D&D 5E Is Druidcraft useful?

[Kobold Stew]

I can see it now: Farmers pick their fruit before it is ripe so they don't have to worry about it getting damaged in transport to the market. At the Market, a druid is paid to ripen all the fruit in the stall. Controversy breaks out about artificially ripened food.

...and Europe imposed a ban, unless Druidically-modified foods ("DM Foods") are properly labeled.

 

[Henrix]

Perhaps it is too much to give it for free at level one. Third level sounds better, when I think about it a little bit more.


(The same really goes for Thaumaturgy and Prestidigation. Free at higher levels.)

 

[Wepwawet]

I still think that Druidcraft is quite limited so I've decided to expand on druidcraft a bit more, based on Thaumaturgy.

Apart from the uses laid out in the PHB I'll add:
- Instantaneous sound that originates from a point of choice within range, such as a rumble of thunder, or any animal up to medium size (is medium too much?)
- Earth: Harmless tremors in the ground for 1 minute, shape mud or rock no more than a 5 ft cube... Can't think of other simple earth themed effects
- Fire: Create or snuff flames, cause flames to flicker, brighten or dim (not change colour as that isn't "natural")
- Air: soft breeze, raise or lower the temperature in a 5 ft cube (a change no bigger than 5º C), blow leaves
- Water: Make waves in a body of water, make something float in a direction of your choosing. (no water creation though)
- Shape dead wood, or twist and weave living branches or ground vegetation

Well, basically it will be a non damaging spell that gives the druid minor control over nature, the environment, and the elements. Up to the player's imagination.

BTW, there's no clerics in the group, so no one's stepping on their feet.

I did think about giving the spell for free, but i rather have it do something useful. Also, Druids only get 4 cantrips, and there aren't that many interesting druid cantrips IMHO

 

[Paraxis]

I like druidcraft, prestidigitation, and thaumaturgy being free form. Let the caster come up with little magical effects if it seems slightly to powerful give them an spellcaster check to see if it works, if it seems equivlent to a first level spell don't let them do it.

I think it should be given for free at first level. I would also add to all of them another built in option, through some magical effect when you cast this spell it can work like the "Help" action within range.

 

[steeldragons]

I'm inclined to agree with Paraxis on this. Let the player get creative and see what they can have it do. If it's too much/"there's a spell for that" then no.

If you are set to use your expansion, sounds mostly ok. No reason you couldn't cause a thunder rumble, unseen growl/eagle's screech or wolf's howl in the distance makes sense.

The shaping stone or mud I think is a step too far. The harmless tremor (which I think is an incredibly OP effect for Thaumaturgy as well) is, at least, equal and thus OK, I guess. But stoneshaping is a 3rd level spell (right?). Even in a small area (and 5' cube is not a small amount of area, imo) it seems too much.

Same for the woodshaping. There's an ap for that. Multiple ones actually. It seems too close to a woodshape or possible entangle effect. A minor gust of wind such as to cause leaves or flower petals to swirl around, flames to flicker, etc... seems harmless/fine. But I'd loose the actual "changing/shaping" plants/stone/fire. Snuffing out small normal fires seems fine (just the reverse of the "make a campfire" effect, so ok). But I wouldn't go any more than that.

But that's just me. It's your game, of course.

 

[jimmifett]

I can see it now: Farmers pick their fruit before it is ripe so they don't have to worry about it getting damaged in transport to the market. At the Market, a druid is paid to ripen all the fruit in the stall. Controversy breaks out about artificially ripened food.

Yes, before you know it, the Farmer's Union is trying to ban Druishly Modified Organisms left and right because it's unfair competition. I would expect stunts along the lines of the DC vs AC wars (not to be confused with the THAC0 vs AC Wars), blowing up cattle with "DMOs" to show how they are bad for you.

Druids are the source of Gluten you know

 

[Tormyr]

Druids are the source of Gluten you know

Gluten intolerant humanoids leak this information to the orcs to remove gluten from the world. The orcs storm enclaves and round up the druids because they make the softest, most delicious bread. A quest must be undertaken to save the last few druids to protect the future from dry, crumbly bread products that dissolve in your mouth.

 

[the Jester]

The shaping stone or mud I think is a step too far.... Same for the woodshaping.

Totally agreed. "So a cantrip that's stone shape plus more stuff?" was my first thought.

 

[jimmifett]

Gluten intolerant humanoids leak this information to the orcs to remove gluten from the world. The orcs storm enclaves and round up the druids because they make the softest, most delicious bread.

Except in Eberron, where the Orcs ARE the Druids. Know then Oalian, the true face of the Gluten menace: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6jfGWdNpk3I/TGZ6_dfHKwI/AAAAAAAAAjo/HoiC5T_tUQ0/s320/Oalian.jpg

 

[Wepwawet]

The shaping stone or mud I think is a step too far. The harmless tremor (which I think is an incredibly OP effect for Thaumaturgy as well) is, at least, equal and thus OK, I guess. But stoneshaping is a 3rd level spell (right?). Even in a small area (and 5' cube is not a small amount of area, imo) it seems too much.

Right, the stone shape spell. So, mud and clay only. Maybe only the size of your fist (i don't think in feet, i threw the number 5 randomly).

Same for the woodshaping. There's an ap for that. Multiple ones actually. It seems too close to a woodshape or possible entangle effect.

By twisting and weaving I meant something like willow sculptures. Only a very small area, so that creating a shelter from a bush would take something like half an hour