So, I'm running into an issue of this spell - as written being over powered. (I'm the DM for my group. The wizard of the party also has DMed for many more years than me and also thinks it's overpowered, but used it anyways... 
)
The force cage spell as written is:
"An immobile, invisible, cube-shaped prison composed of magical force springs into existence around an area you choose within range. The prison can be a cage or a solid box as you choose.
A prison in the shape of a cage can be up to 20 feet on a side and is made from 1/2-inch diameter bars spaced 1/2 inch apart.
A prison in the shape of a box can be up to 10 feet on a side, creating a solid barrier that prevents any matter from passing through it and blocking any spells cast into or out of the area.
When you cast the spell, any creature that is completely inside the cage’s area is trapped. Creatures only partially within the area, or those too large to fit inside the area, are pushed away from the center of the area until they are completely outside the area.
A creature inside the cage can’t leave it by nonmagical means. If the creature tries to use teleportation or interplanar travel to leave the cage, it must first make a Charisma saving throw. On a success, the creature can use that magic to exit the cage. On a failure, the creature can’t exit the cage and wastes the use of the spell or effect. The cage also extends into the Ethereal Plane, blocking ethereal travel. This spell can’t be dispelled by dispel magic."
The wizard used it as a cage (meaning it has openings throughout the cage)... Which the creature would have total cover, but all attacks would go through the cage. The Cage prevents the creature from escaping the cage. They could attack, if they have ranged attacks through the cage just like the PCs but probably with disadvantage or cover since they'd be attacking through cover as well.
This leads to a one sided battle that allows pretty much any monster to be neutered. The PCs all took to using cantrips for up to the 1 hour duration to just cast a bunch of spells at the monster. I deemed it took around 15 - 20 minutes to cantrip it to death. The wizard did use a fireball to reduce the time, but overall the spell neutralizes any monster out of the battle. So, If Pcs are up against an adult and even an ancient dragon, boop, force cage. Now just shoot it to death from a distance, it can't do anything.... Yes, it's a 7th level spell and should be powerful. However, most anything could be killed within an hour of being shot at with cantrips and at will ranged attacks.. An ancient lich that has defined death for 1000s of years is just undone by a single seventh spell?
Thoughts on how you've balanced this spell? Or is there any clarification on whether monsters can be killed while in the cage?
)The force cage spell as written is:
"An immobile, invisible, cube-shaped prison composed of magical force springs into existence around an area you choose within range. The prison can be a cage or a solid box as you choose.
A prison in the shape of a cage can be up to 20 feet on a side and is made from 1/2-inch diameter bars spaced 1/2 inch apart.
A prison in the shape of a box can be up to 10 feet on a side, creating a solid barrier that prevents any matter from passing through it and blocking any spells cast into or out of the area.
When you cast the spell, any creature that is completely inside the cage’s area is trapped. Creatures only partially within the area, or those too large to fit inside the area, are pushed away from the center of the area until they are completely outside the area.
A creature inside the cage can’t leave it by nonmagical means. If the creature tries to use teleportation or interplanar travel to leave the cage, it must first make a Charisma saving throw. On a success, the creature can use that magic to exit the cage. On a failure, the creature can’t exit the cage and wastes the use of the spell or effect. The cage also extends into the Ethereal Plane, blocking ethereal travel. This spell can’t be dispelled by dispel magic."
The wizard used it as a cage (meaning it has openings throughout the cage)... Which the creature would have total cover, but all attacks would go through the cage. The Cage prevents the creature from escaping the cage. They could attack, if they have ranged attacks through the cage just like the PCs but probably with disadvantage or cover since they'd be attacking through cover as well.
This leads to a one sided battle that allows pretty much any monster to be neutered. The PCs all took to using cantrips for up to the 1 hour duration to just cast a bunch of spells at the monster. I deemed it took around 15 - 20 minutes to cantrip it to death. The wizard did use a fireball to reduce the time, but overall the spell neutralizes any monster out of the battle. So, If Pcs are up against an adult and even an ancient dragon, boop, force cage. Now just shoot it to death from a distance, it can't do anything.... Yes, it's a 7th level spell and should be powerful. However, most anything could be killed within an hour of being shot at with cantrips and at will ranged attacks.. An ancient lich that has defined death for 1000s of years is just undone by a single seventh spell?
Thoughts on how you've balanced this spell? Or is there any clarification on whether monsters can be killed while in the cage?
