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

[Elderbrain]

Sorcerer. Why? Metamagic, specifically Subtle Spell. There are a number of good Sorcerer spells that don't require material components, and Subtle Spell lets you cast them without Somatic or Verbal components, too! ("Use the Force, Luke!") Great if you're tied up or gagged and otherwise helpless, or want to pass as an non-spellcaster. The poor Wizard is up a creek without his spellbook - once he casts all his prepared spells, he can't prepare them again without the book, whereas the Sorcerer can be buck naked and sans all equipment and still prep his/her spells. (I've got a list of said spells that I'll post later, such as Magic Missile, Knock, Teleport, etc.) If you are a Divine Soul Sorcerer, even better, as many good Cleric spells have no material components, either... True, your choices are limited compared to a Wizard or Cleric, but with careful selection you can be effective - and once you learn Wish you've got all Eighth-level spells and lower or any class available on a limited basis (as often as you can cast Wish, which HEY! has no material components...) Also if you reach 20th level and the DM allows Epic Boons, there are two you can take which will boost the number of Wishes you can cast at a time up to three, if you take them both.

 

[superstition]

The illusionist with the ability to effectively create real things would be ... amazing.

Isn't the 1e Illusionist the most powerful version of that in D&D, excluding 3rd party stuff? Even the 1st level Phantasmal Force can make real things that don't require concentration.

 

[Zardnaar]

I prefer Sorcerer. May as well be good at something instead of mostly average.

 

[Zardnaar]

Isn't the 1e Illusionist the most powerful version of that in D&D, excluding 3rd party stuff? Even the 1st level Phantasmal Force can make real things that don't require concentration.

2E one was or the 3.0 Shadow Adept. 2E had the better shadow spells and the Shadow Wizard which could be very powerful.

3.0 Illusionist into Shadow adept and/or red wizard and spell focus and greater spell focus. Spell DCs in the 30's and 40's.

 

[Sunseeker]

Probably would rather be a sorcerer. Learning everything is fun, but takes forever.

 

[Ogre Mage]

I would rather play a wizard. They have a smoother power progression in game. Sorcerers at low level are horrible.

But I would rather BE a Divine Soul sorcerer who derives my power from a good divine source. Then I can cast cure wounds/healing word (twinned), invisibility and fly.

 

[Elderbrain]

I've got that list of spells with no material components ready, if anybody wants it. I haven't typed it here yet because there's a lot of them and I want to see if anybody's interested. I have included Sorcerer spells from the PH, Cleric spells from the PH (for those using Divine Soul), and both from XGTE, separated by source and category. If you want it, say so!

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

Sorcerer.

Art school was waaay more fun.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Isn't the 1e Illusionist the most powerful version of that in D&D, excluding 3rd party stuff? Even the 1st level Phantasmal Force can make real things that don't require concentration.

It was perhaps the most distinct from the magic-user (wizard). But, only 7 spell levels, a quite small spell list, etc...
...and, the way illusions worked in 1e could be very powerful or very week, it really depended on the DM. Some DMs, a phantasmal forces spell would never fool anyone.

Ironically, though, just the other week I had a BBEG use something inspired by the 1e Illusionist spell 'Shades.'

 

[Ovarwa]

Hi,

Of course, D&D is not designed at all around what people really want to be.

Otherwise, it would include some of those all important Feats (or class Features?) that are not very useful in play but utterly worth having, such as Maximized Orgasm, Filthy Rich, Drop Dead Gorgeous (ok, taken literally, this could be given mechanics a cool capstone or epic boon), Immunity to Cellulite and Flab, etc.

Anyway,

Ken