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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TheGorramBatman" data-source="post: 6366437" data-attributes="member: 6778804">Using cantrips for comparison is exactly analogous to rolling all three attacks at the same time against the same target.Casting cantrips is the baseline, but it is hardly the norm.Spells are inherently complicated.  It usually involves both the player and the DM opening to a specific page of the Player's Handbook, reading a paragraph, rolling hit/saves for everyone afflicted, and then rolling damage.If you want to compare the most complicated situation for the Fighter (rolling 3 attacks one at a time, making decisions between attack roll and damage, and then maybe moving on to another target if the first dies), then lets take a look a more complicated scenario for the Wizard.The Wizard casts Cloudkill.  Since it isn't Fireball, a spell every player/dm has inherently committed to memory, the DM opens his Players handbook to the spell section and flips to page 222.  A 20 foot radius of thick poisonous fog pops up where the Wizard designated.  The DM makes a note of the Constitution saving throw required and how much damage will result (since it is a spell that could be scaled up.  In this case we will assume not).  The DM also makes note of the spells desired dimensions.  Since no one has a 40' by 40' cloudkill miniature, the DM busts out his wet erase markers and marks out the bounds on the..Wait.  No.  Not there.  THERE.Oh.The DM wipes away at the wet erase ink, and redraws the boundaries.  The Wizard nods in approval.The DM notes that the minimum damage is not enough to kill any of the 8 targets in the cloud and asks the Wizard to roll 5d8 damage.  The Wizard rolls 25 damage.  The DM makes a constitution saving throw for all 8 of the critters in the cloud.  Those that succeed take 12 damage, those that fail take 25 damage.This all obviously takes more time than the Fighter's turn.BUT WAIT!  THERE'S MORE!On the Monster's turn, the DM asks the Wizard to roll 5d8.  The Wizard's roll totals 18.  The DM then rolls a constitution saving throw for all 8 of the critters in the cloud.  Those that succeed take 9 damage, those that fail take 18 damage.  Two of the creatures die and their miniatures are removed from the cloud.On the Wizards turn, the player casts... wait.  Cloudkill still isn't done.  The wizard moves it 10 feet away from himself.  Since no one has a 40 x 40 cloudkill miniature, the DM scrubs away at the mat with his fingers and then redraws a new box.The Wizard casts a cantrip.  Makes one roll and feels satisfied with his 2d8 damage.On the Monster's turn there are still two critters in the cloud.  The DM asks the WIzard to roll 5d8.  The Wizard's roll totals 26.  The DM then rolls two constitution saving throws.  Those that succeed take 13 damage.  Those that fail take the full 26.  One more creature dies.This wizard's action, casting cloudkill, has probably taken more time than all of the Fighter's turns for the duration with a single spell.  During this time the Wizard is also doing other things.Cloudkill might be one of the most egregious offenders, but there's lots of spells that boil down to "The DM makes at least one roll every round from here until forever."Comparing cantrips to attacking 3 different targets with pauses between isn't exactly apples to apples.</blockquote>

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