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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ashrym" data-source="post: 7855341" data-attributes="member: 6750235">Adding an ability that's usually going to be ignored isn't a power boost, and changing from a 1st level spell to a 1st level spell would be a lateral move in the event some reason does come up to change that spell.Yes.  Because it's the same level spell for the same level spell using an ability that won't see much use after the caster (which is still any spells known caster) already selected "the best spells" in his or her mind.Constructing a scenario works both ways because there are a lot of wizard spells sorcerers never have, and this argument still applies to rangers which you stated was absurd even though it's the exact same argument.Making it situational.  First, there needs to actually be a better spell on the list.  Second, the has to be prior knowledge in order to know to swap a spell.  Third, there has to be time available to take to swap the spell.  Fourth, we need to assume it's not already available to the wizard in the same or better option.  Finally, we would need to assume it's only one spell as opposed to multiple spells like the wizard.It requires a tailored situation to force the argument and ignores the same argument applied to the wizard.There has to be a reason to swap spells is campaign specific?  Do you think you will swap spells just because you can?  This is true in my experience as a DM (yes my campaign) and as a player (no not my campaign and under various other DM's or campaigns and published campaign books).  Or do you disagree that player start with what they think are the best spell selection?I think you are missing important details in your analysis.  You keep acting like spell versatility is the equivalent of spell preparation while ignore points to the contrary.At 1st level, spell versatility is a benefit to sorcerers.  They know two, leaving a choice of 25 spells from which to swap a spell out for a spell that might have a situational benefit.  This is a benefit but I think you are overselling how often and ignoring that in the end they still only have 2 first level spells to actually use.  That's not an increase; it's an option to use spells more often.  Spell swapping is unlikely but if I know we're facing undead then I am going to swap out sleep, you are correct in that regard an that's not forcing a constructed scenario because facing undead is common and so is taking sleep.  It's just not common enough that swapping will be constant.In comparison, the wizard can swap any of his 4 spells known out of his 6 spells in his book when he's already taken rituals.  Spell swapping is pointless when in all likelihood the 2 spells not prepped are rituals and he can cast them anyway.  Spell swapping is pointless but it's because the wizard doesn't actually need it.  He's got access to all of his spell already.  3 times as many spells as the sorcerer, in fact, and spells that might be swapped in are rituals the wizard already has.Little changes at second level but the wizard added 2 spells and gained 1 spell, so there might be a floater in there worth swapping but I find it's often a spell to prep and another ritual.  Spell swapping is still pointless.  The sorcerer still has the option to change 1 spell out of a choice of 24 because one of the 25 became known.In both cases spell slots limit knowing spells drastically.  It's not the swapping defining the wizard but the rituals.At third level things start to look a bit different.  Both classes pick up 3rd level spells.  The sorcerer now has the option to swap a spell from leveling up and can change one of those first level spells for a second level spell (this is not something spell versatility allows).  Spell swapping starts to become an option because it's not limited by level.  There are more second level sorcerer spell than first level so the sorcerer can swap from 34 spells, still only a single spell and still only from that.  The wizard still doesn't actually need to swap but might have 1 or 2 spell out of 10 at this point because prepping isn't level locked.At this point it should be clear that spell swapping isn't really defining the wizard because it's a minor detail.  Rituals, the spell book, and the broad spell list create the wizard identity because those are the prominent features.Fast forward to tenth level.  A wizard who added no spells outside of leveling has 24 spells in his spell book.  At this point the wizard is swapping multiple spells out of the choice of that many spells.  No level gating.  If the situation warrants a change then swapping 1 or 2 or 3 spells has a wide variety of choices.  The sorcerer still has 1 spell of equivalent level.  That not only allows a ton more flexibility to the wizard in something that's really side note in what defines the class.  We're also at 15 spells prepped vs 11 known and rituals that don't need prepped for use that can be used regardless.  The sorcerer has not added any significant flexibility in comparison herer.Fast forward to fifteenth level.  The spell book is not up to 34 spells at a minimum.  At this point there is no single spell level that give the sorcerer more options in a long rest.  The ability to swap a single spell of second  level for a single spell of second level is weak compared to swapping a single spell of any level for a single spell of any level even if wizards were only limited to a single spell.  Any spell on the sorcerer list from first through eighth level is possible but it's still only a single spell of equivalent value for a single spell of equivalent value.  At this point it's also 20 spells prepped plus rituals compared to 14 spells known.  Swapping in 1 spell doesn't even rate compared to the 6 more spells and half a dozen or more rituals the wizard already has before swapping in 1 spell.  There's clearly no stepping on versatility here.The argument that spell preparation defines the wizard's identity is not a valid argument even thought that seems to be the prevalent objection.  There are only two choices -- known or prepped and wizards fall into the prepped category.  It's the spell book, rituals, versatility, available spells, class abilities, and traditions vs bloodlines that separate these classes.  Spell prep is rarely used (because it's not generally needed) so it's hardly defining but when it is needed then swapping out multiple spells vs a single spell is still a big difference.We're still back to the original expectation spells known classes were expected to change spell more frequently but without the level restriction (which you seem to be ignoring), these classes can be assumed to have made choices for the spells they wanted in the first place (making swapping situational and not a regular event), and it fits into the designers' ideas of what the classes can be capable.No, this is not a power upgrade.  No, this does not step on any toes.  No, this does not give versatility anywhere near a wizard.  Rangers got the buff.  Sorcerers just got options on which to spend their already limited resources.</blockquote>

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