D&D 5E Heat Metal Spell. Unfair to Heavy Armor Wearers?

[jgsugden]

I find it odd that there are people arguing that this spell is problematic now - when it has been part of the environment since the start of 5E and rarely ever gets discussed.

In actual play, it is rarely problematic, and in the limited environment in which it is problematic, it is often something that presents a fun puzzle with stakes.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I find it odd that there are people arguing that this spell is problematic now - when it has been part of the environment since the start of 5E and rarely ever gets discussed.

It just took that long to get to 3rd level Druid.

 

[Voadam]

In actual play, it is rarely problematic, and in the limited environment in which it is problematic, it is often something that presents a fun puzzle with stakes.

Or it just puts an ongoing no save take damage and disadvantage in return for a second level slot (and concentration and bonus action). In my experience with a low level PC bard in my game who has it as his big gun there is often little for the target to do other than suck it up and fight while taking damage and disadvantage.

 

[Voadam]

I find it odd that there are people arguing that this spell is problematic now - when it has been part of the environment since the start of 5E and rarely ever gets discussed.

It has been brought up before as a topic of discussion.

 

[Oofta]

I find it odd that there are people arguing that this spell is problematic now - when it has been part of the environment since the start of 5E and rarely ever gets discussed.

In actual play, it is rarely problematic, and in the limited environment in which it is problematic, it is often something that presents a fun puzzle with stakes.

I've seen problems with it both as a player and DM from the very beginning. I just dealt with it instead of creating a thread.

 

[jgsugden]

Or it just puts an ongoing no save take damage and disadvantage in return for a second level slot (and concentration and bonus action). In my experience with a low level PC bard in my game who has it as his big gun there is often little for the target to do other than suck it up and fight while taking damage and disadvantage.

Your bard's big gun is only useful against a small percentage of foes? Bards get so few spell slots (6 or 7 at level 3 and 4) and have to wait to when they're going up a level to sub one out. Devoting a spell known to a contingent spell like Heat Metal is usually real tough - especially for a class that needs to be so near the combat in order to use the majority of their abilities and doesn't get a bonus to con saves.

I usually see this spell on druids and (forge domain) clerics that can sub it in when they know they're facing 'metal' foes.

It has been brought up before as a topic of discussion.

It has been discussed before, but as I said - rarely ... and the thread you bring up as your gotcha example doesn't in any way discuss the spell as problematic. It asks a rules question about it.

 

[Reynard]

Your bard's big gun is only useful against a small percentage of foes? Bards get so few spell slots (6 or 7 at level 3 and 4) and have to wait to when they're going up a level to sub one out. Devoting a spell known to a contingent spell like Heat Metal is usually real tough - especially for a class that needs to be so near the combat in order to use the majority of their abilities and doesn't get a bonus to con saves.

To be fair, some campaigns use a lot more human(oid) enemies than others. Something like Heat metal is pretty useful in that sort of scenario.

 

[Voadam]

Your bard's big gun is only useful against a small percentage of foes?

I am running a 5e conversion of the Pathfinder 1e Iron Gods adventure path involving ancient crashed sci-fi spaceship in a D&D world, and a bunch of Mad Max style wasteland gangs with post apocalyptic tech. One of the PCs is a metal robot (reskinned warforged). Two are from an Acme themed religion with lots of gadgets. A lot of humanoids, metal constructs, and robots. It is not a small percentage of the foes the party has been facing and expects to continue to face.

Bards get so few spell slots (6 or 7 at level 3 and 4) and have to wait to when they're going up a level to sub one out. Devoting a spell known to a contingent spell like Heat Metal is usually real tough - especially for a class that needs to be so near the combat in order to use the majority of their abilities and doesn't get a bonus to con saves.

Nah, he has other general use spells known that are always useful too.

I usually see this spell on druids and (forge domain) clerics that can sub it in when they know they're facing 'metal' foes. It has been discussed before, but as I said - rarely ... and the thread you bring up as your gotcha example doesn't in any way discuss the spell as problematic. It asks a rules question about it.

I am aware of the topic of that relatively recent heat metal thread, it was a thread I started.

 

[Bill Zebub]

It should work on metallic dragons.

 

[Oofta]

I am running a 5e conversion of the Pathfinder 1e Iron Gods adventure path involving ancient crashed sci-fi spaceship in a D&D world, and a bunch of Mad Max style wasteland gangs with post apocalyptic tech. One of the PCs is a metal robot (reskinned warforged). Two are from an Acme themed religion with lots of gadgets. A lot of humanoids, metal constructs, and robots. It is not a small percentage of the foes the party has been facing and expects to continue to face.

Nah, he has other general use spells known that are always useful too.

I am aware of the topic of that relatively recent heat metal thread, it was a thread I started.

My experience as well. The vast majority of opponents are humanoid, heat metal was used frequently.

Eventually I discussed it with the group and changed how I ran it. I hit the same thing in AL games.