How would you feel about a leveled spell minimum damage?

[WatersLethe]

Low level spell slots are still great for buffs, debuffs, and utility, but damage options are just flat out wasted. How would you feel about a feat or something that makes it so that no damage-focused spell can do less than approximately cantrip-tier damage?

[Megistone]

It's complicated, because some are single target, some are aoe, some carry rider effects that will still have their full DC; you need something that is tailored to each single spell if you want to keep the balance.
And the most appropriate way, IMO, is making it some fraction of the normal scaling, as it already takes the entire effects of the spell into account.

[Ascalaphus]

Well, if you have spell slots you almost always also have cantrips (and can get some more with spellhearts) so I don't really see the point of enhancing any lower level spell to the level of cantrips. It just seems redundant.

Except I guess for effects that specifically want you to cast a spell from spell slots, but you only have so many high level spell slots. If you boosted lower level spells to be sensible for that, then you're directly going to change the game balance.

[HumbleGamer]

I would agree that you'll end up changing the game balance...

... even if it's true that the game balance is already "screwed" because the existance of focus spells that deal damage equal to a top level spell.

So, in the end, it all goes down to the game forcing you to get support spells with your low level spell slots ( or mass true strikes, if you are a spell attack blaster ).

Having the choice to use those slots to deal a damage equal to cantrips won't probably harm the game that much ( rememer that aoe spells like burning hands should to 1/2 damage more or less ).

[WatersLethe]

Megistone wrote:

And the most appropriate way, IMO, is making it some fraction of the normal scaling, as it already takes the entire effects of the spell into account.

If this concept were to be done, I feel like this would be the smart way to do it. Definitely one of the top options I was considering.

Ascalaphus wrote:

I don't really see the point of enhancing any lower level spell to the level of cantrips. It just seems redundant.

My goals with the thought are:

1. Give "blaster" focused casters more valuable blasting options with their low level spell slots.

2. Give more screen time to fan-favorite low level spells, without requiring significantly sub-optimal heightening choices

3. Take some of the load off cantrips, allowing the selection of fewer damage cantrips and more fun ones, if the player wants.

I think the low level spells boosted to cantrip damage would add a decent bit to their value proposition by including their differing targets, ranges, secondary effects, etc. So on balance a low level damage spell would be a smidge better than a cantrip blast.

HumbleGamer wrote:

Rememer that aoe spells like burning hands should to 1/2 damage more or less

Yeah, I'm really unsure of how the balance should work out if it's not using some form of modified heightening. In addition to AOE, I'm also concerned about secondary effects, making low level damage spells with secondary effects that much more attractive than low level debuff spells. Definitely something to be cognizant of.

[GotAFarmYet?]

Why not just remove focus spells if they unbalance so much?
Make caster level the number of dice and make it all at a 1d6 for normal spells and 1d4 cantrips.

You can then go every 2 levels is a 1d12 instead of a 1d6
and 3d8 every 4 levels, with 2 levels to get 1d8, 3 levels to get 2d8 and the the 4th for he 3d8.

Then the only real difference in spells that do damage are descriptions.

[breithauptclan]

WatersLethe wrote:

My goals with the thought are:

1. Give "blaster" focused casters more valuable blasting options with their low level spell slots.

2. Give more screen time to fan-favorite low level spells, without requiring significantly sub-optimal heightening choices

3. Take some of the load off cantrips, allowing the selection of fewer damage cantrips and more fun ones, if the player wants.

I think you could go a long way towards that by giving a focus spell that casts the spell slot spell. Much like how Wild Shape casts Animal Form - only for Fireball or Burning Hands.