As for the "puddles" ...
I still believe that best suggestion that was introduced here was making toggable option for every spellcaster that would "sacrifice single damage die in order to create surface effect acording to spell element, for one round (or one round + one round per spell level)"
Chromatic orb isnt OP at all at 3D8 if you compare the average damages of all other offensive spells.
(Inflict wound is 3D10, guiding bolt is 4D6, burning hand is 3d6 on an aoe, arms of hadar is 2d6 on an aoe...)
I dunno ...
Is it even fair to compare spells from different classes?
I mean single person should not have acess to both, unles it multiclass or take specific feats ... you could aswell say that nothing is really strong compared to Berserker in Frenzy with Great Weapon Master ... since your damage potential with regular +1 2H Sword is 2d6+10+1+2 twice per round. O_o
Same with AoE spells ...
It seems quite logical that if you wish to compare spells that can strictly attack single target, you will compare it either with other single target spells, or for single target ... meaning both AoE you mentioned is weaker. :-/
