My players and I got into a discussion about the destructive capability of the Fireball spell when it comes to damaging structures (the lore bard was looking for options for his first Magical Secrets). They were pretty disappointed when I ruled that the spell's impact is more thermal than concussive, and therefore could not obliterate structures other than ones primarily made out of wood or other flammable material. I plan to remain firm on that ruling, though I am also going to surprise them with an alternative that would better serve the idea of a wall-destroying spell. I would love some input about possible balancing concerns.
Meteor Strike
Casting Time:
1 action
Range/Area:
120ft./5ft.
Components:
V, S, M(a tiny volcanic rock and sulfur)
Duration:
Instantaneous
You create a meteor from your palm that streaks towards a point within range, exploding violently on impact. The blast creates a thunderous roar that can be heard up to 300 feet away. Each creature in a 5-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 4d6 fire damage and 4d6 bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The bludgeoning damage is doubled against any structures within the radius of the impact
The fire spreads around corners. It ignites flammable objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the bludgeoning damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.
This got me thinking and as I took a quick pass through the spell descriptions, I don’t see many, if any spells that specifically damage objects and creatures both until 7th level spells (There might be some out there, I’m not perfect). Most spells specifically say they target creatures or objects but it’s not till things like crown of stars and delayed blast fireball at 7, or meteor swarm at 9 that spell descriptions specifically mention that they damage creatures and objects. I don’t know why the designers thought it was that powerful of an effect that they only allow it for high level spells, but it does seem to be a thing. It could even be that it wasn’t intentional, and won’t matter much. I’m just putting that out there.
Wouldn't shatter do the job? I don't ask to be dismissive, but I could see reskinning shatter to do fire damage as being appropriate here, given that IIRC more monsters have fire resistance than thunder.
I think you're right that reskinning Shatter would probably work well enough. The main reason I decided to alter Fireball rather than Shatter was to keep some of the range as well as the prestige that typically comes from using Fireball. Conjuring a streaking meteor that can blast holes in stone walls at a distance seemed like an adequately cinematic option to get my players excited about using it. Not to say that a reskinned Shatter couldn't be equally flashy. The meteor was just the idea that stuck with me at the time.
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My players and I got into a discussion about the destructive capability of the Fireball spell when it comes to damaging structures (the lore bard was looking for options for his first Magical Secrets). They were pretty disappointed when I ruled that the spell's impact is more thermal than concussive, and therefore could not obliterate structures other than ones primarily made out of wood or other flammable material. I plan to remain firm on that ruling, though I am also going to surprise them with an alternative that would better serve the idea of a wall-destroying spell. I would love some input about possible balancing concerns.
Meteor Strike
You create a meteor from your palm that streaks towards a point within range, exploding violently on impact. The blast creates a thunderous roar that can be heard up to 300 feet away. Each creature in a 5-foot-radius sphere centered on that point must make a Dexterity saving throw. A target takes 4d6 fire damage and 4d6 bludgeoning damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The bludgeoning damage is doubled against any structures within the radius of the impact
The fire spreads around corners. It ignites flammable objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the bludgeoning damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.
This got me thinking and as I took a quick pass through the spell descriptions, I don’t see many, if any spells that specifically damage objects and creatures both until 7th level spells (There might be some out there, I’m not perfect). Most spells specifically say they target creatures or objects but it’s not till things like crown of stars and delayed blast fireball at 7, or meteor swarm at 9 that spell descriptions specifically mention that they damage creatures and objects.
I don’t know why the designers thought it was that powerful of an effect that they only allow it for high level spells, but it does seem to be a thing. It could even be that it wasn’t intentional, and won’t matter much. I’m just putting that out there.
Wouldn't shatter do the job? I don't ask to be dismissive, but I could see reskinning shatter to do fire damage as being appropriate here, given that IIRC more monsters have fire resistance than thunder.
I think you're right that reskinning Shatter would probably work well enough. The main reason I decided to alter Fireball rather than Shatter was to keep some of the range as well as the prestige that typically comes from using Fireball. Conjuring a streaking meteor that can blast holes in stone walls at a distance seemed like an adequately cinematic option to get my players excited about using it. Not to say that a reskinned Shatter couldn't be equally flashy. The meteor was just the idea that stuck with me at the time.