I’m looking for a full spellcasting class that just feels like a caster. I know it’s dumb, but I just can’t pick one. Also I would prefer not a wizard, as I’ve played them a lot, but if it’s a cool build I’ll consider it. Just to be clear: I’m not looking for flavor, I’m looking for optimization and play style.
I would 100% recommend wiza.... Oh, wait. Guess not.
Other than wizard the only other class to me that feels like a "full" caster is sorcerer. Adding in reliance on powers from gods or nature can be loads of fun but it takes some of the focus off "casting" while bards clearly have the jack of all trades thing going on.
I have no idea what you're asking for. A full caster whose mechanics... feel like those of a full caster? A class that plays like the thing it is, which is a full caster??
Are you saying like, the Druid doesn't appeal to you because it comes packaged with Wild Shape which doesn't have anything to do with casting spells?
There isn't any class that only has spellcasting. The Wizard is as close as you're gonna get. The Fiend, Great Old One, and Undying Warlock subclasses could each be put together in a way that keeps the non-spellcasting stuff to a bare minimum, I guess. Like only take the Pact of the Tome and invocations that let you cast more spells?
I’m looking for a full spellcasting class that just feels like a caster. I know it’s dumb, but I just can’t pick one. Also I would prefer not a wizard, as I’ve played them a lot, but if it’s a cool build I’ll consider it. Just to be clear: I’m not looking for flavor, I’m looking for optimization and play style.
We need a bit more to go on than "not wizard." What kind of spells are you looking for? What broad role are you looking to fill (e.g. control, blasting, healing, utility, summoning...?) Non-spell features? Who else is in the party, especially other casters? What race(s) are you interested in? What kinds of enemies do you expect to face? Etc.
I like Aberrant Mind sorcerer flavored as a psionic. Rather than using magic they are assaulting and influencing others via the powers of their mind. Telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis, etc. The expanded spell list gives them a lot more versatility than other sorcerers.
I think the sorcerer is a lot of fun. Metamagic lets you do some cool shenanigans with your spells, and a lot of the new subclasses have really interesting thematic abilities. Or if you wanted to go basic, even Wild Magic is still fun as long as you have a DM who understands and is willing to work with you for Tides of Chaos.
Basically the only wrong answer with the sorcerer is Draconic, and that's less that it's bad and more that it's boring.
The other party members are a bard, a really fast monk, a artificer/druid, and a warlock. Lots of utility and healing, not a lot of damage, a super charismatic warforged.
Not sure how artificer/druid is supposed to work... If they're trying for Armorer/Moon druid to wear their armor while wildshaped, I hope you guys have discussed it and agreed on a ruling ahead of time because it's fairly dodgy (we've had several multi-page arguments about it here and there) and if it doesn't work the combo doesn't have much else to offer.
But anyway, it sounds like you want to be a sorcerer. But some clerics and druids also minimize their use of melee/wildshape which might make them feel un-caster-ly?
The Druid/artificer build is a mess, it’s mostly for flavor. Which sorcerer, cleric, and Druid subclasses would you recommend?
For sorcerer, any subclass feels like a "caster" since the main class is as "caster" as you get. Each subclass can change how you specialize your sorcerer, since sorcerers are more focused on specializing, compared to the generalist wizards.
For cleric I'd say Tempest might fit what you've described well in this thread for what you might want since you can get burst damage from it
For druid, I'd say stars, since it's the subclass which most moves away from the usage of Wild Shape in favor of Starry Form, which allows you to buff a variety of the druid's possible playstyles
(Mostly) kidding aside, that would put me closer to Cleric so that you can help shore up the defensive line while bringing spells the others can't supply. Forge or Twilight would be solid options here.
I’m looking for a full spellcasting class that just feels like a caster. I know it’s dumb, but I just can’t pick one. Also I would prefer not a wizard, as I’ve played them a lot, but if it’s a cool build I’ll consider it. Just to be clear: I’m not looking for flavor, I’m looking for optimization and play style.
I would 100% recommend wiza.... Oh, wait. Guess not.
Other than wizard the only other class to me that feels like a "full" caster is sorcerer. Adding in reliance on powers from gods or nature can be loads of fun but it takes some of the focus off "casting" while bards clearly have the jack of all trades thing going on.
Take a long look at the cleric. So many build options and at least an equal number of play styles just in picking a domain.
I have no idea what you're asking for. A full caster whose mechanics... feel like those of a full caster? A class that plays like the thing it is, which is a full caster??
Are you saying like, the Druid doesn't appeal to you because it comes packaged with Wild Shape which doesn't have anything to do with casting spells?
There isn't any class that only has spellcasting. The Wizard is as close as you're gonna get. The Fiend, Great Old One, and Undying Warlock subclasses could each be put together in a way that keeps the non-spellcasting stuff to a bare minimum, I guess. Like only take the Pact of the Tome and invocations that let you cast more spells?
We need a bit more to go on than "not wizard." What kind of spells are you looking for? What broad role are you looking to fill (e.g. control, blasting, healing, utility, summoning...?) Non-spell features? Who else is in the party, especially other casters? What race(s) are you interested in? What kinds of enemies do you expect to face? Etc.
I like Aberrant Mind sorcerer flavored as a psionic. Rather than using magic they are assaulting and influencing others via the powers of their mind. Telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis, etc. The expanded spell list gives them a lot more versatility than other sorcerers.
Control and damage
I think the sorcerer is a lot of fun. Metamagic lets you do some cool shenanigans with your spells, and a lot of the new subclasses have really interesting thematic abilities. Or if you wanted to go basic, even Wild Magic is still fun as long as you have a DM who understands and is willing to work with you for Tides of Chaos.
Basically the only wrong answer with the sorcerer is Draconic, and that's less that it's bad and more that it's boring.
The other party members are a bard, a really fast monk, a artificer/druid, and a warlock. Lots of utility and healing, not a lot of damage, a super charismatic warforged.
Not sure how artificer/druid is supposed to work... If they're trying for Armorer/Moon druid to wear their armor while wildshaped, I hope you guys have discussed it and agreed on a ruling ahead of time because it's fairly dodgy (we've had several multi-page arguments about it here and there) and if it doesn't work the combo doesn't have much else to offer.
But anyway, it sounds like you want to be a sorcerer. But some clerics and druids also minimize their use of melee/wildshape which might make them feel un-caster-ly?
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I would go either Sorcerer or Cleric with that party setup. Who is your frontliner?
The Monk
The Druid/artificer build is a mess, it’s mostly for flavor. Which sorcerer, cleric, and Druid subclasses would you recommend?
For sorcerer, any subclass feels like a "caster" since the main class is as "caster" as you get. Each subclass can change how you specialize your sorcerer, since sorcerers are more focused on specializing, compared to the generalist wizards.
For cleric I'd say Tempest might fit what you've described well in this thread for what you might want since you can get burst damage from it
For druid, I'd say stars, since it's the subclass which most moves away from the usage of Wild Shape in favor of Starry Form, which allows you to buff a variety of the druid's possible playstyles
What do you think about the idea of a coffeelock? 2 mixed casters, infinite spells.
I wouldn't suggest a cheese build in a party where one player's clearly playing a suboptimal multiclass.
No seriously, who is your frontliner? 😛
(Mostly) kidding aside, that would put me closer to Cleric so that you can help shore up the defensive line while bringing spells the others can't supply. Forge or Twilight would be solid options here.
What about aspect of the moon?
Take a Graviturgy Wizard + Metamagic Feat, that's all you need.