Are arcane and divine casters too powerful?

[Celtavian]

This is a poll to see how people feel about the power of arcane and divine casters when compared to the power of the non-caster classes including hybrid casters such as paladins, rangers, or bards.

This has nothing to do with roleplay capabilities. We are talking about comparative power when determining player versus environment (adventure) game balance.

Note: Do not include the Harm spell when choosing option 9 as it is believed to be broken by 99.9% of gamers including the game designers.

 

[Gez]

I voted "they are ?", but I would rather say "arcane casters are sure not, clerics and druids are more powerful, but not too much; and they sure suck when multiclassed".

 

[MerricB]

There's a few spells (e.g. harm) which need revision; apart from that things seem fine.

Cheers!

 

[Terwox]

Note: Do not include the Harm spell when choosing option 9 as it is believed to be broken by 99.9% of gamers including the game designers.

Although I myself think harm is broken, it isn't just one out of a thousand people that play with harm as is. I probably just nitpicking hyperbole here, but oh well. A good deal of people think harm is fine as is. (I'm sure there's a poll on here somewhere, but I don't have search yet.)

 

[Pseudonym]

I'm going with the "What you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" option.

 

[Victim]

Some of the supplemental materials spit on game balance as they kick it while it lays bleeding on the ground. Similarly, some core spells are pretty bad too, even without harm. Forcecage should be used for entrapping people with no save, not wall of force, empowered simulacrums are an abomination, etc.

However, on the whole, things are pretty balanced.

 

[clockworkjoe]

This question is one of many I think the Games of Death are good at answering. The best way to see if spellcasters are more powerful than their erstwhile hack and slash buddies is to make them fight to the death and see who wins.

 

[Crothian]

I think the spellcasters are finely balanced, however, I do think they are some of the easiest classes to abuse.