D&D 5E Spellcasting Mechanic Question

[Syntallah]

I have read through the Basic Rules chapter on spellcasting multiple times, and am just not seeing an answer to a question that I know will come up at my table:

Does a spellcaster add his ability modifier to damage rolls? And if not (which I suspect is the answer, or they would have had it 'spelled' out more clearly, yuk, yuk), do you think there be a balance issue there? Ray of Frost at 1d8 is quite a bit less than the Fighter's greataxe at 1d12 + Str

 

[Nagol]

I have read through the Basic Rules chapter on spellcasting multiple times, and am just not seeing an answer to a question that I know will come up at my table:

Does a spellcaster add his ability modifier to damage rolls? And if not (which I suspect is the answer, or they would have had it 'spelled' out more clearly, yuk, yuk), do you think there be a balance issue there? Ray of Frost at 1d8 is quite a bit less than the Fighter's greataxe at 1d12 + Str

No. Look at the Evoker sub-class I think they get that ability around level 14.

 

[Nagol]

As for balance, there are other balancing factors. Ray of Frost inflicts a condition and is ranged which is definitely worth something.

Additionally, the cantrip damage increases with level to stay moderately comparable to martial combatants.

 

[DogBackward]

Regarding balance, keep in mind that spellcaster cantrips are balanced against the fact that spellcasters' actual spells are much more powerful than most martial attacks. Basically, cantrips are slightly weaker than standard martial attacks because casters can, a few times a day, use abilities that are much stronger than standard martial attacks.

Spellcasters shouldn't be able to match martial types in at-will damage output, specifically because that's martial's schtick: martial gets steady damage all day long, casters get spike damage when they blow their big spells, then have lower damage for the other parts of the day.