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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 8251504" data-attributes="member: 2629">Why?&nbsp; If we took fireball out of the game, wouldn't Lightning Bolt be the best damage spell at 3rd level by a large margin?It doesn't get the fame of fireball, but it still does damage above the recommended amount based upon guidelines, and when it is useful, it is incredibly useful.&nbsp; It is resisted less than fireball, and it can impact enemies spread over a much greater range (they can be 100 feet apart rather than 40 feet apart).&nbsp; Also, and often overlooked - it is lightning, not thunder, so it is much quieter.&nbsp; A fireball announces your presence to those outside line of sight - but a lightning bolt may not (DM discretion, of course - but fireballs make a low roar, while lightning bolts are not described as making any sound, and we all know that lightning is the visual and thunder (which is a separate thing in D&amp;D) is the sound).When I have a fellow PC with push or pull effects (warlocks, open hand monks, etc.. for example), it is a better spell IMHO.&nbsp; In early 5E I played a Svirfneblin wizard that was teamed with a warlock who was excellent at setting up lightning bolts and my other line spell (homebrew).It might not be the favored spell over fireball by most casters, but it is still really good.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 8251504, member: 2629"] Why? If we took fireball out of the game, wouldn't Lightning Bolt be the best damage spell at 3rd level by a large margin? It doesn't get the fame of fireball, but it still does damage above the recommended amount based upon guidelines, and when it is useful, it is incredibly useful. It is resisted less than fireball, and it can impact enemies spread over a much greater range (they can be 100 feet apart rather than 40 feet apart). Also, and often overlooked - it is lightning, not thunder, so it is much quieter. A fireball announces your presence to those outside line of sight - but a lightning bolt may not (DM discretion, of course - but fireballs make a low roar, while lightning bolts are not described as making any sound, and we all know that lightning is the visual and thunder (which is a separate thing in D&D) is the sound). When I have a fellow PC with push or pull effects (warlocks, open hand monks, etc.. for example), it is a better spell IMHO. In early 5E I played a Svirfneblin wizard that was teamed with a warlock who was excellent at setting up lightning bolts and my other line spell (homebrew). It might not be the favored spell over fireball by most casters, but it is still really good. [/QUOTE]

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