D&D 5E (2014) Adding cantrips to paladin and ranger.

[bedir than]

If a PC in these classes wants cantrips they can get them. As a Human they would do so at level one and maybe again at level four. All other races can do it at level four. Or if they are a high elf they can have cantrip.

 

[pdegan2814]

If a player wanted cantrips like this, I would ask what abilities they'd be willing to give up. The natural answer, I suggest, is Fighting Style, which also comes at level 2.

Fighting Style or Cantrips -- a straightforward choice.

I could see this as a possible compromise, give the player a choice between a Fighting Style and a cantrip or two, to let them be a more combat-oriented or mystical-oriented version of the class. But I'm still thinking that they're probably better off without them.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I would just give them druidcraft (ranger) and thaumaturgy (paladin). I think both classes already have enough mechanically speaking, but could use some low level 'thread' abilities.

 

[rollingForInit]

If a PC in these classes wants cantrips they can get them. As a Human they would do so at level one and maybe again at level four. All other races can do it at level four. Or if they are a high elf they can have cantrip.

I did that with a paladin. Took Light and Fire Bolt, going for the Paladin-Who-Shines-And-Throws-Bolts-Of-Divine-Fire theme. Grabbed Shield as the spell, a good life-saver. Felt nice.

That's the way to get cantrips as a Paladin/Ranger, imo. I don't think giving them Thaumaturgy/Druidcraft is unbalancing in any way, but ... doesn't feel like something the classes should have by default.

 

[Mephista]

If Rangre got cantrips, I would totally make Hunter Mark a cantrip

 

[Uchawi]

What the game really needs is maneuvers for martial classes, but I digress.

 

[Kabouter Games]

I don't think cantrips fit thematically with the Ranger and Paladin. They don't really need to be able to cast every round. In fact, I'd rather they be pushed toward a mundane solution, by default, with magic to augment.:

Agreed. I'd tell the PC she only has so much time. She can either learn to manipulate magic or how to be a Duellist. She can't do both.

 

[slaughterj]

If Rangre got cantrips, I would totally make Hunter Mark a cantrip

Hunter's mark shouldn't even be a spell, maybe Rangers instead should get at level 2 a Hunter's Mark feature which would take a bonus action to size up a seen for for their weaknesses, and then give the +1d6 damage to future attacks against that opponent, until another foe is sized up or a short or long rest passes, and no concentration required.

 

[Mephista]

Hunter's mark shouldn't even be a spell, maybe Rangers instead should get at level 2 a Hunter's Mark feature which would take a bonus action to size up a seen for for their weaknesses, and then give the +1d6 damage to future attacks against that opponent, until another foe is sized up or a short or long rest passes, and no concentration required.

No argument from me. *shrugs* The implementation of Hex and Marks is fundamentally flawed for classes that want to be in melee. Making them cantrips are the easiest way to make them work in my opinion.

 

[Dausuul]

If a player wanted cantrips like this, I would ask what abilities they'd be willing to give up. The natural answer, I suggest, is Fighting Style, which also comes at level 2.

I disagree. You're substantially weakening your main attack in exchange for... what? A secondary attack option that's still far weaker than your main attack? Some minor special effects?

Fighting Style is an important part of the class's functioning; cantrips are little more than decoration. Divine Sense, or Divine Health, would be a much more reasonable trade.