You ever seen a Wizard Dominat @ low LvL?

[satori01]

Given the discussion about Wizards dominating high level play, I wanted to invert the question, and look at Wizards/Magic- User at low level.

Like before, I think the play at Low Level is very edition dependent, with a general tren of the Wizard being on the weaker end of the spectrum at low level.

1E). Sucked to be a single class MU. 1 spell only. No Crossbow. 1D4 HP, and steep XP requirements. It was hard to live, frankly to even second level. Even at 12th level a MU being hit by a Magic Missle spell by a 1 Lvl MU would likely die or be near death.

2E) Still pretty rough at low level...general rule changes help, a little. Specialization Caster games begin...and helps a bit at low level. Bards can cast almost exactly on par with a MU, due to lower XP costs. Now you are not even the best arcane caster as the MU.

3E). Still pretty rough..but better Play as a Dwarf, and depending on how much of the kitchen sink of feats and spells that are allowed, and you will live to 2nd level.
The Beguilar, War Mage, The Dread Necromancer are better specialists.
The Druid is just plain better than you are, at any point.
You have a crossbow now. You are still running around in your underwear.

4e) 4E probably has the most hardy, and probably most powerful Wizard. Burning Sphere is great. Fireball Sucks. Visions of Avarice FTW.
Magic the requires Subjective DM and Player attention are gone...Phantasmal Force etc.

How often did you find the Wizard was just An after thought at low levels?

 

[Herremann the Wise]

I played a first level wizard about a month ago in a new 3.5 campaign who dominated that session. Sleep, Grease and Color Spray were pivotal in turning genuine party threats into cream puffs. It was atypical but worth mentioning. Normally my answer would be a no.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Hussar]

It might have been a bit sucky at low levels, but, honestly, in AD&D (whether 1e or 2e), the low levels (say 1-3) were only a few sessions. They tended to get blown through pretty quickly. A couple of decent treasure scores and you're second level and it's about the same xp to go from 2nd to 3rd.

So, while it might have been a bit of a pain, it was usually a fairly short lived one. And, with the math in AD&D, your dart attack was actually fairly effective in AD&D. Deal 3 or 5 points of damage to a 1e ogre and you've gone through about 1/4 of his hit points. Much easier to feel like you're really contributing when you actually are.

 

[Tallifer]

In a Pathfinder campaign in which I played recently, the Sorcerer did indeed dominate. The sandbox style meant that the Sorcerer usually had enough spells to decisively influence every combat. Charm or Sleep totally crushed many an opponent.

 

[Ahnehnois]

I don't think I've ever seen an arcane caster really dominate at low levels. They are scraping by until 5th level, and they don't really hit their stride until double digits.

 

[Steely_Dan]

3E).The Druid is just plain better than you are, at any point.

I do not find the 3rd Druid better than the Wizard (the wizard has some spells that the druid cannot touch).

Anyway, in the end, I find this caster vs. non-caster business exaggerated.

 

[avin]

Yes, in 4E. I think it's the edition where Wizards start stronger, but are balanced all the way.

 

[Gilladian]

In my opinion, playing 3rd edition, Wizards are behind the curve at 1st and 2nd level, but by the time they get 2nd level spells, they pull their own weight. If they get a couple scrolls at lower levels, they are fine even then.

Right now, with a quarterstaff that can deliver touch attacks at 10', and a reserve feat fire-burst, the 5th level wizard and the 5th level fighter with 24 AC and a nice magic sword are quite on-par with each other.

It seems to me that it is about at 7th level, with the introduction of 4th level spells, that the wizard begins to dominate. By 9-10th level (the highest we ever seem to get to, even in 3 year long campaigns), the wizard AND the cleric or druid, are definitely dominant.

This is why we are currently running an E6 campaign, to keep things in the sweet spot for everyone. If I can emulate that feel without having to play E6 in 5th edition, I'll be happy. Otherwise, E6 it will be!

 

[IronWolf]

I played a first level wizard about a month ago in a new 3.5 campaign who dominated that session. Sleep, Grease and Color Spray were pivotal in turning genuine party threats into cream puffs. It was atypical but worth mentioning. Normally my answer would be a no.

A wizard with these spells in the early levels can really influence the battlefield.

 

[Ratskinner]

Assuming the campaign was not designed to focus on casters....that is, casters dominate low levels accidentally...IME, 3.x is the only edition where this is very much a possibility. I'm not too much of an expert on 4e, though.