D&D 5E Looking for a Flame Blade fix

[Dragongrief]

I think it's best used by a Moon druid for the times they don't want to waste a transformation (kobold or goblin warrens). They should probably have the War Caster feat anyway, because Barkskin + Bear form is a thing.

There are also "stealth" uses - cast the spell before walking into a negotiation that you expect to go wrong quickly, and then "drop" the blade. If/when things go wrong, you can re-summon it as a bonus action and attack or cast a non-concentration spell on your first turn.

*Edit: Throw on Hide armor, a shield, and Dex 14 for a decent AC (16).

 

[Mephista]

Jump is an awesome spell that works great. Never leave home without it.

Honestly, Concentration is just a bad mechanic overall for any kind of melee spellcasters. They balanced it against back row wizard types, but completely forgot about gish types.

 

[jaelis]

In practice we basically never remember to make concentration checks when someone takes damage, and it works fine.

 

[mellored]

You can simply add

"You do not need to make concentration checks from damage." to flame blade, jump, etc...
That keeps it from stacking and allows it to be used in melee.

You might also increase the duration at higher level, to help it scale a bit.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Thing is, such spells absolutely need to be better than both real weapons and cantrips.

Could just make it a cantrip, like Shillelagh...

 

[MostlyHarmless42]

Personally I think the best solution. Would be to remove concentration from it and make the spell last a flat 1 minute duration. It would then be similar in effect with Spiritual Weapon except deal more damage at the cost of less range and using an element more commonly resisted.

Could just make it a cantrip, like Shillelagh...

So Green Flame Blade then?

 

[Bitbrain]

In practice we basically never remember to make concentration checks when someone takes damage, and it works fine.

My group never remembers to make concentration checks, so the main DM came up with the idea that if you take damage, you automatically lose concentration, but can restore it as a bonus action on your next turn.
It works really well for us.

 

[CapnZapp]

Honestly, Concentration is just a bad mechanic overall for any kind of melee spellcasters. They balanced it against back row wizard types, but completely forgot about gish types.

In all honesty, since D&D uses exception-based design, there doesn't need to be anything wrong with that.

Gish classes could always be given powers to ignore some of the drawbacks of Concentration, after all. This way, you don't need to mess with Concentration in general (assuming you're fine with how it works for back row wizards).

 

[Yunru]

Make it a summon an actual weapon, and lose concentrqtion.

 

[jaelis]

My group never remembers to make concentration checks, so the main DM came up with the idea that if you take damage, you automatically lose concentration, but can restore it as a bonus action on your next turn.
It works really well for us.

Does that mean your spell doesn't end right away when your concentration ends? Otherwise what does it mean to restore concentration?