D&D (2024) Fireball/Lightning Bolt vs Chromatic Orb?

[ezo]

I think the fact that it's close makes it a great option if you want to prepare other spells.

Or if you have a class that has few spells.

You could also pick it up via a feat or something and use higher level slots you might have from your class.

It certainly is useful, and although the damage might not be really as good (even under near-optimal conditions), it remains a decent option.

 

[Steampunkette]

Where does it say that?

Cloud of Daggers will deal 4d4.

Huh. You're right. It doesn't say you take damage.

It also doesn't say you can run right through it.

So... neither? Because I can't imagine a designer writing "Yeah, you can run through -this- 5 foot space full of fire safely, but all -other- 5 foot spaces full of fire deal damage!"

 

[Zardnaar]

Huh. You're right. It doesn't say you take damage.

It also doesn't say you can run right through it.

So... neither? Because I can't imagine a designer writing "Yeah, you can run through -this- 5 foot space full of fire safely, but all -other- 5 foot spaces full of fire deal damage!"

Not even difficult terrain. Doesn't count as a foe.

 

[Steampunkette]

Not even difficult terrain. Doesn't count as a foe.

If you can move through it it would note that. Or at least not bother to note that the sphere needs an unoccupied square to exist in.

Cloud of Daggers doesn't have that note. Bigby's Hand does.

Occam's Razor: Flaming Sphere occupies a 5ft space.

 

[Zardnaar]

If you can move through it it would note that. Or at least not bother to note that the sphere needs an unoccupied square to exist in.

Cloud of Daggers doesn't have that note. Bigby's Hand does.

Occam's Razor: Flaming Sphere occupies a 5ft space.

I would say it's unclear. Could be interpreted either way.

Haven't seen anyone try and move through it iirc.

 

[Steampunkette]

I would sat it's unclear. Coukd be interpreted either way.

Haven't seen anyone try and move through it iirc.

The fact that it "Rams" into people indicates it's solid.

It can also roll over 5ft high walls and jump across 10ft pits, so has something that involves gravity involved in it and will fall or balk if the pit is more than 10ft across.

It also makes a note about creatures ending their turns within 5ft of it, and makes no note about creatures ending their turn inside of it. Implying they can't...

Again, Occam's Razor. Simplest answer is probably the correct one.

 

[Zardnaar]

The fact that it "Rams" into people indicates it's solid.

It can also roll over 5ft high walls and jump across 10ft pits, so has something that involves gravity involved in it and will fall or balk if the pit is more than 10ft across.

It also makes a note about creatures ending their turns within 5ft of it, and makes no note about creatures ending their turn inside of it. Implying they can't...

Again, Occam's Razor. Simplest answer must be true.

More or less agree but seeing how one can argue against it.

 

[ezo]

Funny how they buffed chromatic orb but not a lot of other spells...

First Level Spells
Burning Hands - no change
Chromatic Orb - now bounces: 35% second target
Ice Knife - no change
Magic Missile - no change
Ray of Sickness - no change
Thunderwave - no change
Witch Bolt - extra d12 on initial attack, target takes secondary damage even if you miss the first attack

Of course, upcasting increases the damage along with the bounce percentage for CO, while upcasting the others just does damage, without potential target increases.

Makes me wonder what the decision was behind this? It isn't like CO was "weak" or anything compared to the other 1st-level spells.

For example, why not upgrade burning hands in 2024.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. For each spell slot level above 1, the cone range increase 5 feet and the damage increases by 1d6.

So, your 3rd-level it would be 25-foot cone and 5d6 damage. This puts it on par with the new CO spell, but still behind fireball.