I took a long break from RP'ing. Been a couple years at least. I'm very interested in this new editionless edition. Looking through the PHB, I'm very impressed overall. I like the classes, I like the approach to making components like feats and alignment optional, and I like the idea of spells having a consistent mechanic regarding their effectiveness improving by assigning higher slots.
I haven't done a real cover-to-cover deep-dive yet, however, so I thought I'd check with you guys about the one thing that set a bunch of alarms off: the new sleep spell. No saving throw is mentioned, and it works off of current hit points, and can be improved by slotting it at higher levels. Rather than its traditional role of being a spell intended for dropping groups of weak foes, this version seems quite deadly when used against a single character. The hit points it affects averages 14 at 1st-level, and then 7 more for every slot level assigned to it. That's a pretty high base relative to level, and doesn't even account for the target taking some damage before getting whammied.
As in previous versions, a sleeping target wakes up if they take damage, but if you can simply slit a sleeping victim's throat, that's not much condolence for him. I can easily envision scenarios where one character casts sleep, and an ally steps in to deliver the death blow. It hits the character with the lowest hit points within 20 feet first, but I think that's going to be pretty manageable much of the time.
So, I guess I'm asking if there are limiting factors than I'm not aware of. Is there no coup de grace option in this edition, for instance, so you can't just lop of a sleeping foes head in one hit?
I searched for a thread for this spell specifically and didn't find one. If it's been discussed already, sorry.
I haven't done a real cover-to-cover deep-dive yet, however, so I thought I'd check with you guys about the one thing that set a bunch of alarms off: the new sleep spell. No saving throw is mentioned, and it works off of current hit points, and can be improved by slotting it at higher levels. Rather than its traditional role of being a spell intended for dropping groups of weak foes, this version seems quite deadly when used against a single character. The hit points it affects averages 14 at 1st-level, and then 7 more for every slot level assigned to it. That's a pretty high base relative to level, and doesn't even account for the target taking some damage before getting whammied.
As in previous versions, a sleeping target wakes up if they take damage, but if you can simply slit a sleeping victim's throat, that's not much condolence for him. I can easily envision scenarios where one character casts sleep, and an ally steps in to deliver the death blow. It hits the character with the lowest hit points within 20 feet first, but I think that's going to be pretty manageable much of the time.
So, I guess I'm asking if there are limiting factors than I'm not aware of. Is there no coup de grace option in this edition, for instance, so you can't just lop of a sleeping foes head in one hit?
I searched for a thread for this spell specifically and didn't find one. If it's been discussed already, sorry.