Talk:Launch Bolt (5e Spell)

Is this "bolt" as in crossbow bolt? Marasmusine (talk) 05:30, 24 July 2015 (MDT)

Some issues:

• If this is a cantrip, then it doesn't use spell slots, so the "at higher levels" line doesn't work.
• If this effects an existing projectile, this is likely to be a transmutation, not an evocation. Marasmusine (talk) 06:41, 30 July 2015 (MDT)

For the record, there is an existing spell that has a similar function in 3.5e, also called Launch Bolt, from the Spell Compendium (a different, earlier version appears in Magic of Faerun, as well). I won't give any links to it, as it is not OGL material as far as I know, but a clever mind can find it around the web. Basically, it shoots a bolt from your hand as if you had shot it from a light crossbow, applying all feats that would benefit such an attack (Point Blank Shot and so on), as well as any magical enhancements the bolt may have. It also allows you to draw the bolt as a free action when casting the spell.

It appears the original user is attempting to migrate the spell into fifth edition. Jwguy (talk) 07:02, 30 July 2015 (MDT)

Thanks for info Jwguy, looks like I was right, it is a transmutation :) I'll make the appropriate edits. Marasmusine (talk) 10:21, 31 July 2015 (MDT)

This cantrip feels like a mixedbag of powerful and not. The range on it goes beyond that of any other cantrip. I think I get where this was intended. But as written the damage is normal to start, but immediately starts to lag behind at the first cantrip upgrade. Is there a reason that this doesn't behave like a ranged shillelagh? ("weapon attack" but uses casting modifiers for to-hit and damage as well as buffing it to magic damage to start). The free to download Elemental Evils Player Companion has a spell like it called Magic Stone (enchant some rocks, hand to peasants, good times). Idk if that's the direction this is comfortable to go in, but if so I recommend setting a hard range on it (say 80 feet?).--Gr7mm Bobb (talk) 20:32, 18 January 2017 (MST)

You could use Bolt from Large-sized weapon. Each size increment increases amount of damage dice by 2. Bolt intended for Heavy Crossbow of Gargantuan size will deal 8d10 damage. Bolt intended for Heavy Crossbow of Colossal size will deal 16d10 damage. Bolt intended for Heavy Crossbow of Titanic size will deal 32d10 damage. Not bad for 0-th level spell? 95.71.91.148 07:32, 1 October 2024 (MDT)