Why is Firebolt 1d6 and not 1d10?

[Ozzeroz]

wtf Larian, it's 1d10 damage for Firebolt, not 1d6. why are you nerfing this spell?!?

[Rhawkas]

Because it also creates a burning patch on the ground that deals 1d4 fire damage.

[HTakara]

it's a cantrip, infinite use magic. that doesn't require any form of preparation or rest. In any case cantrips get stronger as you get higher level. 1d6 is plenty for the current content in the game.

[Schunoko]

Eldritch Blast is 1d10 and nothing else. Firebolt is 1d6 plus the ability to make burning ground, so there's a trade off. I haven't been able to tell if it always creates the burning terrain, though.

[Rhawkas]

Originally posted by Schunoko:

Eldritch Blast is 1d10 and nothing else. Firebolt is 1d6 plus the ability to make burning ground, so there's a trade off. I haven't been able to tell if it always creates the burning terrain, though.

Ability to create burning terrain likely depends on the terrain the target is on. If they're standing in a pool of something it probably won't work.

[HTakara]

Originally posted by Schunoko:

Eldritch Blast is 1d10 and nothing else. Firebolt is 1d6 plus the ability to make burning ground, so there's a trade off. I haven't been able to tell if it always creates the burning terrain, though.

fire bolt can do anything fire bombs can do.

[Ozzeroz]

It does not always create a surface and the trade off is not worth it if it did. There is too much surface effects in this game as it is. plus that's not what the spell is supposed to do. Its 1d10 and also lights any surface that is can. So it's just a nerf and not at all a good one despite what yall are saying.

[Mr.Pessimism]

its not like npc's are that dumb either their not going to stand in a flaming surface.

[Noah]

The damage averages out to be similar. 1d6 = 3.5 average, 1d4 burning = 2.5 for 6 total. vs. 1d10 = 5.5 average. But the burning isn't 100% reliable. Occasionally I get 2 ticks from the burning, which puts it well above 1d10 in those cases, and sometimes none. A few times I've missed with the spell and still hurt them with the burning.

Overall I rate them about the same power.

This may change at level 5 when it should go to 2d10 vs. 2d6, if the burning doesn't also increase. But just speculating.

[Smackle]

I understand the nerf in damage r/t the 1d4 fire damage surface, but I think that it would be better to keep the original 1d10 dmg and only ignite flammable surfaces or targets, rather than creating a surface on its own. It seems a bit odd that a tiny bolt of fire would leave a lasting burning surface on a stone floor or a dirt path.

That being said, I am fine adapting to whatever rules eventually become set on release. That, or someone will release a mod to change it. Eventually, when this game hopefully gets workshop compatibility, everyone can tweak it and make it how they'd prefer. It's gonna be great.

[Jaycred]

It's reliable damage, keep using it and you'll see. You might miss the attack roll, but you'll end up dealing an unavoidable 1d4 from the fire surface it spawns at their feet. It can also apply the burning status which I believe does another 1d4. Additionally, you can combo it with spells/effects like Grease which create flammable surfaces.

[dilbertini]

Because Lorian love to add elemental terrain in their game. So most the elemental spells and cantrips now create a terrain of their element when most of them are not supposed to do so and the ones that do ( most of the fire spells) were restricted to only terrain that make sense.

Because they added DOS terrains to BG3, they nerfed some of the spells and cantrips that do them now.

The firebolt 1d10 fire damage vs eldrtich blast 1d10 force damage is pretty much always in favor of the eldritch blast in pnp anyway since they can add their cha to damage for each beam and hex, while the firebolt can only have cha to damage 1 time and also consider the 1 as if they were 2.

[Ozzeroz]

Those of you saying it evens out, I believe you are at the very least not 100% correct if not jsut flat out wrong. I don't want to do the math but as I said, It doesn't always set a surface, and NPC's move, and ITS NOT WHAT THE SPELL DOES! lol. Its supposed to be 1d10. I get that Larian wants to play with the surface effects, but that's not a good reason to change a spell like firebolt that wizards rely on. So again, if you are fine with it cool.

BUT I WANT LARIAN TO KNOW THAT I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA AND BAD DESIGN!

That's all.

[CCGOD]

Originally posted by Ozzeroz:

Those of you saying it evens out, I believe you are at the very least not 100% correct if not jsut flat out wrong. I don't want to do the math but as I said, It doesn't always set a surface, and NPC's move, and ITS NOT WHAT THE SPELL DOES! lol. Its supposed to be 1d10. I get that Larian wants to play with the surface effects, but that's not a good reason to change a spell like firebolt that wizards rely on. So again, if you are fine with it cool.

BUT I WANT LARIAN TO KNOW THAT I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA AND BAD DESIGN!

That's all.

yea i just took warlock adept at lvl 4 and had him learn eldritch blast lol

[Stabbey]

Originally posted by Rhawkas:

Because it also creates a burning patch on the ground that deals 1d4 fire damage.

It can also apply a burning status which also deals 1d4. I managed to deal more than 13 damage from one Fire Bolt by hitting one enemy next to another enemy. No grease or volatile surface, it just made fire on a stone floor.

[bumpboy23703]

Originally posted by Ozzeroz:

wtf Larian, it's 1d10 damage for Firebolt, not 1d6. why are you nerfing this spell?!?

Because they decided the ground is an unattended object.

The 5E spell lights on fire unattended objects.
Since they do now ground is now fire.
Most DMs don't do that, so that increases damage dealt.

So they lowered damage from 1d10 to 1d6 + Area burning