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]

.

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.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Could Druidcraft cause something to decompose quickly? Like make waste go away?

What about Elementalism and getting rid of some body hair painlessly?

 

[Remathilis]

.

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.

So again, when does it get cast? The leader isn't wasting his action casting thaumaturgy when his complex is invaded to convince his followers to die for him. He's hiding/running/teleporting out of their. If you're trying to argue he cast it long ago when convincing his cult to follow him, well ok but do you need a spell mechanics in the PHB for that bit of backstory?

That's my problem with it: there is never a point when it's useful "on camera". It's not even useful for looking cool. It's a trap option. It's something put on an NPC stat block and never gets used. It's the functional equivalent to a "get dressed" skill: sure it's cool if you crit and get a fly looking outfit, but are you going to waste a skill choice on something that never comes up in game?

I'm not asking for combat utility, just make it so that doing something cool with it isn't a trap.

 

[Remathilis]

Could Druidcraft cause something to decompose quickly? Like make waste go away?

What about Elementalism and getting rid of some body hair painlessly?

I've always allowed prestidigitation to do simple makeup: eyeshadow, rouge, lipstick, etc. you can't use it to disguise yourself, but you can make yourself look pretty. So using a cantrip for grooming is fine by me.