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Cantrip Auto-Scaling - A 5e Critique
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<blockquote data-quote="Thyrwyn" data-source="post: 7534909" data-attributes="member: 12354"><p>[MENTION=6795602]FrogReaver[/MENTION] said: </p><p></p><p>1) “My reason was that a level 1 spell slot is a resource...” </p><p>—-this is undeniable;</p><p>2) “...anything which requires a resource should be better than something that does not.”</p><p>—-on its own, most people, myself included, would agree with this design philosophy. </p><p></p><p>The problem is that your position has nothing to do with 1st level spell slots: it’s about 1st level spells, which are not the same thing, and are not included in either of the statements quoted above. </p><p></p><p>Counter-arguments have included</p><p>A) Cantrips have slots, too - that is a resource, too. See point #2, above</p><p>B) 1st level spell slots are versatile, and can be used to cast a greater array of spells as needed. Cantrip slots cannot be changed. Versatility is better than unchangeable. </p><p>C) The value of a 1st level spell slot decreases at a greater rate than the value of the cantrip slot. A Wizard will gain 2 cantrips over their entire career, but 20 additional spell slots. </p><p></p><p>Take any spell caster that has exhausted their spell slots for the day, and ask them if they would like a single, 1st level spell slot: every single one of them will say “yes.” If as you argue, cantrips are better, then those casters should all say “I’ve got my cantrips, I’m good.” The fact that they won’t proves that those slots have value</p><p></p><p>But, again, your position is actually: (paraphrasing) “1st lvl spells which do damage, when cast with 1st lvl spell slots, should always do at least as much damage as a cantrip because it requires a 1st level spell slot resource.”</p><p></p><p>So we add another,</p><p>D) 1st lvl spells can be cast using higher lvl slots (more versatile); and can, at 5th lvl (using a 3rd lvl spell slot), do damage comparable to a cantrip cast by a 20th lvl caster. </p><p></p><p>You dismiss other resource costs as irrelevant, and you refuse to assign any value to versatility. Cantrips are inflexible and limited, and do no damage if they miss or are resisted; spell slots are flexible and, at later levels, plentiful; 1st lvl spells are more reliable and more flexible - they can be changed or even up-cast to greater effect.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Thyrwyn, post: 7534909, member: 12354"] [MENTION=6795602]FrogReaver[/MENTION] said: 1) “My reason was that a level 1 spell slot is a resource...” —-this is undeniable; 2) “...anything which requires a resource should be better than something that does not.” —-on its own, most people, myself included, would agree with this design philosophy. The problem is that your position has nothing to do with 1st level spell slots: it’s about 1st level spells, which are not the same thing, and are not included in either of the statements quoted above. Counter-arguments have included A) Cantrips have slots, too - that is a resource, too. See point #2, above B) 1st level spell slots are versatile, and can be used to cast a greater array of spells as needed. Cantrip slots cannot be changed. Versatility is better than unchangeable. C) The value of a 1st level spell slot decreases at a greater rate than the value of the cantrip slot. A Wizard will gain 2 cantrips over their entire career, but 20 additional spell slots. Take any spell caster that has exhausted their spell slots for the day, and ask them if they would like a single, 1st level spell slot: every single one of them will say “yes.” If as you argue, cantrips are better, then those casters should all say “I’ve got my cantrips, I’m good.” The fact that they won’t proves that those slots have value But, again, your position is actually: (paraphrasing) “1st lvl spells which do damage, when cast with 1st lvl spell slots, should always do at least as much damage as a cantrip because it requires a 1st level spell slot resource.” So we add another, D) 1st lvl spells can be cast using higher lvl slots (more versatile); and can, at 5th lvl (using a 3rd lvl spell slot), do damage comparable to a cantrip cast by a 20th lvl caster. You dismiss other resource costs as irrelevant, and you refuse to assign any value to versatility. Cantrips are inflexible and limited, and do no damage if they miss or are resisted; spell slots are flexible and, at later levels, plentiful; 1st lvl spells are more reliable and more flexible - they can be changed or even up-cast to greater effect. [/QUOTE]
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