My first gaming group felt that cantrips made a 1st level MU A Lot more useful than the insane "1 spell per day". I had a conversation with one of my members of my gaming group over lunch, how earlier versions of D&D, (in particular the 1st and 2nd editions), were so different than 4th and 5th editions. I made mention of how much 1st level MUs were literally "Glass canons" and that the primary survival tactic was basically use a sling to nail opponents from a distance and running from the monsters. (Hiding behind the party's cleric worked too.) I also mentioned that aside of sling, the staff was the second most used weapon. She asked, "So you are saying that low level wizards were basically martial artists?". And I was like, "No, it was more like holding the staff from the end to keep whatever creature that was trying to kill you as far away as possible,". "Stay back! Stay back!"
Cantrips were things that seemed like a gawdawful waste of time when we first found them, though some ended up being useful enough on second consideration that we kept a few handy. Our gnome illusionist/thief kept colored lights around once he realized how much more effective it was for nefarious deeds. When he was intent on some quiet infiltration and random skullduggery the colored lights of a deep blue or red allowed him to read papers/scrolls without alerting nearby guards with excess light. The magic-user's bluelight spell was almost as useful, though its single 1' diameter blue source with a 5 foot radius light was more noticeable than the gnome's 3 inch diameter pick a color source with a 15 inch radius light. And, yes, the illusionist creates enough globes to equal a 1 foot diameter globe, so 4 3 inch globes, but three of them would be hidden under his hat and the fourth used for light. The gnome also kept the mask cantrip for use when he needed to blend into a crowd. I remember one time when, while being pursued by the town guard after stealing something, he dodged through a marketplace, stole a couple of apples in passing, stuffed them into his shirt side by side (ish), reversed his grey cloak to its light blue side, and used the mask spell to put on the made up face of a gnomish trollop and leaned casually against a corner. The guardsmen thundered past ignoring the gnome harlot, and he casually wandered back the way he came and escaped. The bee cantrip was good for startling animals. Summon an angry honeybee around the officious nobleman's horse's rump and enjoy the results! Firefinger and dry were useful cantrips for getting kindling lit after being caught and soaked in a rainstorm, and firefinger was also useful for a quick lighting of the Molotov cocktails we occasionally used. The legerdemain cantrips change, hide, palm, and present had some uses, and my short lived elven F/MU/T used those to help with his various stealing efforts early on. Alas for the encounter with the cave fisher who killed him in one hit (low con and first level triple class meant few hp, and a sneak attack by the fisher meant my spot in the back of the party wasn't the safe place to be). So they did have their occasional uses, but they were generally quickly forgotten once two or three levels had been gained. Still, we did have some fun trying to find ways to make them more useful.
Once I got into 3e D&D and Pathfinder I thought cantrips/orisons were pretty cool and useful with the right amount of imagination. Especially for the cleric. Mix it with the granted power from your chosen domain and they can get some +1 level buffs to your spells IIRC. My PF cleric of the god Torag was maxed out for mending and crafting. It would be nice if I had time to get back into 3e/PF again.
@@EsperRanger 3e (not 3.5) always has a love in my heart, because it was the first game I went all in after skipping 2e for all those years. Then they ruined it for me with 3.5e… no hate on those that loved it. Just became a headache for me.
I like the reverse version: untie. You could finally get to use the old, “Your shoes are untied…” trick in a literal sense.
yep. could be a classic moment too :)
My first gaming group felt that cantrips made a 1st level MU A Lot more useful than the insane "1 spell per day".
I had a conversation with one of my members of my gaming group over lunch, how earlier versions of D&D, (in particular the 1st and 2nd editions), were so different than 4th and 5th editions. I made mention of how much 1st level MUs were literally "Glass canons" and that the primary survival tactic was basically use a sling to nail opponents from a distance and running from the monsters. (Hiding behind the party's cleric worked too.) I also mentioned that aside of sling, the staff was the second most used weapon. She asked, "So you are saying that low level wizards were basically martial artists?". And I was like, "No, it was more like holding the staff from the end to keep whatever creature that was trying to kill you as far away as possible,".
"Stay back! Stay back!"
@@TheBubbaclaw lol yes… push the monster away
Cantrips were things that seemed like a gawdawful waste of time when we first found them, though some ended up being useful enough on second consideration that we kept a few handy.
Our gnome illusionist/thief kept colored lights around once he realized how much more effective it was for nefarious deeds. When he was intent on some quiet infiltration and random skullduggery the colored lights of a deep blue or red allowed him to read papers/scrolls without alerting nearby guards with excess light. The magic-user's bluelight spell was almost as useful, though its single 1' diameter blue source with a 5 foot radius light was more noticeable than the gnome's 3 inch diameter pick a color source with a 15 inch radius light. And, yes, the illusionist creates enough globes to equal a 1 foot diameter globe, so 4 3 inch globes, but three of them would be hidden under his hat and the fourth used for light.
The gnome also kept the mask cantrip for use when he needed to blend into a crowd. I remember one time when, while being pursued by the town guard after stealing something, he dodged through a marketplace, stole a couple of apples in passing, stuffed them into his shirt side by side (ish), reversed his grey cloak to its light blue side, and used the mask spell to put on the made up face of a gnomish trollop and leaned casually against a corner. The guardsmen thundered past ignoring the gnome harlot, and he casually wandered back the way he came and escaped.
The bee cantrip was good for startling animals. Summon an angry honeybee around the officious nobleman's horse's rump and enjoy the results! Firefinger and dry were useful cantrips for getting kindling lit after being caught and soaked in a rainstorm, and firefinger was also useful for a quick lighting of the Molotov cocktails we occasionally used. The legerdemain cantrips change, hide, palm, and present had some uses, and my short lived elven F/MU/T used those to help with his various stealing efforts early on. Alas for the encounter with the cave fisher who killed him in one hit (low con and first level triple class meant few hp, and a sneak attack by the fisher meant my spot in the back of the party wasn't the safe place to be).
So they did have their occasional uses, but they were generally quickly forgotten once two or three levels had been gained. Still, we did have some fun trying to find ways to make them more useful.
I misread the title and started this podcast thinking you would be talking about 'caltrops'. 🤣
@@KhorneliusPraxxGames caltrops can be useful too :)
Is there a cantrip that magically spreads caltrops behind you? @@TheEvilDM
@ not that I am aware of but that would be a very useful one!
I wasn't aware there was something besides AD&D to talk about. I might look more into this concept. Then again, nah.
@@jasonjacobson1157 haha noted ;)
Once I got into 3e D&D and Pathfinder I thought cantrips/orisons were pretty cool and useful with the right amount of imagination. Especially for the cleric. Mix it with the granted power from your chosen domain and they can get some +1 level buffs to your spells IIRC. My PF cleric of the god Torag was maxed out for mending and crafting. It would be nice if I had time to get back into 3e/PF again.
@@EsperRanger 3e (not 3.5) always has a love in my heart, because it was the first game I went all in after skipping 2e for all those years. Then they ruined it for me with 3.5e… no hate on those that loved it. Just became a headache for me.