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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Falling Icicle" data-source="post: 6045246" data-attributes="member: 17077">The problem is the fake damae of Sleep is much weaker than real damage because if you don't do enough fake damage to "kill" a creature, the spell does nothing at all. A spell that inflicts real damage at least reduces their hit points.I've said it before and I'll keep saying it - they really need to stop using hp thresholds on spells. Fortunately, I only saw a few spells in the latest playtest packet that were still using that mechanic (Command, Polymorph and Sleep), so hopefully that's an indication that it's on its way out.I would change Sleep in the following ways:* It only affects a single target. Mass sleep spell could be available as a higher level spell (4th level would probably be appropriate).* It only affects living creatures. I was surprised to see that the spell doesn't already have that limitation.* Remove the fake damage. The creature instead gets a wisdom save to negate the effect. If you or your allies are currently threatening the target, or it is otherwise agitated, it gets advantage on its save (adrenaline, and all that).* in battle or other chaotic situations, the subject would get a saving throw (with advantage) each round to wake up. It would still automatically wake up if damaged, slapped, etc.Using Hold Person, a 2nd level spell, as a basis for comparison, I think that would make it more balanced for a 1st level spell. It's a bit less valuable in combat because the target gets advantage on its save, so it's best for putting a guard to sleep so you can sneak by and other such situations. Like Hold Person, the person gets a save each round in battle, but the target gets advantage on its save and other people can spend an action to wake them, which they can't do with a victim of hold person. Sleep does have one advantage over hold person - it can affect non-humanoid creatures. Unconscious is also a bit worse than Paralyzed, but not by much.</blockquote>

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