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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fanaelialae" data-source="post: 6830700" data-attributes="member: 53980">You can't look at a single variable, out of the context of the larger equation, and claim an objective assessment.Yes, a 3e 12th-level Wizard had the same Base Attack as a 6th-level Fighter. However, the wizard was objectively terrible at fighting. 1) Typically, a Wizard would have a worse ability score related to attacking (whether that be Strength or Dexterity) because the primary stat for a Wizard is Intelligence, whereas the Fighter can dump Intelligence to instead have a high strength.2) The Wizard has worse armor and weapon proficiencies than a 6th level fighter. A staff is not the equivalent of a sword, and robes are certainly not equivalent to plate mail (barring perhaps the rare magic item that is the exception).3) The Wizard has likely focused his feats elsewhere than improving his ability to swing a staff. I played 3.x for many years and I never saw a Wizard with Weapon Focus. The Wizard probably didn't pick up Power Attack, so he's not going to hit remotely as hard as the Fighter against low AC targets.4) Magic item distribution. If you find a magic sword, then the fighter gets dibs on it unless he already has a better sword. The wizard gets first dibs on wizardly items. At least that's how we play. Need before greed. So unless the campaign is Monty Haul, the wizard's numbers fall behind as a result of this as well.5) Extra attacks. Yes, the wizard has one, but the fighter has two. Also, the fighter's second attack is significantly more likely to land (+ 7 BA versus + 1), and his even his piddly third attack is still better than the Wizard's (+ 2 BA versus + 1).6) The level factor. Particularly in 3.x, monster AC's were prone to ballooning very quickly. A level 6 Fighter would be barely a speed bump to a CR 12 monster. A level 12 Wizard therefore would be even less than "barely a speed bump". Sure, if you dropped a level 12 Wizard into a level 6 party without his spells, he might be able to contribute enough to at least make a difference in combat, but the same cannot be said of a level 12 party.Clearly, unless the campaign focus is on the high level Wizard regularly handing out beatings to low-level commoners, he is no paragon of martial prowess. That his base attack at level 12 matches that of a competent Fighter of level 6 is meaningless when you consider it in context. The Fighter's true attack bonus can be easily over + 20 by that level, whereas the Wizard likely has little more than his base + 6.</blockquote>

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