Originally Posted by Maximuuus
what is more powerfull ? (Fire bold)
- 40% chance to OS a goblin and 60% to do 1-6 damage (D&D rules)
- or 0% chance to OS a goblin, but 1D6 damage + burning + surfaces damage ? (Larian).


This - is also firebolt: https://youtu.be/iSGQiFuZ8Kc?t=112

So yeah, surfaces are powerful matey. Sure it's cheese, but I think you need to look at the bigger picture there, than just some shitty goblin.

With your comparison you forgot one small but important detail - to oneshot a goblin at 40% chance in 5e vanilla the spell needs to actually hit - a bit difficulty with AC there. Larian version now is effectively partially unavoidable damage and it's not even 1d6, it's 1d6+1d4+Burning vs 12AC foes. It's a whole lot more of a spell already than in 5e it ever is.