Zaruthustran
The tingling means it’s working!
Anyway, to respond to the OP: I hear ya. The classic strength of the wizard was versatility, as others have said. But it was also exclusivity: no other class had spells like Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Teleport, and Stone Shape.
That's no longer the case. The only primary caster class that doesn't have access to Fireball (through domain, patron, or magical secrets) is the Druid. Bard is now a primary caster (?!) and gets classic Wizard spells like Knock, Polymorph, Leomund's and Mordenkainen's, Teleport, even Power Word Kill. Druid has all the environmental control spells like Fog Cloud, Stone Shape, Wall spells, Ice Storm, and conjurations. Sorcerer of course has all the blast spells and enchantments. Clerics... oh geez, clerics.
RANT
Clerics cast the exact same number of spells as wizards except they "know" every spell on their list, can't lose their spellbooks (and don't have to spend time and gold on them), have better HP, better armor & weapons, can channel divinity for cool and effective tricks per short rest, have a more useful primary stat (better save and skills), and access to healing magic. They're wizards but better, with no pesky restrictions like having to adhere to a doctrine or otherwise have any sort of relationship with the supposed source of their divine power.
/RANT
What does that leave the wizard? Ritual magic is AMAZING, but most primary classes get it and literally everyone (even the 8 Int half orc barbarian) can get it with a feat. The schools give interesting flavor (I really like the conjurer) but except for the diviner the effects aren't all that mechanically powerful.
Reading your lament, I suggest you switch to a Light domain cleric. Blast away with Burning Hands, Scorching Ray, and Fireball. Use channel divinity to fry every enemy creature within 30'--and do this at least once per short rest. Turn or destroy undead. Use your reaction to give attackers disadvantage. Wear medium armor and a shield. Take the Magic Initiate feat to get access to Eldritch Blast (you do have a high Cha, right?). Now you can blast, you can battlefield control, you're well-protected. You may not be a god, but you're friends with one.
That's no longer the case. The only primary caster class that doesn't have access to Fireball (through domain, patron, or magical secrets) is the Druid. Bard is now a primary caster (?!) and gets classic Wizard spells like Knock, Polymorph, Leomund's and Mordenkainen's, Teleport, even Power Word Kill. Druid has all the environmental control spells like Fog Cloud, Stone Shape, Wall spells, Ice Storm, and conjurations. Sorcerer of course has all the blast spells and enchantments. Clerics... oh geez, clerics.
RANT
Clerics cast the exact same number of spells as wizards except they "know" every spell on their list, can't lose their spellbooks (and don't have to spend time and gold on them), have better HP, better armor & weapons, can channel divinity for cool and effective tricks per short rest, have a more useful primary stat (better save and skills), and access to healing magic. They're wizards but better, with no pesky restrictions like having to adhere to a doctrine or otherwise have any sort of relationship with the supposed source of their divine power.
/RANT
What does that leave the wizard? Ritual magic is AMAZING, but most primary classes get it and literally everyone (even the 8 Int half orc barbarian) can get it with a feat. The schools give interesting flavor (I really like the conjurer) but except for the diviner the effects aren't all that mechanically powerful.
Reading your lament, I suggest you switch to a Light domain cleric. Blast away with Burning Hands, Scorching Ray, and Fireball. Use channel divinity to fry every enemy creature within 30'--and do this at least once per short rest. Turn or destroy undead. Use your reaction to give attackers disadvantage. Wear medium armor and a shield. Take the Magic Initiate feat to get access to Eldritch Blast (you do have a high Cha, right?). Now you can blast, you can battlefield control, you're well-protected. You may not be a god, but you're friends with one.
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