Hello magic casters of all shapes and sizes! Welcome to my spellbook and thank you so much for checking out 73rd episode of our second level spell series. Today we’re looking at a very interesting spell in the way that it really lends itself to a very particular play style. To be honest i have a bone of contention with the mechanics behind it. But i’ll get into that in a little bit here.
Today we’re gonna be taking a look at suggestion dnd 5e spell. This spell is usable by the bard, sorcerer, warlock and the wizard and it is found in the good old players handbook. Now without further ado let’s take a quick look at its mechanics so you can kind of better understand how the spell works.
Table of Contents
Mechanics
- Level: 2nd
- Casting Time: 1 Action
- Range/Area: 30 ft
- Components: V, M *
- Duration: 8 Hours (Concentration)
- School: Enchantment
- Attack/Save: WIS Save
- Damage/Effect: Control
The effect at a glance is as followed: Suggest a reasonable and harmless course of action to a creature. On a failed save, creatures that can be charmed pursue the course of action. That is to say creatures who are immune to charming are also subsequently immune to this, so just bear that in mind.
The cast time is one action. The range is 30 feet, the duration is 8 hours and it is concentration. The save is wisdom and on a success there’s no effect. The components are verbal and material. If you’re curious about that material component it is a snakes tongue and either a bit of honeycomb or a drop of sweet oil which is kind of cool, you know a snake tongue salesman and what ever. Also check out dnd suggestion vs charm person.
In any case the school is enchantment as well which makes logical sense. So if you can’t tell the problem i have is that it’s a concentration spell i really don’t think it needs to be one, i think it’d be fine with saying something to the effect of when you cast this spell again it cancels the original but whatever that’s just me. Now let’s take a quick look at the full description and better explaining exactly how the spell works. Also read is bane a good spell 5e.
Description
You suggest a course of activity (limited to a sentence or two) and magically influence a creature you can see within range that can hear and understand you. Creatures that can’t be charmed are immune to this effect. The suggestion must be worded in such a manner as to make the course of action sound reasonable. Asking the creature to stab itself, throw itself onto a spear, immolate itself, or do some other obviously harmful act ends the spell.
The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it pursues the course of action you described to the best of its ability. The suggested course of action can continue for the entire duration. If the suggested activity can be completed in a shorter time, the spell ends when the subject finishes what it was asked to do.
You can also specify conditions that will trigger a special activity during the duration. For example, you might suggest that a knight give her warhorse to the first beggar she meets. If the condition isn’t met before the spell expires, the activity isn’t performed. If you or any of your companions damage the target, the spell ends. * – (a snake’s tongue and either a bit of honeycomb or a drop of sweet oil)
Oh my goodness this is such a headache for me personally. So the long and short of it of why i think this is bad there’s two main things. The first is that it has to sound reasonable and that means all a DM needs to do in order to make it so doesn’t happen to just say the target doesn’t think that’s reasonable the spell fails. also read dnd suggestion vs command.
The second thing is that it can take a potential 8 hours worth of concentration and there’s no real way to end the spell prematurely. Suppose you could always just stop concentrating on it but as its worded it doesn’t say anything like dismiss it as an action or what have you so,
I just think it’s a little bit annoying like maybe i’m just upset at the way it’s written more than the actual spell itself. But that’s just me personally overall though i do think it is very cool, it just lends itself to a very particular kind of playstyle. Without further ado let’s take a quick look at some alternative uses here and get those creative juices flowing.
Keep reading: sanctuary 5e | command 5e | charm person 5e | detect thoughts 5e | enthrall 5e | searing smite 5e |
Alternative Uses
Does the target of suggestion know? So the first and most obvious created use is using this to influence a very high political figure or at least someone with a decent amount of sway. For example they hit a king up with this and be like listen mr.king.
You feel so hopeless that you are willing to accept the help of adventurers and you’re willing to pay any price. He was like why yes mmm yes that’s how i would use it at least. Another great way to use this is for balancing reasons, for example you could walk up to the knights guard captain and be like you’re going to be you’re gonna feel so sick tomorrow, that you are going to take the day off, it was like yes sir! So you won’t have to worry bout him during the big fight.
Another great way to use this is through reconnaissance. For example walk up to one of the guards. Like tell me everything you know with the knights captain, you’ll be like yes sir! In any case you can also check out this succubus dnd.
I think those are probably the best ways of using this. I suppose you could get a little bit more creative like walk up to the guard and be like you are so jealous and you feel so taken advantage of that you are going to attempt to kill the guard captain and sleep tomorrow. Something like that, that’d be pretty cool!
I always raise this spell with an emotional reason firth that you feel blank, so you’re going to do blank. I feel like it just helps make it sound a lot more reasonable so take that advice if you want it or not doesn’t really matter but that’s how i’ve always used it. Also read mass suggestion dnd 5e.
Conclusion
In any case if you have any alternative uses, ideas, thoughts, questions, comments, concerns or stories please put it down beneath in the comment section, i really do appreciate it. Thank you so much everyone i really do appreciate it and i hope you all have a great day and as always happy casting.
Also check out staggering smite | sacred flame 5e | speak with animals 5e | shield of faith dnd | shield master 5e | sleep 5e | spiritual weapon 5e |