Faerie Fire too powerful

[ad_hoc]

With conjure animals and polymorph both lasting an hour there is precious little reason to waste my concentration slot on something like FF.

So, it sounds like you aren't being challenged enough then.

Of course a 1st level spell is not as good as a 4th level one.

 

[kalil]

So, it sounds like you aren't being challenged enough then.

Of course a 1st level spell is not as good as a 4th level one.

On the contrary. Since the challenge level is high I need to use my one and only concentration slot on something that truly kicks, like 8 wolf allies. Level 1 spell slots will mostly be for healing words when my allies get swatted like flies.

When the challenge gets real you cannot justify using that precious concentration on somethimg as menial as maybe granting advantage.

 

[JackOfAllTirades]

What if the arrow only grazes the target? What if it fully pierces the target (the head of the arrow passes through and ends up outside the target)? Why isn't the target disabled/penalized from having an arrow sticking out of him irrespective of the spell? Shouldn't the target take extra damage for pulling the arrow out? Especially if the arrow heads are barbed? Oh, but I think I read somewhere that barbed arrowheads have poor armor penetration, so shouldn't we factor that in too? IMO, this way lies madness.

Having it cost an action to pull out the arrow makes it too potent. Forget stupid amounts of free damage, having an enemy do nothing for a round is arguably better (unless that damage would bring the target to 0 hp). Heat metal is already a good (albeit situational) spell. There's no reason to expand its use to non-metal-using creatures.

If I were to allow the arrow to stay in then I'd let the creature pull it out using the free action item interaction every character gets once per round. However, in actuality I'd probably only let it deal damage once (when the target is hit). After that, I'd presume the arrow didn't stay in. Not exactly an ideal use of heat metal, but IMO that's not what it's intended for. There's already a 3rd level spell called Flame Arrows in EEPG, so a spell already exists for creating burning arrows.

Yeah, there's no way a puny 2nd level spell should cost the target its action for the round.

Oh wait, that's nonsense. There are lots of 2nd level spells that do exactly that.

 

[ad_hoc]

On the contrary. Since the challenge level is high I need to use my one and only concentration slot on something that truly kicks, like 8 wolf allies. Level 1 spell slots will mostly be for healing words when my allies get swatted like flies.

When the challenge gets real you cannot justify using that precious concentration on somethimg as menial as maybe granting advantage.

If you always have high level spell slots available to you, then that is indicative of not being challenged.

 

[Fanaelialae]

Yeah, there's no way a puny 2nd level spell should cost the target its action for the round.

Oh wait, that's nonsense. There are lots of 2nd level spells that do exactly that.

Sure, plenty of them cost you an action. But they don't cost you an action AND do damage AND are uber against metal-armored opponents AND excellent against metal weapon using enemies. Heat metal is already an excellent spell. I strongly believe that if it worked against all targets (Heat Skin) it would be flat out overpowered. It's main limitation is its situational aspect. What you're proposing is basically a work around for the primary limitation of the spell. At least when it is cast on an opponent's weapon, that creature can easily drop the weapon. What you're proposing costs the creature an action just to have a chance of eliminating the effect, and it allows heat metal to work against anything.

Besides, what about my questions? Assuming that arrow attacks turn the target into a pincushion by default is nonsensical IMO.

 

[JackOfAllTirades]

Sure, plenty of them cost you an action. But they don't cost you an action AND do damage AND are uber against metal-armored opponents AND excellent against metal weapon using enemies. Heat metal is already an excellent spell. I strongly believe that if it worked against all targets (Heat Skin) it would be flat out overpowered. It's main limitation is its situational aspect. What you're proposing is basically a work around for the primary limitation of the spell. At least when it is cast on an opponent's weapon, that creature can easily drop the weapon. What you're proposing costs the creature an action just to have a chance of eliminating the effect, and it allows heat metal to work against anything.

Besides, what about my questions? Assuming that arrow attacks turn the target into a pincushion by default is nonsensical IMO.

Rules As Written don't address your question because they don't ordinarily need to.

It's assumed that arrows sticking into a target do no further damage.

And it's assumed they do no further damage when pulled out.

Otherwise, the RAW would say so.

There, that was easy.

Bye now.

 

[Fanaelialae]

Actually, the simplest explanation is that RAW assumes that arrows don't stick into you as the default. After all, nowhere in RAW does it state that arrows stick into you, much like we don't have rules for stabbing someone through with a spear and then leaving the spear in the wound.

 

[Yunru]

Faerie Fire provides advantage to ALL creatures in it's field, including enemy attacks on PCs affected. Plus it only affect creatures at time of casting and has a saving throw. Think of it like a confetti bomb. I wouldn't say it's OP.

I'm surprised that this is the first (and only) time that this has been mentioned. Faerie Fire is an unfriendly AoE.

 

[Winter Heart]

Then don't use it.

This comment made me make an account here so I could up vote it.

Just awesome

 

[TBeholder]

So they nerfed it again…

Why should an attacker get advantage simply because the defender is glowing? It shouldn't make the hit significantly easier.

Faerie Fire does not just make something glow, it highlights contour.

Outlined creatures are easier to strike, thus opponents gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls in darkness (including moonlit nights) and a +1 bonus in twilight or better. Note that outlining can render otherwise invisible creatures visible. However, it cannot outline noncorporeal, ethereal, or gaseous creatures.