How much may I customize a Fog Cloud spell?











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The description for the fog cloud spell says:




You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.




Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.



If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?



My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.










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  • 1




    what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
    – PixelMaster
    13 hours ago












  • @PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
    – KorvinStarmast
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    @KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
    – Mwr247
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    @KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
    – KRyan
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
    – Sdjz
    12 hours ago















up vote
7
down vote

favorite
1












The description for the fog cloud spell says:




You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.




Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.



If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?



My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.










share|improve this question




















  • 1




    what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
    – PixelMaster
    13 hours ago












  • @PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
    – KorvinStarmast
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    @KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
    – Mwr247
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    @KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
    – KRyan
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
    – Sdjz
    12 hours ago













up vote
7
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
7
down vote

favorite
1






1





The description for the fog cloud spell says:




You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.




Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.



If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?



My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.










share|improve this question















The description for the fog cloud spell says:




You create a 20-foot-radius sphere of fog centered on a point within range. The sphere spreads around corners, and its area is heavily obscured.




Is it possible for my wizard to cast a green fog cloud during a battle against goblins, and later in the same day cast a red fog cloud when fighting orcs? This would signal to a distant observer what the opponents are in the area.



If I know my opponent lost his family to a cloudkill spell, may I create a fog cloud that has yellow-green fog like the cloudkill spell? Or if my opponent fears a magical violet mist with gold sparks, may I cast a fog cloud with those effects?



My intent here is to understand the limits of the existing spell.







dnd-5e spells






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share|improve this question








edited 3 hours ago









V2Blast

18.7k251116




18.7k251116










asked 13 hours ago









StandardEyre

1,3302628




1,3302628








  • 1




    what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
    – PixelMaster
    13 hours ago












  • @PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
    – KorvinStarmast
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    @KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
    – Mwr247
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    @KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
    – KRyan
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
    – Sdjz
    12 hours ago














  • 1




    what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
    – PixelMaster
    13 hours ago












  • @PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
    – KorvinStarmast
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    @KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
    – Mwr247
    12 hours ago






  • 1




    @KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
    – KRyan
    12 hours ago






  • 3




    Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
    – Sdjz
    12 hours ago








1




1




what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
13 hours ago






what makes you think that a Fog Cloud can be colored? Fog is, after all, nothing but airborne water particles, which generally doesn't have a color. Or is the whole point of the question to find out whether you can change the color of a Fog Cloud?
– PixelMaster
13 hours ago














@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
12 hours ago




@PixelMaster Why can't it be? (I ask as the devil's advocate). I've seen two different DM's rule that it can be a different color, just as spiritual weapon can be the shape of anything related to the cleric's deity ...
– KorvinStarmast
12 hours ago




3




3




@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
12 hours ago




@KorvinStarmast Because by RAW, spells only do what they say they do. We can't answer for what their DM will rule, only RAW/RAI.
– Mwr247
12 hours ago




1




1




@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
12 hours ago




@KorvinStarmast I’d certainly allow a spellcaster to have a different-color fog cloud, but that color would be fixed, not something you can change for each casting.
– KRyan
12 hours ago




3




3




Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
12 hours ago




Related: What are the dangers of renaming spells and changing their flavour, without changing mechanics at all?
– Sdjz
12 hours ago










2 Answers
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15
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The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW



Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.



You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect



Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.



Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.



Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.






share|improve this answer



















  • 1




    Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
    – KorvinStarmast
    10 hours ago




















up vote
1
down vote













You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.






share|improve this answer





















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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






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    up vote
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    down vote













    The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW



    Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.



    You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect



    Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.



    Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.



    Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 1




      Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
      – KorvinStarmast
      10 hours ago

















    up vote
    15
    down vote













    The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW



    Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.



    You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect



    Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.



    Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.



    Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 1




      Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
      – KorvinStarmast
      10 hours ago















    up vote
    15
    down vote










    up vote
    15
    down vote









    The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW



    Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.



    You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect



    Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.



    Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.



    Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.






    share|improve this answer














    The Fog Cloud cannot be colored, RAW



    Without circumstances dictating otherwise, spells in 5th edition D&D only do what they say they do, and no more. The Fog Cloud spell says it creates a 20' radius sphere of Fog, and that's all you can guarantee it'll do. If you want it to do more than that, you'll need a different spell.



    You should be able to combine Fog Cloud, Light, and (optionally) Mage Hand to create the appropriate effect



    Placing a colored light source inside the Fog Cloud should diffuse the light through the fog, creating the colored Fog Cloud of your choosing. Since of those three spells, only Fog Cloud requires concentration, it's possible for the same spellcaster to maintain all three effects simultaneously, and both Light and Mage Hand are cantrips, meaning you're not spending extra resources (other than your Action Economy) to produce this effect.



    Simply cast Light (for the color of your choosing) on a rock, then use Mage Hand to lift the rock into the fog cloud (or simply place the rock inside the fog cloud if your character is physically able to do so). The range on Light extends at least 20 feet, and while it wouldn't disable the Heavily Obscured effect, it is plausible that a character could generate a colored fog cloud using this method.



    Bear in mind that you may need a permissive DM to make this work, RAW, since the fog will surround the light, and while this should not obscure the light source itself, it's not clear that the physics of the light diffusing through the fog will result in the fog itself taking on the light's color. So it does require your DM to allow for real world physics to take precedence in this situation.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 11 hours ago

























    answered 12 hours ago









    Xirema

    14k24085




    14k24085








    • 1




      Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
      – KorvinStarmast
      10 hours ago
















    • 1




      Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
      – KorvinStarmast
      10 hours ago










    1




    1




    Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
    – KorvinStarmast
    10 hours ago






    Bravo, now that's a fun answer. :) +1 Rules as Fun in spades.
    – KorvinStarmast
    10 hours ago














    up vote
    1
    down vote













    You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      1
      down vote













      You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        1
        down vote










        up vote
        1
        down vote









        You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.






        share|improve this answer












        You could try to obtain a similar effect just using dancing lights. Since you have four of them you could move them all up in the air into a prearranged configuration to indicate the presence of a certain monster.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 7 hours ago









        Allan Mills

        713




        713






























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