Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 KaptainKrunch May 20, 2015 16:44:01	5e made movement a heck of a lot easier. You can use your movement like currency in a turn (before and after actions), you can make all of your attacks on an action regardless of movement, and diagonal movement now only incurs a 5' cost.   In previous editions, restricting movement restricted actions in a far more drastic manner. Because of this difficult terrain was priceless - it prevented 5' steps, full attack actions, and charging actions.       Without all of those benefits, is Difficult Terrain still good? Or is it just a minor inconvenience for your enemies, playing little part in the outcome of a battle?   Let's discuss.
#2 Nevvur May 20, 2015 16:55:16	I find it's usually a minor inconvenience (for monsters and PCs alike). It still appears frequently in my encounters, but I don't rely on it as a traffic controller during the design phase.
#3 Treantmonklvl20 May 20, 2015 17:04:58	My opinion is that difficult terrain can occassionally make a minor difference, but certainly isn't going to be worth using up a spell slot 99% of the time.   In 3.5 creating difficult terrain was particularly effective because it prevented the 5' step back and cast/shoot arrow tactic.  That tactic is gone in 5e.  The other primary use of difficult terrain was to prevent a charge, this would allow double movement + an attack (which, depending on the build, could be a devestating attack).  Preventing charges was really good.  Again, this use is obsolete in 5e.     Finally, in 3.5 you could slow an enemy by putting difficult terrain between him and his destination.  He could go around the terrain, but diagonal movement cost 1.5, so it still effectively slowed the enemy.  Now with diagonal movement costing no extra, in many situations the enemy can go around the terrain without losing movement at all.  This makes difficult terrain even of greater situational use.   Wall spells are still very effective at controlling the movement of the enemy, but difficult terrain is only going to be useful in a handful of situations.
#4 KaptainKrunch May 20, 2015 17:21:57	One of the things I like about difficult terrain is that there's no saving throw.   I will completely agree that the circumstances you'd use the spell effectively might come up as a rarity, but when that circumstance is available your control will work - and that's worth a lot to me.     Furthermore, there are three difficult terrain options available between the PHB and Elemental Evil that don't require concentration making them very easy to combo with a better control:   Grease 1st level - Uses a first level slot - you get 4 of those which you may want to keep around for Shield spells, but casting grease might be better than casting a cantrip while you're concentrating.   Erupting Earth 3rd level - Probably not as good as grease as far as slot is concerned, but if you have an army of mooks coming through a door, this will kill a few and slow the rest down. (Yeah yeah, I know, circumstantial.)   Transmute Rock 5th level - Making mud creates super difficult terrain - it costs 4 movement instead of 2, and it's four times the size of Grease. Also causes the restrain condition - though it's easy to end the condition.
#5 DSZ May 22, 2015 5:34:45	Don' know. What about Maelstrom 5th lvl evoc. concentr. up to 1 min. Range 120 Area 30 feet radius Difiicult terrain If starting in area Str Save or 6d6 dmg and pull 10 to center
#6 reddaemon May 22, 2015 9:28:14	Difficult terrain by itself probably isn't going to be very effective battlefield control.  When combined with another effect, such as being knocked prone, it is very effective.  If your enemy has spend half their movement standing up AND run through difficult terrain to get to you, their chances of reaching you are pretty slim.  Spells like Grease and Sleet Storm are perfect for this.
#7 KaptainKrunch May 22, 2015 12:05:09	DSZ wrote:
#8 KaptainKrunch May 22, 2015 12:07:04	reddaemon wrote: