Why Do Clerics Have More Spells Per Day Than Wizards?

[victorysaber]

Just curious.

In comparison to the spontaneous casters, the Favoured Soul & Sorcerer have the same number of spells per day.

Is there any reason?

The Favoured Soul gets more "goodies" (class abilities) than the Sorcerer, but they have the same number of spells. In comparison to the Cleric, the Favoured Soul has about the same number of spells, including domain spells (except for the higher level slots).

The Wizard gets more "goodies" (class abilities) than the Cleric, but they have less spells.

Is there a reason for this?

 

[Deekin]

The Favored soul gets more spells per day than the sorc.

Go go CODzilla!

 

[FEADIN]

The cleric can do some miracles AND must heal his fellows....more spells to be able to do this.

 

[Ender_rpm]

Was having this convo on aother board too. No consensus, but it seems like the healer classes get more spells/day to make up for the fact that many of thier spells will be used to heal/buff other party members. In contrast to the wizzy, who can say "Well, I can buff you or have scorching ray available. You pick." Of course, a wand of CLW throws this out of whack, as do the various healing auras, but hey, whaddya want?

 

[Henry]

This is also an artifact of earlier editions, when clerics had very few area effect and direct damage spells. Now, with availability to power word - kill, and fire storms, and earth reavers, holy smites, etc. The need in my mind is less than before. However, there's still the supposition that clerics are unpopular to play and so needed some bait to entice people to play them. They have so many goodies, they're not just "baited", they're a whole tackle-shop!

 

[victorysaber]

So... there's no mechanical reason for it? As in, no rules based decision? As in, it's an enticement?

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

The assumption that the wizard will cast spells primarily in combat, but the cleric will need to cast spells outside of combat as well (mostly healing of course). That's the only reason I can think of.

 

[victorysaber]

So assuming I gave them an ability to heal, like the paladin's lay on hands or the one below

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=196712

It wouldn't be unbalancing to drop their spells per day to match the wizard's?

 

[NilesB]

Clerics know more spells relative to Favored Souls than Wizards do relative to Sorcerors.
Favored Souls have a split casting attribute.

Thus Favored souls need the extra goodies.

 

[Ender_rpm]

You'd have to have a pretty powerful healing ability to overcome the inability to cast higher level spells essentially at will. And you'd add another stat neccessary to be a good healer (if its cha based like pally), which would hurt more in point buy than rolling. YMMV .