D&D 5E How useful is the ritual 'Skywrite?'

[Saeviomagy]

Thanks for the feedback folks. Like the idea of mass communication, though the idea of multiple wizards filling the sky with messages over a city (the size of Greyhawk for example) sends shivers down my spine. Brrr...

Well, I imagine that if it became a problem the spell would be heavily restricted by the authorities, like skywriting is in modern society.

In fact, since it's a new spell that has this issue, you could play out the creation of the spell, flurry of random sky-writings and subsequent crackdown as background in your world.

 

[NotActuallyTim]

Thanks for the feedback folks. Like the idea of mass communication, though the idea of multiple wizards filling the sky with messages over a city (the size of Greyhawk for example) sends shivers down my spine. Brrr...

I wonder if you can use Skywrite to create cloud cover with enough casters. Be a great way to keep the sun off of people in an arena without needing to build a roof.

Plus, you could carve holes in the clouds to make sunbeams spell out stuff on the ground. 'Buy Morg's fried fisheyes at the entrance halls!'

 

[jaelis]

Be handy for vampires I suppose...

 

[Z. H. Darkstar]

My LE Fighter-dipped Sorclock Knight uses it to advertise his arrival to all nearby single women, as a tool to facilitate the sating of his lust for carnal pleasures. This is especially true outside of Mulmaster, when he doesn't have access to his "hand"maiden.

 

[Nordheimer]

Cast it in a dungeon, the only sky you will be seeing is the ceiling. Now you have an environmental modifying spell. Fog, or Cloud Mist, to hide your party and its activities. Unfortunately, it does not indicate how large an area each word, or letter, can occupy. Applies equally well to rooms and halls, caverns and tunnels.

 

[MarkB]

Cast it in a dungeon, the only sky you will be seeing is the ceiling.

Yep - which means the spell fails, because it has to be cast on a piece of actual sky that you can see.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

Skywrite has the side effect of bringing up 5 years-old thread to the front page, which is often overlooked even by savvy adventurer.

As evidenced by me, the WIS saving throw DC to resist answering these threads is extremely high.

 

[TheSword]

It’s just cool. The dark mark is scarily awesome. Could also be used as a rallying cry, or a signal for attack.

Perhaps a way of honoring the dead in battle, their names written across the sky… very hunger games.

 

[Charlaquin]

Surrender Dorothy

 

[Ancalagon]

Which is similar to plenty of other messaging spells. Except anyone can see it.

Though doing thungs like voldimott's skull comes to mind.

The message could be in code, and if the enemy doesn't have the code, it doesn't help reading the message.

You are correct that sending is "better", but it's a 3rd level spell, not two. The tier 1 and 2 breakpoint being the aquisition of level 3 spells, it suggests that casters being able to cast level 3 spells are probably a lot rarer than level 2 spells.

It's very situational. In the right situation, it's extremely useful. Outside of that, it's very very meh