Clever uses for Cantrips

[Enlong]

Alright, like the title says: post your most humorous/creative/strange uses for cantrips/orisons and other low-level magic that you have seen or have thought of.

My examples:
Cast Summon Instrument. BAM! Instant disposable, free, replaceable improvised weapon (favorite idea for this one, use a banjo string to strangle someone from behind, or give the instruments to a Drunken Master)

Multiple castings of Ghost Sound to make someone think they're hearing the voice of a God.

[Atanuero]

A friend once actually Cure Minor Wounds'd a lich's last 1 hp away. Don't ask me how this happened or what the DM was smoking because I wasn't present.

[Arceliar]

Prestidigitation to make poison taste like candy...flavored poison.

[Jack_Simth]

Alright, like the title says: post your most humorous/creative/strange uses for cantrips/orisons and other low-level magic that you have seen or have thought of.

Prestidigitation is the standard one for these:

Running from someone? Change the color of your cloak, then change the color of a strangers to what yours used to be.

Want to interrogate someone? Change the flavor of strong drink into something harmless (but widely loved). Get 'em drunk, then ask.

It's also great for pranks - the seat of one's pants is roughly one square foot. You can soil things with Prestidigitation.

Mage hand, in a pinch, can be used to check and see if a small item is magical or merely under the effects of a spell (Detect Magic can't distinguish this).

Detect Magic can locate magical traps - which (except for poison-based traps) encompasses all the ones that do things worse than direct damage. Additionally, it scans an area faster than a rogue can (60 foot cone in 3 rounds).

[BRC]

Situation, a prince has become king by secretally killing his father, a character knows so he buys a wand of predestigion. Said character is the new kings mage-bodyguard, so he's always around him. Every time the new king puts on his fathers crown, the mage-bodyguard who has still spell and silent spell predestigions the crown to get dirty, then cleans it again as soon as the king takes it off. Thus causing the king to get excessivly paranoid and nervous, so much so that the nobles take care of said king.

[Copacetic]

Cast Light on the mage's pants.........

Cast Prestidigitation and chill all the food in th area just as people are about to take a bite, then warm it again. Color the party's meat shield's armour pink.

Cast lullaby on a guard/guards and sneak past.

Climb a buildng and summon instrument 'Gong' on someone's head.

[Green Bean]

Situation, a prince has become king by secretally killing his father, a character knows so he buys a wand of predestigion. Said character is the new kings mage-bodyguard, so he's always around him. Every time the new king puts on his fathers crown, the mage-bodyguard who has still spell and silent spell predestigions the crown to get dirty, then cleans it again as soon as the king takes it off. Thus causing the king to get excessivly paranoid and nervous, so much so that the nobles take care of said king.

Did he use it to make the son's hands bloody? And afterwards, did he use it to get the damn spot out?

[BRC]

Did he use it to make the son's hands bloody? And afterwards, did he use it to get the damn spot out?

No, but he should have, I originally though up this scenario when working on my Psychological warfare skill and system ( I should really post that)

[Laurellien]

Multiple castings of Ghost Sound to make someone think they're hearing the voice of a God.

We did that once when the party was in prison (don't ask). It went something like this. "I, Nerull, have plans for these prisoners. RELEASE THEM NOW! Or face my immortal wrath."
They practically kicked us out

create water
"Hahahaha! I, the BBEG shall - " sploosh "destroy your - " sploosh "STOP IT!"

Summon instrument:
"Pipe organ" Wham!
"The horn of Helm Hammerhand" Earthquake.

I once bitchslapped somebody with mage hand.

[Jack_Simth]

We did that once when the party was in prison (don't ask). It went something like this. "I, Nerull, have plans for these prisoners. RELEASE THEM NOW! Or face my immortal wrath."
They practically kicked us out

Don't most D&D Dieties have an awareness of every time their name is spoken?

You sure it's a good idea to impersonate one of the evil ones?

create water
"Hahahaha! I, the BBEG shall - " sploosh "destroy your - " sploosh "STOP IT!"

Yes, but is it worth the standard action when the DM can use that time to roll initiative... and require you to use THAT as your opening move?

Summon instrument:
"Pipe organ" Wham!
"The horn of Helm Hammerhand" Earthquake.

Both illegal by Summon Instrument's text - can't summon anything you can't hold in two hands, and it's a mundane instrument.

I once bitchslapped somebody with mage hand.

Illegal by way of the spell description - it can't affect people. You could, conceivably, animate a glove... but they'll see it coming with plenty of time to spare, what with the slow speed.

[SilverClawShift]

We had an intensely paranoid wizard who cast Detect Poison on everything he ever ate.

Ironically, he actually died by CON damaging poison. It's just that it was on a crossbow bolt being fired by kobolds.

[Chronos]

From the SRD:

The instrument is typical for its type. Only one instrument appears per casting, and it will play only for you. You can’t summon an instrument too large to be held in two hands.

So you can't summon a pipe organ unless you're really strong, and if you ask for the Horn of Helm, you'll just get a typical horn. I'm sure you could find a good use for an alphorn, though (saves carrying around a standard-issue ten foot pole), and bass drums and tubas are still available for dropping.

On the subject of Prestidigitation and the taste of poison, a friend of mine once suggested pulling a "let's you and him fight" by adding the flavor of poison to food or drink, so the eater thinks someone's trying to assassinate him.

[Forrestfire]

I frequently use acid spray to eat up the workings of locks

[bugsysservant]

Well, technically, it says "held" not "lifted" or "carried" anyone can hold an instrument in two hands, even if they can't pick it up. But yeah, by RAI, summoning the Helm of Helmhammerhand or a pipe organ.

Edit: missed the "handheld" bit. So yeah, its illegal.

[Green Bean]

From the SRD:So you can't summon a pipe organ unless you're really strong, and if you ask for the Horn of Helm, you'll just get a typical horn. I'm sure you could find a good use for an alphorn, though (saves carrying around a standard-issue ten foot pole), and bass drums and tubas are still available for dropping.

On the subject of Prestidigitation and the taste of poison, a friend of mine once suggested pulling a "let's you and him fight" by adding the flavor of poison to food or drink, so the eater thinks someone's trying to assassinate him.

I love using the reflavouring ability of Prestidigitation.

Me: Here, friend, have some nice warm "apple juice".
Friend: Hey, did you just do that air quote thing?
Me: "No".

[SurlySeraph]

5680. Prestidigation cannot be used to do any of the following
-freeze people's blood, killing them instantly
-tear out tiny but vital organs
-prevent their heart from beating
-shut off the brain's supply of oxygen
5681. The spell can't deal damage. Period. No matter how many ways you can come up with to use 1 pound of force to kill someone.

5379. Mage Hand cannot be used to perform any of the effects in my previous post, no matter how many ways I can think of to use a whole 5 pounds of force to kill someone.
5380. Nor Greater Mage Hand, even though 40 pounds of force is more than enough to crush someone's windpipe.

minimum character limit

[Gerrtt]

Not sure if it's legal but someone once suggested to me that we pour some water into a lock and then use ray of frost to freeze the water, in effect breaking the lock when the water expanded and turned to ice.

Also, in a game my friend once used prestidigitation to lift a pound of lava out of a lava flow and dump it on a troll. The spell didn't do damage on it's own, it only used the environment to do it, so the DM allowed it.

[Suzuro]

Someone around these parts, I can't actually remember who it was though, had the idea to go to a preacher's sermon and cast ghost sound to make it sound like the preacher was farting, Prestidigitation to make it smell like it and then use silent image to make a cloud of green gas behind him.

Again, not my idea, if they're around here they can take credit for it.

-Suzuro

[XenoGeno]

Make a pit trap with a portable hole, then ready mage hand to pick it up once somebody falls in. Wait a day, then empty the very blue corpse. Or if you're feeling very evil/wealthy, leave some iridescent and clear ioun stones to taunt the guy with, then toss the hole into a bag of holding.

[Dervag]

Originally Posted by TigerHunter
5379. Mage Hand cannot be used to perform any of the effects in my previous post, no matter how many ways I can think of to use a whole 5 pounds of force to kill someone.
5380. Nor Greater Mage Hand, even though 40 pounds of force is more than enough to crush someone's windpipe.

I find your lack of faith... disturbing.

[Mewtarthio]

When fighting a creature with "Swallow Whole," use prestidigation to give yourself the flavor of habanero peppers mixed with rancid meat.

When giving the fair damsel her requisite kiss, use prestidigitation to change your flavor to mint chocolate.

Technically a first-level spell, but still worth it: Leave a deck of cards on a table and hide somewhere off to the side. When someone attempts to draw a card, use silent image to make it appear as though they just drew the "Rogue" card from the Deck of Many Things ("one of your allies will betray you").

[MrNexx]

When fighting a creature with "Swallow Whole," use prestidigation to give yourself the flavor of habanero peppers mixed with rancid meat.

Think about what many of them eat. Consider if that would actually make them stop.

As for Greater Mage Hand and the like, I believe those only affect objects. Even if they did not, it would be, definitely, a case where a saving throw is warranted.

[Mewtarthio]

Think about what many of them eat. Consider if that would actually make them stop.

Hm... Good point. Change that to castor oil. Nobody likes castor oil.

[Ralfarius]

Hm... Good point. Change that to castor oil. Nobody likes castor oil.

*Covers his shelf of castor oil with a sheet.*
Yeah... You'd have to be some sort of weirdo to like that stuff. Gross.

[Enlong]

Here's another use of the "re flavoring" form of Presto.

We all know that the highly nutritious gruel from a Sustaining Spoon tastes like cardboard, right? So you use Presto to make it taste like the best thing ever! Who cares if it still feels like mushy gruel, when it tastes like cinnamon-sugar oatmeal, or curry, or a bowl of pizza!?
In fact, use that to sell a Sustaining Spoon for far more then it's worth, if ya don't need it anymore.

On a similar note, use Presto to make the plain water from a Decanter of Endless Water taste like the drink of your choice.

Those two items mean you never have to starve: Presto means you always get to taste what you want.

Use Know Direction to find north, and then use that knowledge to draw a map of your surroundings, with the direction of North drawn on it, so you always know which way is north.

Use Light to make an old weapon shine a pure white, and then sell your "Longsword of Brilliant Energy" for "low, low prices!" (higher level version of this: add Nystul's Magic Aura to make it detect as a Brilliant Energy Weapon)

Use Ghost Sound and Dancing Lights to create a bunch of artificial Will O' Whisps that you use to lure someone into a trap. Or wherever else you want to lead the light-deprived, slow-witted fool.

Mage Hand to steal someone's Handy Haversack (or other 5-pound item) while they sleep.

Arcane Mark to put a King's "Official Stamp" on your bootleg items, or to forge signatures. (signatures would require multiple castings, but as long as you've seen the real signature, you're good to go!)

[MrNexx]

Arcane Mark to put a King's "Official Stamp" on your bootleg items, or to forge signatures. (signatures would require multiple castings, but as long as you've seen the real signature, you're good to go!)

Read. the. spell. It inscribes your PERSONAL rune on something, not random graffiti.

[Enlong]

Read. the. spell. It inscribes your PERSONAL rune on something, not random graffiti.

OK, Fine. Then signatures are out. However, just 'cause it says "personal" rune, it doesn't put any restrictions on what that rune is, other then the fact that it can only be 6 characters in length, and 1 square foot. the spell wouldn't know that your "personal rune" happens to be identical to a certain stamp or insignia that would improve the credibility of bootleg gear, so long as you know that you must remain devoted to using that one rune.

[RoboticSheeple]

Prestidigitation is the standard one for these:

Running from someone? Change the color of your cloak, then change the color of a strangers to what yours used to be.

For a net change of NOTHING on your disguise check, sounds awesome. Also remember to ball it up into a 1 foot cube first or the spell won't color the whole thing.

Unrelated, you can't flavor yourself unless you're undead.

Also, expansion from making ice with a Ray of Frost in an attempt to do more damage than the actual spell does? Does this even need to be addressed?

[the_tick_rules]

someone once suggested using create water to create water inside someone's head and use the water pressure to crush their brain.

[OneWinged4ngel]

create water
"Hahahaha! I, the BBEG shall - " sploosh "destroy your - " sploosh "STOP IT!"

Incidentally, Create Water can't actually do this. The rules are very specific about where you can summon stuff to, and "right over an enemy's head" is not allowed. Same goes for all the people saying silly things like crushing people's brains with water pressure. Enlong's suggestion, too, is blatantly against the rules. Even if his sig has a totally awesome quote about teaching players to fish.

"Clever" does not mean "cheating." There is nothing clever about cheating.