D&D (2024) Creative uses of Thaumaturgy, Druidcraft and Elementalism?

[Remathilis]

For the reasons you give its nearly useless for PC clerics, but it is ideal for evil NPC clerics. I mean, if Fus-Ro-Dah is the verbal component/evil mantra of an evil priest, each use results in a progressively scarier effect. A door slams shur, a peal of thunder, candles change color, the priest's voice becomes impossibly loud, the ground begins to shake, the colors go back to normal but the priest's eyes glow the color the candles were.

In a low-magic setting, this is like distilled cult-leader.

However in settings where magic is more common thaumaturgy is better for bards than priests.

All of that sounds cool. And while the evil NPC is performing parlor tricks, the PCs are bombarding him with spells and weapon attacks. Which is why it's only useful in situations where you want to impress/intimidate/scare someone without using your action to attack, use a skill, or cast an actual spell. Which is to say, a rare event.

 

[kigmatzomat]

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All of that sounds cool. And while the evil NPC is performing parlor tricks, the PCs are bombarding him with spells and weapon attacks.

I didn't say it was for fighting, I said it was "distilled cult leader". The cult does the fighting for Dear Leader. That way Leader can escape and become a recurring villain.