What's more powerful - group or single debuffs?

[Wik]

Something I've been debating - what's more useful to have as a character: group debuffs or single-target debuffs? For the purpose of this question, "Debuff" is any spell effect that applies a penalty or hindrance to the target without causing physical damage or death.

Let's leave out the obvious tactical nukes (Sleep and the Power Word spells, frex) and focus on the more general debuffs, for the sake of a fun argument.

 

[rkarnes]

I am not sure I understand the question.

Is a web spell that effects and area more or less powerful and a web spell that simply effects a single creature? Of course it is! Compare Hold Person to Deep Slumber.

But, in general, most spells that have an AoE have a drawback or disadvantage to balance them. Like a limit on hit dice (as deep slumber) or a lesser effect. The thing is, they each fulfill a specific niche.

Some spells overcome SR, some spells do not require a save, some spells require touch attacks, and others are practically guaranteed success! There is no blanket statement for balance, and there is no easy generalization that says "Tasha's Hideous Laughter always sucks."

(but most the time, it does IMO.)

Also, you may notice that most of the single target debuffs are at the lower end of the spectrum, and as you go up in spell levels most of the spells effect a large area or multiple targets. Relatively fewer debuffs exist at the high end.

 

[Empirate]

What is more powerful really depends on what you're trying to achieve, and what you have to work with.

If you have a large, combat focused group of PCs, and a large group of monsters to fight, the laws of iterative probabilities mean you'll make the combat much easier if you just impose some minor penalty to the enemies. If, on the other hand, you're in a large boss battle, a powerful debuff, even if it is only single-target, is just what the doctor ordered.

If you're in a small group and fight relatively few monsters most of the time, I'd go for single-target debuffs, as long as you can find ones that have more oomph! than the multi-target ones of the same level. As long as your debuff will result in one opponent not contributing to your overall problems anymore, you will have done your job.

Bottom line: taking even one opponent out of the fight is much more crucial at smaller group sizes. Making everyone a little less effective is very nice at large group sizes. The rest is down to in-game experience, and to the style of the campaign. What does your DM like to throw at you (mobs or single monsters)? What is your group capable of? So many possibilities...