Is Presdigitation too powerful?

[greywulf]

Someone apparently forgot to tell the gnomes.

LOL! Nope, gnomes know they are the true People of Power. Small but perfectly formed.

Or something

No gnomes round here. Nope. There's no one gnome.

 

[Thanee]

Yeah, way overpowered! With 3.5 they should've split it up into like a dozen different spells!



Bye
Thanee

 

[Gallo22]

I used the spell once to get rid of some leaches that got attached to me in a swamp...so I created salt. sounds reasonable to me.

Gallo22

 

[Whimsical]

I regard Prestidigitation as a very tiny Wish spell.

 

[Tonguez]

First I like the many ways people use this spell - especially the idea of using it as the Wizards 'Badge of Office' (and it also means Gnomes get the respect the deserve - go Gnomes!)

I too use to think that Prestidigitation was a minor fun utility spell too until I actually read what it can do

1 A prestidigitation can slowly lift 1 pound of material. a peice of paper or a key weigh less than 1 pound so pickpocketing an important document or the key to the Cell door/Castle Gate is possible

2 Prestidigitation can create small objects, like the salt to remove Leeches thing - if I can do that then why can't I drop that same salt in someones eyes? (and even if its not salt, any sand,dirt or grit has the same effect)

The bit about lighting torches is in Tome & Blood - so by extension why not light anything flammable?

I can live with it being used to give bonuses to skill use but too much utility hmmm...

from the SRD
Prestidigitation
Prestidigitations are minor tricks that novice spellcasters use for practice. Once cast, a prestidigitation spell enables you to perform simple magical effects for 1 hour. The effects are minor and have severe limitations. A prestidigitation can slowly lift 1 pound of material. It can color, clean, or soil items in a 1-foot cube each round. It can chill, warm, or flavor 1 pound of nonliving material. It cannot deal damage or affect the concentration of spellcasters. Prestidigitation can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial. The materials created by a prestidigitation spell are extremely fragile, and they cannot be used as tools, weapons, or spell components. Finally, a prestidigitation lacks the power to duplicate any other spell effects. Any actual change to an object (beyond just moving, cleaning, or soiling it) persists only 1 hour.

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

1 A prestidigitation can slowly lift 1 pound of material. a peice of paper or a key weigh less than 1 pound so pickpocketing an important document or the key to the Cell door/Castle Gate is possible

I tend to think it would be too clumsy to pickpocket anything.

 

[Greywarden]

This is how I handle Prestidigitation in my Campaign:

In Third Edition (3.5) the 0-level Prestidigitation spell takes the place of the Second Edition spell Cantrip… I’ve always thought that magical effects such as those called cantrips in First Edition were good character flavoring, and that it was a shame to have to waste a spell slot (even a 0-level one) to perform these exceedingly minor bits of magic. So let’s make it a skill check.

Prestidigitation Skill:
(CHA/INT; Trained Only)
Skill in the minor tricks that novice spell casters use for practice and that street magicians use to impress the common folk. This skill can be used to create effects as detailed in the Players’ Handbook for the 0-level spell Prestidigitation. This skill does not replace the Prestidigitation spell; the spell still functions as described, and does not require a skill check. Bards and Sorcerers use this skill based on their Charisma, Wizards use Intelligence.

I then leave it up to the GM (Me) and a little common sense to restrict the power of the skill/spell. For instance I do not allow it to create matter at range; while it can be used to create a dash of salt in the character's hand, if the character wants to throw that salt in someone's eyes they will have to make an attacck roll and hope the target doesn't think to close their eyes.

 

[Thanee]

About the pickpocketing, I wouldn't let you move attended or carried objects with it.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Wolffenjugend]

About the pickpocketing, I wouldn't let you move attended or carried objects with it.

I would. So long as the person in question allows it, of course. Think of slowly floating someone's pen out of their breast pocket. So long as the person doesn't grab it, you can float it through the air.

 

[ivocaliban]

I see Prestidigitation as a spell provided to add flourish and style. It wasn't provided to take the place of or supercede other first level spells, but simply to be a catch-all cantrip to fill in the gaps. In my campaign prestidigitation is there as a spellcaster's trademark or as greywulf said as a "badge of office."

Prestidigitation translates roughly into "magic tricks." They can be used for amusement, flavour, and perhaps a moment's distraction at best. Beyond this I feel the player is milking the spell for more than it's worth. Then I start milking being the DM for all that it's worth.