The solution to Fireball being OP isn't to make firebolt even more OP than Fireball though.
Dippable surfaces is cool, but I haven't seen many complain about that. My issue is mostly the size of surfaces, and how easy they are to come by. Every goblin and their bother throwing huge surfaces from bottles.
Imo. A way to work around this is: Either you make a surface, or you hit the enemy, not both. Firebolt going: direct damage, sets the opponent on fire AND makes a fire surface. That's too much imo. Make it Direct damge and set on fire, or make a surface maybe?
Most tables seems to play with house rules to up the strategy of the game, but I think Larian currently swung a little too hard.
BUUUUT, I don't mind these sides. To me it's the movement mechancis being bonus actions which is the biggest issue in a departure from 5e. The rest is mostly about the numers.
PS: Fireball is a "staple" style spell. It's designed to be powerful and even OP. I don't think that's a "balance" issue in DnD. There are lots of times where a fireball isn't OP. But in Larians Edition DnD I can see it being way too good, huge area, then set everything and the town on fire, exploding all the barrels... wow that's a scene stopper.
