D&D 5E Overchanneling and Cantrips

[Obryn]

So a poster on another board noticed that it seems like there's never a downside for Overchanneling a cantrip.

Cantrips are expressly noted as 0-level spells on p78. How much damage do you take after the first overchannel? The second? The third?

(And if your first response is, "0, 1d12, 2d12" as mine was, read the ability more closely.)

 

[Nikosandros]

According to the rules, you take no damage. I'd say that either you can't overchannnel a cantrip, or you take 1d12 damage.

 

[Stalker0]

Just to put some context on it...a 20th level wizard using ray of frost with overchannel against a AC 16 foe would do DPR of 24 (assuming the ability works).

A fighter (assuming basic fighter with crit 18-20) against the same opponent with a longsword would do DPR 31.2 with all 4 attacks. He would do ~24 with 3 of his 4 attacks.

 

[hbarsquared]

The question is not, "How much damage do I take if I use overchannel on a cantrip once, twice, five, ten times...?"

The question is, "How much damage do I take after overchannelling cantrips ten or twenty times, then overchannel magic missile..."

;-)

 

[synthapse]

I'd just rule that you can't Overchannel cantrips.

 

[Thaumaturge]

The question is not, "How much damage do I take if I use overchannel on a cantrip once, twice, five, ten times...?"

The question is, "How much damage do I take after overchannelling cantrips ten or twenty times, then overchannel magic missile..."

;-)

Yeah. Sounds fine to me. Overchannel your cantrips as much as you want.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Obryn]

Yeah, I dunno folks. This is another one I can't imagine it's intentional.

 

[GX.Sigma]

Yeah, it seems clear that it should only work with spells of at least 1st level.

 

[evileeyore]

Yeah. Sounds fine to me. Overchannel your cantrips as much as you want.

Thaumaturge.

Yeah, not seeing the bug here.




OH NOES! The high level Wizard can keep up with his companions in the DPS department with out having to nova every few seconds! SKY IS FALLING!

 

[occam]

Just to put some context on it...a 20th level wizard using ray of frost with overchannel against a AC 16 foe would do DPR of 24 (assuming the ability works).

Or 40 points of damage with fire bolt. From up to 120 feet away. And it's an almost-guaranteed 20 damage for an evocation specialist.