D&D 5E Spell Versatility is GONE. Rejoice!

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Somehow you can't move a comma of the other three classes without that infringing on the wizard. Also, it is a class that struggles to come with new subclasses. Outside of setting specific variants like defiler/preserver and High sorcery there is not much themes left to explore for the wizard. And if you give sage background to either of the other three, you kind of have the same basic character types covered. On the other hand, you can't really start with a wizard and end with an analogue to the other three.

(emphasis mine)
Let me correct that for you. It is a class that Wizards of the Coast have struggled with coming up with new subclasses for. I personally don't have much of an issue with it. I take what WotC did for the War Wizard (combine two schools of magic) and did that for new homebrew subclasses.

 

[Chaosmancer]

(emphasis mine)
Let me correct that for you. It is a class that Wizards of the Coast have struggled with coming up with new subclasses for. I personally don't have much of an issue with it. I take what WotC did for the War Wizard (combine two schools of magic) and did that for new homebrew subclasses.

Sure but compare "I combine two schools of magic" to the Barbarian subclasses

Frenzy
Spirit Totems
Ancestral Spirits
Blessings of the Gods
Primal Storms of Power
Becoming a Bestial Monster
Overflowing Magic

I know there are versions for Blood Magic
Could easily see a fiendish or demonic blood variant
Undead Barbarian?
Dragon Barbarian?
Machine Barbarian?
Barbarian as War Leader?
Psychic Barbarian?

There is a diversity here in the type of barbarian you have, their style and approach to Rage. The wizard... really doesn't have that at the moment. The Bladesinger and the War Wizard sort of do this, but most of the others don't feel that different thematically.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Yeah, wizard subclasses are super meh.

 

[Asisreo]

Sure but compare "I combine two schools of magic" to the Barbarian subclasses

Frenzy
Spirit Totems
Ancestral Spirits
Blessings of the Gods
Primal Storms of Power
Becoming a Bestial Monster
Overflowing Magic

I know there are versions for Blood Magic
Could easily see a fiendish or demonic blood variant
Undead Barbarian?
Dragon Barbarian?
Machine Barbarian?
Barbarian as War Leader?
Psychic Barbarian?

There is a diversity here in the type of barbarian you have, their style and approach to Rage. The wizard... really doesn't have that at the moment. The Bladesinger and the War Wizard sort of do this, but most of the others don't feel that different thematically.

Wizards hardly feel like they change based on their subclass other than minor benefits. They don't feel very distinct.

I'd be fine with a Mage class with Wizard, Sorcerer, Bard, and Warlock as subclasses. Although, if you think about it, if you take "arcane caster" and pretend its a class in itself, they already kinda are subclasses of the "Arcane Caster" class.

I don't want the game to be too homogenized, though. If them being subclasses mean that their HP, spellcasting ability, weapon proficiency, saving throws, and spell list are exactly the same then I'd be pretty out of it.

 

[Maxperson]

Wizards hardly feel like they change based on their subclass other than minor benefits. They don't feel very distinct.

That's how schools have been since they came into play, though. They never really did much to distinguish one wizard from another. That's why I like the Bladesinger so much. It does more to distinguish itself from normal wizards than the schools do.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

That's how schools have been since they came into play, though. They never really did much to distinguish one wizard from another. That's why I like the Bladesinger so much. It does more to distinguish itself from normal wizards than the schools do.

Yep. Bladesinger is more like what wizard subclasses should be.

 

[cbwjm]

I actually quite like the PHB wizard subclasses, I think they fit the 8 schools of magic quite well. Not to say there aren't a lot more wizard subclasses out there, but I don't think they are bad or bland at all.

 

[Maxperson]

I actually quite like the PHB wizard subclasses, I think they fit the 8 schools of magic quite well. Not to say there aren't a lot more wizard subclasses out there, but I don't think they are bad or bland at all.

I like them, too. They just don't differentiate the various wizards much.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

There's still a few wizard archetype I'd like to see:

• Arcanist: master of implements/foci, with choices ala totem barb/hunter ranger between Orbs, Staff and Wands
• Theurgist: seek to replicate the miracles of the Gods through arcane experimentation.
• Witch: mix of divination and necromantic magic.
• Geomancer: specialist of the spells that modify terrain: wall spells, mirage terrain, stone to mud etc

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Sure but compare "I combine two schools of magic" to the Barbarian subclasses

/snip

There is a diversity here in the type of barbarian you have, their style and approach to Rage. The wizard... really doesn't have that at the moment. The Bladesinger and the War Wizard sort of do this, but most of the others don't feel that different thematically.

That's mostly due to the fact that wizard subclasses don't change the base class that much, while Barbarian subclasses pretty much define who you are and what you're going to do. Bear Totem Barbarians are gonna tank, Beast Barbarians are going to destroy every enemy with a flurry of primal blows, Battlerager Barbarians don spiked armor and throw themselves into their enemies. However, most wizard subclasses play pretty much the same way (other than Bladesingers and probably Necromancers).

Here are some possible combinations of two schools of magic that can be interesting, while still fitting in with the other subclasses:

Lifedrinking Magic - Combine Evocation and Necromancy to drain the life of your enemies to heal yourself and allies. They're often used in wars to work as a healer and battlemage.
Figmentation Magic - Combine Conjuration and Illusion magic to create illusions that are partially real, and can be interacted with.
Phantom Magic - A combination of Necromancy and Illusion magic to use phantasmal force, phantasmal killer, and other illusion spells that frighten people and make them see things that aren't there.

They're not all that exciting, but they still would be valid and cool subclasses.