Light: Let There Be Light
Usable By: Artificer, Bard, Cleric, Sorcerer, Wizard
Spell Level: 0 (cantrip)
School: Evocation
Casting Time: 1 Action
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 hour
Components: V, M (a firefly or phosphorescent moss)
You touch one object that is no larger than 10 feet in any dimension. Until the spell ends, the object sheds bright light in a 20-foot radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. The light can be colored as you like. Completely covering the object with something opaque blocks the light. The spell ends if you cast it again or dismiss it as an action.
If you target an object held or worn by a hostile creature, that creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw to avoid the spell.
Review by Sam West, Twitter:@CrierKobold
The torch: a tried and tested adventuring tool. Since the ancient times of the late 80s, dungeoneers have looked towards this beacon of light to push back the darkness and illuminate the dungeons they were delving into. In 5e, the torch has been pushed a bit to the backburner with the growing number of races with darkvision paired with a suite of cantrips that replace its effect given out to basically any class or race that could want it. Light fits into that category; it fundamentally is just a torch replacement, and if you get it for free, neat!
The comparison between the mundane torch and the magical Light cantrip is about as one to one as you can get. Each gives off 20 feet of dim light and 20 feet of bright light. Light can go on any mundane object, and if it's held by an enemy, they get to make a save to avoid Light sticking to it. In all my years DMing, not once has this come up. The light produced by Light can be any color at least, so that’s… upside? I guess?
Dancing Lights does a similar effect in giving off light but offers you flexibility in their locations. You can cover a larger area in dimmer light, and have the area covered be a flexible distance away. Light can kind of do this by sticking it on a pebble or other light object and chucking it, but a torch also can be thrown, and it's just a copper piece to get.
If you’re looking to save on the copper and single pound of weight per torch, Light is an entirely fine replacement. Otherwise, it acts as a quality of life bonus that really isn’t worth one of your few known cantrips. If you’re getting it for free, it becomes a kind of convenience. It probably isn’t worth actually learning when you have any other options, though.
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