D&D 5E (2014) Do you think Wizard is a Support Class or a DPR class?

[marcelvdpol]

The Wizard is superior to the Sorcerer in many aspects (battlefield control, rituals, diversity, spells for any occasion) except for Blaster and Social skills (due to high Cha). I prefer the Wizard if i know the party already has plenty of DPR classes but i would select the Sorcerer if the party desperately needs a Blaster rather than versatility (for example because it already includes a Bard, Rogue and Monk but lacks a Ranger, Fighter, Paladin and Barbarian).

 

[Cognomen's Cassowary]

To be fair; the Sorcerer is a better Blaster than the Wizard (although the difference isn't huge).

Yes, the sorcerer is the better blaster. The laughable part is the idea that the sorcerer "can do . . . little else."

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I don't think of the wizard in either of those terms. The wizard is flexible, and with thought and creative use of spells can have significant impacts on the world around him. Sometimes that means dropping a fireball in the right place. Sometimes it's a dimension door.

 

[Dausuul]

The wizard is a hybrid of battlefield control and multi-target DPR. Direct-damage spells are the wizard's fallback: Can't think of any clever ways to abuse your control and utility spells? Just drop a bomb.

(Of course, some of the wizard's best DPR spells also double as utility. Arson is a tried-and-tested tool in the PC kit, and fireball is an incredibly effective means of committing it.)

 

[UnadvisedGoose445]

The Wizard is superior to the Sorcerer in many aspects (battlefield control, rituals, diversity, spells for any occasion) except for Blaster and Social skills (due to high Cha). I prefer the Wizard if i know the party already has plenty of DPR classes but i would select the Sorcerer if the party desperately needs a Blaster rather than versatility (for example because it already includes a Bard, Rogue and Monk but lacks a Ranger, Fighter, Paladin and Barbarian).

Hm. Not so sure I'd agree with you here. I think Sorcerer's fill a much more specific role, but it doesn't have to be Blaster. They're excellent Enchanters/Battlefield controllers, if the correct spells and metamagic combos are chosen. Subtle Spell and Careful Spell are sometimes deceptively amazing. They can do some great Buffing with Haste/Twin, and they have Enhance Ability too. There's more to them, but it requires the exclusion of many of those blaster spells if you do it.

So in my opinion, it's more accurate to say that Sorcerer's lack breadth, but can do incredible depth; whereas Wizards don't lose out on other options by choosing to focus on some things.