Which class is most powerful?

[Numion]

Yes clerics are good when combined with a party. Yes they have all kinds of nifty stuff. Yes they will die when confronted with fireball and the like. We all know the flying invissible flame thrower. Now ask yourself this: which class is capable of defeating that...

Sorry but Clerics have enough protections against the elements. Protection from Elements defeats 12 pts of for example fire damage per level. Fireballs deal 3.5 pts. per level damage, so the first 4-5 fireballs would be absorbed by that, unless the cleric blows all his saves. That would mean 4-5 rounds of time for the cleric to find and kill the wizard. A little true seeing, a little dispel and then the kill. Not a sure win, but it's defeatable.

Thats just an example though. The power of a class shouldn't be measured in an arena fight between two classes, but rather as how powerful the character is in a game of D&D. Which usually involves adventuring and such, not arena matches against your Invissible Flame Throwers.

 

[Halivar]

My level-20 fighter with a Ring of Spell Turning says: fighter.

Really, not even our mage with maximized spells can deal out more damage per round than I can. And with the new nerfed insta-kill (now insta-hurt) spells, my fighter fears nothing.

Except other fighters.

 

[Bauglir]

How much of this depends on the opposition - that is, DM style - though? i.e. A DM who has monsters take on the nearest opponents (i.e. the frontline fighters) every time, versus a DM who has them run straight past the meat shields (despite AoOs) and focus all attacks on the casters every time?

Yep. I'd prefer people to vote based on what their own experience has been, rather than to try and guess how the class might fare under different dms - that way we should get a decent spectrum of results.

 

[diaglo]

the power gamer in our group chose druid first and then cleric.

so i'm guess those classes must be the most powerful.

 

[Pseudonym]

I voted Wizard, based on my experience playing a 17th level Diviner/Loremaster/Archmage in 3.0. Our 17th level Cleric/Divine Diciple was capable of laying the proverbial smack down, but it seemed that either he was being more reserved, or didn't play the class up to its full DM frustrating potential. My opinion is colored a bit by the prestige class aspects of my Wizard, though. I've never played a high level straight class Wizard.

I played a 3.0 Druid from 5th to 13th, which definately is a potential contender for most powerful class, especially with the Natural Spell feat.

On the low end, the Infiltrator from Kalamar has potential, for much the same reasons as a rogue. It may well be, though, that I am a bit of a powergamer compared to the people I was gaming with.

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

My level-20 fighter with a Ring of Spell Turning says: fighter.

Yeah, gear plays a big part in these discussions and a fighter is more or less defined by his gear.

Also, assumuing no bounes, a 20th level wizard is going to have about 60 or so hit points. A fighter is going to have around 120. But they both posses the ability to kill the other in one round.

 

[Arnwyn]

Flawed poll. Define "powerful". And at what level?

In any case, based on years of experience in play, without a doubt it's the cleric.

Edit: IME, IMC, IMO, yadda yadda yadda.

 

[Voadam]

Cleric.

By conscious design of the creators of the game to encourage people to play "healers".

A cleric completely buffed can be a better fighter than a fighter.

A cleric can do even more party good by buffing the fighter.

They rule in healing.

Turning is a nice little power, as can be domain powers.

Powerful spellcasting, only second to wiz/sor in raw damage, but at base exceeding them in scope and flexibility.

Hit points and AC to take a hit far beyond that of wizards or sorcerers.

No big weaknesses (sneak attack vs uncrittables, wizards vs monks, etc.)

 

[Halivar]

Yeah, gear plays a big part in these discussions and a fighter is more or less defined by his gear.

Also, assumuing no bounes, a 20th level wizard is going to have about 60 or so hit points. A fighter is going to have around 120. But they both posses the ability to kill the other in one round.

Too true, too true.

But consider this: I can buy immunity from a spellcaster's powers, but he can't buy or otherwise acquire immunity to a +35 attack w/ 50+ damage a hit.

So, I suppose that part of what makes the fighter the most powerful class is the nature of the wondrous items in the DMG, most of which, IMO, aid fighters and not spellcasters.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Cleirc at all levels but the lowest and highest. Wiz/sor at the highest if they have some of the broken spells. Thoguh now that I think about it the druid gets the most broken one as well i beleive since they get shapechange still I believe. So maybe I should say druid at the highest. Honestly ignoring a couple broken spells I'd say cleric at all levels but the lowest.

Cleircs sadly enough probably out combat spell the wiz/sor IMO they have better save or dies overall IME, after level 9 they equal the wizard in blasting spells. Then they can heal, slightly better div, good buffing of others, insane self buffing, solid though weaker than wiz/sor utility spells. Good hp and armor mean they aren't a huge gaping vulnerability in the teams defense like sor/wiz are(though at high levels wiz/sor can have spells to nullify there weakness for a time) mid bab means at all level but the highest they fight side by side with the secondary fighters like paladins, and with the right buffs they fight side by side with the best fighter types the fighters and barbarians.