Just got to 5th Level Lore Bard
Happily went and picked up one of my favorite 3rd Level spells: Hypnotic Pattern!
got into a few combats then finally found the perfect use for my new spell!
Targeted 4 enemies, 2 saved but just as well, split them up to deal with 2/2 as long as concentration holds
2 rounds later my concentration still holds but the monsters just up and eat my bard! WTF!
Notice the duration is 2 rounds only, just like that massively worthless sleep now.
reloaded to a save about an hour back before I leveled so I could pick another spell
played for 5 minutes or so then just quit for the evening out of frustration.
Why, why are the CC spells so massively nerfed? It's costing a spell slot(these things are limited you know, it's not like I'm just swinging a weapon to knock people out), it's costing concentration, they get a saving throw, it can be gotten around easily by using the help or shove or a damaging action. Why do they have to suck so much?
2 choices now:
- just don't play with them - ok then I just need to go ahead and respec my lore bard to another class
- play modded with longer durations - my current solution
I went ahead and saved the game and quit and immediatly went and figured out all the stuff with modding JUST for these 2 spells (only 5th atm, maybe more later). I don't want to get some super over powered gear or stats or anything like that, I don't want to have to turn Achievements off, I don't want to have to mess around with a mod manager. But there are an awful lot of builds that don't focus on damage as much and instead CCing enemies that need these types of spells to work to justify their inclusion in a 4 man party especially and just don't work without it. And while I'm out of the game, thought I'd voice my frustrations on being forced to mod the game closer to DnD 5e rules just to make my character work as it should.
I would like to play at least my first playthrough without mods but I really feel like just trashing my first run and starting over, mainly cause there was a lot of growing pains for those first 4 levels I feel like would be smoothed out and a lot easier if I was another class. But I did it because level 5 was supposed to be an awesome upgrade in power, and for a CC type bard that means hypnotic pattern. And there is not an awesome upgrade in power. While Wizards and Sorcerers are tossing out fireballs and clerics are charging in with spirit guardians. We get stuck with a 2 round Hypnotic pattern.
Oh yeah, I wanted an enchantment wizard as well but ONCE PER LONG REST?! Hypnotic Gaze is ONE USE PER LONG REST?! This is supposed to be a use ANY TIME but only once per creature. This is a melee skill that gives your opponent a save and requires your action every turn, why did it need such a massive nerf? Enchantment is just about worthless now for at least the first 5 levels? Haven't checked after they get their next power at 6 yet obviously but I see evocation didn't get a once per long rest shape spell power, it just always works. The difference is staggering and the design direction away from any meaningful CC in this game is clear. They want big dumb barbarians beating on each other and casters throwing fireballs and why would you want anything else. Are you not happy with lots of damage all over the place? Are you not entertained?!
Please fix, control effects are a part of DnD. If your worried they will increase the danger to a party then make sure to throw in some kind of tutorial when the party gets hit with one on how to use help and shove actions on your party to get them out of it but don't swing at us with kid gloves, we want the full DnD experience positive and negative.
