TLDR Version: Give Wizards the ability to cast un-prepared spells but only out of combat Give Wizards an additional means to gain new spells outside of level up and finding/obtaining scrolls.
Long Version:
Throughout the iterations of D&D the Magic User (that's old timey for "Wizards") has always been touted as the "Master of the Arcane" and are portrayed (often comedically) as being one of, if not THE squashiest classes to play. Current 5e did a great job of revitalising the class and the blessing of of having selected prepared spells sharing the same pool of spell slots was an absolute banger for players that had to dedicate a spell slot for a specific spell (that's 2nd edition by the way).
However Wizards has been more or less stagnant in terms of power level in the decade after 5e release and the release of D&D 2024 was the Wizard class was arguably overtaken by other spellcasters with it being nerfed and other spell casters either unaffected or buffed. It "feels" like Wizards has become one of those cheesy commercials that shows the actors doing over the top things but the product the commercial is just a different brand of chips (crisps for those in the UK) - what a let-down.
How then can we make Wizards reign supreme without going off theme?
1. Grant the Wizard the ability to cast known unprepared spells out of combat. In the heat of battle - what you prepared is what you get. But when you're in exploration mode? Surely the Wizard has enough time to open his tome/Grimoire to find that oh so often un-prepped knock spell, refreshing his memory and cast it? Not asking for reaction spells to be included but spells that takes an action or longer to be able to be cast without prep and outside combat. It suits thematically. Unlike the Sorcerer that gets their power from their lineage and talent or the cleric with their connection to their Deity - the Wizard has to manipulate the weave based on their understanding. Why can't they do that when they literally have hand written manuals based off their own head lingo in front of them?
2. Give Wizards an additional means to gain new spells outside of level up and finding/obtaining scrolls. Going hard again with the theme. Wizards are not conduits of another entity's power nor did they won the genetic lottery. They experiment, decipher and perfect their magic down to a science. Why then are they restricted to what is gatekept behind level up and the mercy of the loot table? Does it not make sense that with enough time/resource that the Wizard could replicate the spells known in the world and invent new ones?
Not bashing the current rules, it's just that the Wizard is limited by the number of spells chosen at level ups and (at the same time) at the mercy of loot tables to make use of their large selection of spells in their spell list. Wizard tomes/Grimoires are supposed to be thicc not magazine sized.
First, it’s kind of hard to imagine someone actually suggesting a wizard is underpowered. Second, they already do what you want them to do.
They can cast unprepared spells out of combat. That’s what ritual spells are. Casting other spells without a slot would make an already powerful class even stronger. They could just upcast fly on the whole party all the time or other long duration buffs. Resource management is a critical part of the game.
The spells they gain at level up are the ones they’ve been experimenting to develop and replicate. That’s the whole point of the spells at level up. Gaining more beyond that has always been an option at DM’s discretion.
The rules for creating a new spell have been in the DMG since it was published. And they’re not at the mercy of the loot table, they’re at the mercy of the DM, who can and should choose to ignore or override the loot table.
I don't think he is saying the wizard is underpowered in the sense that it is less powerful that other classes (they said it has arguably been overtaken).
I only came to D&D in 5e so don't know about previous versions but there is general consensus that wizards are the most powerful class in 2014PHB. From what I have seen of the 2024 PHB other spellcasters have caught up and the classes are better balanced. My understanding is the OP wants wizards to more powerful than other classes and is proposing ways to make wizards clearly more powerful than Sorcerers, Bards and the rest.
What I don't know is why, maybe they are trolling but I am all for balanced classes.
First, it’s kind of hard to imagine someone actually suggesting a wizard is underpowered.
Never mentioned that the Wizard was underpowered. I said that the class/job has been nerfed and other other classes buffed to the point that the wizard's place as the uncontested"master of magic" is arguably overtaken by other classes.
They can cast unprepared spells out of combat. That’s what ritual spells are. Casting other spells without a slot would make an already powerful class even stronger. They could just upcast fly on the whole party all the time or other long duration buffs. Resource management is a critical part of the game.
Clarification: The ability to cast known un-prepared, non-ritual spells while expending spell slots is what I'm after. Making an already powerful class even more powerful - you mean like what they did to the cleric and warlock? Every class can get a powerup. . The upcast flying all the time - miscommunication, refer to clarification.
Re: resource management - I agree, resource management is a critical part of the game yet most of other classes come with "always prepared" spells. According to the WOTC's D&D Wizard class Youtube video - the 2024 PHB adds school specific spells depending on your Wizard's subclass to it's spell book which still needs to be prepared (AFAIK - still don't have access to the 2024 PHB at this stage).
The spells they gain at level up are the ones they’ve been experimenting to develop and replicate. That’s the whole point of the spells at level up. Gaining more beyond that has always been an option at DM’s discretion.
That's the point I'm making. The current rules are limiting the Wizard's class. Cleric and Druid's "spells known" is their level relevant "spell list" from the get go. Wizards spells known are restricted to a 2 new spells at level up (not counting the new school specific spells from 2024 PHB) without the benefit of meta magic like the sorcerer. Is there ANY game that you've played in where the Wizard's spells known table is larger than the cleric's or druid's?
The 2024 Wizard's level 5 feature "Memorize Spell" is along the line of what I want but instead of having to lock in a prepared spell I wish that it just allows for any non-prepped spell to be able to be casted once for each use of the feature. You still expend a spell slot but just not having to locked in a prepare list which is unfortunately what the 2024 PHB feature is doing.
The rules for creating a new spell have been in the DMG since it was published. And they’re not at the mercy of the loot table, they’re at the mercy of the DM, who can and should choose to ignore or override the loot table.
The "at the mercy of the DM" has been omitted as "everything" is at the mercy of the DM. It goes without saying - like buying a car: you don't ask if it comes with wheels. The point I'm making is that the DM that doesn't want to override or come up with their own rewards often refer to *drum roll* the loot table!
wizard is quite powerful on paper when you don't assume ANY limitations. Infinite money and access to buy all spells (rare or never). A single encounter with all spells where the wizard magically knew exactly what spells to prepare, things like that.
Imagine if paladins had to spend half thier money to be able to smite? No other class has to choose between buying spells or gear (if the dm even allows it). If you want an op caster, look at sorcerers now. If the dm isn't making exceptions to support the wizard, a sorcerer will have more useful spells known until the end of tier 2 or so.
TLDR Version:
Give Wizards the ability to cast un-prepared spells but only out of combat
Give Wizards an additional means to gain new spells outside of level up and finding/obtaining scrolls.
Long Version:
Throughout the iterations of D&D the Magic User (that's old timey for "Wizards") has always been touted as the "Master of the Arcane" and are portrayed (often comedically) as being one of, if not THE squashiest classes to play. Current 5e did a great job of revitalising the class and the blessing of of having selected prepared spells sharing the same pool of spell slots was an absolute banger for players that had to dedicate a spell slot for a specific spell (that's 2nd edition by the way).
However Wizards has been more or less stagnant in terms of power level in the decade after 5e release and the release of D&D 2024 was the Wizard class was arguably overtaken by other spellcasters with it being nerfed and other spell casters either unaffected or buffed. It "feels" like Wizards has become one of those cheesy commercials that shows the actors doing over the top things but the product the commercial is just a different brand of chips (crisps for those in the UK) - what a let-down.
How then can we make Wizards reign supreme without going off theme?
1. Grant the Wizard the ability to cast known unprepared spells out of combat.
In the heat of battle - what you prepared is what you get. But when you're in exploration mode? Surely the Wizard has enough time to open his tome/Grimoire to find that oh so often un-prepped knock spell, refreshing his memory and cast it? Not asking for reaction spells to be included but spells that takes an action or longer to be able to be cast without prep and outside combat. It suits thematically. Unlike the Sorcerer that gets their power from their lineage and talent or the cleric with their connection to their Deity - the Wizard has to manipulate the weave based on their understanding. Why can't they do that when they literally have hand written manuals based off their own head lingo in front of them?
2. Give Wizards an additional means to gain new spells outside of level up and finding/obtaining scrolls.
Going hard again with the theme. Wizards are not conduits of another entity's power nor did they won the genetic lottery. They experiment, decipher and perfect their magic down to a science. Why then are they restricted to what is gatekept behind level up and the mercy of the loot table? Does it not make sense that with enough time/resource that the Wizard could replicate the spells known in the world and invent new ones?
Not bashing the current rules, it's just that the Wizard is limited by the number of spells chosen at level ups and (at the same time) at the mercy of loot tables to make use of their large selection of spells in their spell list. Wizard tomes/Grimoires are supposed to be thicc not magazine sized.
First, it’s kind of hard to imagine someone actually suggesting a wizard is underpowered. Second, they already do what you want them to do.
They can cast unprepared spells out of combat. That’s what ritual spells are. Casting other spells without a slot would make an already powerful class even stronger. They could just upcast fly on the whole party all the time or other long duration buffs. Resource management is a critical part of the game.
The spells they gain at level up are the ones they’ve been experimenting to develop and replicate. That’s the whole point of the spells at level up. Gaining more beyond that has always been an option at DM’s discretion.
The rules for creating a new spell have been in the DMG since it was published.
And they’re not at the mercy of the loot table, they’re at the mercy of the DM, who can and should choose to ignore or override the loot table.
I don't think he is saying the wizard is underpowered in the sense that it is less powerful that other classes (they said it has arguably been overtaken).
I only came to D&D in 5e so don't know about previous versions but there is general consensus that wizards are the most powerful class in 2014PHB. From what I have seen of the 2024 PHB other spellcasters have caught up and the classes are better balanced. My understanding is the OP wants wizards to more powerful than other classes and is proposing ways to make wizards clearly more powerful than Sorcerers, Bards and the rest.
What I don't know is why, maybe they are trolling but I am all for balanced classes.
Never mentioned that the Wizard was underpowered. I said that the class/job has been nerfed and other other classes buffed to the point that the wizard's place as the uncontested "master of magic" is arguably overtaken by other classes.
Clarification: The ability to cast known un-prepared, non-ritual spells while expending spell slots is what I'm after.
Making an already powerful class even more powerful - you mean like what they did to the cleric and warlock? Every class can get a powerup. .
The upcast flying all the time - miscommunication, refer to clarification.
Re: resource management - I agree, resource management is a critical part of the game yet most of other classes come with "always prepared" spells. According to the WOTC's D&D Wizard class Youtube video - the 2024 PHB adds school specific spells depending on your Wizard's subclass to it's spell book which still needs to be prepared (AFAIK - still don't have access to the 2024 PHB at this stage).
That's the point I'm making. The current rules are limiting the Wizard's class.
Cleric and Druid's "spells known" is their level relevant "spell list" from the get go. Wizards spells known are restricted to a 2 new spells at level up (not counting the new school specific spells from 2024 PHB) without the benefit of meta magic like the sorcerer. Is there ANY game that you've played in where the Wizard's spells known table is larger than the cleric's or druid's?
The 2024 Wizard's level 5 feature "Memorize Spell" is along the line of what I want but instead of having to lock in a prepared spell I wish that it just allows for any non-prepped spell to be able to be casted once for each use of the feature. You still expend a spell slot but just not having to locked in a prepare list which is unfortunately what the 2024 PHB feature is doing.
The "at the mercy of the DM" has been omitted as "everything" is at the mercy of the DM. It goes without saying - like buying a car: you don't ask if it comes with wheels.
The point I'm making is that the DM that doesn't want to override or come up with their own rewards often refer to *drum roll* the loot table!
wizard is quite powerful on paper when you don't assume ANY limitations. Infinite money and access to buy all spells (rare or never). A single encounter with all spells where the wizard magically knew exactly what spells to prepare, things like that.
Imagine if paladins had to spend half thier money to be able to smite? No other class has to choose between buying spells or gear (if the dm even allows it). If you want an op caster, look at sorcerers now. If the dm isn't making exceptions to support the wizard, a sorcerer will have more useful spells known until the end of tier 2 or so.
I love this idea! I am going to see if my DM will let me use this.
- Igglywiv the Wizard
I played every class, now playing every sub-class.
You would not believe how much ADHD helps with creating campaigns!
Happy Pride Month!