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Cantrip Auto-Scaling - A 5e Critique
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<blockquote data-quote="Thyrwyn" data-source="post: 7534062" data-attributes="member: 12354"><p>I, too, disagree with the premise regarding resources (see ranged weapons: ammunition) - and actually, for the same reason: all spells cost resources to cast, namely, actions. </p><p></p><p>Unless you can make the point that scaling damage cantrips make 1st lvl spell slots meaningless, which you can’t. You also can’t ignore the fact that other spells can be cast using higher level slots, which allows their damage (and other effects and utility) to remain relevant at higher tiers of play. The spell choice remains relevant. </p><p></p><p>Also, you can’t pretend that the “resource cost” of a 1st lvl slot is as valuable at 1st lvl as it is at 11th, or 17th, or whatever. An 11th lvl Wizard has 16 spell slots available (4 1st), and 47 spell levels to play with. By any standard, the total opportunity cost of casting a cantrip vs a 1st lvl spell slot is marginal at best, which more than accounted for by the versatility of that 1st lvl slot or the spell that was cast with it. </p><p></p><p>TLDR - all spells cost resources (actions); The resource cost of a 1st lvl spell slot decreases drastically as character level increases; spells can be cast in higher lvl slots, increasing their damage which allows more versatility at the slot cost the caster is willing to play. </p><p></p><p>1st lvl spells are already better than cantrips</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Thyrwyn, post: 7534062, member: 12354"] I, too, disagree with the premise regarding resources (see ranged weapons: ammunition) - and actually, for the same reason: all spells cost resources to cast, namely, actions. Unless you can make the point that scaling damage cantrips make 1st lvl spell slots meaningless, which you can’t. You also can’t ignore the fact that other spells can be cast using higher level slots, which allows their damage (and other effects and utility) to remain relevant at higher tiers of play. The spell choice remains relevant. Also, you can’t pretend that the “resource cost” of a 1st lvl slot is as valuable at 1st lvl as it is at 11th, or 17th, or whatever. An 11th lvl Wizard has 16 spell slots available (4 1st), and 47 spell levels to play with. By any standard, the total opportunity cost of casting a cantrip vs a 1st lvl spell slot is marginal at best, which more than accounted for by the versatility of that 1st lvl slot or the spell that was cast with it. TLDR - all spells cost resources (actions); The resource cost of a 1st lvl spell slot decreases drastically as character level increases; spells can be cast in higher lvl slots, increasing their damage which allows more versatility at the slot cost the caster is willing to play. 1st lvl spells are already better than cantrips [/QUOTE]
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Cantrip Auto-Scaling - A 5e Critique
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