Mage hand and throwing dirt

[Kershek]

Is it possible to use Mage Hand to throw dirt in someone's face to distract them or cause a momentary penalty to an attack? What would the in-game effect be? Is this too powerful an effect for a 0 level spell?

 

[dcollins]

Entirely a DM call on an ad-hoc basis. If allowed, it would have to be less effective than flare (-1 penalty to attack rolls for 1 minute, Fortitude save negates).

 

[Crothian]

I'd probably do a ranged touch attack and that have that be the DC for a reflex save.

 

[Kershek]

I'd probably do a ranged touch attack and that have that be the DC for a reflex save.

Ooh, good one. I could use the above rules with flare as the result on failure. It could be a duration of 1 round for every point failed on the reflex save.

 

[Crothian]

Ooh, good one. I could use the above rules with flare as the result on failure. It could be a duration of 1 round for every point failed on the reflex save.

I'd lesson that to 1 round per 3 points failed (1 round minium) It's only a cantrip after all.

 

[alsih2o]

however, sprinkling dirt to find an invisible guy seems doable ?

 

[Crothian]

however, sprinkling dirt to find an invisible guy seems doable ?

if you know what space he is in of course.

 

[Artoomis]

The character points a finger at an object and can lift it and move it at will from a distance. As a move-equivalent action, the character can move the object up to 15 feet in any direction, though the spell ends if the distance between the character and the object ever exceeds the spell’s range.

It's always good to actually look at the spell language in these discussions.

I don't think you can throw anything with Mage Hand. Drop it, yes, throw it, no.

And you can only move it up to 15 feet.

IF, and its a big IF, you count a handful of dirt as "an object," then the Mage Hand could lift it and drop it over the head of the bad guy, possibly causing some minor grief.

 

[Kershek]

I'd consider 'move at will' to be the equivalent of throwing, but not at a speed that causes damage.

But now that you've posted the description, I wonder if 'handful of dirt' really equates to 'an object.'

Also, I'm not sure that a handful of dirt would be able to fill a 5' square to find an invisible enemy.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

I'd probably do a ranged touch attack and that have that be the DC for a reflex save.

Ranged touch attack is a good idea, but the DC should of course be 10 + Relevant attribute.