Updated Spells for Warrior-Mages
This content can now be found at its most updated version in The Elements and Beyond, a free 246-page compendium that you can download right here, filled with 23 subclasses, 8 spellcasting feats, 134 spells, 213 spell variants, 85 monsters, 30 magic items, 4 races plus 12 new subraces each with racial feats, and even more goodies for both players and DMs!
PDF Link / D&D Beyond Links: Radic's Sudden Spark, Cannon Blast, Swift Ward
Previously, we previewed these spells designed to be useful for any mages but especially synergistic for warrior-mages that mix spellcasting with weaponry in melee combat. Now, as we get closer and closer to the release of The Elements and Beyond, we can preview the updates to those spells that will feature in the compendium:
As was mentioned the last time we previewed updates to D&D Unleashed material, the content we preview may change from the first time its previewed to when it appears in the compendium, but for those that are particularly notable changes, we might preview them again! In this case, the most notable change is to the name of the 2nd-level spell, which was previously called “Rocket Blast”, now called cannon blast. While some fantasy worlds have rockets in the form of fireworks (since in the real world they were invented before plate armor was), the term “rocket” is rarely associated with fantasy, and “cannon” is a better fit in most D&D settings. Other minor changes include the style of extra damage for radic’s sudden spark and the “unless it is dealt by an attack” clause in swift ward, as well as text revisions throughout the spells for clarity and ease-of-reading, which will be common in the compendium.
Radic's Sudden Spark enables a warrior-mage to wield smite-like lightning and can be used to capitalize on both a critical hit you make and critical hits made against you, giving great synergy to front-line mages using the spell. Cannon Blast is one of my most favorite new spells. While this spell offers damage, mobility, and a prone effect, it also requires that the caster move in a straight line and to come within melee range of the enemy. Launching yourself at your foes is most effective when you want to be on the front-lines, after all. This spell also appears on the Pyromancy spell list. Then Swift Ward offers an effect similar to many homebrew abjuration spells -- a defensive reaction spell other than shield. It's part of a small set of ward-based new spells coming in the compendiums, also including the cantrip-level guard spell and the 1st-level barrier spell which can target others.
Swift ward also appears on the Geomancy, Hydromancy, and Gladimancy spell lists, and there are no spells that appear on more specialization lists than swift ward. While the spell is intended to be usable by any spellcaster (because I myself could see any of them casting such an effect in some way), DMs who feel that it should be more restricted in terms of class spell lists can feel free to include it in their game for only clerics and paladins, or only sorcerers and wizards, or whatever feels appropriate to them as a DM.
PDF Link / D&D Beyond Links: Radic's Sudden Spark, Cannon Blast, Swift Ward
