Lightning Bolt or Fireball?

[Mr Fidgit]

the Billiard Ball Of Doom effect

what's that? (its sounds fun! )

 

[Xeriar]

My character has earned the name 'Stormthrower' recently...

Nothing clears out armies like way-too-many lightning bolts...

 

[MasterOfHeaven]

what's that? (its sounds fun! )

The original Lightning Bolt spell richocheted off of obstacles. If you were good enough, you could hit multiple enemies across a wide area by aiming the Lightning Bolt so it bounced from one enemy to the other by hitting walls or nearby rocks and such, or even the same enemy more than once. Thus, the Billiard Ball of Doom phrase.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

The original Lightning Bolt spell richocheted off of obstacles

i thought it still did. (?) is this because of the "stops at the barrier just as any other spell effect does" part of the spell description? (that i only JUST read...)

i wanna change my vote!

 

[Voadam]

Lightning bolt is cooler, but fireball is more tactically useful.

Ever try hitting something from behind the first rank fighters?

 

[Rel]

"Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt!..."

Lightning bolt is way cooler because you get to throw stuff at the other players. Trust me, I saw it in a movie.

 

[The Serge]

Personally, I think the fireball is the most effective, particularly in wilderness environments, when fighting in large subterranean openings, or when dealing with a lot of enemies who can't reach the caster/party. The range is outrageous, making it one of those spells that never really loses its value. I had a single Pit Fiend do tremendous damage to a group of PCs with this spell (especially since the Pit Fiend had the ability to cast it as a quickened action each round. Teleport, cast! Cast, teleport! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!).

However, for sheer style, use in long, enclosed places (like halls and corridors), and to give great "pre-descriptions," lightning bolt is the way to go. Each time the DM describes how their hair raises up on their heads and neck, how they smell ozone, and how the air seems to crackle, PCs will groan or yelp in anxiety. It's also a useful water attack if casted from above (I treat it as a fireball with regards to area of effect).

 

[Nightfall]

I prefer some more non-traditional spells of equal spell level

Like Dar'Tan's Shadow Bolt, Austlinan's Violent Scream, Bloodstorm, and always good against spellcasters, Manaspear!

And guess what, those were just EVOCATION spells!

 

[TiQuinn]

I have yet to see the party cast lightning bolt. It just hasn't happened yet.

Explosions are always the best. I vote fireball.

 

[wolff96]

The problem is that you need both.

The different area effects of spells are the hammers and screwdrivers of a wizard's toolkit. (I say wizard, since it's unlikely for a sorcerer to have more than one.) There are four really useful shapes, each necessary in a different situation: burst, line, cone, and ranged burst.

So any reasonably well-prepared wizard has some sort of burst style spell, lightning bolt for lines, cone of cold, and fireball for ranged bursts. Then add in a little energy admixture and you're in heaven.

So neither spell is really BETTER, you just need to collect them all for the different circumstances.