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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Devilbass" data-source="post: 7685096" data-attributes="member: 6686729">All wizards can cast at point blank range without fear of opportunity attacks. All casters for that matter. In 5e the only thing that triggers an OA is leaving an enemy's reach (at least by default).  The bladesinger's bonus to concentration checks is helpful for all wizards, but especially helpful for those who are melee-focused.  Also, of wizard subclasses, bladesingers do not have a monopoly on such a benefit; transmuters can gain proficiency in CON saves with their philosopher's stone.Also, the bonus to AC is being over-valued, as it is not always on, and is more than necessary to supplement a wizard's piddly HP.  And factoring the Shield spell is mostly inconsequential, as it is available to all wizards - the only relevant factors are light armor proficiency and Int bonus.  And really, the armor proficiency effectly only saves a single level 1 spell slot, rather than increasing AC (unless you gain access to magic armor in which case it does both).  The saving of this spell slot is probably the only way that shield is relevant to the discussion because it means that bladesingers could get one more use of it compared to a wizard who is mage armoured.Bonus speed (10 ft) is nice, but not significant enough to cause any kind of imbalance, plenty of monsters have higher speeds, ranged weapons, proning attacks, and grapples; if enemies are determined to limit your mobility, or put the hurt on you, 10 ft of extra movement may not save you.It looks to me like the bladesinger is designed to be a melee wizard, especially with the new cantrips.  Now, you're right that the subclass somewhat undoes a number of the wizard's classic weaknesses, but in order for it to be a melee wizard, it has to.  And maybe the idea of paying a bladesinger who doesn't do melee is appealing to you, but then you're playing a wizard who isn't as good at magic. The subclass features of the other subclasses are potent and probably worth more to the typical wizard than a higher armor class. I mean, if defence is a big concern, the abjure had that covered nicely - better than the bladesinger even, as it's defensive capabilities are tailored to cope with physical and magical assault. Having superior counter spell and dispel magic capabilities is a powerful advantage as is spell resistance.  I don't think the bladesinger measures up to this.That's not even to mention the potent abilities of other subclasses.  I think if you look closely at all the wizard subclasses, you'll find that the bladesinger only really tops then as a melee wizard, and not as a wizard in general.</blockquote>

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