D&D 5E (2014) Stink of the City and other unpleasentries, do you pay attention to them?

[Kobold Stew]

For some time I've wanted a cantrip to deal with sanitation/cleanliness/etc. and the issues you raise here.

Since the closest thing is the Mend spell, I've invented one here. No mechanical uses, but the ability always to be clean strikes me as one of the more useful things ubiquitous magic can offer.

 

[jgsugden]

Prestidigitation cleans 1 cubic foot of object.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

London isn't the only example of ancient cities. Ancient Rome was supposedly vastly superior in terms of sanitation.

Also, I generally prefer settings where magic is insufficiently pervasive to cause large changes in society. It's hard to maintain the mystery and wonder of magic when the garbagemen are using it.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Prestidigitation cleans 1 cubic foot of object.

For one hour. Prestidigitation gives you Febreeze, not actual cleaning.

 

[miniaturehoarder]

Only if those Druids choose to give of their labour in this way, which is by no means certain. And even then, only if there isn't a balancing sect of evil Druids bent on causing all crops to fail.

Yeah, I think most druids are going to know better than to be allowing humans to grow enough food to keep up with their desired population growth. And just because the gods' mental cage of morality will label them as evil, that won't stop practical druids from demanding human sacrifice for a good harvest.

 

[delericho]

For one hour. Prestidigitation gives you Febreeze, not actual cleaning.

The spell description specifically indicates that it instantaneously cleans or soils an item - an exception to the normal 1-hour duration.

 

[Hand of Evil]

It all comes down to atmosphere, the level of civilization.

Sometimes, I like fantasy not so much medieval in my games so make my cities much like they appear today, some parts new and shiny, others rundown and dirty. I always seem to have a sewer / underground just for adventures.

Other times, I like the grit of cities laid waste to, old, slowly rotting, where the streets are dark and dangerous. I still seem to have sewer / underground.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The spell description specifically indicates that it instantaneously cleans or soils an item - an exception to the normal 1-hour duration.

That's interesting. It had felt like they were specifically avoiding the effect I was looking for. I see what you're saying though -- I guess as long as you count yourself as an object up to 1 cubic foot in size (?).

 

[delericho]

That's interesting. It had felt like they were specifically avoiding the effect I was looking for. I see what you're saying though -- I guess as long as you count yourself as an object up to 1 cubic foot in size (?).

It's definitely an odd one. Technically, cleaning yourself would fail on two counts (the caster isn't an object, and the 1-cubic foot limit). Personally, though, I'd be inclined to allow it, though perhaps requiring multiple castings, simply because it's exactly the sort of thing you'd expect a Transmuter to learn how to do.

Either way, the caster should be able to use it to clean his clothes, of course (though, again, maybe needing multiple castings).

 

[Sunseeker]

It's not really something I bother with unless it is relevant to the situation. Perhaps the horrid sewage problem in this town is part of the reason players are in this town to begin with.

London's filth was not simply a sign of the times, but was symptomatic of many other issues facing London. Other cities were often drastically cleaner.