Everything in this game is probabilities, statistics, and mostly averages.
Combat in this game is usually played on a map with figurines so you can plan your attacks.
In combat in this game since we don't hav a battle map, you should do the following.
1) Determine (guess) the strength of the enemy. In our case, the person that attacked me took two attacks which seems to indicate that he is a second level fighter (a second level fighter can take two attacks once / day). A fighter has 1 - 10 hit points / level which averages out to (1 + 10) / 2 = 5.5 hit points / level. Without a constitution bonus, a second level fighter would have an average of (5.5 x 2) = 11 hit points. He probably has a +1 bonus / level so assume he has (11 + 2) = 13 hit points.
The other enemies may not be second level but we should probably assume they are.
2) Determine what options you have. Since they might have 13 hit points each, you probably don't want to use a cantrip.
To me, it looks like you have the option of Magic Missile, Burning Hands and Sleep. Since we aren't using a battle map, the first thing you have to do is ask Ravenvii how many enemies you can effect without affecting party members for your AOE (area of effect) spells (i.e Burning Hands and Sleep). Until he tells you how many enemies you can safely target, you will have no idea of the best option.
3) Calculate the average damage for the spells you are considering.
Magic missile does 3d4 + 3 (6 to 15 damage) so it does an average of (6 + 15) / 2 = 10.5 to a single enemy.
Burning hands does 3d6 (3 to 18 damage) so it does an average of (3 + 18) / 2 = 10.5 to all enemies attacked (don't use burning hands in a building or you will burn it down
).Based on this, you can see that Magic Missile is better if you are attacking one enemy.
Burning hands is better if you are attacking multiple enemies.
For your homework, I'll let you calculate the affect of your sleep spell.
Sleep affects 5D8 (5 to 40) hit points.
a) What is the average number of hit points sleep affects ?
b) Assuming that the enemies have 13 hit points, how many enemies will that affect ?
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