NotActuallyTim
First Post
Considering that Skywrite basically replaces local mass communications technology, I'd say it's pretty good, but you can usually do better when picking spells.
D&D 5E How useful is the ritual 'Skywrite?'
- Thread starter MacMind
- Start date
jaelis
Oh this is where the title goes?
I suppose it is interesting to consider the impact if this is systematically available to npcs. It's free to cast (up to the time and availability of a 3rd level mage) so people could use it for all kinds of things. Maybe the PCs never cast it at all, but they can catch up on the news headlines by checking the sky over the nearest town.
Or it's the plot hook for a quest... a sky message says "Help! Adventurers needed in Halfling Town! 5000 gp reward."
Or it's the plot hook for a quest... a sky message says "Help! Adventurers needed in Halfling Town! 5000 gp reward."
Horwath
Legend
If you are a wizard it only costs you some gold to write it in your spellbook and you can cast it as ritual from your spellbook(doesn't cost a prepared spell slot) so basicaly, it's a win-win situation.
NotActuallyTim
First Post
Yeah, but now you're thinking about picking it up as treasure. I was talking about picking it up after leveling.
Horwath
Legend
I wouldn't ever picked it up at 3rd level, but on 4th as my 4th lvl2 spell...maybe. you already have 3 2nd level spells that are very good and on 4th level you can prepare 6-7 spells, so it wouldn't be much of a waste.
but as treasure, it's worth 100gp, 50gp if you're transmuter.
jgsugden
Legend
You're missing the point if you compare this spell to non-rituals. For wizards, a ritual requires no limited resources once it is obtained. You can do it whenever you want (assuming you have the time to cast it). This spell - with essentially no casting cost other than time - can impacts thousands of creatures. In the hands of a creatve player or DM, this can have massive power.
Saeviomagy
Adventurer
Below level 5, skywrite has a use in long range communications, because nothing else can really do what it does: the closest is animal messenger, but that requires you to know where your recipient is and what they will look like when the message arrives.
Once you hit level 5, sending will be the go-to for individual communications. Skywrite still serves a niche - it's really the only way to broadcast a message. I could see it being used in kingdoms for things like storm and monster alerts. "Incoming dragon, take cover" could save a lot of lives if your citizens pay attention to it.
My main issues with the spell are that:
1) It's concentration for an hour and not just fire and forget: this isn't a major enough effect to require concentration. I would probably say that after concentration lapses, the clouds remain and dissipate naturally over 15 minutes or so.
2) It doesn't give any details at all about how big the words are or how far away they can be seen from. It does one thing and doesn't explain how that one thing actually functions. I mean sure, I can draw on real world experience and assume it matches modern skywriting... but I don't actually know how far away THAT can be seen.
3) It's a second level spell when I feel like it should really be 1st.
Once you hit level 5, sending will be the go-to for individual communications. Skywrite still serves a niche - it's really the only way to broadcast a message. I could see it being used in kingdoms for things like storm and monster alerts. "Incoming dragon, take cover" could save a lot of lives if your citizens pay attention to it.
My main issues with the spell are that:
1) It's concentration for an hour and not just fire and forget: this isn't a major enough effect to require concentration. I would probably say that after concentration lapses, the clouds remain and dissipate naturally over 15 minutes or so.
2) It doesn't give any details at all about how big the words are or how far away they can be seen from. It does one thing and doesn't explain how that one thing actually functions. I mean sure, I can draw on real world experience and assume it matches modern skywriting... but I don't actually know how far away THAT can be seen.
3) It's a second level spell when I feel like it should really be 1st.
I found that writing messages from the "gods" to the people in villages was highly effective. I got them to execute a whole bunch of cult leaders for fear of the wrath of Thor descending on them. In a lower magic campaign, people will assume this is a divine sign.
<Also, I tend to play immature petty PCs. So pretending to send the cleric messages from their god asking them to do embarrassing things is always an option. Mostly it is just used to get the last word in arguements. Having "Gorath is a poo-poo-head!" written in the sky makes me feel better. Some days I just feel like ruining somebody's day, so I also like to write "They know everything! Run!" near major cities. Also "Dave is cheating on you!" "Jane, Marry Me! - M" That sort of stuff.
<Also, I tend to play immature petty PCs. So pretending to send the cleric messages from their god asking them to do embarrassing things is always an option. Mostly it is just used to get the last word in arguements. Having "Gorath is a poo-poo-head!" written in the sky makes me feel better. Some days I just feel like ruining somebody's day, so I also like to write "They know everything! Run!" near major cities. Also "Dave is cheating on you!" "Jane, Marry Me! - M" That sort of stuff.
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Jabborwacky
First Post
There is one thing they should think about adding to the spell's description, and that is the distance the message remains legible. I know it sounds weird, but depending on how high up these clouds are, we could be talking to the entirety of Illinois state or a few towns. Either way, this is one of the few options available to let a team of mages talk to a target that is far away when paired with the scrying spell.
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