Cantrips? Can do!

[Masquerade]

Giving spellcasters more low-level powers, IMO, is a very good thing. I like what the expanded classes articles on the WotC site did for psions earlier this year (links: 1 2 ). Although I'm not sure if the writers of those articles are also working on 4e, I think they were designed with similar goals.

I've been allowing casters to use 0-level spells at-will for two months now. Works fine for us.

Alternative house rule: Casters gain an additional number of 0-level spells per day equal to the highest level spell that they can cast in that class.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Cantrips are one thing I wouldn't mind seeing use an "at will" mechanic. As long as they ditch any damaging spells like ray of frost.

Since things similar to eldritch blast or reserve feats will probably be available at will, no one will really need 1d3 minor damage spells. Not if you can have 1d6+1/level or something like that.

In 3e, ray of frost could kill an orc

In 3e, a cat could kill an orc. I see no problems with cantrips having a pet's destructive capabilities.

If ray of flame is available at will, a first level wizard could burn down entire cities. Or a good portion of one before he is caught.

Again, I don't see how that should be any different than a kid with a box of matches.

Always remember this: In 3e, a 1st-level warlock could depopulate entire cities, or a good portion of one, before he is caught.

 

[Storm Raven]

Cantrips are one thing I wouldn't mind seeing use an "at will" mechanic. As long as they ditch any damaging spells like ray of frost. Cantrips are tricks and shouldn't be able to hurt someone. In 3e, ray of frost could kill an orc (well, bring him to 0 hit points anyway.) If ray of flame is available at will, a first level wizard could burn down entire cities. Or a good portion of one before he is caught. "Arson? Me? I just gave him the finger!"

Well, since he is living in a world where magic exists, and people know that, his protestations of innocence are likely to fall on somewhat deaf ears. In other words, no one should be surprised when someone pulls out the trivial magic.

As to the "all the time" thing and minor damaging spells - why not? So a wizard can do 1d3 damage every round. A fighter can potentially deal out 1d8, 1d10, 2d6 or whatever damage every round at first level too. I don't see that giving the wizard the ability to fire off an acid splash all the time is going to be that much different.

 

[Wormwood]

As to the "all the time" thing and minor damaging spells - why not? So a wizard can do 1d3 damage every round. A fighter can potentially deal out 1d8, 1d10, 2d6 or whatever damage every round at first level too. I don't see that giving the wizard the ability to fire off an acid splash all the time is going to be that much different.

A sorcerer in my campaign can do just that (all cantrips are cast at-will), and she still uses her Ray of Frost fairly rarely. Its there when she needs it, but she's just as likely to stab with her spear.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I wouldn't mind seeing a skill in 4e that does for minor uses of magic what the Use the Force skill in SWSE does for minor uses of the force.

Of course, Use the Force has other uses (like activating force powers), so perhaps it could be rolled into an existing D&D skill that has other uses, like Spellcraft.

I think that's a great idea.

 

[Simia Saturnalia]

While not at will, we add the caster's attribute mod to their 0 level spells per day and consider them spontaneous across the board.

If Ray of Fire at will would lead to a string of city-wide arsons, that sounds like a player problem to me.

 

[der_kluge]

I've been allowing casters to use 0-level spells at-will for two months now. Works fine for us.

So yes, I definitely support a complete revision in 4e.

Interesting. My house rule allows spellcasters to pick any 0 level spell at 3rd and every 3 levels thereafter at-will.

I had to slightly modify cure minor wounds to keep it from being game-breaking. CMW only cures you up to half your hit points.