Suggestions in 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons
Suggestions are a powerful and unique spell in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. They offer a compelling way to influence characters, both allies and foes, and can lead to intriguing roleplaying moments. But how do you use suggestions effectively, and what are some creative ways to employ them?
Understanding the Mechanics
Let's delve into the mechanics of suggestions to understand its potential:
- Range: The spell has a range of 30 feet, allowing you to target creatures within a reasonable distance.
- Duration: It lasts for 1 minute, giving you a window to exploit the suggested action.
- Effect: The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. If they fail, they must follow the suggestion, provided it doesn't involve harming themselves or another creature.
- Creative Constraints: The suggestion must be something the creature could reasonably do, even if it's against their nature. It needs to be a plausible action within their capabilities.
Strategic Applications of Suggestions
Suggestions can be used in a variety of ways, both offensively and defensively.
Offensive Strategies
- Disrupting Enemy Actions: You could suggest an enemy to drop their weapon, run away, or even attack their own allies. This can lead to chaos and disarray, turning the tide of battle in your favor.
- Manipulating Enemy Behavior: Suggest a formidable foe to take a nap, sing a song, or even dance in a circle. This can buy you valuable time or provide a comedic reprieve from intense combat.
- Infiltrating Defenses: Suggest a guard to open a gate or a door, allowing your team to infiltrate a heavily guarded area.
Defensive Strategies
- Protecting Allies: Suggest an enemy to stand down or leave your allies alone. You can use this to buy time for your party to regroup or escape a dangerous situation.
- Negotiation and Diplomacy: Suggest an adversary to consider a truce or to negotiate a compromise. You can use suggestions to de-escalate conflict and find a peaceful resolution.
Examples of Effective Suggestions
Here are some examples of suggestions that you can use in different situations:
- In a Dungeon: Suggest a goblin to "run and hide" when you enter a room, or suggest a mimic to "remain still" to reveal its true form.
- During a Social Encounter: Suggest a haughty noble to "take a nap" during an important meeting or suggest a shy character to "tell the truth" to break down social barriers.
- In Combat: Suggest a monstrous creature to "take a break from fighting" or suggest a rogue to "drop their loot" to distract them from a pursuit.
Creative and Intriguing Suggestions
Don't be afraid to get creative with your suggestions. Consider these examples:
- Suggest a wizard to "forget their spellbook" and see them scramble to remember their spells.
- Suggest a bard to "sing a lullaby" to lull enemies into a peaceful slumber.
- Suggest a cleric to "heal the enemy" to provoke chaos and confusion.
Remember: the effectiveness of a suggestion depends on your ability to anticipate the target's reactions and to craft a compelling command that they are likely to obey.
Beyond the Battlefield
Suggestions can also be used for social manipulation and problem-solving:
- Finding Clues: You can suggest someone to "remember a forgotten detail" or "reveal a hidden clue" to help you solve a mystery.
- Gaining Information: Suggest a witness to "tell the truth" about a crime, or suggest a drunkard to "spill their secrets" about a local feud.
Playing the Role of a Suggestor
When using suggestions, embrace the power of roleplaying. You can:
- Emphasize Your Words: Speak with confidence and conviction, making your suggestions sound like commands or orders.
- Use Body Language: Use gestures and facial expressions to reinforce your suggestions and make them seem more compelling.
- Create a Sense of Authority: Stand tall, make eye contact with your target, and project an aura of power and dominance.
Counteracting Suggestions
While suggestions can be powerful, they are not foolproof. Creatures can resist them through:
- Wisdom Saving Throw: A successful Wisdom saving throw negates the effect of the suggestion.
- Intelligence: Creatures with high Intelligence scores are more likely to recognize the subtle influence of the spell and resist it.
- Experience: Creatures who have encountered suggestions before may be more aware of their effects and better prepared to resist them.
Conclusion
Suggestions are a versatile spell that can be used in a variety of ways. By understanding their mechanics and exploring their potential, you can use them to influence the course of events in exciting and unpredictable ways. From disrupting enemies to manipulating social situations, the power of suggestions is only limited by your imagination.