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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Sigil" data-source="post: 1096687" data-attributes="member: 2013">Sounds good to me, let's get after it. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />Hit Points:4d12 (average: 12+3*6.5 = 31.5) vs 6d4 (average: 4+5*2.5 = 16.5)So he has nearly double the hit points of a WizardSaves:3/1/4 vs. 2/2/5So he gains a point in Fort saves but loses a point in both Ref and Will saves.  Not a catastrophe, but still slightly weaker.  We can probably call this about even.Proficiencies:Simple Weapons, Shields, Light Armor vs. limited simple weapons onlyHe gains a few simple weapon proficiencies, plus shields and light armor proficiencySkills:22 Ranks vs. 45 Ranks (for a human Wiz6 with a 15 Int)He has less than half as many skill ranks.Feats:3 Feats vs. 6 Feats (for a human Wiz 6 - human Wiz 6 gains 1 for being human plus 3 for levels 1, 3, 6 plus 2 for Wiz1 and Wiz5)So he has half as many Feats, as well.Spells:6/6/6/4 at Caster Level 5 vs. 4/3/3/2 at Caster level 6While the lower caster level partially off-sets the extra spell slots, I think at the end of the day he does have a little more "firepower" in his arsenal.Familiar:No familiar vs. familiarIt's a bigger loss than might be thought at first blush.  Look at the benefits a familiar provides when within five feet:1.) Alertness Feat to master2.) "Virtual Feat" that is dependent on familiar type (e.g., Toad = Toughness, Rat = Great Fortitude, etc.)3.) This applies at ranges greater than 5', but the wizard also has the ability to use the familiar to deliver touch spells (probably a minor loss).So that's another two Feats, in effect, that the character has lost.Other:Turning versus no turningA no-brainer.  Better to have it than not.----So in my mind, the question is the following:Does (a) reducing caster level by one, (b) going from 8 (6+2) Feats to 3 Feats (a loss of 5 Feats) and (c) cutting skill points in half compensate for:(d) a hit point doubling, (e) an increase of 2/3/3/2 in spells per day, (f) light armor and shields proficiency (he only gains a couple of simple weapons, and I'll say that minor alteration is balanced by the minor Save loss) and (g) the ability to turn undead?Or, to turn it around, would you give up half your hit points, 2/3/3/2 spells, light armor and shields proficiency and the ability to turn undead for 5 Feats, doubled skill points, and another caster level?If you have a hard time deciding which you'd do, I think I've done my job. If it's a no-brainer, please tell me so... and which way.  To me, it's a tough choice.--The Sigil</blockquote>

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