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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James Gasik" data-source="post: 8814838" data-attributes="member: 6877472">Mostly because there are better things to use spell slots on.  I mean, compare this to the humble sleet storm.3rd-level conjurationCasting Time: 1 actionRange: 120 feetComponents: V, S, M (a pinch of dust and a few drops of water)Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minuteUntil the spell ends, freezing rain and sleet fall in a 20-foot-tall cylinder with a 40-foot radius centered on a point you choose within range. The area is heavily obscured, and exposed flames in the area are doused.The ground in the area is covered with slick ice, making it difficult terrain. When a creature enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, it falls prone.If a creature starts its turn in the spell's area and is concentrating on a spell, the creature must make a successful Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC or lose concentration.So while it doesn't do any damage, for basically an entire combat, you get a 40' radius zone that costs double movement for enemies to move through, and if you fail a save when you do, you fall prone and stop moving entirely, and then next turn, you get to try again, and failure effectively reduces your speed to 1/4th!  Oh and it also nicely forces concentration checks if you have an enemy spellcaster to worry about.That kind of battlefield control and caster denial is something a non-caster could only dream about, way better than a super limited "swing my weapon at everyone in 30'". Basically, if you're going to use one of your limited spell slots on something, it really needs to be effective.  A big, unfriendly blast that can fail to slaughter some CR 1 enemies?  Yeah, I'll take the sleet storm, thanks.  It can keep enemies you aren't ready for yet out of melee, foil ranged attacks, and mess with casters for a whole fight vs. softening up enemies which are still 100% combat effective.And I haven't even mentioned hypnotic pattern, slow, or stinking cloud yet!</blockquote>

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