+1 to most of this, except:
For some background, I currently have 80+ hours played in the EA and I play a regular D&D pen and paper session weekly (5 hours a session) and have played 2nd, 3rd, 3.5, and 5th edition D&D.
1.Character Creation
There is some barrier that exists here, with certain race/ class combos where the ability score CANNOT be increased, even if there are enough points available for the allocation. I have been blocked at 15, 16, and 17 for various race/ class combos, even wen I have lowered EVERY other ability score to 8. I have 20 points available, then I should be able to take a score to 18. The blockage here makes no sense, and it means I play characters that have 4 14s and they are all copies of each other. I can’t make a big dumb meat shield warrior with 8 int, wis, and cha. In Pen and Paper, having 3 8’s would be a bad idea, but I should still be able to do it.
I assume you never do point buy in your PnP d&d sessions..? 5e RAW caps point-buy ability scores at 15 and racial bonuses can then bring this up to 17. It also doesn't set rules for scores lower than 8 (8 costs 0 points, so there is not really a reason to go below 8). This is why you have been blocked.
Now, should Larian change this to allow higher (or lower) scores? Eh maybe sure. But currently they are following 5e rules.
2.) I am fine with cantrips causing surfaces. They just should do
either damage
or surface effects. They should also allow saves for taking 0 damage from the surface, and this save should only have to be made once (unless you choose to stay in the fire at the end of your turn). E.g., "If you end your turn in fire or you move through fire, make a save."
