D&D 5E Snow-Sweeping/Clearing Cantrip

[rgoodbb]

A 1st level druid for RotFM starting in a snow-sweeping job, keeping the paths clear either between ten-towns or within one of them.



Which one of the elemental cantrips seems the most appropriate to accomplish this to you?



Mold Earth (would snow count)

Shape Water?

Control Flames (+ fire source)

Gust??

 

[Gorck]

You could use Mage Hand, but it would probably take a long time. I was looking for a way to use Druidcraft, but the only conceivable way would be the first bullet point to predict the weather in conjunction with Teleport to go somewhere warmer.

 

[Gorck]

I think Gust would be the best fit. Freshly fallen snow I think is like up to 10 lbs per cubic foot - so you move half a cubic foot per casting. A path 30' long, 3 feet wide, and 6" deep would take about 10 minutes to clear.

I could see Gust working on light, fluffy snow, but as a New Englander, I can assure you it won’t work on heavy, wet snow.

 

[ad_hoc]

I always call for a check for any non-standard use of magic. Especially used to shortcut something you could just do manually. If it's not a spell or power, but still magic, it's a skill check, with a DC commensurate to the goal. Ditto for a spell where you're trying to a related but not RAW outcome.

And yes, failure can be interesting.

For ex, snow-sweeping. Success uses your magic or a variation of shape water to neatly push aside snow, with you COULD have just done with a shovel. Failure perhaps creates a small snow devil and scatted snow on passersby, much to you chagrin and their annoyance.

Or you can just use a shovel.

I use lower DCs and decent skills will usually just beat the check with a bonus if you keep it simple.

I would never try anything creative or use magic in your game.

That is just overly punitive for something so simple.

 

[Umbran]

I could see Gust working on light, fluffy snow, but as a New Englander, I can assure you it won’t work on heavy, wet snow.

I'm in Boston. I understand wet, heavy snow.
It will work - it will just take longer. 5lbs of wet, heavy snow are just smaller volume chunks.

 

[Ferrousbones]

I think Prestidigitation is the best option here, and I would just house rule it so a Druid can take it as one of her Cantrips.

Out of curiosity, using which benefit?:

• You instantaneously clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot.
• You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving material for 1 hour.

I am guessing the warming benefit?

 

[Gorck]

I'm in Boston. I understand wet, heavy snow.
It will work - it will just take longer. 5lbs of wet, heavy snow are just smaller volume chunks.

Wait, you're in Boston?!?!? Could you come shovel my driveway next Sunday if we get snow?

 

[Tonguez]

I could see Gust working on light, fluffy snow, but as a New Englander, I can assure you it won’t work on heavy, wet snow.

Yup, hence Wall of Ice rules apply

 

[GMMichael]

Or you can just use a shovel.

I was wrong about Move Snow. There's a better spell to invent:

Summon Shovel.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Out of curiosity, using which benefit?:

• You instantaneously clean or soil an object no larger than 1 cubic foot.
• You chill, warm, or flavor up to 1 cubic foot of nonliving material for 1 hour.

I am guessing the warming benefit?

Flavor the snow with salt.

 

[Umbran]

Wait, you're in Boston?!?!? Could you come shovel my driveway next Sunday if we get snow?

Because I wouldn't be busy diggin' myself out?