When playing Tabletop, your DM is trying to a specific number of encounters in front of you during your normal daily rest. In a video game (at least BG1&2) I expect that number of encounters to increase dramatically per rest (how easy it is to rest is a completely different subject). As such I do think that Cantrips could use some tweaking because without ability being added to damage, cantrips really fall off as useful tools in tabletop from around level 7 and up (and 11 and up even if you have your attribute adding, it in no way compensates for the extra attacks that melee, ranged and Eldrich Blasters get). In tabletop you effectively have enough spells not to worry about needing to cast a cantrip at this point, you have reached a number of spells you could cast over the course of a normal night of gaming without ever having to rely on a cantrip, cantrips just fill the gap when you don't have something better you could be doing or want to preserve spell slots.
That said the changes made to Ray of Frost seem awfully OP as you scale up your DC to resist the fall down will keep going up.
The changes made to Firebolt seem to make it only useful when explosive canisters are near however. I can't think of a time after 5th level when it's doing 2d6 with no modifier I would want to use it, will the fire damage for the patch of ground the enemy is in go up as well, I don't think so, just like burning a web spell doesn't go up.
Acid Spray on the other hand goes completely against the design of 5e. They wanted to get rid of all the +1, -1, +2, -2 bonuses that plagued 3.5. In 3.5 it was extremely common for someone to add up their attack roll, tell the DM a number and be told they missed, then say "Oh yeah, forgot to count Bless/Bard Song/Prayer/Flank" and add 2 to their number and now it's a hit. Now Bless and Bard Song are dice you have to remember to roll, most other buffs give advantage, Prayer was removed. If you have to add +2 to something, like say dualist or expertise for a rogue, it's an always on thing, it can be factored in and written down on your sheet and you should be able to trust your sheet. Shield of Faith is quite the standout here as it does give a flat bonus but it also requires concentration so a player somewhere is actively remembering to tell the person their AC is increased.
The best debuff you can get out of a cantrip in 5e was the bard's Vicious Mockery and it had to be d4 damage to get the ability to make 1 attack be done with disadvantage. Not even all attacks if say a beast had 2 claw attacks.
I really don't like the direction of Acid Spray and while I don't mind some creative liberty being taken with cantrips (people are stuck at level 4 and below, where these spells are a disproportionally large percentage of your normal spell casts) to make them interesting later. Make sure they stay in the spirit of the 5e rules
Last edited by Koshea; 10/10/20 12:18 PM.
