Only Baldur's Gate 3 showed how terrible some spells really are

Wizards of the Coast are revising the rules of Dungeons & Dragons. The pen and paper game is not getting a new edition, only No. 5 is getting an update. There are going to be a lot of changes to the spells, as lead rule designer Jeremy Crawford reports in a YouTube video.

In fact, some of the changes stem from his own, and as he says, rather frustrating, experiences playing Baldur's Gate 3.

»It was frustrating«

In the video, Crawford talks about numerous spells that have had problems over the past ten years, but nothing has ever changed.

Link to YouTube content

At the magic Dagger Cloud and the magic trick Create flame However, it was Baldur's Gate 3 that provided the impetus for the change.

The problem with Dagger Cloud

Dagger Cloud is a 2nd level summoning that requires concentration and is cast in a cube of 3.375 cubic meters 4d4 slashing damage caused.

“That's often my biggest frustration with the spell. I cast it and then the monsters move away.”explains Crawford. Except in tight spots, the magic is, he says, not very usefulas enemies can easily move away from him.

Maintaining the spell over several rounds and therefore not having any concentration for others is therefore not very effective. The solution: Players can Dagger Cloud reposition yourself with an action in the futurejust like Moonbeam or Dancing Lights.

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The problem with creating flame

This summoning knack causes the caster's hand to be engulfed in flames when the action is performed. The flame brightens the environmentbut can also be in a later train at the cost of an action (range 9 m, damage 1d8 fire damage).

According to Crawford, Create Flame is one of those tricks that, despite the cost of a full action, has no great benefit. What he means is that it is simply better alternatives and create flame tries to be two things at once (source of damage and light) and does neither of them well.

The magic trick Flame Arrow also needs an action, but makes 1d10 fire damage and has a range of 18 meters. Light is also a magic trick. However, this one illuminates a larger area as a flame and holds a full hour instead of just 10 minutes.

This also bothered Crawford when playing Baldur's Gate 3, but he remains vague about the adjustments and only speaks of a “redesign”.

Larian's roleplaying game has already made changes to other rules in the upcoming D&D rulebook. You can find out what will be different in the future when using potions in the article linked above. In the box you will also find other exciting news about the future of Dungeons & Dragons. Perhaps more innovations will follow in the future, inspired by Baldur's Gate 3.