D&D 5E Not Much Ado About Bless

[James Gasik]

Here's a simple one, based on a point I made in another thread. Why don't more people complain about Bless?

You really should, when you consider it can affect the three heaviest hitters in a party and can last a whole combat. The effect it has on bounded accuracy is absurd once you get to the point a Cleric can consider using it in every combat.

Reasons people might not complain:

Clerics aren't casting Bless (that's my Healing Word spell slot!).
There's too much other stuff going on to really notice Bless.
It requires concentration (either as a reason not to cast, or it can fall off if the Cleric is hit).
It's hard to notice it's effect in small sample sizes (was that fight easier because of Bless? How much easier?

 

[Zardnaar]

It's old news. Think I was the trendsetter with my "bless is broken thread" back in 2014. That was about two months after 5E landed we figured out the Great Weapon and sharpshooter feat combo very early.

 

[James Gasik]

Just because the news is old doesn't mean people still can't complain about it, lol.

EDIT: but you get a like anyways for being the among the first to say "wait, what the?!".

 

[Zardnaar]

Just because the news is old doesn't mean people still can't complain about it, lol.

EDIT: but you get a like anyways for being the among the first to say "wait, what the?!".

Well we discovered most of the S tier tricks first 6 months of the game.

If I didn't get it one of my two powergamer players did. Identified the 5 power feats early on. Missed the interaction between sharpshooter and crossbow expert my friend found that.

 

[Li Shenron]

Reasons people might not complain:

Another reason: people actually like having characters with powerful abilties.

 

[James Gasik]

It's just a thing that boggles me when people jump up and say "bounded accuracy" and "the game is fine" and I'm like, uh...and what about this?

"Bah, that means nothing, nothing! Let's complain about Silvery Barbs or Twilight Domain Clerics until we circle back around to how easy mode the game is!"

 

[James Gasik]

Another reason: people actually like having characters with powerful abilties.

I'll give you this one, but you know what they say about proud nails. See my last post...

 

[Immoralkickass]

The reason is people don't like nerfs, unless its too overpowered like the original Healing Spirit.

Also, people like to gamble. IME there's always times where you are just shy of a few points to pass a save or land a hit, Bless gives you a chance at that. I think its fun too.

 

[James Gasik]

Well that's true, people do love rolling dice. I wonder if Bless would draw more ire if it gave a flat +2 bonus?

 

[Immoralkickass]

Well that's true, people do love rolling dice. I wonder if Bless would draw more ire if it gave a flat +2 bonus?

Probably yes, but only because its less fun with the consistent effect.
But back on the topic. Bless is not broken because it breaks Bounded Accuracy, in the same way Precision Strike, Bardic Inspiration, War Gods Blessing doesn't break Bounded Accuracy just because they stack with each other (You might as well complain about all of them since they grant bigger bonuses than Bless).
But personally, I think Bless is very important to the party, due to the fact its one of the very few ways a PC can shore up their saves. There are too many save or suck effects that can cripple the PC on a failed save. There are some effects that can be a total death knell of the party if every single member fail their save, so Bless is there for that.
Lay off Bless, its fine.