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Message: <blockquote data-quote="1of3" data-source="post: 6168524" data-attributes="member: 48555">The main reason blasting was considered ineffective in 3.x was the power of buffs. But buffs have been nerfed hard. You can only concentrate on one.Also note that casters have an advantage in Next: You don't need to use a prepared spell. In 3.x, if a situation came up, where a prepared spell was suboptimal, you effectively wasted a slot. In Next, you can cast a spell more suited for the occasion. So even if Fireball is a very situational spell, you don't loose for packing it. In addition, wizards do not specialize in the same sense as they did in 3.x. If you chose a blaster in 3.x, you  couldn't cast from two schools. The tactic is in Next is to prepare a little bit of everything. In our playtest last weekend, the illusionist saved the day with blasting, when the rest of the team was stunned by the Mindflayer for several rounds. The wizard was empty afterwards, but he won single-handedly. (Or maybe single-tentacledly, as this was a Flumph party.)Generally, you want to blast:- When nobody else can hurt them properly, because of distance, resistance etc.- When there are minions to clear.- When you need to bring down immediate pressure. - When it's boss fight and the adventure is likely over afterwards.</blockquote>