Unpopular opinions go here

[CleverNickName]

Like 3E/PF1?

Not necessarily. I don't mind them scaling; they just shouldn't scale automatically. And/or by level.

Maybe a feat? "When you select this feat, you gain a +1 to Whatever and your BlahBlah cantrip deals moar dmamge lol."

Or maybe a class feature? "At 7th level your BlahBlah cantrip gets more powerful. It deals moar dmamge lol."

Or a magic item? "Characters who are attuned to this item get to deal moar dmamge lol with their cantrips."

Etc. But just scaling them automatically by level is too much, IMO. A mid-level fighter can pick up the Eldritch Blast cantrip from a feat and suddenly his index finger turns into a magical weightless unbreakable machine gun that never runs out of bullets.

 

[Guest 7042500]

I think they could make wizards suck more at low levels without making them suck as much as they did in OD&D. I think part of the problem is the rhetoric around the issue is very all or nothing.

The reason low level wizards suck so much in older D&D is that many referees go to great length to punish wizards who do anything other than cast spells.

 

[haakon1]

“Mystara” is a better campaign setting than “Forgotten Realms”

“Known World” is a better name than “Mystara”.

 

[payn]

Not necessarily. I don't mind them scaling; they just shouldn't scale automatically. And/or by level.

Maybe a feat? "When you select this feat, you gain a +1 to Whatever and your BlahBlah cantrip deals moar dmamge lol."

Or maybe a class feature? "At 7th level your BlahBlah cantrip gets more powerful. It deals moar dmamge lol."

Or a magic item? "Characters who are attuned to this item get to deal moar dmamge lol with their cantrips."

Etc. But just scaling them automatically by level is too much, IMO. A mid-level fighter can pick up the Eldritch Blast cantrip from a feat and suddenly his index finger turns into a magical machine gun.

I had reservations too. What I liked though was cantrips basically being casters crossbow. I felt I could manage my slots well between big bangs and utility. Didn't expect to like it, but I did.

 

[Reynard]

The reason low level wizards suck so much in older D&D is that many referees go to great length to punish wizards who do anything other than cast spells.

That sounds very anecdotal. That is, I've never seen that, or even heard of it as a problem.

 

[CleverNickName]

I had reservations too. What I liked though was cantrips basically being casters crossbow. I felt I could manage my slots well between big bangs and utility. Didn't expect to like it, but I did.

I don't have a problem with that either...in fact, I like it! What I'm looking for is a way to keep the "Caster's Crossbow" in the hands of casters, and out of the hands of non-casters.

 

[Reynard]

I don't subscribe to.the notion that everyone needs to be equally capable in combat, because combat shouldn't be the primary focus of play.

 

[overgeeked]

I don't subscribe to.the notion that everyone needs to be equally capable in combat, because combat shouldn't be the primary focus of play.

Sure. But that’s a table decision to pull away from the game’s primary focus. D&D is designed as a power fantasy beat ’em up game.

 

[overgeeked]

Terrible class balance: casters are just better than non-casters.

Meh class balance: everyone’s mathematically equal.

Amazing class balance: rock-paper-scissors, i.e. you can trounce someone and someone else can trounce you.

 

[Reynard]

Sure. But that’s a table decision to pull away from the game’s primary focus. D&D is designed as a power fantasy beat ’em up game.

5e is. Probably 3.x and 4e too. But I don't think that's particularly true of TSR editions.