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Fog Cloud

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Fog Cloud
  • Level: 1
  • School: Conjuration
  • Class: Druid, Ranger, Sorcerer, Wizard
  • Casting Time: Action
  • Range: 120 feet
  • Components: V, S
  • Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

You create a 20-foot-radius Sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The Sphere is Heavily Obscured. It lasts for the duration or until a strong wind (such as one created by Gust of Wind) disperses it.

Using a Higher-Level Spell Slot. The fog's radius increases by 20 feet for each spell slot level above 1.

Tactical Usage​

Vision Denial: Fog Cloud provides area vision obstruction and tactical concealment. This 1st-level conjuration spell excels at creating cover and disrupting ranged combat.

Optimal Timing: Deploy to break line of sight, when concealment is needed, or to disrupt enemy ranged attacks.

Resource Management: Uses a 1st-level spell slot - available from character level 1+. 1-hour duration provides extended concealment.

Target Selection: 20-foot radius sphere centered on point within 120 feet creates substantial concealment area.

Spell Combinations​

Synergistic Spells:

  • Movement Magic: Combine with mobility spells to capitalize on concealment
  • Area Control: Layer with hazard spells to create dangerous concealed areas
  • Detection Magic: Pair with blindsight or tremorsense for advantage in fog

Class Feature Interactions:

  • Blindsight: Abilities that bypass vision provide advantages in fog areas
  • Stealth Skills: Enhanced stealth abilities work excellently with fog concealment
  • Tremorsense: Features that detect through vibration maintain effectiveness

Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple fog clouds can create extensive concealment networks.

Material Component Details​

Component Acquisition: No material components required - only verbal and somatic components needed.

Component Handling: Simple V, S casting allows quick battlefield deployment.

Roleplay Opportunities: Different fog appearances reflect weather magic, elemental connections, or concealment techniques.

Economic Considerations: No costs make this economically viable for regular tactical concealment.

Creator Notes​

Encounter Balancing: Vision obstruction significantly affects ranged combat and spell targeting.

NPC Usage: Tactical enemies or escape-focused NPCs might use fog cloud for concealment.

Environmental Considerations: 20-foot radius heavily obscures area. Wind can disperse fog.

Campaign Integration: Essential tactical magic for encounters emphasizing stealth and positioning.

Environmental Interactions​

Terrain Effects: 20-foot radius sphere affects significant encounter area. Interacts with elevation and terrain.

Weather Influence: Strong winds can disperse fog, while calm conditions maintain concealment.

Structural Interactions: Fog fills spaces and can provide concealment within structures.

Elemental Interactions: Wind effects can disperse fog, while other elements generally don't affect concealment.

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Timing Questions: Action casting time with 1-hour duration. Fog appears immediately at target point.

Target Limitations: 20-foot radius sphere within 120 feet. Heavily obscures area for all creatures.

Duration Interactions: 1-hour duration unless dispersed by wind. No concentration required.

Mechanical Interactions: Heavily obscured area. Creatures within have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses: Concealment for escape, privacy creation, weather simulation, or environmental cover.

Social Encounters: Dramatic entrances/exits, privacy for conversations, or concealment for activities.

Exploration Applications: Concealment during infiltration, cover for rest, or environmental simulation.

Utility Functions: Concealment assistance, privacy creation, escape cover, or environmental modification.

Same School: Other conjuration spells like minor illusion (cantrip simple concealment), darkness (2nd level magical darkness), wall of fog (variant area concealment).

Similar Effects: darkness (2nd level magical darkness), minor illusion (cantrip simple concealment), pass without trace (2nd level stealth enhancement).

Progression Options: fog cloud (1st level basic concealment), darkness (2nd level magical darkness), greater invisibility (4th level superior concealment).

Complementary Magic: misty step (capitalize on concealment), pass without trace (stealth enhancement), darkness (enhanced concealment).

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression: Remains valuable throughout campaigns for tactical concealment and vision denial.

Upcast Benefits: Additional 20-foot radius per slot level above 1st creates larger concealment areas.

Campaign Phases: Consistently useful across all levels for tactical advantages and concealment needs.

Comparative Value: Excellent utility magic that provides significant tactical advantages for minimal resource investment.

Narrative Flavor​

Casting Description: Thick fog billows forth from the target point as conjuration magic creates dense concealment.

Effect Manifestation: A sphere of heavy fog obscures vision and creates mysterious concealment across the battlefield.

Personal Style: Different casters create fog with unique characteristics - some misty and ethereal, others thick and choking.

World Integration: Represents basic concealment magic available to various traditions, often associated with weather magic, stealth techniques, or tactical spellcasting.