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<blockquote data-quote="toucanbuzz" data-source="post: 7874796" data-attributes="member: 19270"><p>As others have pointed out, when it comes to spell balance, we look to other spells and see if we've exceeded the utility of spells of the same level. <strong>My Take: </strong><u>very overpowered.</u></p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">It's duplicating the effects of the 2nd level spell <strong>Blindness, </strong>and even better, it's a bonus action (and I don't know why DEX vs. CON, which is what all other blindness effects use). Duration isn't really an issue as the Cantrip can be reapplied without losing a slot, and <strong>Blindness</strong> might only last 1 round before the save is made. It's that one round of condition that can change the game.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"><strong>Blindness</strong> is a 2nd level spell because the incapacity is brutal. It's 3 effects in one: <em>can't target (and hence can't make attacks of opportunity), disadvantage to attack everyone, advantage on everyone's attacks against target.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Compare the cantrip <strong>Light. </strong>In AD&D, it could be cast on a creature (as a 1st level spell), causing <em>blindness</em>, leading it to be abusive as spells to blind were normally 3rd level. In 3rd edition, as well as 5th, this was nerfed to <u>objects only.</u> No more casting it on someone's eyeballs. Historically, we had a basic spell that originally <em>blinded</em> and was nerfed. This should be instructive.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Compare the Xanathar spell <strong>Pyrotechnics, </strong>a 2nd level spell. It can create one of two effects, including <em>blindness</em> for anyone within 10' of the fire for 1 round, and as a CON save.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Cantrips are supposed to be minor effect spells, capable of, at best, 1-2 features (e.g. damage, sensory effect, target more than one). Hence, <strong>True Strike </strong>is restricted to attack advantage for YOU. <strong>Chill Touch</strong> imposes disadvantage only on undead attacks and only against you, not everyone. Creating a spell that has 3 major effects, targets a save many monsters are poor at, and with no drawback (you can simply reapply it every round and get to use it with an Action!!!) allows it to duplicate and likely exceed the utility of a 2nd level spell without losing a prized spell slot. That's not minor, it's major.</li> </ol></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="toucanbuzz, post: 7874796, member: 19270"] As others have pointed out, when it comes to spell balance, we look to other spells and see if we've exceeded the utility of spells of the same level. [B]My Take: [/B][U]very overpowered.[/U] [LIST=1] [*]It's duplicating the effects of the 2nd level spell [B]Blindness, [/B]and even better, it's a bonus action (and I don't know why DEX vs. CON, which is what all other blindness effects use). Duration isn't really an issue as the Cantrip can be reapplied without losing a slot, and [B]Blindness[/B] might only last 1 round before the save is made. It's that one round of condition that can change the game. [*][B]Blindness[/B] is a 2nd level spell because the incapacity is brutal. It's 3 effects in one: [I]can't target (and hence can't make attacks of opportunity), disadvantage to attack everyone, advantage on everyone's attacks against target.[/I] [*]Compare the cantrip [B]Light. [/B]In AD&D, it could be cast on a creature (as a 1st level spell), causing [I]blindness[/I], leading it to be abusive as spells to blind were normally 3rd level. In 3rd edition, as well as 5th, this was nerfed to [U]objects only.[/U] No more casting it on someone's eyeballs. Historically, we had a basic spell that originally [I]blinded[/I] and was nerfed. This should be instructive. [*]Compare the Xanathar spell [B]Pyrotechnics, [/B]a 2nd level spell. It can create one of two effects, including [I]blindness[/I] for anyone within 10' of the fire for 1 round, and as a CON save. [*]Cantrips are supposed to be minor effect spells, capable of, at best, 1-2 features (e.g. damage, sensory effect, target more than one). Hence, [B]True Strike [/B]is restricted to attack advantage for YOU. [B]Chill Touch[/B] imposes disadvantage only on undead attacks and only against you, not everyone. Creating a spell that has 3 major effects, targets a save many monsters are poor at, and with no drawback (you can simply reapply it every round and get to use it with an Action!!!) allows it to duplicate and likely exceed the utility of a 2nd level spell without losing a prized spell slot. That's not minor, it's major. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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