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Grease

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Grease
  • Level: 1
  • School: Conjuration
  • Class: Sorcerer, Wizard
  • Casting Time: Action
  • Range: 60 feet
  • Components: V, S, M (a bit of pork rind or butter)
  • Duration: 1 minute

Nonflammable grease covers the ground in a 10-foot square centered on a point within range and turns it into Difficult Terrain for the duration.

When the grease appears, each creature standing in its area must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or have the Prone condition. A creature that enters the area or ends its turn there must also succeed on that save or fall Prone.

Tactical Usage​

Area Control: Grease provides battlefield control through difficult terrain and prone conditions. This 1st-level conjuration spell excels at controlling enemy movement and positioning.

Optimal Timing: Deploy to control chokepoints, when enemy positioning is crucial, or to create tactical advantages through terrain modification.

Resource Management: Uses a 1st-level spell slot - available from character level 1+. 1-minute duration provides extended battlefield control.

Target Selection: 10-foot square area within 60 feet creates substantial movement control zone.

Spell Combinations​

Synergistic Spells:

  • Area Damage: Combine with fire spells to ignite grease for additional damage
  • Control Magic: Layer with other terrain spells for comprehensive battlefield control
  • Positioning Magic: Pair with forced movement to push enemies into grease

Class Feature Interactions:

  • Spell Save DC: Higher spellcasting ability improves success against enemy Dexterity saves
  • Area Control Focus: Features that enhance area spells improve grease effectiveness
  • Tactical Positioning: Abilities that control battlefield complement grease control

Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple grease areas can create extensive difficult terrain networks.

Material Component Details​

Component Acquisition: Bit of pork rind or butter - simple cooking components easily obtained from kitchens or markets.

Component Handling: Grease components represent slippery substances and terrain modification.

Roleplay Opportunities: Different grease types might reflect regional cooking or magical traditions.

Economic Considerations: Minimal component costs for effective battlefield control capability.

Creator Notes​

Encounter Balancing: Difficult terrain and prone conditions significantly affect enemy movement and positioning.

NPC Usage: Tactical enemies or area control specialists might use grease for battlefield manipulation.

Environmental Considerations: 10-foot square provides moderate area control. Can be ignited by fire damage.

Campaign Integration: Essential control magic for encounters emphasizing positioning and movement control.

Environmental Interactions​

Terrain Effects: Creates difficult terrain in 10-foot square. Interacts with elevation and existing terrain features.

Weather Influence: Unaffected by weather conditions, though fire can ignite grease for additional effects.

Structural Interactions: Works on most surfaces, creating slippery conditions within structures.

Elemental Interactions: Fire damage can ignite grease, dealing additional damage to creatures in area.

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Timing Questions: Action casting time with 1-minute duration. Difficult terrain immediate, saves when entering.

Target Limitations: 10-foot square within 60 feet. Dexterity saves to avoid falling prone.

Duration Interactions: 1-minute duration provides extended control. No concentration required.

Mechanical Interactions: Difficult terrain. Creatures entering or starting turn make Dexterity saves or fall prone.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses: Obstacle creation, escape assistance, trap enhancement, or environmental modification.

Social Encounters: Creating diversions, escape routes, or humorous situations.

Exploration Applications: Slowing pursuit, creating barriers, or modifying environmental conditions.

Utility Functions: Terrain modification, movement control, escape assistance, or tactical positioning.

Same School: Other conjuration spells like fog cloud (1st level vision obstruction), web (2nd level restraint), spike growth (2nd level damage terrain).

Similar Effects: web (2nd level restraint area), spike growth (2nd level damage terrain), entangle (1st level restraint area).

Progression Options: grease (1st level difficult terrain), web (2nd level restraint), spike growth (2nd level damage terrain).

Complementary Magic: web (additional control), misty step (positioning), thunderwave (forced movement).

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression: Remains valuable throughout campaigns for battlefield control and positioning advantages.

Upcast Benefits: No improvement from higher spell slots, making this a pure 1st-level control investment.

Campaign Phases: Peak effectiveness in early-to-mid level play where positioning control provides maximum tactical value.

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

Narrative Flavor​

Casting Description: Conjuration magic creates a slippery layer of grease across the ground as terrain becomes treacherous.

Effect Manifestation: The targeted area becomes slick and hazardous as magical grease makes movement difficult and dangerous.

Personal Style: Different casters create various slippery substances - some oily and viscous, others slick and transparent.

World Integration: Represents basic terrain control magic available to various traditions, often associated with tactical spellcasting, battlefield control, or practical magic applications.