Talk:Reflexive Shot (5e Spell)

Designers Note: I'm not 100% sure on the correct spell level for this. I'd be glad to hear any input about that. --Entropicscholar (talk) 23:38, 17 August 2015 (MDT)

I think you could get away with this being 1st level. It only slightly improves what you might normally do with with a weapon and your reaction. Marasmusine (talk) 01:43, 18 August 2015 (MDT)

Clarity on the kind of attack you make is necessary, as there are numerous ranged weapons which can make melee attacks as well. It implies a ranged attack, but should explicitly state it to avoid confusion/argument. Standard 5e wording would have it "Make a ranged weapon attack with a ranged weapon you are holding against the triggering creature." would be enough to remove any dispute.

Additionally, the casting time description needs touching up, removing the "provoke an attack of opportunity" part, as that can arguably open some doors with other abilities, such as the Mobile feat and the Swashbuckler rogue opportunity attack denial, and with War Caster opportunity attack replacement.

Optionally, you could reflavor the casting time and duration similar as to how the paladin Smite spells function, with a bonus action cast and short concentration duration, where if critters leaves a 30 ft radius you get to use reaction to make a single ranged weapon attack against it, with a single die bonus to damage, and the spell ending. It would smooth out the triggering conditions, and that would also buff the spell to be worth while as a 2nd level spell slot, as Marasmusine mentioned previously as being fitting as a 1st level one. You could even have a higher level cast allowing additional attacks before the spell ends, or additional damage.

Oh, just noticed the duration Instantaneous is spelled wrong, and needs fixing. --Kahz (talk) 01:21, 9 October 2016 (MDT)

I'm not sure what happened to the original contributor, but I adjusted the spell a bit according to some of Kahz' and Marasmusine's suggestions. I think what makes this drastically more powerful than a 1st level spell is the potential it has with Arcane Trickster. They can get sneak attack on this, just as they could on regular opportunity attacks. Just considering that, I wonder if this is even balanced as a 2nd level spell for them - although they do need to be at least 8th level to get it.

I'm not sure what you meant, Kahz, by "open some doors" with those examples. Both the archetype mentioned and Mobile, the effect is something like, "that creature cannot make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn." Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't really see how this is a problem. Similarly, War Caster doesn't seem like it's an issue either — taking it alongside this spell would just give you more options for opportunity attacks.

Aside from that, I would argue this spell could be more powerful if you can make it as a reaction instead of a bonus action. It depends on the class, but I'm imagining an Arcane Trickster using it, as it seems like they would benefit from it the most. If they normally make sneak attacks from range and try to stay out of melee, then they would probably want to keep their bonus slots open for actions like Withdraw and Dash.

Furthermore, because this is a reaction spell and specifically not an actual opportunity attack, it prevents what to me would be greater abuse, mainly from the sentinel feat.

Maybe I'm just playing devil's advocate, but I think it's fine as-is, now. — Guy (talk | edits) 08:29, 10 March 2017 (UTC)