D&D 5E Cleric of Thunder and Lightning

[vilani]

Hi all,
Looking for feedback. One of my characters plays a cleric of Thor and wants to have a way - either through a quest or similar - to be able to convert the damage type of his spells from energy X to lightning and/or thunder. So for example switch the flame component of scared flame to lightning. I would normally just allow this off the bat but since 5e is fairly tightly balanced I wanted feedback before I allowed it. I was thinking of allowing it only after a quest and its a permanent change for the spells energy type.

As well as suggestions on mini-quests to allow the conversion. Since we are dealing with level 15 characters something that takes them to Asgard would be good. Thanks in advance!

 

[I'm A Banana]

Hi all,
Looking for feedback. One of my characters plays a cleric of Thor and wants to have a way - either through a quest or similar - to be able to convert the damage type of his spells from energy X to lightning and/or thunder. So for example switch the flame component of scared flame to lightning. I would normally just allow this off the bat but since 5e is fairly tightly balanced I wanted feedback before I allowed it. I was thinking of allowing it only after a quest and its a permanent change for the spells energy type.

As well as suggestions on mini-quests to allow the conversion. Since we are dealing with level 15 characters something that takes them to Asgard would be good. Thanks in advance!

It won't ruin anything, so feel free, but as the current player of a Tempest-domain cleric, I wonder what this character isn't getting out of that domain? I've got PLENTY of thunder and lightning, IMXP.

 

[vilani]

Just thematic. Why have fire when you can have LIGHTNING! As a Thorite I think it makes sense. It also helps that I am playing a 5e conversion of The Iron Gods adventure path from Paizo which is filled with robots who are weak to lightning

Though knowing the player thats not why he wants it and at this point in the adventure path the robots are mostly "hardened" to electrical damage.

 

[SuperZero]

If that's a permanent change, it weakens him. Unless he can choose between the two when the spell is cast, maybe.

Damage type versatility is an advantage of using damage spells, and he's losing that.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

Hi all,
Looking for feedback. One of my characters plays a cleric of Thor and wants to have a way - either through a quest or similar - to be able to convert the damage type of his spells from energy X to lightning and/or thunder. So for example switch the flame component of scared flame to lightning. I would normally just allow this off the bat but since 5e is fairly tightly balanced I wanted feedback before I allowed it. I was thinking of allowing it only after a quest and its a permanent change for the spells energy type.

I would allow it, as long as it's permanent. If you want to run a mini-quest for it, you can, but I don't think that's necessary either. Lightning isn't an inherently "better" damage type than radiant, and sacred flame could easily have been printed as a lightning spell rather than a radiant spell with no other changes. As long as he can't switch back and forth between the two damage types easily, which would of course be advantageous, then it should be fine.

 

[vilani]

I am OK for the loss of versatility as the DM. In fact I applaud it if its being done because it fits the character as opposed to min-maxing. To be clear i have no issue with min-maxing (on the rare occasions I play I tend to do that to a point) but I also want to support a choice that weakens the character because it just make sense. Just wasn't sure in 5e if its going to break anything that I am not seeing. Thanks for the feedback... DM APPROVED!

 

[PnPgamer]

Make sure that your player is not going to exploit this, as such multiclassing to a sorcerer and getting great benefits by choosing The lightning dragon... Unless this is your intent... Not sure if it breaks anything though.

 

[vilani]

Don't think that is his goal, will reverse it if it is

 

[Herobizkit]

Also there's this feat from Pathfinder if you wanna crib ideas from it:

Elemental Spell (Metamagic)

You can manipulate the elemental nature of your spells.

Benefit: Choose one energy type: acid, cold, electricity, or fire. You may replace a spell’s normal damage with that energy type or split the spell’s damage, so that half is of that energy type and half is of its normal type.

 

[Sezarious]

I assume he's a tempest cleric? Just be aware that there are SOME mechanical benefits. Firstly, at 2nd level, any time he does lightning and thunder damage he can max it if he expends his channel divinity.

Secondly, at 6th level, when he does lightning damage, he pushes his enemies 10 feat from him.

What are the ramifications? Max damage flame strike (48) cast as lightning damage that automatically pushes any enemies inside back 10ft no save. Or Insect plague, with 300 ft range cast as a storm cloud of lightning. A cloud of lightning that lasts 10 minutes and deals 4d10 damage to any number of enemies as soon as they enter the circle. Normally if they make the save, they take half as much and move as normal, albeit, through difficult terrain. Instead, as soon as they take the lightning damage (upon entering the circle), they get knocked back 10 feet. They could try and run in again, but the same thing would happen.

In fact, a great tactic would be to throw the "lightning plague" up behind your enemies and get your fighters to beat up, then shove the enemies into it. Or you could lightning cantrip them into the "lightning plague", making your lightning cantrips even more useful. Also they suddenly can't escape. Cleric equivalent of wall of force.

Whether this is broken is up to you..