Do casters have a harder time hitting?

[Pielorinho]

I suspect this question has come up before; forgive me if it has.

It appears to me that a weapon-fighter generally gets four bonuses to hit:
-Level
-Ability
-Weapon bonus (+2 or +3, usually,for using a proficient weapon)
-Magic bonuses

In addition, the weapon fighter can often gain combat advantage by flanking, getting another +2.

Casters generally get three bonuses to hit:
-Level
-Ability
-Magic bonuses

In addition, the caster has a much harder time gaining combat advantage.

This looks to me as though weapon-fighters are often going to have a +2 to +5 attack advantage over casters. Am I missing something that evens this out?

Daniel

 

[James McMurray]

Casters usually target something besides AC, which is generally 2-3 points lower.

 

[Nifft]

Casters can even pick which non-AC to hit -- e.g. Eyebite (will) vs. Eldritch Blast (reflex).

Nope, casters are fine.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kade Goldha]

One word: Implements!

For example, if Wand of Accuracy is chosen as the Arcane Implement Mastery specialization, you gain a bonus to an attack roll equal to your DEX modifier once per encounter.

KA-ZAP!

And Clerics/Paladins/Warlocks can use their implements to add bonuses to attack and damage rolls (assuming the power used has the implement keyword).

This allows casters to match weapon bonuses in some situations.

Hope that helps

PS. First post! Be kind!

 

[MarkB]

One word: Implements!

For example, if Wand of Accuracy is chosen as the Arcane Implement Mastery specialization, you gain a bonus to an attack roll equal to your DEX modifier once per encounter.

KA-ZAP!

And Clerics/Paladins/Warlocks can use their implements to add bonuses to attack and damage rolls (assuming the power used has the implement keyword).

This allows casters to match weapon bonuses in some situations.

Hope that helps

PS. First post! Be kind!

Implements aren't really a factor in the equation (aside from wands for a wand-wielding wizard once per encounter), because by the time a caster is acquiring a +1 implement, the martial character is acquiring a +1 weapon - so the two cancel each other out.

 

[erik_the_guy]

MarkB is right, and Pie already included the enhancement bonuses in his formulas anyways.

Wizards make up for the proficiency bonus by being able to target defenses other than AC, which are usually a few points lower.

Wizards make up for combat advantage by being able to choose the defense they target in some situations, often one defense is a few points lower (though I agree that this is still harder than combat advantage).

Wizards also gain two more advantages. They often get multiple targets, which increases their chance to hit. Finally they gain bonus damage against enemies with vulnerability to an element.

 

[keterys]

I don't think that vulnerability is more of an advantage than the disadvantage of having to deal with resistance, so at the least that cancels out.

 

[IanB]

I'd say casters are fine with the caveat that laser clerics really do seem to suffer at least early on.

 

[Pielorinho]

Okay, that makes a lot of sense. I was worried that there was some bonus to attacks for casters that I was missing; their non-AC attacks seem like they're the answer.

Thanks, everyone!
Daniel

 

[loisel]

This looks to me as though weapon-fighters are often going to have a +2 to +5 attack advantage over casters. Am I missing something that evens this out?

According to my own tests http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=234620, even granting casters a +1 to +3 bonus for targeting an alternate defense, they are usually slightly behind weapon fighters in terms of attack bonuses. Aside from the reasons you mention, many classes also have a +1 bonus to hit on many of their their attacks (fighters, archer rangers, dagger rogues) or even higher (another +1 for kensei). Also, rogues (for instance) can target Reflex with an at-will, so definitely they will hit more often than a Warlock.

If you look at the gear also, there's more choice if you're a Fighter than if your a Warlock. There are almost 5 pages of magic weapons, but only about 2-3 pages of Warlock implements. There's no Vorpal Rod or Dancing Wand.