How much may I customize a Fog Cloud spell?
The description for the fog cloud spell says:
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.
Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.
If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?
My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.
dnd-5e spells
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
add a comment |
The description for the fog cloud spell says:
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.
Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.
If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?
My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.
dnd-5e spells
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
1
what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
Dec 10 at 15:47
@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 15:53
3
@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
Dec 10 at 16:04
1
@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
Dec 10 at 16:04
3
Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
Dec 10 at 16:19
add a comment |
The description for the fog cloud spell says:
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.
Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.
If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?
My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.
dnd-5e spells
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
The description for the fog cloud spell says:
You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.
Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.
If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?
My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.
dnd-5e spells
dnd-5e spells
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
edited Dec 11 at 1:47
V2Blast
19.3k253119
19.3k253119
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
asked Dec 10 at 15:40
StandardEyre
1,3302628
1,3302628
1
what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
Dec 10 at 15:47
@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 15:53
3
@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
Dec 10 at 16:04
1
@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
Dec 10 at 16:04
3
Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
Dec 10 at 16:19
add a comment |
1
what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
Dec 10 at 15:47
@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 15:53
3
@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
Dec 10 at 16:04
1
@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
Dec 10 at 16:04
3
Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
Dec 10 at 16:19
1
1
what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
Dec 10 at 15:47
what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
Dec 10 at 15:47
@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 15:53
@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 15:53
3
3
@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
Dec 10 at 16:04
@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
Dec 10 at 16:04
1
1
@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
Dec 10 at 16:04
@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
Dec 10 at 16:04
3
3
Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
Dec 10 at 16:19
Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
Dec 10 at 16:19
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW
Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.
You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect
Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.
Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.
Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
1
Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 17:57
add a comment |
You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
OotS reference?
– AntiDrondert
Dec 11 at 7:38
I had forgotten that strip even though I would have read it in the past.
– Allan Mills
Dec 16 at 21:06
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "122"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f137100%2fhow-much-may-i-customize-a-fog-cloud-spell%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW
Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.
You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect
Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.
Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.
Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
1
Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 17:57
add a comment |
The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW
Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.
You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect
Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.
Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.
Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
1
Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 17:57
add a comment |
The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW
Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.
You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect
Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.
Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.
Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW
Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.
You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect
Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.
Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.
Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
edited Dec 10 at 17:48
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
answered Dec 10 at 15:53
Xirema
15.4k24493
15.4k24493
1
Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 17:57
add a comment |
1
Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 17:57
1
1
Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 17:57
Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 17:57
add a comment |
You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
OotS reference?
– AntiDrondert
Dec 11 at 7:38
I had forgotten that strip even though I would have read it in the past.
– Allan Mills
Dec 16 at 21:06
add a comment |
You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
OotS reference?
– AntiDrondert
Dec 11 at 7:38
I had forgotten that strip even though I would have read it in the past.
– Allan Mills
Dec 16 at 21:06
add a comment |
You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
answered Dec 10 at 21:09
Allan Mills
3434
3434
OotS reference?
– AntiDrondert
Dec 11 at 7:38
I had forgotten that strip even though I would have read it in the past.
– Allan Mills
Dec 16 at 21:06
add a comment |
OotS reference?
– AntiDrondert
Dec 11 at 7:38
I had forgotten that strip even though I would have read it in the past.
– Allan Mills
Dec 16 at 21:06
OotS reference?
– AntiDrondert
Dec 11 at 7:38
OotS reference?
– AntiDrondert
Dec 11 at 7:38
I had forgotten that strip even though I would have read it in the past.
– Allan Mills
Dec 16 at 21:06
I had forgotten that strip even though I would have read it in the past.
– Allan Mills
Dec 16 at 21:06
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Role-playing Games Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f137100%2fhow-much-may-i-customize-a-fog-cloud-spell%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
Dec 10 at 15:47
@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
Dec 10 at 15:53
3
@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
Dec 10 at 16:04
1
@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
Dec 10 at 16:04
3
Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
Dec 10 at 16:19