D&D 5E Fireball kills orc mobs easily

[Dragoslav]

[Okay, in reality this thread exists to test a hypothesis: truisms will gain little traction in forums because they're so obviously true that there's not much to talk about. Prove me wrong.]

By tomorrow afternoon, this thread will have ballooned up to 60 pages, the last 30 of which consisting entirely of arguments regarding what "hit points" represent and about non-magical healing.

 

[aramis erak]

I have found that Fireball and other AoE spells are really strong against mobs of weak creatures!!!11!!

-Max

[Okay, in reality this thread exists to test a hypothesis: truisms will gain little traction in forums because they're so obviously true that there's not much to talk about. Prove me wrong.]

Only when the caster has maxed the save DC.

I saw a thunderwave do a whopping total of 6 points to 6 targets... all of them made their saves, and the damage roll was low.

 

[S'mon]

While fireball is obviously great vs 16 hp orcs, surely it is also great against 67 hp berserkers. You do ca 32 damage to most of them and they are suddenly far easier for the Fighter types to kill. Or you cast a second fireball, possibly a third, until they're dead. I don't think many summonings or subtler battlefield control tactics really compare.

I think this was true in 3e also; AoE is obvously weak vs lone high CR critters, but against a platoon of 7th level Fighters a 10d6 fireball is fantastic. By opening with fireball the Wizard can very easily and reliably weaken the enemy enough that his own Fighters can mop up - which also makes the grunts on his side happy that they're doing something useful.

 

[PnPgamer]

Regardless of edition, all fireballs have been powerful. They are the essential powerboost for wizards.

 

[cmad1977]

Sky remains blue.

 

[Herobizkit]

What if the Orcs are protecting their children and there is a LG Paladin in the group?

 

[PnPgamer]

What if the Orcs are protecting their children and there is a LG Paladin in the group?

Please let us not go there.

 

[pemerton]

Regardless of edition, all fireballs have been powerful. They are the essential powerboost for wizards.

I think it's pretty widely agreed that the 4e fireball is not a very powerful spell.

 

[PnPgamer]

I think it's pretty widely agreed that the 4e fireball is not a very powerful spell.

Oh right. Was it better in comparison, at least?

 

[Bacon Bits]

What if the Orcs are protecting their children and there is a LG Paladin in the group?

Then you fireball the DM, as he or she has clearly made themselves the biggest obstacle to the plot as well as the fun of the game.