D&D 5E [+] Ways to fix the caster / non-caster gap

[Cadence]

First we need to figure out how competent a high level Fighter should be compared to a guy at the gym...

Second reply:

I'm now trying to picture chucking a bunch of National Academies members into reenactments of the big falling scene in Black Widow or the ice-ring fight scene in Hawkeye (as those characters respectively).... it isn't pretty.

 

[Tony Vargas]

But only having sword-lile technology instead of having other options that are more advanced is also setting specific. Only having the weapons that are in the PHB and nothing better right now is a pure setting decision.

And like for me, in a medieval life fantasy setting with the technology that is shown in the PHB it makes absolut sense, that non magical characters will be weaker and left behind by magical characters. Because Magic for me is just another form of technology. And the non magical tech in the generic 5e D&D setting doesn't allow nonmagical people to compete with high level wizards/spellcasters, which is something I'm totally fine with.

Sounds like you're a prime candidate for demoting the benighted non-casters to NPC-Class status, like 3e Commoners.

Because in my fantasy worlds, the abilities of mundane folk compares to Frodo, Bilbo, Boromir, Aragon, Gimli, Legolas

 

[W'rkncacnter]

you can tell he's not a 5e martial because he can keep count of his kills, implying his int score is above an 8

 

[overgeeked]

you can tell he's not a 5e martial because he can keep count of his kills, implying his int score is above an 8

You can also tell he’s not a 5E martial because he did something cool.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Crossbow?! Blasphemy, letting Wizards use crossbows was pointless power creep! They should be throwing darts! Or oil! And what's with this light being a cantrip usable at will? They have a free hand, they should be holding a torch!

This very funny, but I also agree with it.

 

[James Gasik]

Second reply:

I'm now trying to picture chucking a bunch of National Academies members into reenactments of the big falling scene in Black Widow or the ice-ring fight scene in Hawkeye (as those characters respectively).... it isn't pretty.

Watch Deadpool 2's scene with the X-Force doing a parachute drop.

 

[Neonchameleon]

First we need to figure out how competent a high level Fighter should be compared to a guy at the gym...

About as competent as a high level wizard is compared to a stage conjurer.

 

[tetrasodium]

I don’t mind that wizards no longer suck like the old days. I’m fine with casters being cool and fun to play. What bugs me is that non-casters suck in comparison.

I didn't feel like they "sucked" at the time. The system was a lot more lethal compared to 5e& not just for arcane casters. Unless the campaign was one where you wanted to explore that brutality in near DCC funnel style it was incredibly common for folks to start at level 3 or 5 where the fighter was not in mortal danger facing off against an angry housecat & spellcasters were starting to come into their own. Also don't forget that pretty much every caster would have a primary attrib high enough to get a bonus spell slot at level 1. the 3.5 DMG even had a section about starting PCs at higher levels (pg199) it started with [spoile="this"]
Sometimes you’re going to want to create characters that aren’t 1st level. Perhaps you have purchased an adventure you’re dying to play, but no one has characters of the appropriate level. Perhaps you just want to jump right to 5th level and start your campaign there. Whatever the reason, creating new characters at any given level isn’t hard (and, in fact, many players find it fun).
[/spoiler]
but that roughly page of guidance was often simplified to something like "single class level X & pick a +1 weapon of your choice" or similar

 

[W'rkncacnter]

You can also tell he’s not a 5E martial because he did something cool.

well, i didn't wanna get mean, but yeah...

 

[Tony Vargas]

I didn't feel like they "sucked" at the time. Also don't forget that pretty much every caster would have a primary attrib high enough to get a bonus spell slot at level 1.

Speaking of...

So a 14 WIS was enough for a Cleric to start with 3 spells... well, 3 CLW if the party was going to survive more than one or two wandering damage encounters....

Conversely, the Magic-User? Nada.