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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 7747609" data-attributes="member: 58172">If a wizard character spent their youth learning how to cast cantrips reliably, then they didnt spend it learning how to swing a sword competently. Or a staff.Treat cantrips like proficiencies.Along these lines, I think it is fine if a player wants a wizard that knows how to wield a sword − or even wear armor.A spell like Mage Armor ( ≈ chain tunic) could be designed as an always-on cantrip.So, it would be a balanced choice between mundane armor proficiency versus magical armor cantrip.For me, the magic is always the cooler choice, so I would go for all magic all the time. But if other players want a more ‘worldly’ wizard concept, I see no problem. Just make sure options are moreorless mechanically balanced with each other so the choices are fair to player preferences.So far, the wizard gets four cantrip slots. Swap out cantrip slots for weapon and armor and helmet proficiencies.Make staff a good weapon choice, maybe if used two-handed, finesse, grants AC bonus (being useful for deflecting), and can deny one opportunity attack. The staff is an archetypal weapon so some plot protection is ok. But also let the wizard choose a sword, why not? The fighter has features to excel when dealing sword damage. But a wizard who is simply proficient, no big deal.It occurs to me, grappling (unarmed mixed martial arts) probably deserves to require a proficiency. And that is something even I might want to swap a cantrip for, tho it is a painful choice, since normally the wizard wants to be as far away from melee as possible. But the body is part of a magical being, and for the ‘jock wizard’ archetype, I would want it.Maybe connect grappling proficiency with maintaining spell concentration when attacked. That would make it more useful for a wizard. And maybe if a target is successfully grappled, then it becomes possible to sunder an item from the target, such as disarming a sword, removing a wand, or whatever. Grappling can be an appealing choice for wizard, especially as one four cantrip slots.</blockquote>

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