Wizard vs. Sorcerer: Which one would you rather play? Which would you rather be?

[Jacob Lewis]

Who would you want to date? Who would you let do your taxes? Which makes the best garden gnome? I can do this all day.

 

[Rossbert]

As a lore nerd I feel fairly wizardly, but I coasted through school on natural academic talent and read novels through class and was in plays. I could easily go either way. Fancy book but then dragon or storm essence...

I think I like sorcerer's more but might be slightly more wizardly. Transmutation or conjuration probably, since I am not an elf, or particularly strong, decent dancer though.

 

[Blue]

I think that fluff-wise they are really different in how they do the main part of their class - manipulate arcane energy.

However, mechanics wise in 5e they are both based off the same casting mechanic which is more wizardly vs. sorcery to start with. Wizards get a much wider learning/preparing mechanic and sorcerers get metamagic which is quite nice but doesn't like up to the promise of the fluff.

So in 5e, sorcerer is poorly executed mechanically in terms of fulfilling it's fluff, while wizard competently meets those goals. So in 5e I'd generically rather play a Wizard. I'll still play a sorcerer for a concept, it's not that it's unplayable. Just which class better represented mechanically by the rules in 5e is pretty clear to me.

 

[Waterbizkit]

Sorcerer in both cases. I prefer playing characters with higher charisma and all the accompanying social skills, though on occasion it's fun playing the walking encyclopedia. Additionally, I just like the feel of being magical rather than simply studying it. It doesn't hurt that I'm of essentially average intelligence, but like most dummies I've got one hell of an extrovert personality.

All of that said, if I had my druthers, I'd be a Warlock. All the sweet, sweet charisma, force of personality, and awesome magic... But with no effort or personal skill of any kind of on my part. Just be oblivious enough to sign on that dotted line... that's my kind of power.

 

[gyor]

Sorcerer, Divine Soul in particular.

Powerful healing magic, choice spells from both the cleric and the sorcerer spell lists, wings, and the favour of the gods. Plus
Extra flexiblity with spells.

 

[Ancalagon]

Sorcerer, Divine Soul in particular.

Powerful healing magic, choice spells from both the cleric and the sorcerer spell lists, wings, and the favour of the gods. Plus
Extra flexiblity with spells.

Exactly - in real life, anyone who has been ill or has had sick relatives/friends would take the choice with the best healing magic

 

[jgsugden]

In terms of the three spellcasting classes:

* If I'm playing a high level game, I'd prefer warlock over sorcerer or wizard.
* If running for 20 levels, wizard offers the most versatility and fun.
* If I am powergaming, I'll go with a sorcerer X / warlock 2 multiclass with a focus on getting as much magic in play as possible.

If you're really talking about being one, I'd have to prefer the versatility of the wizard. If I were a wizard, I'd want to have a lot of non-combat spells and abilities. The illusionist with the ability to effectively create real things would be ... amazing.

 

[mrpopstar]

I choose wizard as an answer to both questions.

The sorcerer simply doesn't captivate me, and I don't like it's current incarnation.

I wish the two classes were differentiated more in terms of their lists as opposed to the gimmicks of mechanical novelty. (The wizard's list is much too broad, in my opinion.)

The need for each class to "behave differently" in terms of features does not enrich the game for me. It's needless complexity, and it shoehorns "story" in with mechanics.

Sorcery has a purview (invocation, energy channeling, control) and wizardry has a purview (evocation, energy manipulation, utility), but the ways in which the game currently makes their contributions to the narrative "different" is a bit... lacking.

 

[Tony Vargas]

I'd rather play a 3.x Sorcerer. Yes, it's inferior to the wizard in system-mastery/power-gaming theory, but you actually can build one to a fun/interesting/cool concept, and it'll only fight you at level-up. The wizard sabotages build-to-concept every single day. The 5e wizard is worse, that way, and the 5e Sorcerer has less going for it as an alternative.

If my only options were play a wizard or play a sorcerer?

I'd start my own campaign. 5e's way more fun for me to run than to play, anyway.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Then shouldn't you be a Wizard's Apprentice? Seems like maybe you've made a poor Hcareer decision

ese
Indeed. There's a reason why I'm still an apprentice after many years. Also, my teacher doesn't understand any of his powers, it all comes natural to him so he hasn't been able to teach me anything.