Banishment is generally considered the best save or remove from combat spell. It's a Charisma save that for extraplanar you don't even need to concentrate, no size limit.
Otilukes has added functionality. Yes it only works on Large or smaller, and yes, it has a Dex rather than Charisma save. But you can also move the victim to an unpleasant location, (although with difficulty) and most of all, you can use it defensively - cast it on your self/ wounded ally who uses a bunch of healing or non-concentration buff spells. (works really well with Mirror Image). And there is always the enclose the thief then put him on a catapult to launch him over the castle wall trick. Several similar things as well.
Watery Sphere on the other hand is only a restraint (in water). It is a Strength save, better than Dex, but not as good as Charisma. It lets you capture upto 4 medium (or 1 large) people, and works as an emergency "fly 10 ft above the ground, at 30 ft per round speed) for those same 4 people. Not to mention the ability to put out fires. Also, the fact that you can attack the people inside it, particularly with other spells, means it can be a better offensive spell in many situations, although not as good a defense as Otiluke's. The free movement makes it FAR easier to take the villain out of combat - cliffs, rivers, lava, or area effect spells cast by your allies suddenly make this spell better than Banishment.
For a Sorceror, Watery Sphere can be the better choice. But I am playing a Wizard, already have Banishment and Polymorph. Thinking of Watery or Otilukes and my 3rd spell. Asking for advice from people that have played with either Watery Sphere or Otilukes. Which do you guy's think is better?
I've always loved Otiluke's. The Hamster Ball of Doom. Much more versatile than Watery. Want to protect the Valuable Super Item from the bad guys rushing across the room to destroy it? Need to cross pools of lava or acid? Falling from a great height? Although this one has spawned intense discussions in my gaming groups--does the Sphere negate momentum, or would I just squish against the bottom of the sphere after the sphere and I fall from the cliff? With this 5e version, there's also an ambiguity with the sphere being weightless. Is just the sphere weightless, where Me + Sphere would weight what I weigh? Or is the sphere and its contents weightless? So now I roll off the top of a cliff and I don't even fall.
Anyway, continuing--there's a giant magical Van de Graaf generator in the middle of the 'Obvious Trap Room'. Slap a Sphere around it. Want to have fun with your barbarian? Wait till he's in melee with someone, and throw a sphere around them both (the spell says "a creature", but if the barbarian were taller than their opponent, and standing right next to the opponent, a sphere big enough to enclose the barbarian would also enclose the opponent). Then let 'em fight it out in private :)
Banishement is unquestionably the better offensive spell, merely by having a Charisma Save. Str, Int, and Cha save are much more useful than the Dex, Con, and Wis.
Otiluke's and Watery have significant non-combat advantages.
After some consideration, I think that Watery Sphere is still being underestimated. Everyone thinks of it as a one time attack to restrain spell. In reality it is an Every round attack till you have 4 medium or smaller victims restrained and held 10 ft above the ground.
Banishment has a single save or fail spell, but Watery sphere is a single 4th level spell that lets you constantly harass the villain, every round for 10 rounds, forcing them to save or be restrained, and even after you get a guy, you can still go after his buddies. Banishment takes out one guy IF he fails his save. Say 75% of one big bad guy.. Watery Sphere should 30-40% of 4 possible victims: 1-2 enemies restrained and moved where you want them every round after the first.
Not to mention the emergency fly 10 ft above ground at 30 ft/round for four medium sized players, plus the protections from fire and possible cover use. It lets a caster forgo learning/memorizing Fly and take Blink/Dispell Magic/Counterspell instead.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Both of these spells tend to be underrated.
Banishment is generally considered the best save or remove from combat spell. It's a Charisma save that for extraplanar you don't even need to concentrate, no size limit.
Otilukes has added functionality. Yes it only works on Large or smaller, and yes, it has a Dex rather than Charisma save. But you can also move the victim to an unpleasant location, (although with difficulty) and most of all, you can use it defensively - cast it on your self/ wounded ally who uses a bunch of healing or non-concentration buff spells. (works really well with Mirror Image). And there is always the enclose the thief then put him on a catapult to launch him over the castle wall trick. Several similar things as well.
Watery Sphere on the other hand is only a restraint (in water). It is a Strength save, better than Dex, but not as good as Charisma. It lets you capture upto 4 medium (or 1 large) people, and works as an emergency "fly 10 ft above the ground, at 30 ft per round speed) for those same 4 people. Not to mention the ability to put out fires. Also, the fact that you can attack the people inside it, particularly with other spells, means it can be a better offensive spell in many situations, although not as good a defense as Otiluke's. The free movement makes it FAR easier to take the villain out of combat - cliffs, rivers, lava, or area effect spells cast by your allies suddenly make this spell better than Banishment.
For a Sorceror, Watery Sphere can be the better choice. But I am playing a Wizard, already have Banishment and Polymorph. Thinking of Watery or Otilukes and my 3rd spell. Asking for advice from people that have played with either Watery Sphere or Otilukes. Which do you guy's think is better?
I've always loved Otiluke's. The Hamster Ball of Doom. Much more versatile than Watery. Want to protect the Valuable Super Item from the bad guys rushing across the room to destroy it? Need to cross pools of lava or acid? Falling from a great height? Although this one has spawned intense discussions in my gaming groups--does the Sphere negate momentum, or would I just squish against the bottom of the sphere after the sphere and I fall from the cliff? With this 5e version, there's also an ambiguity with the sphere being weightless. Is just the sphere weightless, where Me + Sphere would weight what I weigh? Or is the sphere and its contents weightless? So now I roll off the top of a cliff and I don't even fall.
Anyway, continuing--there's a giant magical Van de Graaf generator in the middle of the 'Obvious Trap Room'. Slap a Sphere around it. Want to have fun with your barbarian? Wait till he's in melee with someone, and throw a sphere around them both (the spell says "a creature", but if the barbarian were taller than their opponent, and standing right next to the opponent, a sphere big enough to enclose the barbarian would also enclose the opponent). Then let 'em fight it out in private :)
So many uses. I'd go Otiluke's.
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
But you lose the best part of banishment, permanently killing extraplanar beings if you have a way to damage them after they leave.
Banishement is unquestionably the better offensive spell, merely by having a Charisma Save. Str, Int, and Cha save are much more useful than the Dex, Con, and Wis.
Otiluke's and Watery have significant non-combat advantages.
After some consideration, I think that Watery Sphere is still being underestimated. Everyone thinks of it as a one time attack to restrain spell. In reality it is an Every round attack till you have 4 medium or smaller victims restrained and held 10 ft above the ground.
Banishment has a single save or fail spell, but Watery sphere is a single 4th level spell that lets you constantly harass the villain, every round for 10 rounds, forcing them to save or be restrained, and even after you get a guy, you can still go after his buddies. Banishment takes out one guy IF he fails his save. Say 75% of one big bad guy.. Watery Sphere should 30-40% of 4 possible victims: 1-2 enemies restrained and moved where you want them every round after the first.
Not to mention the emergency fly 10 ft above ground at 30 ft/round for four medium sized players, plus the protections from fire and possible cover use. It lets a caster forgo learning/memorizing Fly and take Blink/Dispell Magic/Counterspell instead.