Confused about Prestidigitation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Confused about Prestidigitation [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Llathos
10-17-03, 02:42 PM Can someone clearly explain to me what the heck this spell actually does??

Perhaps a few examples of creative uses?
baoban sith
10-17-03, 02:44 PM flavor food, entertain children, make temperature around you more comfortable, clean a spot from your clothing, create little lights, really any number of non combat uses.
Llathos
10-17-03, 02:48 PM You can change the temperature around you? Would that help along the lines of an endure elements in harsh weather?

Any other creative uses you guys have with this vague spell?
Gingerbread Guy
10-17-03, 04:18 PM Hiho,

Let it be VERY clear. Prestidigitation can no do anything that will change stats. No, it won't absorb energy damage. No, you can't create an illusionary dagger. I've heard all these things before, they don't work. IT DOES NOTHING LIKE THAT. *tries not to scream*

If all you're worried about is producing usefull effects, then tear this spell out of our book or shove a crayon up your nose until you forget how to cast it [for you sorcerers and bards out there].

If you enjoy contemplating the fact that wizards are likely to create spells that make life more comfortable and enjoyable, instead of spells that just kill people, then keep the spell and make good use of it.

Flavoring, warming or cooling food is my favourite thing to do. Its fun when you're sitting around the campfire eating a thick grey paste of gruel with your fellow adventurers. Only, the trick is, yours tastes and even smells like a delicious turkey dinner. ^_^ Mwar har har..! "Enjoying your meals, boys? No? HA! You should have studied harder in school! HA HA HA!"

Also have a sleep spell around incase the Barbarian gets sick of hearing that every night.

~Ginger
Vorpal Warhammer
10-17-03, 04:19 PM Originally posted by Llathos
You can change the temperature around you? Would that help along the lines of an endure elements in harsh weather?

Any other creative uses you guys have with this vague spell?
No, that's what the 1st level spell Endure Elements is for. Prestidigitation is 0-level for a reason.

It could, however, keep you from looking all sweaty as you wait outside before your audience with the ruler of a desert kingdom. Good DMs might award a +2 to your Diplomacy check during that meeting.
ConfusedUs
10-17-03, 05:20 PM Prestidigitation is in essence, very very limited wish. It covers all those little things you expect to see from a wizard that don't really DO anything but look cool.

Sweeping dust under a rug. Chaning the color of a small object. Keeping rain off during a downpour. Turning the pages in a spellbook. All of these are within the scope of prestidigitation.

If you want to do something that isn't unique or powerful enough to have its own spell, use this one. ;)
Malkonnen
10-17-03, 05:33 PM Have any DMs had any problems with players trying to use prestidigitation to make distractions in combat-like situations? I had trouble ruling it since it seemed to step on the toes of the ghost sound spell. Especially since it seems prest. could be used for this same purpose over and over again over the course of an hour. whereas ghost sound would require recasting each time.

Malk
Seeker95
10-17-03, 05:49 PM You could use prestidigitation to make a ghostly sound. However, it would have absolutely zero mechanics effects. It would not suplicate the spell ghost sounds. It would only make spooky noises... potentially luring more creatures to the area.

Let your players get as creative as they want. But Prestidigitation has no effect on combat, period.
Raven Dark
10-17-03, 10:37 PM My players have once used it to unbuckle the belt of an opponent's pants. His pants fell down around his ankles while he was charging down hill. Quite naturally, he tripped and nearly broke his neck.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
10-17-03, 10:48 PM Prestadigitation, while it was no doubt originally intended to be capable of turning a lady into a tiger as long it had no stat changes and did not grant any bonus to perform checks, does have some game-affecting uses. For example, it states that it can change the color of non-living matter. Make your clothes match the foliage to give you a bonus to your hide check. It says it can create tinlings of ethereal music. Use some accompaniment to boost your perform check. For a specific and inclusive list of just what prestadigitation can and can't do, check the section entitled "fun with prestadigitation" in Tome and Blood.
Seeker95
10-18-03, 08:38 AM Raven Dark's use of the spell would not be allowed under the prestidigitation rules. It would be considered an attack. The spell cannot be used for attack, and cannot be used to have any offensive consequences.

Do do this would require a ranged touch (or touch) attack (something prestidigitation cannot do). And it duplicates the effects of mage hand, some thing prestidigitation cannot do. And it would take more than one pound of force to accomplish (something prestidigitation[i/] cannot do.

In the belt buckle example provided, the DM was ignoring the rules for [i]prestidigiation, and favoring the players over the rules. Cute, clever, and fun, but it falls outside the rules.
Raven Dark
10-18-03, 10:37 AM Originally posted by Seeker95
Raven Dark's use of the spell would not be allowed under the prestidigitation rules.

I don't see why it wouldn't work this way, and as the DM of that particular session I think it worked out just fine.

It was not an attack. It merely unbuckled the opponents belt. It was his own baggy pants and downward momentum which nearly killed him. :D The only thing I may have done wrong is NOT have the guy make a saving throw (since technically, his belt buckle is a carried item). Even so, I am happy with the results as we had a lot of fun that night. As for having to touch the item in question, where does it say that? The spell effects are variable depending on what you are trying to do (including range limitations) and I put the opening of a belt buckle under the "lift a 1 lb. item option." What say you? :)
Seeker95
10-18-03, 11:06 AM Originally posted by Raven Dark
I don't see why it wouldn't work this way, and as the DM of that particular session I think it worked out just fine. I put the opening of a belt buckle under the "lift a 1 lb. item option." What say you? :)

1. Try to open a worn belt buckle with only one pound of force. It cannot be done. One pound of force is barely enough to lift an empty teacup.

2. No combat effects means no combat effects.

3. You're the DM, so of course you are right. I however do not enjoy playing in games where the DM is the players' best friend. If your players liked it, no problem. But it was a definite house rule that contradicts the spell description in more ways than one.
Llathos
10-29-03, 02:48 PM Very interesting posts.

I'm definitely seeing problems and in fact, this has raised more confusion, though.

It can make effects (sounds, lights, movement), but not cause a result that might benefit a PC? How does that follow? I can allow a player to turn the page of their spellbook, but I can't have them rustle a tree brach to cause distraction? I can have them draw lights in the air with their finger to tell stories, but I can't have them make a spark to get the eye of the guard?

In the previous poster's example, he used it to free himself from web. That's a combat result, is it not?

I also resent the previous poster's implication that I cannot appreciate the spell just because I asked about weather. Just because he brought up changing of air temperature and I associated it with elements doesn't mean I don't "understand" flavor or roleplaying value. It's very closeminded and hasty of you to judge so quickly.

Thanks for your responses, all.
DreadStar
10-29-03, 02:58 PM I found this a long time ago on Wizard's Website I don't think it was a Web Enhancement but, you might try to find it on the site? Anyway he it is.

Fun With Prestidigitation

The prestidigitation spell gives you the ability to perform minor magical effects for 1 hour. You can slowly lift 1 pound of material. You can color, clean, or soil items in a 1-foot cube each round. You can chill, warm, or flavor 1 pound of nonliving material. You can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial, and they are fragile. Any actual change to an object (beyond moving, cleaning, or soiling it) persists only 1 hour.

So, what's the use of prestidigitation? Actually, it's one of the handiest cantrips around.

Change: You transform one object of Fine size or smaller into another object of roughly the same size. The object can weigh no more than 8 ounces.

The change must be within the same kingdom (animal, vegetable, or mineral). For example, you could change a piece of paper into scrap of linen, and then change that into a rose. Likewise, you could change a coin into a ring. You could not, however, turn a strip of leather into a piece of paper.

Chill: You reduce the temperature of an object by about 40° F, but never below freezing (32° F). After an hour the object's temperature returns to normal.

Clean: You remove dirt, dust, and stains from floors, walls, dishes, windows, and the like, leaving these surfaces or objects spotless. You can clean an object with a volume of 1 cubic foot, or 1 square foot of the surface of a larger object, each round. The effect does not remove any foreign object of Fine size or larger. Dirt you remove is permanently gone, but objects you clean can get dirty again just like anything else.

Color: You bring color to an object. You can restore faded hues or give it a new color. If you add color, it must be from the visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, or violet). You cannot change an object's pattern, such as adding or removing stripes or polka dots, but you can change the color in a pattern so that, for example, a blue garment with white stripes becomes green with yellow stripes.

Dampen: You leave an object damp to the touch for 1 hour. Damp objects have fire resistance 2 while the effect lasts.

Dirty: You soil, spot, and sully walls, floors, dishes, garments, or the like, leaving them dusty, filthy, or stained. You can dirty an object with a volume of 1 cubic foot, or 1 square foot of the surface of a larger object, each round. Dirt you add remains after the effect ends, but objects you soil can be cleaned again just like anything else.

Dry: You remove dampness and excess moisture from an object. Moisture you remove does not return after the effect ends, but the object can become wet again just like anything else.

Firefinger: You cause a jet of flame up to 1/2 foot long to shoot forth from your finger. The flame is hot and ignites combustible materials. Lighting a torch with this effect is a standard action (rather than a full-round action), but lighting any other fire with it takes at least a standard action (DM's discretion).

Flavor: You give a substance a better, worse, or different flavor. You could, for example, make porridge taste like lobster bisque. You do not change the substance's quality or wholesomeness. Spoiled food remains spoiled, a poisoned drink is still deadly, and inedible material provides no nourishment -- you can make a twig taste like steak, but it remains a twig.

Gather: You neatly collect numerous objects. The objects you gather can be no larger than Fine size, no two items can be more than 10 feet apart, and their total weight cannot exceed 1 pound. You can place the gathered objects into a container you touch, or you can form a stack or pile that you touch.

You can gather selectively; for instance, you can pick up just the coins from an area.

Polish: You bring luster to a wood, metal, stone, leather, glass, or ceramic object. The object must be clean to start with. It remains shiny after the effect ends but can become dull again like anything else.

Sketch: You create a two-dimensional visual figment of whatever you desire. You can leave the image hanging in the air, in which case it is immobile, or place it on a mobile object, such as a shield. The image can be no more than 1-foot square, and it lasts a maximum of 1 hour.

Stitch: You magically sew seams in textiles or leather. You can create new stitching or repair old work. Unlike the mending cantrip, you cannot heal rips, holes, or tears (though you can patch or sew them together). If you have thread on hand, the stitches you make remain after the effect ends, but they are no stronger or weaker than normal stitching. You also can sew without thread, but then the seams last only an hour.

Tie: You magically tie a firm knot (as though taking 10 with the Use Rope skill) in a thread, string, cord, rope, or cable up to 10 feet long. You can knot together two such objects if they're within 1 foot of each other.

Warm: You increase the temperature of an object by about 40° F, but never above 140° F. After an hour the object's temperature returns to normal.
Vorpal Warhammer
10-29-03, 03:13 PM It can SLOWLY lift an object weighing 1lb. The spell description says it's extremely limited and it can't duplicate the effects of another spell (including other cantrips).

You shouldn't use it to rustle branches. That's what mage hand is for.

You shouldn't use it to create a distracting light show. That's what dancing lights is for.

You shouldn't use it to make it sound like there is a bee flying around a guardsman's head. That's what ghost sound is for.

Extreme creativity may give you a +2 to a hide check, but you're not going to be able to make a sufficient distraction to not have to make the check at all.

This spell is not supposed to be super useful. It's there to cover all the little mundane things real wizards wouldn't want to waste time on.
Darklion
10-29-03, 04:09 PM 2. No combat effects means no combat effects.Actually, the spell description in the SRD says nothing about combat. It simply says that the spell cannot be used to cause damage or affect the concentration of spellcasters. Any non-damaging, non-concentration-affecting effect that falls into the scope and abilities of prestidigitation is fair game.
U-235
10-29-03, 04:23 PM I've got a question about the change effect of prestigitation. Could you use it to change and object into something that would be useful as a spell component? The example I'm thinking of is the Banishment Spell (3rd edition).
Darklion
10-29-03, 05:19 PM Could you use it to change and object into something that would be useful as a spell component?I would say no. The spell specifically mentions that you can't create spell components, so I don't think I'd be far off the mark in saying the intent of the prohibition was not to provide characters with the ability to manufacture or modify spell components.
Edymnion
10-29-03, 10:07 PM Want a fun use of Prest.?
Turn a gold coin into a ring. Give ring to someone you don't like, and make sure they wear it. Leave. When duration runs out, the ring becomes a coin again, cutting off their finger.

And he's right. The limits of Prestidigitation relating to others is just that it can't cause damage, and can't affect the concentration of casters. Nobody said it can't affect the concentration of non-casters.
BlaineTog
10-29-03, 10:33 PM Here's my take:

Presdigitation is meant to be a) a flavor spell. It's for flipant fun!

and b) despite the guidlines, I get the idea that Presdigitation is pretty open-ended (it's similarities to wish are, like ConfusedUs said, uncanny). This, IMHO, is for a reason. It's to encourage creativity in the player. I've used it to generate a little cash flow (Me: "I cast Prestigitation and put out a hat in the square. Now, I lift some scraps of paper up and have them chase each other. Now I cast Ghost Sounds and have the papers talk to each other. Now I get more scraps, color them, and do a rendition of Macbeth." DM: (laughing) "You attract a small croud. They clap for you at the end. You get 1d6 gp." Me: "Woo hoo!")

It's really low-powered, and that unbuckle trick sounds much more like Mage-Hand than Prestigitation. But to each his own;) "
Hope
10-30-03, 12:18 AM Originally posted by BlaineTog
It's really low-powered, and that unbuckle trick sounds much more like Mage-Hand than Prestigitation.

Except that mage hand doesn't work on attended objects - you need telekinesis for that, or at least shatter, both of which allow saves. I'd say that goes well beyond the limits of prestigitation, despite the cool value.

I have found the drying function of prestidigitation to be a life-saver, though, when my bard ended up taking an involuntary dip in the campaign world's equivalent of the Arctic Ocean. Wearing a soaking wet outfit near the North Pole is a sure recipie for hypothermia, but a simple cantrip prevented that.
Llathos
10-30-03, 02:54 PM Thank you, I think that cleared it up nicely:)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Llathos 10-17-03, 02:42 PM	Can someone clearly explain to me what the heck this spell actually does?? Perhaps a few examples of creative uses?
baoban sith 10-17-03, 02:44 PM	flavor food, entertain children, make temperature around you more comfortable, clean a spot from your clothing, create little lights, really any number of non combat uses.
Llathos 10-17-03, 02:48 PM	You can change the temperature around you? Would that help along the lines of an endure elements in harsh weather? Any other creative uses you guys have with this vague spell?
Gingerbread Guy 10-17-03, 04:18 PM	Hiho, Let it be VERY clear. Prestidigitation can no do anything that will change stats. No, it won't absorb energy damage. No, you can't create an illusionary dagger. I've heard all these things before, they don't work. IT DOES NOTHING LIKE THAT. tries not to scream If all you're worried about is producing usefull effects, then tear this spell out of our book or shove a crayon up your nose until you forget how to cast it [for you sorcerers and bards out there]. If you enjoy contemplating the fact that wizards are likely to create spells that make life more comfortable and enjoyable, instead of spells that just kill people, then keep the spell and make good use of it. Flavoring, warming or cooling food is my favourite thing to do. Its fun when you're sitting around the campfire eating a thick grey paste of gruel with your fellow adventurers. Only, the trick is, yours tastes and even smells like a delicious turkey dinner. ^_^ Mwar har har..! "Enjoying your meals, boys? No? HA! You should have studied harder in school! HA HA HA!" Also have a sleep spell around incase the Barbarian gets sick of hearing that every night. ~Ginger
Vorpal Warhammer 10-17-03, 04:19 PM	Originally posted by Llathos You can change the temperature around you? Would that help along the lines of an endure elements in harsh weather? Any other creative uses you guys have with this vague spell? No, that's what the 1st level spell Endure Elements is for. Prestidigitation is 0-level for a reason. It could, however, keep you from looking all sweaty as you wait outside before your audience with the ruler of a desert kingdom. Good DMs might award a +2 to your Diplomacy check during that meeting.
ConfusedUs 10-17-03, 05:20 PM	Prestidigitation is in essence, very very limited wish. It covers all those little things you expect to see from a wizard that don't really DO anything but look cool. Sweeping dust under a rug. Chaning the color of a small object. Keeping rain off during a downpour. Turning the pages in a spellbook. All of these are within the scope of prestidigitation. If you want to do something that isn't unique or powerful enough to have its own spell, use this one. ;)
Malkonnen 10-17-03, 05:33 PM	Have any DMs had any problems with players trying to use prestidigitation to make distractions in combat-like situations? I had trouble ruling it since it seemed to step on the toes of the ghost sound spell. Especially since it seems prest. could be used for this same purpose over and over again over the course of an hour. whereas ghost sound would require recasting each time. Malk
Seeker95 10-17-03, 05:49 PM	You could use prestidigitation to make a ghostly sound. However, it would have absolutely zero mechanics effects. It would not suplicate the spell ghost sounds. It would only make spooky noises... potentially luring more creatures to the area. Let your players get as creative as they want. But Prestidigitation has no effect on combat, period.
Raven Dark 10-17-03, 10:37 PM	My players have once used it to unbuckle the belt of an opponent's pants. His pants fell down around his ankles while he was charging down hill. Quite naturally, he tripped and nearly broke his neck.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 10-17-03, 10:48 PM	Prestadigitation, while it was no doubt originally intended to be capable of turning a lady into a tiger as long it had no stat changes and did not grant any bonus to perform checks, does have some game-affecting uses. For example, it states that it can change the color of non-living matter. Make your clothes match the foliage to give you a bonus to your hide check. It says it can create tinlings of ethereal music. Use some accompaniment to boost your perform check. For a specific and inclusive list of just what prestadigitation can and can't do, check the section entitled "fun with prestadigitation" in Tome and Blood.
Seeker95 10-18-03, 08:38 AM	Raven Dark's use of the spell would not be allowed under the prestidigitation rules. It would be considered an attack. The spell cannot be used for attack, and cannot be used to have any offensive consequences. Do do this would require a ranged touch (or touch) attack (something prestidigitation cannot do). And it duplicates the effects of mage hand, some thing prestidigitation cannot do. And it would take more than one pound of force to accomplish (something prestidigitation[i/] cannot do. In the belt buckle example provided, the DM was ignoring the rules for [i]prestidigiation, and favoring the players over the rules. Cute, clever, and fun, but it falls outside the rules.
Raven Dark 10-18-03, 10:37 AM	Originally posted by Seeker95 Raven Dark's use of the spell would not be allowed under the prestidigitation rules. I don't see why it wouldn't work this way, and as the DM of that particular session I think it worked out just fine. It was not an attack. It merely unbuckled the opponents belt. It was his own baggy pants and downward momentum which nearly killed him. :D The only thing I may have done wrong is NOT have the guy make a saving throw (since technically, his belt buckle is a carried item). Even so, I am happy with the results as we had a lot of fun that night. As for having to touch the item in question, where does it say that? The spell effects are variable depending on what you are trying to do (including range limitations) and I put the opening of a belt buckle under the "lift a 1 lb. item option." What say you? :)
Seeker95 10-18-03, 11:06 AM	Originally posted by Raven Dark I don't see why it wouldn't work this way, and as the DM of that particular session I think it worked out just fine. I put the opening of a belt buckle under the "lift a 1 lb. item option." What say you? :) 1. Try to open a worn belt buckle with only one pound of force. It cannot be done. One pound of force is barely enough to lift an empty teacup. 2. No combat effects means no combat effects. 3. You're the DM, so of course you are right. I however do not enjoy playing in games where the DM is the players' best friend. If your players liked it, no problem. But it was a definite house rule that contradicts the spell description in more ways than one.
Llathos 10-29-03, 02:48 PM	Very interesting posts. I'm definitely seeing problems and in fact, this has raised more confusion, though. It can make effects (sounds, lights, movement), but not cause a result that might benefit a PC? How does that follow? I can allow a player to turn the page of their spellbook, but I can't have them rustle a tree brach to cause distraction? I can have them draw lights in the air with their finger to tell stories, but I can't have them make a spark to get the eye of the guard? In the previous poster's example, he used it to free himself from web. That's a combat result, is it not? I also resent the previous poster's implication that I cannot appreciate the spell just because I asked about weather. Just because he brought up changing of air temperature and I associated it with elements doesn't mean I don't "understand" flavor or roleplaying value. It's very closeminded and hasty of you to judge so quickly. Thanks for your responses, all.
DreadStar 10-29-03, 02:58 PM	I found this a long time ago on Wizard's Website I don't think it was a Web Enhancement but, you might try to find it on the site? Anyway he it is. Fun With Prestidigitation The prestidigitation spell gives you the ability to perform minor magical effects for 1 hour. You can slowly lift 1 pound of material. You can color, clean, or soil items in a 1-foot cube each round. You can chill, warm, or flavor 1 pound of nonliving material. You can create small objects, but they look crude and artificial, and they are fragile. Any actual change to an object (beyond moving, cleaning, or soiling it) persists only 1 hour. So, what's the use of prestidigitation? Actually, it's one of the handiest cantrips around. Change: You transform one object of Fine size or smaller into another object of roughly the same size. The object can weigh no more than 8 ounces. The change must be within the same kingdom (animal, vegetable, or mineral). For example, you could change a piece of paper into scrap of linen, and then change that into a rose. Likewise, you could change a coin into a ring. You could not, however, turn a strip of leather into a piece of paper. Chill: You reduce the temperature of an object by about 40° F, but never below freezing (32° F). After an hour the object's temperature returns to normal. Clean: You remove dirt, dust, and stains from floors, walls, dishes, windows, and the like, leaving these surfaces or objects spotless. You can clean an object with a volume of 1 cubic foot, or 1 square foot of the surface of a larger object, each round. The effect does not remove any foreign object of Fine size or larger. Dirt you remove is permanently gone, but objects you clean can get dirty again just like anything else. Color: You bring color to an object. You can restore faded hues or give it a new color. If you add color, it must be from the visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, or violet). You cannot change an object's pattern, such as adding or removing stripes or polka dots, but you can change the color in a pattern so that, for example, a blue garment with white stripes becomes green with yellow stripes. Dampen: You leave an object damp to the touch for 1 hour. Damp objects have fire resistance 2 while the effect lasts. Dirty: You soil, spot, and sully walls, floors, dishes, garments, or the like, leaving them dusty, filthy, or stained. You can dirty an object with a volume of 1 cubic foot, or 1 square foot of the surface of a larger object, each round. Dirt you add remains after the effect ends, but objects you soil can be cleaned again just like anything else. Dry: You remove dampness and excess moisture from an object. Moisture you remove does not return after the effect ends, but the object can become wet again just like anything else. Firefinger: You cause a jet of flame up to 1/2 foot long to shoot forth from your finger. The flame is hot and ignites combustible materials. Lighting a torch with this effect is a standard action (rather than a full-round action), but lighting any other fire with it takes at least a standard action (DM's discretion). Flavor: You give a substance a better, worse, or different flavor. You could, for example, make porridge taste like lobster bisque. You do not change the substance's quality or wholesomeness. Spoiled food remains spoiled, a poisoned drink is still deadly, and inedible material provides no nourishment -- you can make a twig taste like steak, but it remains a twig. Gather: You neatly collect numerous objects. The objects you gather can be no larger than Fine size, no two items can be more than 10 feet apart, and their total weight cannot exceed 1 pound. You can place the gathered objects into a container you touch, or you can form a stack or pile that you touch. You can gather selectively; for instance, you can pick up just the coins from an area. Polish: You bring luster to a wood, metal, stone, leather, glass, or ceramic object. The object must be clean to start with. It remains shiny after the effect ends but can become dull again like anything else. Sketch: You create a two-dimensional visual figment of whatever you desire. You can leave the image hanging in the air, in which case it is immobile, or place it on a mobile object, such as a shield. The image can be no more than 1-foot square, and it lasts a maximum of 1 hour. Stitch: You magically sew seams in textiles or leather. You can create new stitching or repair old work. Unlike the mending cantrip, you cannot heal rips, holes, or tears (though you can patch or sew them together). If you have thread on hand, the stitches you make remain after the effect ends, but they are no stronger or weaker than normal stitching. You also can sew without thread, but then the seams last only an hour. Tie: You magically tie a firm knot (as though taking 10 with the Use Rope skill) in a thread, string, cord, rope, or cable up to 10 feet long. You can knot together two such objects if they're within 1 foot of each other. Warm: You increase the temperature of an object by about 40° F, but never above 140° F. After an hour the object's temperature returns to normal.
Vorpal Warhammer 10-29-03, 03:13 PM	It can SLOWLY lift an object weighing 1lb. The spell description says it's extremely limited and it can't duplicate the effects of another spell (including other cantrips). You shouldn't use it to rustle branches. That's what mage hand is for. You shouldn't use it to create a distracting light show. That's what dancing lights is for. You shouldn't use it to make it sound like there is a bee flying around a guardsman's head. That's what ghost sound is for. Extreme creativity may give you a +2 to a hide check, but you're not going to be able to make a sufficient distraction to not have to make the check at all. This spell is not supposed to be super useful. It's there to cover all the little mundane things real wizards wouldn't want to waste time on.
Darklion 10-29-03, 04:09 PM	2. No combat effects means no combat effects.Actually, the spell description in the SRD says nothing about combat. It simply says that the spell cannot be used to cause damage or affect the concentration of spellcasters. Any non-damaging, non-concentration-affecting effect that falls into the scope and abilities of prestidigitation is fair game.
U-235 10-29-03, 04:23 PM	I've got a question about the change effect of prestigitation. Could you use it to change and object into something that would be useful as a spell component? The example I'm thinking of is the Banishment Spell (3rd edition).
Darklion 10-29-03, 05:19 PM	Could you use it to change and object into something that would be useful as a spell component?I would say no. The spell specifically mentions that you can't create spell components, so I don't think I'd be far off the mark in saying the intent of the prohibition was not to provide characters with the ability to manufacture or modify spell components.
Edymnion 10-29-03, 10:07 PM	Want a fun use of Prest.? Turn a gold coin into a ring. Give ring to someone you don't like, and make sure they wear it. Leave. When duration runs out, the ring becomes a coin again, cutting off their finger. And he's right. The limits of Prestidigitation relating to others is just that it can't cause damage, and can't affect the concentration of casters. Nobody said it can't affect the concentration of non-casters.
BlaineTog 10-29-03, 10:33 PM	Here's my take: Presdigitation is meant to be a) a flavor spell. It's for flipant fun! and b) despite the guidlines, I get the idea that Presdigitation is pretty open-ended (it's similarities to wish are, like ConfusedUs said, uncanny). This, IMHO, is for a reason. It's to encourage creativity in the player. I've used it to generate a little cash flow (Me: "I cast Prestigitation and put out a hat in the square. Now, I lift some scraps of paper up and have them chase each other. Now I cast Ghost Sounds and have the papers talk to each other. Now I get more scraps, color them, and do a rendition of Macbeth." DM: (laughing) "You attract a small croud. They clap for you at the end. You get 1d6 gp." Me: "Woo hoo!") It's really low-powered, and that unbuckle trick sounds much more like Mage-Hand than Prestigitation. But to each his own;) "
Hope 10-30-03, 12:18 AM	Originally posted by BlaineTog It's really low-powered, and that unbuckle trick sounds much more like Mage-Hand than Prestigitation. Except that mage hand doesn't work on attended objects - you need telekinesis for that, or at least shatter, both of which allow saves. I'd say that goes well beyond the limits of prestigitation, despite the cool value. I have found the drying function of prestidigitation to be a life-saver, though, when my bard ended up taking an involuntary dip in the campaign world's equivalent of the Arctic Ocean. Wearing a soaking wet outfit near the North Pole is a sure recipie for hypothermia, but a simple cantrip prevented that.
Llathos 10-30-03, 02:54 PM	Thank you, I think that cleared it up nicely:)