D&D 5E (2024) Wizard vs Sorcerer In-Depth Analysis (2024)

Yaarel said:

Deception should default to an Intelligence skill. Creating a replica that is convincing enough to fool the experts requires deep intellectual scholarly comprehension of the relevant subject matters. Likewise to weave a consistent web of lies for a confidence scheme that can survive scrutiny from professionals, requires Intelligence.

Charisma Persuasion is something different. It is a social skills check, addressing the needs and concerns of persons, after all the information is known. Intelligence Deception is about fabricating false information.

Or, for the sake of art and entertainment, Intelligence Deception is to formulate a technically convincing simulation, including writing a novel or painting an optical illusion.

For art, I always make two checks. One for technical skill, and one for viewer enjoyment. For example, a dance would be Athletics for technical, then Performance for the artistic masterpiece.

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As with most things, there's elements of both present. There's a planning and an execution element. Charisma is definitely the social execution stat. Intelligence would be the planning aspects and also what I would use for execution of a forgery. The thing is we usually don't roll about the planning aspects, we usually just roll to determine the execution.

I don't know if this is what you are looking for but the following has been my opinion in the Wizard / Sorcerer divide since 3rd edition:

Sorcerer is your combat caster. 100%. You don't use Sorcerer to be an Illusionist or Enchanter or Necromancer. You can but they aren't built for it exactly. Sorcerers by the way the class works is designed to be a spellslinger, throwing damage spells around the battlefield. You don't take this class to be the knowledge character. They are largely a one trick pony and fill that specific party role. They can double as the party diplomat if the party lacks another character who can do it better.

The Wizard on the other hand is your utility caster. Back in the good old days of 1st and 2nd, Wizards would add in some combat spells but were largely there to cast the utility spells and that hasn't changed. It's part of the Vancian magic system. Now that Sorcerer exists, Wizard focuses on the magic detection, charm spells, divinations, illusions...etc. Opposing Sorcerers, Wizards are the knowledge character as they are built around that Intelligence bonus.

Of the two I prefer Sorcerer. I don't mind the fire and forget Vancian magic system but I never, even back in 1st and 2nd edition, liked having to memorise specific spells that often ended up as dead slots because their role never came up or was overcome in other ways. Sorcerer makes for a much more interesting if one sided character build in my opinion.

FrogReaver said:

I have no idea how either of these classes embodies either of those things moreso than the other. Maybe you can explain it more clearly.

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Planning: Coming up with a very strong pan and executing it

Like the AOE Cloud or Spikes with a buffed Push spell to force a ton of damages running into it

Chaos: The opposite of Tactical. Your options are reduced. How strong are your bad options.

A caster forced into melee or faced with a foe who is immune or resistant to all but 3 damage types.