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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tony Vargas" data-source="post: 6343605" data-attributes="member: 996">I /know/ it's rhetorical, but I just can't help trying to answer:[sblock="gratuitous comparisons"]Let's look as Sorc v Wiz.  What's the difference:AD&D: 9th level magic-user vs 11th level magic-user3e:  How they cast spells.  Spontaneous vs Vancian.4e:  Role.  Striker vs Controller; Class features.  'Soul' (different features for each build) vs Implement Mastery/Cantrips/Spellbook;  Spell lists: Hundreds of spells for each class, none shared.5e:  Class features.  Spellbook vs known spells; metamagic vs schools; &c.  Also: not in Basic vs in Basic.OK, lets do the rest of them:Ranger vs DruidAD&D:  Woodsy fighter who tracks and casts a few magic-user spells vs Woodsy priest who Shapechanges and has lots of spells over 3rd level but caps at level 14.  Totally different exp tables.  Different attack & save matrixes3e:  Class features:  Full BAB vs 3/4; half-caster vs Full Caster; Favored Enemy vs Shapechange; Spell lists with some overlap.4e:  Source:  Martial vs Primal; Role.  Striker vs Controller; Class Features:  Hunter's Quary, Prime Shot, Fighting Style vs Balance of Nature, Primal Aspect, Wildshape.  Completely different lists of hundreds of exploits vs hundreds of invocations.5e:  Class Features:  half-caster vs full caster; wildshape vs TWFing & tracking - honestly the playtest ranger didn't make much of an impression...ranger vs barbarian3e: class features:  half-caster vs Rage, bonus feats vs uncanny dodge..4e: Source: Martial vs Primal; Class Features:  Hunter's Quary, Prime Shot, Fighting Style vs Agility, Feral Might, Rage Strike, Rampage.  Completely different lists of hundreds of exploits vs hundreds of invocations.5e:  Class Features:  half-caster vs Ragefighter vs warlordAD&D: existed vs didn't exist.  3e:  existed vs didn't exist.  (Or, if you take the Marshal as Walord, class features:  full BAB vs 3/4, bonus feats vs auras)4e:  Role:  Defender vs Leader;  Class Features:  Fighting Style, Combat Superiority, Combat Challenge vs Combat Leader, Inspiring Word, Commanding Presence;  Different lists of hundreds of exploits unique to each class.5e:  exists  vs doesn't exist.  (Or, if you take the Battlemaster as both 'complex' fighter and Warlord:  14 maneuvers vs 2.)paladin vs clericAD&D:  half-caster vs full caster; lay on hands vs full-power turn undead; different attack & save matrices, different weapons permitted.3e:  Class features:  Full BAB vs 3/4, half-caster vs full caster, save bonus & lay on hands vs domains 4e:  Role:  Defender vs Leader; Class Features:  Divine Challenge, Lay on Hands vs Healing Word, Healer's Lore, Ritual Casting.  Different lists of hundreds of prayers each.5e:  Class Featuers:  half caster vs full caster,  Pally/Warden/Blackguard vs Deity/Domain[/sblock]The harder questions are:  What's the difference between a Ranger and a Fighter/Druid or a Barbarian and Fighter with a 'barbaric' background or a Paladin and a Fighter/Cleric.</blockquote>

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