D&D 5E Snow-Sweeping/Clearing Cantrip

[rgoodbb]

A 1st level druid for RotFM starting in a snow-sweeping job, keeping the paths clear either between ten-towns or within one of them.



Which one of the elemental cantrips seems the most appropriate to accomplish this to you?



Mold Earth (would snow count)

Shape Water?

Control Flames (+ fire source)

Gust??

 

[ECMO3]

I think Prestidigitation is the best option here, and I would just house rule it so a Druid can take it as one of her Cantrips.

 

[jasper]

A 1st level druid for RotFM starting in a snow-sweeping job, keeping the paths clear either between ten-towns or within one of them.



Which one of the elemental cantrips seems the most appropriate to accomplish this to you?



Mold Earth (would snow count)

Shape Water?

Control Flames (+ fire source)

Gust??

I ran Rime and allow Mold Earth to work. Shape water would work too.

 

[ad_hoc]

I agree with the one who sets off airport metal detectors.

Of the options presented, Shape Water.

That said, as a GM, I might just ask for an Arcana check (or Nature because Druid?) and allow a simple effect to sweep the snow aside. It'd be a pretty simple check, and you'd need concentration to maintain it as you wandered the street.

I would also not play it out unless something is coming...

But why a check?

What is the consequence of failure? Is it interesting? Is it fun?

 

[Tonguez]

I'd treat snow as a Wall of Ice and fire works on a Wall of Ice thus "The wall is an object that can be damaged and thus breached. It has AC 12 and 30 hit points per 10-foot section, and it is vulnerable to fire damage. Reducing a 10-foot section of wall to 0 hit points destroys it and leaves behind a sheet of frigid air in the space the wall occupied"

Prestidigitation also works

 

[MarkB]

I'd go with Shape Water, specifically this application:

• You cause the water to form into simple shapes and animate at your direction. This change lasts for 1 hour.

You could cause the snow to compact and form into a simple snow-shovel shape, which will go around shovelling more snow for you for the next hour. You can have two of those working at the same time.

 

[Oofta]

I'd go with Shape Water, specifically this application:

• You cause the water to form into simple shapes and animate at your direction. This change lasts for 1 hour.

You could cause the snow to compact and form into a simple snow-shovel shape, which will go around shovelling more snow for you for the next hour. You can have two of those working at the same time.

That would make building a snowman much easier.

 

[see]

That would make building a snowman much easier.

It doesn't have to be a snowman . . .

 

[Umbran]

I think allowing Shape Water to manipulate snow and ice directly is setting a precedent that might have unforeseen consequences.

I think Gust would be the best fit. Freshly fallen snow I think is like up to 10 lbs per cubic foot - so you move half a cubic foot per casting. A path 30' long, 3 feet wide, and 6" deep would take about 10 minutes to clear.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Voting Shape Water.

If the snow in the area isn't water... what is it then?

 

[Longspeak]

But why a check?

What is the consequence of failure? Is it interesting? Is it fun?

I always call for a check for any non-standard use of magic. Especially used to shortcut something you could just do manually. If it's not a spell or power, but still magic, it's a skill check, with a DC commensurate to the goal. Ditto for a spell where you're trying to a related but not RAW outcome.

And yes, failure can be interesting.

For ex, snow-sweeping. Success uses your magic or a variation of shape water to neatly push aside snow, with you COULD have just done with a shovel. Failure perhaps creates a small snow devil and scatted snow on passersby, much to you chagrin and their annoyance.

Or you can just use a shovel.

I use lower DCs and decent skills will usually just beat the check with a bonus if you keep it simple.