Is it just me, or is Mage Hand useless? Like, impressively useless.

I’m new to DnD (and DnD-like games) so I could be in the wrong here, but every time I think of something that Mage Hand should be able to do, it just doesn’t.

Want to pick up an unreachable item and carry it to me? No.

Want to loot an otherwise unreachable body? No.

Want to pickpocket someone without being caught? No. (Okay, I get that this one would be pretty broken, even in normal DnD this is sometimes disallowed)

Want to fly a few feet up and light an overhead brazier? No.

Want to do literally anything useful? No.

Want to squeeze through a small hole to see a room you’ve already looted? Sure!

I’m at the point where instead of trying to think creatively about how to use it, I just immediately write it off because it probably can’t do whatever I’m thinking of. I am genuinely surprised when I find out Mage Hand can do something, and that’s not a good thing.

The only idea I had that actually worked was using it to stealth the early phase spider section by just throwing the gem at the end backwards, then moving the hand in the opposite direction to draw aggro. That’s literally the only “useful” thing I’ve done with it, and I’ve still not found a use for the gem.

So I ask, what have you done with Mage Hand that’s actually useful?

    • kyle@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      1 year ago

      Looks like Arcane Trickster for Rogue has a permanent one.

    • glimse@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      I’m not sure, maybe it’s a rogue spec thing? I had Lae’zel in my first run and hers only lasted 10 turns but Astarion’s is permanent.

      • magnusrufus@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        That would make sense. I ended up kind of ignoring astarion in my first play through so I wouldn’t have seen that ability if it is from him.

        • glimse@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          The only reason I’m putting up with Astarion is because I had Lae’zel, Wyll, and Shadow my first run and I wanted to see the other stories. Glad I did because some interactions are a lot different with him around