D&D spell illustration challenge, day 33:
The dwarven technomagical complex is looking for a commercial name for the wand of Blight.
Prompt: A stocky dwarf mage stands in the middle of a once-lush glade, surrounded by withering foliage and blackened vines. His beard is braided with copper rings, and his robes are scorched at the hem. He has white hair and beard, and blue eyes. He's brandishing a spectral chainsaw, its blade glowing green and semi-transparent, buzzing with necrotic energy. Tendrils of withered life force spiral from nearby plants into the blade’s whirring teeth. The chainsaw is clearly magical, not mechanical, with arcane runes pulsing along its spine. The dwarf’s expression is one of grim satisfaction he directs the weapon toward a large oak tree, which shrivels and cracks under the spell’s effect. Behind him, a trail of shriveled plants marks his path.
Commentary: a 4th level spell that let's you kill a non-magical tree. Contrast with Fireball, that let's you burn a non-magical FOREST. Admittedly, it deals 8d8 (36) damage to a single plant creature, compared to 9d6 (32) to any creature in a 20 foot radius... How often did you have to target a single plant creature in your adventuring carreer? Exactly. Don't waste your time memorizing this spell. Also, have fun looking at the image. There is a very cute artifact of using the word chainsaw. On of the branches turned into... a chain. Easy to remove with AI (or basically any image editing tool, or just cropping the image) but it's fun.
Hey, since it's Saturday night, let's do another. I am two days late, so...
D&D spell illustration challenge, day 33 (caught-up):
A beholder is a terrible sight, unless it's a blind beholder. Admittedly, it still has a 4d6 bite attack, but +5 to hit for CR 13?
Prompt: A confrontation in a cavern lit by bioluminescent moss. In the foreground, a confident wizardess in flowing battle robes stands beside a muscular barbarian, shirtless with war paint and wielding a massive greataxe. They both face a grotesque beholder hovering in the air — but its terrifying form is now wilted. All of its eyestalks droop, curling and sagging as if drained of vitality, ending with eyes glowing blue, looking nowhere. Its central eye is also blue, and its levitating form sags slightly toward the ground. Around its form, faint remnants of magic still linger, hinting at a spell that drained its power. The barbarian is ready to charge, axe raised above his head, while the sorceress watches with clinical intensity, her hands still glowing with blue energy.
Comment: Non-concentration save-or-suck spell, with a CON save. The Diviner wizard best friend on a good portent day. Also, look, an old lady. Admittedly with cleavage.
D&D spell illustration challenge, day 34 (caught-up): Blur
Blur isn't a small heat haze, it's a spell that shatters the vision of whoever looks at you. Hitting the most central shard is bound to fail.
Prompt: The distorted form of an half-elf mage wavers, not duplicated — but fractured, as if seen through shifting shards of invisible glass. Reflections of his limbs and face shimmer and distort at odd angles, appearing momentarily on floating slivers of translucent light that orbit him in a slow, chaotic dance. Each fragment catches a different aspect — a hand raised, a blinked eye, a flicker of his cloak — making it nearly impossible to discern his true position. The effect is unsettling, like looking into a mirror shattered in midair. An approaching knight hesitates, blade in hand , unsure whether the mage is one step to the left or the right.
Commentary: it's a spell that imposes disadvantage on attacks against you, as if people attacking you were Blinded. A small blur wouldn't prevent archer from hitting your chest or knights to swipe their sword through the main center of mass.
