D&D 5E (2024) Circle Casting is gonna break a lot of games

[MGibster]

Finally! WotC is doing something about the relatively anemic power level of PCs!

 

[Scribe]

Going down the list of the new Circle Casting options in Heroes of Faerun and boy, is it going to have an effect. The below video explains each in detail. For example, anyone with the spellcasting or pact trait can be a secondary spell caster. That means a level 1 caster dip, magic initiate feat, or other minor thing that gives a spellcasting ability means you can help augment other casters. One of the things you can do is share concentration.

So level 9 wizard casts a concentration spell with a level 8 fighter/1 wizard. The f/w takes on the concentration aspect, allowing the spell to take effect and last while the level 9 wizard casts another one the next turn on their own. And that's just the start of potential game breaking stuff.

Or you can increase an AoE by 20 feet. An example given is increasing the width of a lightning bolt from 5 ft wide to 25 feet wide. Again, that level 1 dip PC can help do this.

So, typical 'late edition' nonsense that leads to an eventual reboot/new edition?

 

[mellored]

Suggested nerf for Augment.

100' per secondary spell slot level used. Max 1 mile.

 

[mellored]

Rating

Augment 8/5 (broken)
In combat: o many spells that "in range you can see" (Sacred Flame), combined with scouting (familiar, Arcane Eye, gaze of 2 minds) and you can kill things way out of range for them to respond. Definitely needs nerfed.
Even without seeing "though" walls, this can auto-win a combat by simply flying really high (with Prolong flight).
Out of Combat: most of the time you can just walk closer. But it's free, so why not Dimension Door a bit further. It will have uses.
Pre-buff: allies can walk closer. And if you can hit an enemy 1000' away, no need to waste slots. Just use cantrips

I was wrong, you can't augment cantrips.

New rating 6/5 (still overpowered).
Same strategy, but hit with something like Heat Metal or Phantasmal Force that does ongoing damage. May take more than one cast. Moonbeam can still chase and kill anything with 60' dash speed, but that's a bit more limited.

Still can default kill many encounters.

 

[Sacrosanct]

"...any number of willing creatures THAT YOU CAN SEE within range...."

Human eyes usually lose the ability to see and differentiate people's facial features at 150 feet. At a thousand feet, you're going to be hard pressed to see the person is present at all, much less be able to pick individuals out to target them.

You can totally see a person 1000 feet way. That's barely more than a football field away (side note, one of the targets for basic training rifle qualification is 300m away and you have to hit it. Open sights. Which means you can totally see it from that far). It doesn't say you have to make out facial details; you just have to see them and they have to be willing. How many goblins can you pack in a 1000 foot radius? Granted, you probably won't want them all right next to each other when you turn them all into elephants...

 

[bedir than]

You can totally see a person 1000 feet way. That's barely more than a football field away

An American football field is 100 yards, or 300 feet. Even with the endzones that's 360.
So you're thinking three football fields.
The rifle qualification note is more relevant, but you can pass qualification without hitting that target. Also, it's rather difficult to make out friend or foe at that range, which is again, shorter than 1,000 feet (barely in this case).

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Rating

Augment 8/5 (broken)
In combat: o many spells that "in range you can see" (Sacred Flame), combined with scouting (familiar, Arcane Eye, gaze of 2 minds) and you can kill things way out of range for them to respond. Definitely needs nerfed.
Even without seeing "though" walls, this can auto-win a combat by simply flying really high (with Prolong flight).
Out of Combat: most of the time you can just walk closer. But it's free, so why not Dimension Door a bit further. It will have uses.
Pre-buff: allies can walk closer. And if you can hit an enemy 1000' away, no need to waste slots. Just use cantrips.

You can't use cantrips. You need to cast a spell with a slot.

Distribute, 1/5:
In combat: Taking an action in combat to help an ally not loose concentration generally isn't worth it.
Out of combat: they probably don't need help maintaining concentration. That said, it's free.
Pre-buffing: most other casters are better off with a second concentration spell. But a few characters might be holding their low level slots for Smite or Shield, so might as well at that point.

Expand: 3/5
In combat: not worth an action to hit more targets compared to focus fire.
Out of combat: just move closer.
Pre-buffing: could be pretty useful for moveable area spells. Spirit guardians, Cloud of Daggers, Moonbeam. Worth the slot cost especially at higher levels.

Prolong: 4/5
In combat: 1 minute is enough for a combat.
Out of combat: could be very useful for saving higher level slots. 1 low level slot to increase fly is a good deal. Or longstrider.
Pre-buffing: any 1 minute spells will be enough for the next battle. You would need several in a row (dungeon crawl) to be worth while, but it's definitely worth it to keep Haste or whatever running.

Safeguard: 1/5
In combat: in very rare cases, I could see this being helpful. Like fireballing a room and not hitting a hostage. Just note it works for enemies as well as allies.
Out of combat: having a hard time imagining an out of combat spells you want to avoid hitting spots with.
Pre-buffing: maybe a path though spiked growth if your against large enemies? That's very niche though.

Supplant: 2/5
In combat: don't take spells you can't afford when your life is on the line.
Out of combat: there are some good spells that cost money. If you aren't expecting a fight, no reason not to save money.
Pre-buffing: i can't think 50gp is worth the spell slot when combat is near, unless you really aren't going to use it.

 

[Zardnaar]

An American football field is 100 yards, or 300 feet. Even with the endzones that's 360.
So you're thinking three football fields.
The rifle qualification note is more relevant, but you can pass qualification without hitting that target. Also, it's rather difficult to make out friend or foe at that range, which is again, shorter than 1,000 feet (barely in this case).

I would let it fly tbh. Dont blame me if you accidentally paste the local milkmaid.

 

[mellored]

I would let it fly tbh. Dont blame me if you accidentally paste the local milkmaid.

Are your turning people into cows?
Trying to become the queen of all cheese?

Or is the milkmaid bringing cows for you to transform?

 

[Zardnaar]

Are your turning people into cows?
Trying to become the queen of all cheese?

Or is the milkmaid bringing cows for you to transform?

No idea. Think she's CE and wears a red shirt.