D&D 5E SCAG like cantrips for ranged weapon attacks?

[Ganymede81]

Firebolt uses your Primary casting stat (or Int if you get it from being a high elf.) A small but tangible difference, especially at the higher levels.

That being said, any weapon-attack cantrip should follow the guidelines of Greenflame Blade and Booming Blade and not do more damage directly at 1st level, and extra damage should be splash damage or attached to a conditional rider.

Using a stat other than a primary casting stat is not a very significant trade-off when that stat offers as many benefits as Dexterity; the only saving grace of the SCAG cantrips is that they are melee range.

These cantrips aren't simply ranged, they can use longbow range. That leaves the range of every other cantrip in the dust. With very little in the way of opportunity cost, these cantrips let PCs do more damage, have better riders, and have more range than the ranged cantrips in the PHB.

 

[TwoSix]

These cantrips aren't simply ranged, they can use longbow range. That leaves the range of every other cantrip in the dust. With very little in the way of opportunity cost, these cantrips let PCs do more damage, have better riders, and have more range than the ranged cantrips in the PHB.

I'm ok with a hypothetical "greenflame arrow" being better than fire bolt for characters with longbow proficiency, or reasons in general to be using a weapon instead of an arcane focus. Firebolt still has a niche for characters with their casting stat much higher than their Dex.

 

[cbwjm]

Just wanted to say that I've updated these with feedback from others. Mostly this just involved removing the spellcasting modifier from the damage dealt at level 1 for most of the cantrips. I've left Sehanine's bow and flaming shot dealing extra damage at level 1 as these are primarily damage cantrips with no additional effects. I've also added clarifications in one or two instances.

Sehanine's bow has been updated to match Flaming Arrow's damage. This was one of my earliest archery cantrips and I clearly didn't think to update it when I was doing my initial brain dump of arcane archery cantrips.

I've made some ranged weapon cantrips. Admittedly I haven't tested them, but they might work for you.

Sehanine’s Bow (cleric)
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: by weapon
Components: V, M (a bow and arrow)
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire an arrow from your bow which bursts into pure radiant energy. As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a ranged weapon attack with a bow against one creature within range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target takes radiant damage equal equal to the bow's normal damage and additional radiant damage equal to your spellcasting modifier.
The arrow is consumed when fired.
The spell’s radiant damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (1d8), 11th level (2d8), and 17th level (3d8).

Cobra Shot (sorcerer, wizard)
Conjuration cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: by weapon
Components: V, M (a bow and arrow)
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire an arrow from your bow which becomes coated in venom as this spell takes effect. As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a ranged weapon attack with a bow against one creature within range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target suffers the attack’s normal effects and must make a Constitution saving throw or become poisoned until the start of your next turn.
The arrow is consumed when fired.
The spell deals an additional 1d6 poison damage at higher levels: 5th level (1d6), 11th level (2d6), and 17th level (3d6).

Crimson Arrow of Cyttorak (sorcerer, wizard)
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: by weapon
Components: V, M (a bow and arrow)
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire an arrow from your bow which transforms into crimson energy once fired. As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a ranged weapon attack with a bow against one creature within range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target takes force damage equal to the bows normal damage and, if it is Large size or smaller, it is restrained until the start of your next turn as crimson bands of energy entrap it.
The arrow is consumed when fired.

Explosive Shot (sorcerer, wizard)
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: by weapon
Components: V, M (a bow and arrow)
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire an arrow from your bow which bursts into flame once fired. As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a ranged weapon attack with a bow against one creature within range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target takes fire damage equal to the bow’s normal damage and each creature within 5ft of the target takes fire damage equal to your spellcasting modifier.
The arrow is consumed when fired.
The spell deals an additional 1d4 fire damage to the primary and secondary targets when you reach 5th level (1d4), 11th level (2d4), and 17th level (3d4).

Flaming Shot (sorcerer, wizard)
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: by weapon
Components: V, M (a bow and arrow)
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire an arrow from your bow which bursts into flame once fired. As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a ranged weapon attack with a bow against one creature within range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target takes fire damage equal to the bow’s normal damage and takes additional fire damage equal to your spellcasting modifier.
The arrow is consumed when fired.
The spell’s fire damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (1d8), 11th level (2d8), and 17th level (3d8).

Freezing Shot (sorcerer, wizard)
Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: by weapon
Components: V, M (a bow and arrow)
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire an arrow from your bow which forms into an icicle. As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a ranged weapon attack with a bow against one creature within range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target takes cold damage equal to the bow's normal damage and has its movement speed reduced by 10 feet.
The arrow is consumed when fired.
The spell’s cold damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (1d6), 11th level (2d6), and 17th level (3d6).

Multishot (sorcerer, wizard)
Evocation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: by weapon
Components: V, S, M (a bow and arrow)
Duration: Instantaneous
You fire an arrow from your bow which splits into bolts of pure force. As part of the action used to cast this spell, you must make a ranged weapon attack with a bow against one creature within range, otherwise the spell fails. On a hit, the target suffers force damage equal to the normal damage from the bow and up to two creatures within 10 feet are struck by a single magic missile dealing 1d4+1 force damage. No creature can be hit by more than a single missile.
The arrow is consumed when fired.
The spell creates an additional missile at higher levels: 5th level (3 missiles), 11th level (4 missiles), and 17th level (5 missiles).