Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
What solution for "Cantrips don't feel magical"?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="WhosDaDungeonMaster" data-source="post: 7543692"><p>Once again, too many people are pulling the focus away from the OP and the "debate" is getting pointless.</p><p></p><p><em>If you read this thread and already feel the game is magical, with or without cantrips being at-will, then fine, say your piece and either please move on or contribute to the <u>goal of the thread</u> as intended the OP</em>.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Some posters have emphasized dramatic flare to help and if that works, wonderful, problem solved. But for those of us (myself included, obviously), that isn't the problem. For me, like others, it is lack of variety (especially in combat), that makes magic feel mundane. To be fair, I find the same problem with melee at times, but have my NPC do different things like leaving his engagement with three foes to rush to the aid of a comrade, accepting opportunity attacks if I must, and so forth, to create a greater sense of action.</p><p></p><p>Yet I digress. Here are some mechanical ideas that I came up with this morning which might make your game feel more "magical":</p><p></p><p>1. Allow classes (not Archetypes) with cantrips (not Cantrips learned from a Feat, etc.) to change their Cantrips Knowns during a Long Rest. Reason: cantrips are by nature low-power and already enjoy constant at-will use. Increasing the variety or options might help (then again, maybe it won't for you...).</p><p></p><p>2. Make "Cantrips Known" into "Cantrip Slots". Caster can use any cantrip from their spell list (again, variety is key for me anyway), expending a Cantrip Slot when casting it. All Cantrip Slots are regained after a Short Rest or Long Rest.</p><p></p><p>3. Let caster classes choose any cantrip from their spell list instead of only knowing a limited number (yep, there is that variety again) when they cast a cantrip (see new Feat below if you want a cost associated with this feature).</p><p></p><p><strong>New Feat</strong>: Cantrip Caster</p><p></p><p><em>Prerequisite: the ability to cast at least one spell.</em></p><p></p><p>You know all the cantrips from your class spell list and can cast them at-will.</p><p>[HR][/HR]</p><p>If the focus is lack of options in combat, create new cantrips for casters to influence combat in other ways, such as these examples (these are just drafts, and not checked for balance yet):</p><p></p><p><strong>Quick Ward</strong></p><p></p><p>Abjuration</p><p>Level: Cantrip</p><p>Casting time: 1 Action</p><p>Range: 30 feet</p><p>Components: V, S, M (a tiny square sheet of metal)</p><p>Duration: Instantaneous</p><p></p><p>You wave your hand across your front towards a target within range, you grant the target a +1 bonus to Armor Class and Saving Throws until the beginning of your next turn.</p><p></p><p><strong>Repel Attacker</strong></p><p></p><p>Conjuration</p><p>Level: Cantrip</p><p>Casting time: 1 Bonus Action</p><p>Range: Touch</p><p>Components: V, S</p><p>Duration: Instantaneous</p><p></p><p>You touch your target and push away with your hand. The target rolls a Constitution save. If it fails, it is moved 5 feet backwards. If the space is occupied, the spell fails.</p><p></p><p><strong>Summoning Snap</strong></p><p></p><p>Conjuration</p><p>Level: Cantrip</p><p>Casting time: 1 Action</p><p>Range: 10 feet (maybe 30 feet?)</p><p>Components: V, S</p><p>Duration: Instantaneous</p><p></p><p>You snap your fingers and extend your hand to summon a small object, two pounds or less and no longer than 1 foot, that you can see within range into your hand. If this object is being held by an unwilling creature, the target makes a Dexterity save to retain control of the item.</p><p>[HR][/HR]</p><p>Those are just a few examples. Having cantrips that can affect combat beyond dealing damage might help. I know I enjoy using other combat options for melee, such as shoves, disarms, etc. Personally, I will talk to my players but probably employ one of the options I listed above and encourage my players to make their <em>own</em> cantrips for group approval.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WhosDaDungeonMaster, post: 7543692"] Once again, too many people are pulling the focus away from the OP and the "debate" is getting pointless. [I]If you read this thread and already feel the game is magical, with or without cantrips being at-will, then fine, say your piece and either please move on or contribute to the [U]goal of the thread[/U] as intended the OP[/I]. Some posters have emphasized dramatic flare to help and if that works, wonderful, problem solved. But for those of us (myself included, obviously), that isn't the problem. For me, like others, it is lack of variety (especially in combat), that makes magic feel mundane. To be fair, I find the same problem with melee at times, but have my NPC do different things like leaving his engagement with three foes to rush to the aid of a comrade, accepting opportunity attacks if I must, and so forth, to create a greater sense of action. Yet I digress. Here are some mechanical ideas that I came up with this morning which might make your game feel more "magical": 1. Allow classes (not Archetypes) with cantrips (not Cantrips learned from a Feat, etc.) to change their Cantrips Knowns during a Long Rest. Reason: cantrips are by nature low-power and already enjoy constant at-will use. Increasing the variety or options might help (then again, maybe it won't for you...). 2. Make "Cantrips Known" into "Cantrip Slots". Caster can use any cantrip from their spell list (again, variety is key for me anyway), expending a Cantrip Slot when casting it. All Cantrip Slots are regained after a Short Rest or Long Rest. 3. Let caster classes choose any cantrip from their spell list instead of only knowing a limited number (yep, there is that variety again) when they cast a cantrip (see new Feat below if you want a cost associated with this feature). [B]New Feat[/B]: Cantrip Caster [I]Prerequisite: the ability to cast at least one spell.[/I] You know all the cantrips from your class spell list and can cast them at-will. [HR][/HR] If the focus is lack of options in combat, create new cantrips for casters to influence combat in other ways, such as these examples (these are just drafts, and not checked for balance yet): [B]Quick Ward[/B] Abjuration Level: Cantrip Casting time: 1 Action Range: 30 feet Components: V, S, M (a tiny square sheet of metal) Duration: Instantaneous You wave your hand across your front towards a target within range, you grant the target a +1 bonus to Armor Class and Saving Throws until the beginning of your next turn. [B]Repel Attacker[/B] Conjuration Level: Cantrip Casting time: 1 Bonus Action Range: Touch Components: V, S Duration: Instantaneous You touch your target and push away with your hand. The target rolls a Constitution save. If it fails, it is moved 5 feet backwards. If the space is occupied, the spell fails. [B]Summoning Snap[/B] Conjuration Level: Cantrip Casting time: 1 Action Range: 10 feet (maybe 30 feet?) Components: V, S Duration: Instantaneous You snap your fingers and extend your hand to summon a small object, two pounds or less and no longer than 1 foot, that you can see within range into your hand. If this object is being held by an unwilling creature, the target makes a Dexterity save to retain control of the item. [HR][/HR] Those are just a few examples. Having cantrips that can affect combat beyond dealing damage might help. I know I enjoy using other combat options for melee, such as shoves, disarms, etc. Personally, I will talk to my players but probably employ one of the options I listed above and encourage my players to make their [I]own[/I] cantrips for group approval. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
What solution for "Cantrips don't feel magical"?
Top