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Bless

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Bless
  • Level: 1
  • School: Enchantment
  • Class: Cleric, Paladin
  • Casting Time: Action
  • Range: 30 feet
  • Components: V, S, M (a Holy Symbol worth 5+ GP)
  • Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You bless up to three creatures within range. Whenever a target makes an attack roll or a saving throw before the spell ends, the target adds 1d4 to the attack roll or save.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. You can target one additional creature for each spell slot level above 1.

Tactical Usage​

When to Choose Bless:

  • Essential early-game party buff for critical encounters
  • Excellent for supporting multiple allies simultaneously
  • Strong choice before encounters with many saving throws
  • Valuable for increasing hit chances against high-AC enemies

Target Selection:

  • Primary Attackers: Characters making multiple attacks per turn
  • Save-Dependent Allies: Party members with weaker saves
  • Critical Moments: Characters about to attempt crucial rolls
  • Consistent Beneficiaries: Allies who make frequent attack rolls

Duration Management:

  • 1-minute duration covers most combat encounters
  • Early casting maximizes total benefit throughout battle
  • Concentration requirement limits other magical options
  • Consider pre-combat casting when possible

Spell Combinations​

Enhancement Synergies:

  • Guidance: Additional bonus for ability checks
  • Bardic Inspiration: Stack multiple bonus dice effects
  • Faerie Fire: Advantage plus numerical bonus
  • Shield of Faith: Layer protective effects

Save Support:

  • Protection from Evil: Additional save bonuses against specific creatures
  • Beacon of Hope: Advantage on Wisdom saves plus Bless bonus
  • Circle of Power: Spell resistance plus save improvements
  • Aura of Protection: Paladin charisma bonus stacks with Bless

Material Component Details​

Holy Symbol Worth 5+ GP:

  • Investment: Reusable component with modest initial cost
  • Varieties: Religious symbols, blessed amulets, divine focus items
  • Quality Impact: Higher value symbols may provide enhanced roleplay opportunities
  • Presentation: Often worn visibly or held during casting

Roleplay Opportunities:

  • Describe the symbol glowing with divine radiance
  • Reference specific religious imagery or iconography
  • Use symbol presentation as blessing gesture
  • Emphasize divine favor manifesting through sacred object

Creator Notes​

Adjudication Guidance:

  • +1d4 bonus applies to both attack rolls and saving throws
  • Each target must be within range at casting time
  • Bonus die added after initial roll but before results declared
  • Higher-level casting increases targets but not bonus amount

Encounter Design Considerations:

  • Significantly improves party success rates across encounters
  • Mathematical impact most noticeable in closely balanced situations
  • NPCs can use this effectively to enhance minion capabilities
  • Encourages early tactical decisions and resource management

Balancing Notes:

  • 1st-level slot cost makes this accessible but not trivial
  • Concentration requirement prevents stacking with other effects
  • +1d4 provides meaningful but not overwhelming advantage
  • Multiple targets balance individual bonus limitation

Environmental Interactions​

Divine Manifestation:

  • Blessed creatures may glow faintly with divine radiance
  • Holy symbols and religious items might resonate in presence
  • Area may feel more peaceful or sacred during effect
  • Undead or fiendish creatures might react negatively to blessed auras

Social Considerations:

  • Visible blessings may influence religious NPCs positively
  • Some cultures might expect or demand religious blessings
  • Hostile religious factions might view foreign blessings negatively
  • Can serve as identifier of religious affiliation or divine favor

Detection and Recognition:

  • Divine magic aura detectable by magical senses
  • Religious authorities might recognize specific blessing traditions
  • Enemies might target blessed characters first
  • May trigger responses from divinely-sensitive creatures

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Does the bonus apply to spell attack rolls? A: Yes, it applies to all attack rolls including spell attacks.

Q: Can I target the same creature multiple times with different castings? A: No, multiple blessings don't stack—use the most recent effect.

Q: Does the bonus apply to damage rolls? A: No, only attack rolls and saving throws benefit from Bless.

Q: Can I target enemies to give them the benefit? A: Yes, though this is tactically inadvisable in most situations.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses:

  • Social Enhancement: Improve persuasion or performance attempts
  • Skill Support: Assist with ability checks during crucial moments
  • Ritual Support: Enhance participant saves during dangerous ceremonies
  • Leadership: Demonstrate divine favor to inspire followers

Creative Problem-Solving:

  • Support allies during complex skill challenges
  • Improve success rates for dangerous climbing or acrobatic attempts
  • Enhance concentration saves for ally spellcasters
  • Provide courage boost for intimidated or frightened allies

Divine Blessing Magic:

  • Guidance: Single-target ability check bonus
  • Shield of Faith: AC enhancement
  • Protection from Evil: Specific threat protection
  • Beacon of Hope: Wisdom save advantage and healing maximization

Bonus Action Alternatives:

  • Healing Word: Emergency healing
  • Spiritual Weapon: Ongoing damage option
  • Shield of Faith: AC boost alternative
  • Bardic Inspiration: Class-specific bonus dice

1st-Level Alternatives:

  • Cure Wounds: Direct healing magic
  • Shield of Faith: AC enhancement
  • Sanctuary: Protection through divine ward
  • Command: Direct behavioral control

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression:

  • Early Game (Levels 1-5): Exceptional value for party enhancement
  • Mid Game (Levels 6-12): Still useful but competes with higher-level options
  • Late Game (Levels 13+): Situational use for resource efficiency

Target Scaling:

  • 1st Level: 3 targets (excellent early-game coverage)
  • 2nd Level: 4 targets (good for larger parties)
  • 3rd Level: 5 targets (covers most party compositions)

Long-Term Viability:

  • +1d4 bonus remains mathematically relevant at all levels
  • More targets become available with higher-level slots
  • Concentration cost becomes more significant over time
  • Essential early-level tool with ongoing utility

Narrative Flavor​

Extended Description: You hold your holy symbol aloft and speak words of divine blessing that seem to resonate with celestial authority. Golden motes of light flow from the sacred object, drifting through the air to settle gently upon your chosen allies. As each mote touches them, they feel a warm surge of confidence and divine favor, as if the gods themselves have taken notice of their cause and chosen to lend their support to righteous endeavors.

Sensory Details:

  • Visual: Golden motes of light settling on blessed allies
  • Spiritual: Warm sensation of divine attention and approval
  • Emotional: Increased confidence and sense of righteous purpose
  • Physical: Subtle feeling of enhanced capability and luck

Cultural Context: Bless represents one of the most fundamental expressions of divine magic, channeling the gods' favor to aid mortals in their struggles. Different religious traditions may manifest this blessing in various ways—some as visible auras, others as enhanced intuition—but all share the core concept of divine intervention improving mortal capabilities.