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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Falling Icicle" data-source="post: 6219171" data-attributes="member: 17077">Not everyone likes playing a wizard that has to resort to using a crossbow. I, for one, love the attack cantrips in 5e.I couldn't disagree more, and I think people are greatly overestimating the power that attack cantrips in 5e actually have. At 1st level, they're like a light crossbow, except with much worse range and without an ability score bonus to damage. Whoopee. And even at higher levels, they can't keep up with the DPR that other classes are capable of, not even close (unless you use haste, but that's an entirely separate issue). The ability to inflict 22 average damage at level 20 at-will is far from overwhelming. It just gives mages a somewhat meaningful thing to do when they're out of daily spells or want to conserve them. I don't know about you, but I don't find sitting there with nothing to contribute to be fun at all.Speaking of conserving spells, I think the conservation aspect is an important side benefit of the attack cantrips. Before, mages were under a lot of pressure to use their spells early, and often. Who wants to sit there and do nothing, turn after turn? But by giving mages an at-will basic attack, they can now use their daily spells more conservatively while still getting to do something. This subtly encourages mages to play smarter by giving them more incentive to conserve their powerful spells rather than blowing them all at the first opportunity. It also allows the adventuring day to continue longer, even after a mage's daily spells are exhausted. Mages are going to need to take long rests less often, putting less pressure on the party. Attack cantrips are an ingenious solution to old-fashioned Vancian casting's worst problems. They also allow caster classes to be designed with fewer daily spells, especially at higher levels, making caster classes more balanced overall. So, in short, I think attack cantrips have an enormous positive influence on the game.</blockquote>

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