How would you balance sorcerers if wizards didn't need to pay for scribing spells?

[Mr. Draco]

Well, in the campaign i play in, the DM is planning on eliminating the scribing cost for wizards (200gp/spell lvl). The wizard would still have to pay for the scroll cost.

Now, the question is, how would you balance sorcerrors with this change to wizards?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ace]

I probably would give sorcerers extra spells known based on thier charisma stat.

It seems to have good symetry to me

Wizards will have more spells

Sorcerers will have more spells

 

[Crothian]

That sounds reasonible. Talk to the sorcer see want he wants. More spells is good, or possible a free feat. Money is a wierd thing to balance. Any idea why he choose to eliminate the costs?

 

[rhammer2]

Sorcerer's don't need any balancing. I've reduced the scribing cost to 10gp/spell level, and there has only been one wizard out of the 8 arcane casters that have been in the group since we started playing. Remember that sorcerers can use any wizard scroll or wand and have 2 more spell slots at each spell level than wizards. While a wizard might have more spells to choose from, they have to prepare the spells ahead of time.

Well, in the campaign i play in, the DM is planning on eliminating the scribing cost for wizards (200gp/spell lvl). The wizard would still have to pay for the scroll cost.

Now, the question is, how would you balance sorcerrors with this change to wizards?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cloudgatherer]

The scribing cost is really a non-issue in terms of balance. It will drain the party's funds at lower levels, but later on it's just an annoyance.

The sorcerers don't need any adjustments. If wizard is going to be balanced with money, then the sorcerer should be too.

 

[Crothian]

It depends on the campaign. Money for most campaign seems to be a non issue. But if you keep the party poor, this will obviously help the wizard out.

 

[nharwell]

Re: Re: How would you balance sorcerers if wizards didn't need to pay for scribing spells?

Sorcerer's don't need any balancing. I've reduced the scribing cost to 10gp/spell level, and there has only been one wizard out of the 8 arcane casters that have been in the group since we started playing. Remember that sorcerers can use any wizard scroll or wand and have 2 more spell slots at each spell level than wizards. While a wizard might have more spells to choose from, they have to prepare the spells ahead of time.

I respectfully disagree. IMHO, one of the primary balancing factors between the two classes is that wizards suffer a near-constant financial drain because of spell costs. While I don't think doing away with spell costs would break the game, I do feel it would give wizards a significant advantage. In the game I DM, I've noticed that the extra money (comparatively) is what has made the sorceror as useful as the party wizard -- she can afford to buy masterwork crossbow and bolts, some extra magic items, etc.

The option mentioned above of granting extra known spells seems reasonable. Another idea might be to give the sorceror some bonus feats -- maybe scribe scroll at 1st (like a wizard).

 

[Khaalis]

Personally, if I were to do away with the Scribing cost for Wizards, I would allow the Sorcerer bonus spells known.

What I have used in the past as a balance factor is that the Sorcerer gains anumber of bonus spells known per spell level based on Wisdom.

Yes Wisdom. Why?

2 Reasons:

1) Mech Balance: Most of the classes are designed in such a way as to make the Class rely on more than one single primary stat.
Example: Cleric - Spells based on Wisdom, Turning Based on Charisma.

2) Fluff: Per the description of the Sorcerer, they are supposed to learn their spells as Innate ability - they just "develop" in the Sorcerer. They do not study spell books the way wizards do to learn spells. If they use charisma as the force of will to cast the spells, then the innate knowledge of what they can cast should come from Wisdom. It could be argued to use Intelligence - but it depends on your view of how they learn spells.

Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[Ciaran]

Get rid of the Wizard's 2 free spells learned per level, and make them get all spells through trade, purchase or research. The financial drain from this will more than make up for the money they save on scribing costs.

- Eric

 

[Crothian]

Personally, if I were to do away with the Scribing cost for Wizards, I would allow the Sorcerer bonus spells known.

What I have used in the past as a balance factor is that the Sorcerer gains anumber of bonus spells known per spell level based on Wisdom.

Yes Wisdom. Why?

2 Reasons:

1) Mech Balance: Most of the classes are designed in such a way as to make the Class rely on more than one single primary stat.
Example: Cleric - Spells based on Wisdom, Turning Based on Charisma.

2) Fluff: Per the description of the Sorcerer, they are supposed to learn their spells as Innate ability - they just "develop" in the Sorcerer. They do not study spell books the way wizards do to learn spells. If they use charisma as the force of will to cast the spells, then the innate knowledge of what they can cast should come from Wisdom. It could be argued to use Intelligence - but it depends on your view of how they learn spells.

Just my $0.02 worth.

I really like that idea. Actually, it'd be cool for them to get bonus spells based off of wisdom anyway. Bard's to beecause they cast spells the same way. I like when classes have more then one attribute that they need.