Do cantrips level with Magic Initiate?

[The Crimson Binome]

Just seems odd that a newbie to a profession would be blasting like a Grand Master in terms of firepower.

The thing is, even if you get all of the dice, you're still not as good as someone who does that as their main thing. The wizard is very likely going to have a better attack roll, and many classes that rely on cantrips have a class-specific ability that lets them add their stat modifier to the damage roll, not to mention magic items.

 

[Bacon Bits]

So if I had a 16th Level fighter, he picks up 1 Level of Wizard when he hits 17th, he'll be shooting a 4D10 Firebolt?

Yes.

Now imagine you took Wizard at 2nd level, and then returned to Fighter for the next 15 levels. Does that make more sense that it would deal 4d10?

The game doesn't distinguish between the two. The rules are as simple as they can reasonably be to keep the game playable, and some rules like the multiclass rules end up a bit wonky as a result.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[Gwarok]

Yes.

Now imagine you took Wizard at 2nd level, and then returned to Fighter for the next 15 levels. Does that make more sense that it would deal 4d10?

The game doesn't distinguish between the two. The rules are as simple as they can reasonably be to keep the game playable, and some rules like the multiclass rules end up a bit wonky as a result.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

No, it doesn't. I college I majored in Astronomy. After college I did not become an astronomer or work in any related field, but I have done other things. As I became accomplished at those other things over the last 20 years not only have I not become a better astronomer what skills I had as such have degraded to the point that now I am good for nothing astronomy wise past casual conversation.

 

[5ekyu]

Well that is a bit meta game thinking, and there are lots of reasons. One, it's magic. Buck naked he's still got something to fight say, an Earth Elemental with. Not much, but a damn sight better than his fists. There are many times in a campaign when you don't want to be walking around in full battle harness or sporting a weapon. Also, good to set things on fire with. Or even use Chill Touch to prevent something from healing. You get the idea. Just seems odd that a newbie to a profession would be blasting like a Grand Master in terms of firepower. But I'll take it.

But you don't have a problem adding his 18th level proof bonus - to either it's to hit or other cantrip saves?

 

[Dausuul]

No, it doesn't. I college I majored in Astronomy. After college I did not become an astronomer or work in any related field, but I have done other things. As I became accomplished at those other things over the last 20 years not only have I not become a better astronomer what skills I had as such have degraded to the point that now I am good for nothing astronomy wise past casual conversation.

Not the same situation. The fighter/wizard has 15 levels' worth of practice casting fire bolt and their other wizard spells. They haven't abandoned those skills. They just haven't gone on to more advanced magic. It's like you took some astronomy courses in college, and you bought a telescope and have pursued astronomy as a hobby ever since, but you never got a degree or a job in the field.

Also, I'm kind of bewildered how anyone can look at the XP and leveling system, where you can go from wet-behind-the-ears newbie to master archmage or god-slaying hero in a matter of months or even weeks, and be all, "Hey, that makes perfect sense to me." But then, as soon as someone multiclasses, it's totally unrealistic and nonsensical.