GMforPowergamers
Legend
qft...in any edtion/retroclone/version of D&D wizards always get the cool toys...Wizards get the coolest toys I suppose.
In my game which has a dominant Wizard PC, I style the game to work with and around this issue. Sometimes, the party can't afford to take a days rest and they know this beforehand. As such, the Wizard is more frugal with his spells so as to be effective across the entire day, making sure the overall task is completed. Other times, yeah, the wizard can nova. It is an issue but I believe it is one that the DM can easily manage.
I very rearly see casters nova (can't say never...wish I could) but with a little bit of forethought (very little we are not talking brian surgery here) I have found casters in general after around 8th or 9th level can keep up for atleast most of the day, and still get one or two BIG shows of power... by level 13+ I found (1e,2e,3e,3.5, C&C, and even belive it or not 4e) that it is rare for a caster not to dommanate the field...and if the game lasts to 17 or 18th level...well there is nothign anyone can do that compairs to 9th level spells..
((((((((((Now this comes with a condtional rider...I have seen one or two games that is not true of. I have seen 23rd level characters who's wizard and cleric never held there own...I have seen fighters at teens levels stand strong...heck I even once saw a mostly non multied fighter go to 16th level ans still be useful (He had 1 level of a prestige class)...however these are rare exceptions....)))))))))
infact by the end of us playing 3.5 it was generaly excepted that PC wizards should multi for atleast 3 levels with out +1 spellcaster things...to give the rest of us a chance to catch up a little.