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<blockquote data-quote="Mort" data-source="post: 8482129" data-attributes="member: 762">I don't see that at all. Let's compare.Range: right off the bat, HP is MUCH better 120' range, then affects a 30' cube. Fear is self and then a 30' cone. So with fear you need to be right next to the targets. That's a bad place for most casters. Plus if your flanked, fear will only get one side unless you can get lucky on positioning.Components: this is minor, but while Fear is VSM HP is only SM - one of the very few spells with no verbal component. Minor, but it's a plus.Effect:With Fear affected creatures MUST Dash away from the caster and get the frightened condition. So they might get hit by opportunity attacks and get disadvantage on attacks and ability checks (but NOT saving throws). While the targets have to retreat they can still attack both the caster and other party members, they're still an imminent threat! Plus if the target loses sight of the caster - it gets a save. Crucially the caster gets no control on where the target moves other than &quot;away.&quot; with Hypnotic Pattern: much more straight forward - if the target fails a save it's incapacitated with a speed of 0. This means what it's cast, the party can then focus fire on (ideally) one opponent at a time, this is huge. Even if multiple targets save, you still only have to deal with the ones that do, that's as good control as it gets.In play I've seen fear used and it was ok. I've seen HP used to devastating effect by different groups and with multiple DMs.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Mort, post: 8482129, member: 762"] I don't see that at all. Let's compare. Range: right off the bat, HP is MUCH better 120' range, then affects a 30' cube. Fear is self and then a 30' cone. So with fear you need to be right next to the targets. That's a bad place for most casters. Plus if your flanked, fear will only get one side unless you can get lucky on positioning. Components: this is minor, but while Fear is VSM HP is only SM - one of the very few spells with no verbal component. Minor, but it's a plus. Effect: With Fear affected creatures MUST Dash away from the caster and get the frightened condition. So they might get hit by opportunity attacks and get disadvantage on attacks and ability checks (but NOT saving throws). While the targets have to retreat they can still attack both the caster and other party members, they're still an imminent threat! Plus if the target loses sight of the caster - it gets a save. Crucially the caster gets no control on where the target moves other than "away." with Hypnotic Pattern: much more straight forward - if the target fails a save it's incapacitated with a speed of 0. This means what it's cast, the party can then focus fire on (ideally) one opponent at a time, this is huge. Even if multiple targets save, you still only have to deal with the ones that do, that's as good control as it gets. In play I've seen fear used and it was ok. I've seen HP used to devastating effect by different groups and with multiple DMs. [/QUOTE]

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