Guidance Cleric cantrip is really dumb

[sim-h]

Do you do this with all PC abilities? When the monk spams flurry of blows do they have to act out an attack routine? If the bard uses bardic inspiration do they have to recite charge of the light brigade?

Yes! Sorry.

 

[bmcdaniel]

As a DM I love the guidance cantrip precisely because it enhances immersion. Our house rule is that the cleric must actually recite a shirt prayer. Eg "Dear Pelor, please keep us safe tonight by helping us find a safe place to rest. We promise to do our best to zealously attack evil in the morning."

 

[ArtaSoral]

My sincerest apologies for the lack of presence in this thread, my internet went down. I just got it back

 

[Uller]

My sincerest apologies for the lack of presence in this thread, my internet went down. I just got it back

I picture that scene in the movie Yellow Beard (I think it was) where the soldiers come into the tavern to find everyone dead but the blind guy who just says there was some sort of squabble...

 

[Stormdale]

As a DM I love the guidance cantrip precisely because it enhances immersion. Our house rule is that the cleric must actually recite a shirt prayer. Eg "Dear Pelor, please keep us safe tonight by helping us find a safe place to rest. We promise to do our best to zealously attack evil in the morning."

Same. Have just started playing for a change, we seldom have a cleric in the party so decided to play one. My pc is forever saying "May Moradin bless you" or "May Moradin guide your endevours" as he casts guidance.

I do like the idea of having a special guidance die to hand out to pcs at the same time. If still an issue I'd change the casting time to one minute and start making time more important- I do have 1e/2e style search times for the "exploration" pillar.

Finally, this as with most things comes down to the table. if you are getting fed up, talk to your players and see what you can work out- some of the ideas suggested here may be worth considering but see what your group thinks. I for one wouldn't raise DCs jut because the cleric can lower the odds via guidance but think some sort of limits are in order, after all it is only a cantrip.

Stormdale

 

[MarkB]

Yes its silly but you just have to buy into it I suppose. Our cleric spams it all the time for initiative checks. Its basically expertise on all skills outside combat and a bonus to initiative rolls.

How the hell do you use it on Initiative checks? I guess the cleric could cast it on one person just before the party kick in a door, but it's still only going to help one of them - and it means the cleric is going into combat without another concentration-based spell up-and-running. It certainly wouldn't apply if the party aren't expecting combat to kick off.

 

[Mistwell]

The idea that it's a bonus on all skills outside of combat is very much a misinterpretation. You want to Deceive the guard to let you through the gate? The cleric casting Guidance is going to make him more suspicious, not less. Ranger searching for a path through the jungle? It takes longer than a minute, so no Guidance. Want to deliver a speech to Persuade the ruling council to support the war? takes longer than a minute, so no Guidance.

As for initiative rolls, even if you rule Guidance can effect them, most of the time combat breaks out without prior warning, and without prior warning, you can't use Guidance.

I don't buy it makes the guard situation worse. As for the rest, adding "any skill check which requires less than a minute to perform" is a fine add-on. You still gain all the normal benefits of the spell without the immersion drawbacks mentioned.

 

[Mistwell]

I don't disagree. I just said making it an aura that is perpetually on does not resolve the OPs concern.

Yes, it does.

You've been presented, in rather extensive detail and with repetition at this point, why it does. You've never responded to it, and you just keep repeating that it doesn't solve the problem.


YES. IT. DOES.

If you disagree, then respond to the actual points made. The OP had immersion issues with the spell, not balance issues. How does that proposal not address the immersion issues he had?

I think you are still caught up on balance issues. I don't know why. The OP has no balance issues with the spell. Nor should he - the help action is even more powerful and literally any PC can do it at-will.

 

[Mistwell]

As a DM I love the guidance cantrip precisely because it enhances immersion. Our house rule is that the cleric must actually recite a shirt prayer.

Oh Pelor, may the starch applied to this garment make it holy and fresh!
By the power of St. Cuthbert, may the scented bleach render this shirt smelling of lilacs!

 

[iserith]

Oh Pelor, may the starch applied to this garment make it holy and fresh!
By the power of St. Cuthbert, may the scented bleach render this shirt smelling of lilacs!

Lilacs break my immersion.