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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 6430846" data-attributes="member: 58197">I thought I'd crunch the numbers at level 3 and see how it looks for the blasting mage. As a point of reference, assuming enemies with AC 12 and +0 on saves, a typical 3rd-level greatsword fighter's DPR is 8.77, with the option to Action Surge once every short rest for double damage. A typical 3rd-level shortsword rogue's DPR is 8.4 if using Cunning Action. (In either case, dual wielding will drastically boost the fighter or rogue's damage output, but that isn't a case for the wizard being weak--it's a case for dual wielding being OMGBROKEN from levels 1-4.) The wizard at this level has 5 first-level slots (4 basic, plus 1 from Arcane Recovery), 2 second-level, and cantrips.Looking at the best direct-damage options in the Basic Rules:Light Crossbow: Not to be neglected as an option for lowbie wizards, a Dex 14 wizard has DPR 4.775 with a light crossbow.Cantrips: Fire bolt deals 4.125 damage. You're better off with a crossbow unless you need to set something on fire.Level 1: Burning hands deals 8.4 per target. (Magic missile is a flat 10.5... don't even bother.)Level 2: Shatter deals 10.8 per target. (Flaming sphere is potentially more effective, but it depends heavily on how effectively you can maneuver it and whether your concentration gets broken, so I'm leaving it out.)So, how's it all look? Well, say there are 7 encounters in a day, 5 rounds per encounter, and 2 short rests. The comparison depends on how many average targets you can get in your AoE spells:2 TARGETSWizard: 260.9 damage, using 2 shatters (43.2), 5 burning hands (84), and 28 light crossbow attacks (133.7)Fighter: 333.26 damage, including 35 attacks (306.95) and 3 Action Surges (26.31)3 TARGETSWizard: 324.5 damage, using 2 shatters (64.8), 5 burning hands (126), and 28 light crossbow attacks (133.7)Fighter: 333.26 damage, including 35 attacks (306.95) and 3 Action Surges (26.31)4 TARGETSWizard: 388.1 damage, using 2 shatters (86.4), 5 burning hands (168), and 28 light crossbow attacks (133.7)Fighter: 333.26 damage, including 35 attacks (306.95) and 3 Action Surges (26.31)So, the fighter and wizard break even when the wizard is able to average about 3 targets per spell. Of course, much of the wizard's damage can be dealt at range, which is a perk--but burning hands requires you to get in close, and the fighter is a lot tougher. In out-of-combat utility, the wizard has cantrips like mage hand and minor illusion, while the fighter has a high Athletics skill. Advantage clearly goes to the wizard on that, but not crushingly--Athletics is very, very useful.I'd say it's unusual to average 3 targets in the smallish AoEs of burning hands and shatter, so I give the overall edge to the fighter here. Yes, the wizard has spells like sleep, but an evoker should be able to make a living blasting things.</blockquote>

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