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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Saeviomagy" data-source="post: 5730977" data-attributes="member: 5890">As a general rule, utility without cost is an issue.In 3.5e this comes because you have cheap wands and scrolls (or even just 'I leave my low level slots free, so I can solve any problem with 10 minutes memorisation time').There are systems where wizards have limitless utility, and they still work, simply by imposing a cost on that utility (shadowrun charges meaningful character resources for spells and then each spell has the potential to cripple it's caster, mage allows on-the-spot creation of spells, but threatens the caster with paradox etc). Sure the wizard could cast knock, but it might kill him to do so.4e has issues because rituals are so specific and ineffective that they usually end up without a niche where one might use them. They tend not to be able to do anything that a skill couldn't do instead, but they cost a lot of money and take a lot of time. It sort of swings the other way, to a place where magic is never used for utility and is instead reserved for killing stuff.</blockquote>