Mold Earth

• Level: Cantrip
• School: Transmutation
• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 30 feet
• Components: S
• Duration: Instantaneous or 1 hour (see below)

Description

Mold Earth is a versatile cantrip that allows the caster to manipulate loose earth within range, offering a variety of utility applications both in and out of combat.

Effects:

• Target:

  • Choose an area of loose earth or dirt that you can see within range, no larger than a 5-foot cube.

• Options:

  • Excavate or Move Earth:
    • You can instantaneously excavate it, move it along the ground, and deposit it up to 5 feet away. This movement is too precise to cause damage.
  • Create Shapes or Colors:
    • You can cause the earth to form into shapes, colors, or both. These shapes can be simple or crude forms (e.g., letters, symbols, patterns) that remain for 1 hour.
  • Alter Terrain:
    • You can change the terrain’s texture or make it difficult terrain. The change lasts for 1 hour.

Strategic Applications:

• Excavation:

  • Use Mold Earth to dig shallow trenches, uncover buried objects, or create small barriers.

• Cover and Concealment:

  • Create temporary cover by raising or altering terrain, or conceal objects by burying them in loose earth.

• Traps and Terrain Control:

  • Alter terrain to create hazards or difficult terrain that hinders enemy movement.

• Creative Messages:

  • Leave messages or symbols by altering the color or shape of the earth, useful for signaling allies or marking locations.

Roleplaying Opportunities:

• Earth Sculptor:

  • A character with an artistic streak might use Mold Earth to craft temporary sculptures or landscapes as a form of expression or communication.

• Subtle Manipulation:

  • Use the cantrip to subtly alter the environment in ways that could influence social encounters, such as creating a dust cloud or altering terrain to gain a positional advantage.

Notes:

• Material Limitations:

  • Mold Earth only affects loose earth or dirt. It cannot affect stone, sand, or other materials unless they qualify as "loose earth."

• No Damage:

  • The cantrip is not designed to deal damage directly and is best used for utility and terrain control.

• Ideal For:

  • Mold Earth is particularly useful for druids, wizards, and sorcerers who favor versatility and creative problem-solving in their spellcasting repertoire.