I'm playing a drow wizard, and I grabbed the fog cloud spell. I'm wondering if hovering the fog cloud over the battlefield would not stop the light, but make it so that whatever is under it isn't in direct sunlight, but rather indirect, allowing me to make straight attack rolls. Would that work? My group and our DM are all pretty new players, so some of these rulings are above our knowledge.
I would think it would work this way if you're able to cast it with the origin point set at least 30 ft above you(or some distance away within 120 ft towards the sun depending on the time of day), and you stay within the cloud's shadow (20 ft radius / 40 ft diameter). Depending on your GM, they should allow this to have you set in bright light (or dim light at most, but I wouldn't allow that myself) since you're not within the cloud itself.
Keep in mind, you'll need to hold concentration on the spell the entire time (1 hour). So your action list from then on is limited if you need concentration on another effect. And you'll definitely risk that cloud cover "poofing" out of existence after taking a hit or if a gust of wind blowing 10mph comes by.
Otherwise, I would say this is a good strategy to play out as a drow wizard, or even as any drow or sunlight sensitive character with access to that spell. It's not hindering other characters as much, so you should be good to go! Hopefully, your GM feels the same way.
Sure, that makes sense to me. I'd probably rule that being in or under a fog cloud isn't in "direct sunlight", since the fog cloud says the area is "heavily obscured.
FYI, I think this isn't one of those calls that relies on "deep knowledge" of D&D or obscure rules - it's just reading the effect and making a DM judgement call about how they would probably interact, what seems to make sense.
The default answer is that spells only have the effects put fourth in their description- whatever is in the spell itself. However, GMs are encouraged to reward creative thinking, and this certainly falls under creative. As the previous two said, it is up to the GM and as long as they are consistent (spells working exactly as mechanically intended vs creative spell solutions) then it's all good. Some GMs roll one way, some go the other.
As mentioned, they're encouraged to go with the latter, but it's not at all required. Kinda depends on if you're more wargaming or roleplaying.
Personally, I'd absolutely allow allow fog cloud to do that. Some would argue it's making the spell stronger than intended, making it more versatile, blah blah blah, but frankly I think those folks just have a stick up... ahem. Would prefer to force other players down in capability/power for whatever reason.
Well, I'm a level one wizard, so both my slots are immediately going to mage armor and doing this strategy since it works. Using cantrips such as firebolt and ray of frost wouldn't interfere with that concentration effect, correct?
Yeah, any other spell or action that does not require concentration will work just fine. Since Mage Armor, Fire Bolt, and Ray of Frost don't require concentration to cast, you should be good to go with casting any of them with this strategy without issue.
I'm playing a drow wizard, and I grabbed the fog cloud spell. I'm wondering if hovering the fog cloud over the battlefield would not stop the light, but make it so that whatever is under it isn't in direct sunlight, but rather indirect, allowing me to make straight attack rolls. Would that work? My group and our DM are all pretty new players, so some of these rulings are above our knowledge.
Thanks.
Wow, this is a good question.
I would think it would work this way if you're able to cast it with the origin point set at least 30 ft above you(or some distance away within 120 ft towards the sun depending on the time of day), and you stay within the cloud's shadow (20 ft radius / 40 ft diameter). Depending on your GM, they should allow this to have you set in bright light (or dim light at most, but I wouldn't allow that myself) since you're not within the cloud itself.
Keep in mind, you'll need to hold concentration on the spell the entire time (1 hour). So your action list from then on is limited if you need concentration on another effect. And you'll definitely risk that cloud cover "poofing" out of existence after taking a hit or if a gust of wind blowing 10mph comes by.
Otherwise, I would say this is a good strategy to play out as a drow wizard, or even as any drow or sunlight sensitive character with access to that spell. It's not hindering other characters as much, so you should be good to go! Hopefully, your GM feels the same way.
Sure, that makes sense to me. I'd probably rule that being in or under a fog cloud isn't in "direct sunlight", since the fog cloud says the area is "heavily obscured.
FYI, I think this isn't one of those calls that relies on "deep knowledge" of D&D or obscure rules - it's just reading the effect and making a DM judgement call about how they would probably interact, what seems to make sense.
I agree. Heavily obscured counts as indirect light to me.
It's been said, but for clarification...
The default answer is that spells only have the effects put fourth in their description- whatever is in the spell itself. However, GMs are encouraged to reward creative thinking, and this certainly falls under creative. As the previous two said, it is up to the GM and as long as they are consistent (spells working exactly as mechanically intended vs creative spell solutions) then it's all good. Some GMs roll one way, some go the other.
As mentioned, they're encouraged to go with the latter, but it's not at all required. Kinda depends on if you're more wargaming or roleplaying.
Personally, I'd absolutely allow allow fog cloud to do that. Some would argue it's making the spell stronger than intended, making it more versatile, blah blah blah, but frankly I think those folks just have a stick up... ahem. Would prefer to force other players down in capability/power for whatever reason.
Well, I'm a level one wizard, so both my slots are immediately going to mage armor and doing this strategy since it works. Using cantrips such as firebolt and ray of frost wouldn't interfere with that concentration effect, correct?
Yeah, any other spell or action that does not require concentration will work just fine. Since Mage Armor, Fire Bolt, and Ray of Frost don't require concentration to cast, you should be good to go with casting any of them with this strategy without issue.
Sweet! Thanks for all of the help, guys!
Can you get a sunburn on a cloudy day?
yes but is harder.
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