D&D 5E Can you twin booming blade

[Paul Farquhar]

How can a sorcerer do something like that?

Magic?

 

[Coroc]

So to put the most recent posts a level up:

For those who think twinning bb gives an extra attack, what happens if this is counter-spelled?

Does it reduce to

a) No attack no spell
b) One regular attack no spell
c) One regular attack another regular attack this time with spell
d) two regular attacks but no spell
e) anything else, please state

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So to put the most recent posts a level up:

For those who think twinning bb gives an extra attack, what happens if this is counter-spelled?

Does it reduce to

a) No attack no spell

This. The same as if the spell isn't twinned.

 

[Esker]

So to put the most recent posts a level up:

For those who think twinning bb gives an extra attack, what happens if this is counter-spelled?

Does it reduce to

a) No attack no spell
b) One regular attack no spell
c) One regular attack another regular attack this time with spell
d) two regular attacks but no spell
e) anything else, please state

a.

The attack is part of the spell, so if the spell is countered, the attack doesn't happen either. Yes, it's weird to think about in fiction - - but sometimes having sensible mechanics means sacrificing some realism.

You could rationalize it by saying that the magic accelerates your attack, compensating for the time required to perform the casting and giving you the same chance to hit as if you'd attacked without the spell. Twinning further accelerates your movement. Counterspell negates both, leaving you having spent the time performing the spell and with no chance to hit.

 

[Coroc]

a.

The attack is part of the spell, so if the spell is countered, the attack doesn't happen either. Yes, it's weird to think about in fiction - - but sometimes having sensible mechanics means sacrificing some realism.

You could rationalize it by saying that the magic accelerates your attack, compensating for the time required to perform the casting and giving you the same chance to hit as if you'd attacked without the spell. Twinning further accelerates your movement. Counterspell negates both, leaving you having spent the time performing the spell and with no chance to hit.

This. The same as if the spell isn't twinned.

Thanks, that simplifies the issue at least. So here is the weak point of that power combo, it is especially susceptible to counterspell.

Btw twinning a spell does cost a resource, so it is fair game from that pov. And, if the CS also blocks the attack-action-"material component" of the spell then it is a costly risky investment, so it should be allowed to twin, and it does not unbalance things.

 

[Esker]

Thanks, that simplifies the issue at least. So here is the weak point of that power combo, it is especially susceptible to counterspell.

Btw twinning a spell does cost a resource, so it is fair game from that pov. And, if the CS also blocks the attack-action-"material component" of the spell then it is a costly risky investment, so it should be allowed to twin, and it does not unbalance things.

I don't know that it's especially susceptible to counterspell... Any twinned spell that gets counterspelled means more resources spent for no effect.

 

[Coroc]

I don't know that it's especially susceptible to counterspell... Any twinned spell that gets counterspelled means more resources spent for no effect.

Of course, I misswrote, what I wanted to express is, that unlike melee attacks, which could be prevented by shield spell this BB is also susceptible to counterspell, which makes it more risky to use.
The only thing I do not like with BB is that you obviously got to do real thorough analysis to conclude what it really does.

 

[Esker]

Of course, I misswrote, what I wanted to express is, that unlike melee attacks, which could be prevented by shield spell this BB is also susceptible to counterspell, which makes it more risky to use.

That's a good point. I also wonder, with the huge variety from table to table in how people handle identifying a spell before you decide to counter it, how obvious it is supposed to be that the sorcerer is twinning a spell. Since knowing that would obviously affect the decision about whether it's worthwhile to counter. Off the cuff I think I would say that you wouldn't be able to tell in time since the components don't change.

 

[Salthorae]

That's a good point. I also wonder, with the huge variety from table to table in how people handle identifying a spell before you decide to counter it, how obvious it is supposed to be that the sorcerer is twinning a spell. Since knowing that would obviously affect the decision about whether it's worthwhile to counter. Off the cuff I think I would say that you wouldn't be able to tell in time since the components don't change.

I agree it's not evident. I don't think there's a reliable portion of metamagic that can be differentiated from teh spellcasting for a sorcerer.

 

[NotAYakk]

As a game, what if I wrote a Booming Blade that obviously did work in the other way?

Thundering Blade
Evocation


Level: Cantrip
Casting time: Special
Range: 5 feet
Components: V, M (a weapon)
Duration: 1 round


In order to cast this spell you must have done the Attack Action without using Extra Attack and hit a single creature within range of this spell. That creature becomes the target. The target is sheathed in booming energy until the start of your next turn. If the target willingly moves before then, it immediately takes 1d8 thunder damage, and the spell ends.
This spell's damage increases when you reach higher levels.

At higher level: At 5th level, the spell deals 1d8 thunder damage to the target when cast, and the damage the target takes for moving increases to 2d8. Both damage rolls increase by 1d8 at 11th level and 17th level.