D&D 5E [Poll] Tides of Chaos frequency: how do you rule?

[FormerlyHemlock]

Does anyone know a way to change the poll visibility? I meant to set the results to be visible as soon as you voted.

Mods, can you please help? [MENTION=1]Morrus[/MENTION]?

 

[Lidgar]

Every time a non-cantrip spell is cast, when we remember it.

Only happened once so far, and the Sorc is 5th level. Turned himself into a sheep right in the middle of a very tense battle. Things were looking pretty baaaaaad...

 

[Tony Vargas]

I find this claim surprising, and I'm curious if this is really true. As a DM, how often would you allow a Sorcerer to get a Wild Surge off of Tides of Chaos?

The one time someone brought in a (Wild) Sorcerer, just a few months into the run of 5e, we were both excited by the idea of Wild Surge - and we both forgot about it every time.

But it was fun reading the table.

About like Inspiration, really, except that I was never excited about Inspiration.

And that was it, 1st/last/only Wild Sorcerer to be brought to my table. :shrug:

 

[Ath'kethin]

Hasn't come up in my game (nobody's played a sorcerer at all, let alone a wild mage), but the way I see it: if you play a wild mage, you do it for the wild surges. So I'd have the player roll for a surge every time they cast a spell of 1st level or higher; if they roll at or below the spell's level on the d20, it triggers the surge. Tides of Chaos triggers if a natural 20 is rolled on that surge check, so it's like getting a critical hit.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Hasn't come up in my game (nobody's played a sorcerer at all, let alone a wild mage), but the way I see it: if you play a wild mage, you do it for the wild surges. So I'd have the player roll for a surge every time they cast a spell of 1st level or higher; if they roll at or below the spell's level on the d20, it triggers the surge. Tides of Chaos triggers if a natural 20 is rolled on that surge check, so it's like getting a critical hit.

I've seen this variant mentioned a couple of times, and I like it a lot better than the PHB's version (95% pointless rolling = boring). It's a variant rule, but so what? It makes the Wild Mage more interesting.

 

[dropbear8mybaby]

I instituted a house rule for wild mages. The 1d20 roll to see if you have a wild surge is made every time you cast a spell of 1st-level or higher. I then change it so that you regain Tides of Chaos whenever you have a wild magic surge.

Because this leaving it up to the DM nonsense is just that, nonsense.

 

[Shadowdweller00]

I tend to use it a couple times per session. Primarily for two reasons: 1) When the Sorcerer PC is in trouble - both to recharge the ability and because the results tend to be positive a little more often then not. And 2) when I feel like messing with the PC because they are either taking foolish risks or doing something innocuous where chaos could trip them up in an entertaining way.

 

[Nevaroth]

My friends and I came up with a unique way to handle wild surge in each of our campaigns.

At the start of the session we set a timer (I roll a d20 and times it by 5 minutes for the duration). When the buzzer goes off the sorcerer wild surges right then and there (my character wild surged while he was getting laid of all times). Whenever the sorcerer casts a spell they have to roll a d20. If the roll is equal to or less than the spell level then they surge. If they don't surge they get a buildup point. Next time they cast a spell they have to roll equal to or less than "the spell level + magic buildup". When they surge the buildup resets to 0. If they cast Tide of Chaos then they surge right then and there.

Adds a lot of fun as wild surging becomes more common. In one instance the party was trying to sneak past a group of armed men, and the sorcerer wild surged next to the bad guys.

 

[pukunui]

The last time I had a wild mage in my game, I let them recharge their Tides of Chaos pretty much as soon as they used it. More wild surges = more fun, in my book!

I don't like the 1 in 20 chance, to be honest. I base it off of the level of spell they are casting. So, if they cast a 3rd level spell, they get a surge on a 3 or less.

I do this too.

 

[Helldritch]

I voted the frequently because we tend to forget it a wee bit to often to my tastes.

The Ath-Kethin's solution is elegant and I think I will use it from now on.