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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ashrym" data-source="post: 8396304" data-attributes="member: 6750235">It's also a method of marking a target for clever players.A good chunk of the cost is in maintaining the effect.  In game play the PC only pays maintenance if there's a good enough reason to keep the spell up.Think a character has to pay maintenance because a character can is where the issue is.  If I cast crown of madness I want the target to move away because it gave me an attack, prevented an action, then triggered opportunity attacks.  Then I likely let it drop, and if the target doesn't move that's when I am more likely to pay maintenance.Crown really does play better than it looks, especially in a strong melee group or group that's good at moving opponents back into range of the crown target.Taking hold person as an alternative means also taking charm person to cover more spell applications that crown has.  I can take crown as a multitool and the same extra 1st level spell in Tasha's hideous laughter for longer duration action denial with cheaper upkeep.Or just go with Tasha's for a cheaper slot and take another 2nd level spell because there are many good ones.I would rate crown of  madness as average instead of good or bad tbh.  Useful but the creature type restrictions hold it back regardless of being a multitool spell.  I can definitely make good use of it dealing with humanoids but that's a bit too specific for my tastes.</blockquote>