would recover if it took damage (think enchanters hynotic gaze or vengenance paladin's abjure enemy.). In those cases you usually wait until you have crowd controlled the minions etc... before taking on the incapacitated enemy by himself. Contagion, bestow curse and bane don't damage the enemy. My thought is why not use these and specifically Contagion? There is a chance that it would end the fight on this incapacitated enemy. In an extreme example you could even hit the incapacitated enemy with a bestow curse if possible in order to give disadvantage on con saving throws before (or during) the Contagion. Hitting the enemy with a bane might help as well. Just some thoughts I've been having.
This idea would require either several casters working together or one multi-classed caster that is high level.
Lot's of stuff ...
Mending: Use for smuggling. Find a hollow object with a circumference less than one foot, such as certain types of fruit. Hide small, high-value contraband such as jewels, packets of drugs, or other such items. Break open the fruit, stuff the high-value item inside, use Mending to restore the outer shell to original condition. Good for getting small items past tight security, or for hiding caches of coin for the next time your DM starts a game with "you all come to with huge headaches, stripped of all your gear and coin in an alleyway..."
Disguise Self: If you're a warlock with Mask of Many Faces or possess this as part of a Hat of Disguise, use it actively. Use your turn in combat to take on the appearance of something terrifying - a fire-haired, venom-fanged demon, a humanoid mass of spiders, Slenderman, whatever it is you think would terrify your enemies. Play it up as your character shedding their mortal disguise to take on their true form, or invoking a horrific transformation rather than just disguising themselves. Especially good if you're a tiefling and it'd absolutely make sense - in the minds of uneducated rubes and back-alley bandits - for you to have a True Devil Form. Watch a bemused DM (if they're good at their jobs) struggle to figure out if this is Performance, Deception, or Intimidation. Alter Self can be used similarly, though it's less forgiving of fanciful flare like flaming horns and such.
Please do not contact or message me.
You can use the spell Sleep to put enemies to sleep, then attack them then. I’ve found it’s really useful when attacking really hard enemies.
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[A]
Heat metal isn't really underused but there is a creative way to use it. I was playing a bard bought some ball bearing and had my dwarf friend use them to make metal tips for my crossbow bolts, I then fired them into enemies and then cast heat metal which gave me a free 2d8 damage every turn as long as I did not break concentration
actually did this in a game, but made it 4 deep (a tad paranoid?) of course one of the guys decided to cast light on the whole structure and acted like a beacon for every enemy in the area
The whole structure was no larger than 10 feet in any dimension?
otiluke's resillient sphere is a great spell in rescue or escort missions since you can put the vip in the ball and they are completely safe, and it can also completely disable enemy combatants, if your barbarian has an high carry capacity you can pick up and steal an enemy
but what happens if you cast catapult on the ball? mobile, offensive usage of the spell?
cloudkill can be used by an yuan-ti pureblood or an party with an spellcaster who knows hero's feast as an very weird stealth tool so that is kinda neat, useful for necromancers
vampiric touch heals extra if you use hexblades curse or the death cleric feature
glyph of warding can be utilized to concentrate on multple spells at once
you can combine feeblemind wih control undead to "dumb down" powerful undead before controlling them
glibness + infernal calling + bard
glibness + counterspell + bard
jims magic missile deals bonus crit damage, combined with hold person and oh boy
an familliar remains lojal and forced to follow your commands after true polymorph, so have an commoner as your servant
continual flame can be put on any object, regardless of its size or how flammable it is, put it on your armor and on copses before you cast animate dead to look cooler, cast it on your house
lillusory script and legal ducuments
i am soup, with too many ideas (all of them very spicy) who has made sufficient homebrew material and character to last an thousand human lifetimes
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere being weightless technically makes it ineligible as a target for Catapult, which has a minimum weight of 1lb, but it sounds fun so I would probably allow it.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Since it’s weightless... after being catapulted, gravity doesn’t effect it. And the momentum from being catapulted takes it into the atmosphere and off the planet, perpetually in motion until enough wind resistance slows it down to a stop wherever that may be distance wise.....
I would allow it as well. And then call for a dc 10 basic intelligence check to see who remembers about gravity. (Essentially giving them time to rethink the decision)
there was a movie “Explorers” in 1985. That essentially did this concept.
Watch me on twitch
Catapult violates conservation of momentum. The object moved by the spell simply stops at the end of it's spellborn trajectory.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!