What is the bard's "fireball"?
It's been said multiple times but yeah, it's Hypnotic Pattern. Even if half the targets succeed in their save, they'll still need to waste their action shaking awake the others that did not, assuming they're intelligent enough to take that course at all. For those that don't, it's one of the few tried-and-true save-or-suck spells, since there are no saves allowed on subsequent turns, potentially allowing up to a full minute of hard CC. It has decent range too, potentially reaching up to 150ft with the cube itself factored in. Its one downside is that it isn't party friendly, but that doesn't stop it from still being an incredible control spell.
MechaTarrasque
Hero
Enthrall. And it is only 2nd level, so they get it earlier.
iserith
Magic Wordsmith
Conjure animals (or conjure anything) is like casting a slow spell... on the game itself.
As noted already - hypnotic pattern.
Neither is fireball a wizard-only spell. Sorcerers have native access to it, and warlocks and clerics can get it if they have the right subclass (and druids can get lightning bolt the same way).
I would argue mostly poorly.
* Fear is a 30 ft cone, hypnotic pattern a 30 ft cube with 120 ft range.
* Fear makes its targets frightened, hypnotic pattern makes them charmed. I'm not sure, but I think resistances to fear are more common than resistances to charm.
* Hypnotic pattern makes foes docile. They stand around doing nothing, waiting to be picked off at your convenience. Fear on the other hand makes them run away, which in a dungeon setting will often lead to them warning other inhabitants.
* Once out of sight, the subjects of fear get new saves every round to break the effect.
Fear does have one advantage in a situation where there aren't other foes around to be warned: it moves the subject away from you. That means that even after the spell is over, it will take a while for the subject to get back into the fight.
Tony Vargas
Legend
IDK about 'too good for it's level,' but if my players have been any indication, Vicious Mockery is the iconic bard spell, even if it is a cantrip.
MechaTarrasque
Hero
Yeah, eldritch blast maybe the cantrip that warlock players feel they have to spam, but VM is the cantrip that bard players want to spam.
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