Talk:Thundering Whip (5e Spell)

In my personal opinion, this cantrip is only harmed by its material component requirement - that is, the whip. A cantrip, and in fact most every spell, ought to be able to stand on their own, or at least be more versatile than that - see Green-Flame Blade or Booming Blade, which can be used with any melee weapon. The difference between a spell that requires a whip and a spell that forms a magical whip and uses that in lieu of a weapon are subtle, but in the right circumstances extremely stark. Not to mention that very few if any casters have proficiency in whips.

It could also be argued that a mere cantrip capable of conjuring a magical weapon is overpowered, especially since the only core content I'm aware of that does the same is Mordenkaiden's Sword, a 7th-level spell that deals 3d10 force damage on hit. In such a case, I would argue that the spell's level needs to increase.

Just some food for thought. --Nuke The Earth (talk) 00:59, 19 December 2020 (MST)

I do see what you mean, it's very niche. I wanted a spell similar to Booming Blade which could take advantage of the whip's reach without making one that could be used with the reach of pole arms as I thought that would be overpowered. I could rework this as a spell that creates a whip or a simple thunder cantrip with whip-based flavor, or something with a slot like Mordenkaiden's Sword or Shadow Blade. What if learning this spell granted proficiency with the whip?

--Malachai (talk)

Generally, spells are not meant to grant any form of proficiency, as that could be abused. I think the simplest way to improve this spell would be to, as you mentioned, rework it into a cantrip that looks like a whip, though it could also be modified into something similar to Shadow Blade and the like, with perhaps less emphasis on raw damage output and more on battlefield control, such as by pushing enemies struck with it, or imposing various Conditions. If it is to be reworked into a leveled spell, I think it could do wonders, and fit the name well. I leave it up to you, though. --Nuke The Earth (talk) 01:34, 19 December 2020 (MST)

Very well. Sadly the leveled version pretty much already exists: https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Thunderwhip_(5e_Spell) but I'll see how it could work as a cantrip. Malachai (talk) 01:52, 19 December 2020 (MST)

Ah. Well, that is unfortunate, especially since Thunderwhip has such a... mundane effect, if I'm being honest. I suppose you could rework it into Greater Thunderwhip, should the mood strike you, though I may just rework Thunderwhip itself. I believe it could become an excellent battlefield control spell. --Nuke The Earth (talk) 01:57, 19 December 2020 (MST)