D&D 5E Witch Bolt (but good)

[Ganymede81]

OK, you listed out the ways in which this spell is worse than Spiritual Weapon. Now list out the ways in which it is better.

 

[mellored]

IMO:
A beam of crackling, blue energy lances out toward a creature within range, forming a sustained arc of lightning between you and the target. At the start of the creatures turn it takes 1d12 damage. You must spend an action to sustain this effect on the following turn or the spell ends. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, both the damage increases by 1d12, and the range is increased by 10' for each slot level above 1st and the range is increased by 10'.

 

[Ganymede81]

IMO:
A beam of crackling, blue energy lances out toward a creature within range, forming a sustained arc of lightning between you and the target. At the start of the creatures turn it takes 1d12 damage. You must spend an action to sustain this effect on the following turn or the spell ends. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, both the damage increases by 1d12, and the range is increased by 10' for each slot level above 1st and the range is increased by 10'.

I'm not sure that's balanced. Try this version instead.



A beam of crackling, red energy lances out toward a creature within range, forming a sustained arc of lightning between you and the target. At the start of the creatures turn it takes 1d12 damage. You must spend an action to sustain this effect on the following turn or the spell ends. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, both the damage increases by 1d12, and the range is increased by 10' for each slot level above 1st and the range is increased by 10'.

 

[Yunru]

OK, you listed out the ways in which this spell is worse than Spiritual Weapon. Now list out the ways in which it is better.

It's a level lower and on the Wizard list.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I'm not sure that's balanced. Try this version instead.



A beam of crackling, red energy lances out toward a creature within range, forming a sustained arc of lightning between you and the target. At the start of the creatures turn it takes 1d12 damage. You must spend an action to sustain this effect on the following turn or the spell ends. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, both the damage increases by 1d12, and the range is increased by 10' for each slot level above 1st and the range is increased by 10'.

Man, yellow never gets any love...

 

[Bad Fox]

I wonder if WotC eventually looks at doing a revised release of 5e, if they'll do a comprehensive survey to measure satisfaction with individual spells?

Hmm. Maybe that wouldn't even be necessary. I feel like enough questions and comments would have accumulated about problematic ones to make them stand out.

 

[Yunru]

I'm not sure that's balanced. Try this version instead.



A beam of crackling, red energy lances out toward a creature within range, forming a sustained arc of lightning between you and the target. At the start of the creatures turn it takes 1d12 damage. You must spend an action to sustain this effect on the following turn or the spell ends. The spell also ends if the target is ever outside the spell’s range or if it has total cover from you.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, both the damage increases by 1d12, and the range is increased by 10' for each slot level above 1st and the range is increased by 10'.

I'm not sure if this was influenced by the removal of all but Somatic components, but I hope it was

 

[Argyle King]

Witch Bolt is considered not good?

 

[Yunru]

Witch Bolt is considered not good?

Not sure if serious, cue awkward laugh.

 

[Argyle King]

Not sure if serious, cue awkward laugh.

It's typically one of my favorite spells to take.