Talk:Detonate (5e Spell)

The material requirements of this spell creates a bit of an issue. A golden orb with a radius of 1 inch has a diameter of 2 inches. A 2 inch sphere of gold is about 46.663 oz of gold. At a conversion rate of 1 pound gold => 16oz => 50 gold pieces => 5 sticks of dynamite which do 2d6 fire DMG RAW. This means two golden orbs is 90 oz of gold or 5 lbs, or 250 gp. Artificially setting the material component cost to 5 gp has... Unforseen deleterious effects on economics.

There is also the issue that with one action, RAW, you're laying an orb on every space within range, noting where every creature is, summing up how many spaces within range they are adjacent to, then rolling that many d6's for the damage roll. But wait! Are there any creatures that share common adjacent squares you rolled for, so subtract that from the rolls of the next.

The book keeping is excessive.

I'd propose the following:

A cap of number of throwable orbs per Material component or consumed. Change the material component to 1-inch diameter gold spheres. (Easier math), one, and two, any metalsmith would likely hbe able to melt down gold using forms since a 1 inch diameter gold sphere is a standard measuring unit. Add a cap to number of thrown orbs in the course of a single action. You can keep a time bound upper limit on max orbs thrown total. more orbs consumed, the faster you can place them. (more orbs per action).

Not sure of a good way to resolve the algorithm in a satisfying manner. Will update if it occurs to me.

Alright, not explicitly balls anymore, just a chunk of gold worth 5 gp. Believe this solves the problem. --SwankyPants (talk) 12:44, 25 November 2021 (MST)