The problem with magic stone is that it scales very poorly with level. At level 1 it does significantly more damage than typical cantrips (for most starting druids, 1d6+3(6.5) vs 1d8(4.5) for produce flame), but it falls behind at level 5 (1d6+4(7.5) vs 2d8(9)) and further at level 11 (8.5 vs 13.5) and 17 (8.5 vs 18). I would be tempted by
'Magic Stone: you touch 1-3 pebbles and imbue them with magic. They remains imbued for one minute, or until used, or you cast this spell again. It may be used (by you or another character) as a magic sling bullet. As a ranged spell attack, you may fire one of them (range 60) for 1d8. At level 5 they count as +1 ammunition and may be fired for 2d8. At level 11, +2 and 3d8, at level 17 +3 and 4d8'.
The best way I've thought about to explain the Magic Stone cantrip is that it's the ranged version of Shillelagh. Bonus action cast to imbue your not-weapon into a weapon and then you fight with your new weapon as normal. But rather than 1 minute until you let go of it like Shillelagh, it's 1 minute or three projectiles and you can hand them out.
Might be an odd concept for some but imagine an old druid walking along with nothing but a walking stick and a bag of stones. With Magic Stone and Shillelagh, he's fully armed for melee and ranged combat...and can rely on Wisdom for attack rolls.
Other spells might be better for offense, obviously. But these spells give you weapons from natural objects for what that's worth.
The bonus action is to enchant only but for an attack?..
If you can throw three pebbles with one hand id say fine BUT if you can throw 1 pebble max 60 ft you can throw three pebbles max 20ft and the amount of blunt force stays the same meaning you still get 1d6 from all the pebbles. The only thing which multiplies is the spellcasting modifier. A 1d6+3 changes to a 1 d6+9. A max of 15 damage seems not have breaking to me but I might have player make 3 attack rolls to see which pebbles actually hit and divide damage accordingly. Eg max damage 2 misses 1 hit = 15/3 = 5 damage
The bonus action is to enchant only but for an attack?..
If you can throw three pebbles with one hand id say fine BUT if you can throw 1 pebble max 60 ft you can throw three pebbles max 20ft and the amount of blunt force stays the same meaning you still get 1d6 from all the pebbles. The only thing which multiplies is the spellcasting modifier. A 1d6+3 changes to a 1 d6+9. A max of 15 damage seems not have breaking to me but I might have player make 3 attack rolls to see which pebbles actually hit and divide damage accordingly. Eg max damage 2 misses 1 hit = 15/3 = 5 damage
That's how id balance anyway
You cast Magic Stone as a bonus action, you attack with each of them as an action.
The problem with magic stone is that it scales very poorly with level. At level 1 it does significantly more damage than typical cantrips (for most starting druids, 1d6+3(6.5) vs 1d8(4.5) for produce flame), but it falls behind at level 5 (1d6+4(7.5) vs 2d8(9)) and further at level 11 (8.5 vs 13.5) and 17 (8.5 vs 18). I would be tempted by
'Magic Stone: you touch 1-3 pebbles and imbue them with magic. They remains imbued for one minute, or until used, or you cast this spell again. It may be used (by you or another character) as a magic sling bullet. As a ranged spell attack, you may fire one of them (range 60) for 1d8. At level 5 they count as +1 ammunition and may be fired for 2d8. At level 11, +2 and 3d8, at level 17 +3 and 4d8'.
The best way I've thought about to explain the Magic Stone cantrip is that it's the ranged version of Shillelagh. Bonus action cast to imbue your not-weapon into a weapon and then you fight with your new weapon as normal. But rather than 1 minute until you let go of it like Shillelagh, it's 1 minute or three projectiles and you can hand them out.
Might be an odd concept for some but imagine an old druid walking along with nothing but a walking stick and a bag of stones. With Magic Stone and Shillelagh, he's fully armed for melee and ranged combat...and can rely on Wisdom for attack rolls.
Other spells might be better for offense, obviously. But these spells give you weapons from natural objects for what that's worth.
The bonus action is to enchant only but for an attack?..
If you can throw three pebbles with one hand id say fine BUT if you can throw 1 pebble max 60 ft you can throw three pebbles max 20ft and the amount of blunt force stays the same meaning you still get 1d6 from all the pebbles. The only thing which multiplies is the spellcasting modifier. A 1d6+3 changes to a 1 d6+9. A max of 15 damage seems not have breaking to me but I might have player make 3 attack rolls to see which pebbles actually hit and divide damage accordingly. Eg max damage 2 misses 1 hit = 15/3 = 5 damage
That's how id balance anyway
You cast Magic Stone as a bonus action, you attack with each of them as an action.