I play them more than all the other classes combined. Just FYI.Does anyone even play those classes anymore in 5e?
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Fully agreed.I can't believe it, but not a single member of the Core Four club (Fighter, Cleric, Wizard, and Rogue) made it into the final round.
I'm okay with it. Anything was bound to be a lot more interesting than Yet Another 'Fighters Vs. Wizards' Argument. Again. For the fifteenth time. This week.
I'm as surprised as you (so surprised, I forgot to add this part!) Back during the D&D Next playtest, Druid was the least popular class in one of the class polls. It was handily beaten even by the ever-controversial Warlord.There were some pretty good contenders. I'm still surprised that the Druid has come this far, but my tongue in cheek comments aside, it is a solid class.
Of course, the other side of that is that the Wizard is so flexible it has no real identity beyond "spells spells spells and more spells." Not one of its mechanics actually supports the theme of being a Hermetic academician slowly piecing together the secrets of the universe; hell, they don't even do research except implicitly, off-camera, with no actual weight or value beyond a vague handwave at "oh that's how you get new spells."I still think Wizards are better. But then, I really value flexibility in my casting classes.
Oh, definitely. Wizard, particularly with some of its subclasses, is one of the objectively strongest classes in all of 5e, and both Sorcerer and Warlock live in its shadow. Fighter will always, always be one of the most popular classes, literally without regard to whether it feels awesome or terrible to play, because people will doggedly play it regardless of its design quality because it is the class called 'Fighter'. And Cleric, well, anyone who wants to explore religion is inherently pushed toward it, even as it moves further and further away from actually expressing any religious elements at all anymore. Rogue is really the only one plausibly getting left out, and that only because it's just not quite as iconic as the Fighter.Does anyone even play those classes anymore in 5e? In my experience playing nearly exclusively with people who never played before 5e, I can't remember the last time I saw a Cleric, Wizard, or Rogue, and only really see Fighters as multi-class dips for Action Surge. All I ever see are Bards, Sorcerers, Barbarians, Paladins, Warlocks, Rangers, maybe the occasional Monk or Druid
I see them all the time. Usually there's at least one Fighter or Rogue, and at least one Wizard or Cleric, in every gaming group I've had. It's been that way for the entire run of 5E.Does anyone even play those classes anymore in 5e? In my experience playing nearly exclusively with people who never played before 5e, I can't remember the last time I saw a Cleric, Wizard, or Rogue, and only really see Fighters as multi-class dips for Action Surge. All I ever see are Bards, Sorcerers, Barbarians, Paladins, Warlocks, Rangers, maybe the occasional Monk or Druid
In my own games, Fighters and Wizards are pretty rare, but Rogues and Clerics are pretty common. The most common classes by quite a bit are Paladins, Bards, and Warlocks.I see them all the time. Usually there's at least one Fighter or Rogue, and at least one Wizard or Cleric, in every gaming group I've had. It's been that way for the entire run of 5E.
A great deal of truth in that. However, Wizards are also "solution man" - or should be. While I've never met a wizard player (and character) that didn't enjoy their evocation spells ("Spell go BOOM!"), where they really shine (or should) is in their ability to solve problems ("Hold on. I've got a spell for that."). That does require wide-open access to spells, though, which is something a lot of games have trouble providing.Of course, the other side of that is that the Wizard is so flexible it has no real identity beyond "spells spells spells and more spells." Not one of its mechanics actually supports the theme of being a Hermetic academician slowly piecing together the secrets of the universe; hell, they don't even do research except implicitly, off-camera, with no actual weight or value beyond a vague handwave at "oh that's how you get new spells."
Personally, I think 5e’s insistence on making all classes self sufficient of each other and ‘competent’ in combat was detrimental to overall class design.A great deal of truth in that. However, Wizards are also "solution man" - or should be. While I've never met a wizard player (and character) that didn't enjoy their evocation spells ("Spell go BOOM!"), where they really shine (or should) is in their ability to solve problems ("Hold on. I've got a spell for that."). That does require wide-open access to spells, though, which is something a lot of games have trouble providing.
And unhappily with 5e's prohibition against buffs, one of the more useful problem-solving tools for the Wizard was taken away. Frankly a classic wizard complaint would be something like: "Years studying the hidden mysteries, plunging into the arcane depths of history and theory. Mastering the subtle art and science that is magic. Wrestling with the actual rules of reality - and winning! And what do you, my fellow party members, only ever want me to do? Blow up the monsters! ARGH!" {Later, in private: "Hehehe, monster go boom.")
Personally, I think 5e’s insistence on making all classes self sufficient of each other and ‘competent’ in combat was detrimental to overall class design.