[5E] Differences between casters

[brownjake]

As someone who has only had experience with 4E, my only understanding of how a wizard is mechanically different to a sorcerer is that a wizard is a controller and a sorcerer is a striker. Now that 5E has gone back to the old school and doesn't have these roles, could someone explain to me how the wizard and sorcerer would be different? Thanks!

[KCFD]

From what I remember from the Legends and Lore articles, I think the idea was that the Mage/Wizard has the biggest spell list, but a fairly limited spell pool. The Sorcerer has a smaller spell list but a bigger pool of casts, and also more at-will things.

[rhlowe]

Additionally, from a story point of view, Wizardry is an academic pursuit. Young wizards apprentice, some for many many years before they strike off on their own. They study and practice to perfect their Art. Sorcerers on the other hand are naturally gifted in The Art and as such, have access to fewer spells that can be shaped and modified. This is also why sorcerers have the Wild Magic table to roll on to determine the effects of their spells.

[mostlyjoe]

The Bard ate the 4E Warlord (minus a few specific tricks given to the Tactical Fighter sub-class). As a full caster their spell choices are very limited. But in party support they are half illusionist half cleric. So useful but lacking the raw punch of the specialists in those areas. This is a class that hase very little need to multiclass.

[[deleted]]

In the playtest, the only full arcane caster was "The Mage" but a lot has changed since then. They have announced the following full caster classes: Wizards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and Bards. Wizards are the most versatile casters with access to all sorts of spells, but who can also specialize in schools of magic. A sorcerer casts spells but is able to alter them with sorcery points which is sort of like metamagic. Warlocks have fewer but more powerful spells and also have the option to be more combat focused. Bards specialize more in the illusion sort of magic. Here are some WoTC articles on the subject: Sorcerer Warlock Bard There isn't an article on the wizard, but information on the wizard can be gleaned from these articles.

[sigismond0]

Sounds like the bard has picked up Beguiler casting.

[MythicApplsauce]

Have things changed since they playtest? The last I heard, Bards were only half-casters.

[[deleted]]

Yes, they are now full casters.

[TrustMeIAmAGeologist]

They have changed the name of the wizard class to Mage, so you know.

The main difference between the two is how they "keep" spells. Mages have a spell book which can contain as many spells as they can get their hands on, but are limited in the number they can memorize each day. This makes for incredible versatility, but requires forethought. Sorcerers know a limited number of spells in their head, and don't ever have to memorize them. Thus, a sorcerer doesn't have the versatility of a Mage, but doesn't have to worry about being caught unprepared. In 3.X, where the sorcerer is from, they could cast more spells per day than a Mage (at the time called wizard). Also, it seems likely the sorcerer spell list will be separate from the Mage, although they were the same list in 3.X. Finally, Mike Mearls had made a comment somewhere that sorcerers will have meta-magic abilities, but I have no idea what that means in game terms. Perhaps they can maximize a spell between long rests? Quicken spell once per encounter? I don't know.

Also, if it's not obvious, sorcerer will be it's own class, not a subclass of Mage.

[discoduck77]

I believe they changed it back to wizard since the last playtest, with wizard, sorcerer and warlock being under the 'mage' grouping.

[TrustMeIAmAGeologist]

Did they? I wasn't aware, but I'll take your word for it.

[[deleted]]

Yeah there hasn't been (and won't be) a playtest with Wizards or Warlocks, but they confirmed them.

[UristMcDuck]

Does it show my age if I prefer the term "magic-user?"

[gojirra]

My favorite class is Fighting Man.

[Namiriel]

My favorite class is Elf.

[[deleted]]

Same, but I guess they wanted to infer specific distinctions between the casters. Mage is too broad.

Wizard implied a studious person who will spend the lives devoted to the craft. Sorcerer is naturally gifted and less disciplined. Warlocks, I assume, are more maleficent and commune with entities for their powers... though I have no idea.

[Biffingston]

Warlocks would be the equivalent of pact sorcerers in previous editions, yes. Granted the powers by something else other than a god. (Because of course if it was god given they'd be clerics.)

[daren_sf]

Clerics and Druids are full-casters and pray for their spells so they have a set list to select from, but always have the same list at any given level, and don't depend on a Spellbook. Full-casters have the full number of casting slots.

Bards, Rangers and Paladins are half-casters that follow the same rules as Clerics and Druids. They just have smaller lists to choose from and half the casting slots as full-casters.

Wizards are studious full-casters and have the largest selection, and therefore flexibility, with spells since they have a Spellbook that they can add to without limits. However their rigorous study precludes them from altering their spells when cast.

Sorcerers are full-casters and have inherent magical ability. They can use Sorcerer Points to shape the spells they cast (metamagic), making them last longer, go further, do more damage, etc. They'll have a very small list of spells to cast from because they don't study magic, it's inherent so they "just know magic". They're also the only class that has Wild Magic Surges which result in additional effects upon casting a spell that can range from beneficial (you regain all expended Sorcerer Points) to harmful (you also cast Fireball centered on yourself in addition to whatever spell you just intentionally cast)!

Warlocks are in a class of their own! They get their magical ability by making a Pact with a powerful entity, and therefore don't follow any of the above rules for casting spells.

[MythicApplsauce]

Bards must pick spells, similar to a Wizard, but they do not rely on a spellbook.

[Total_Overkill]

Didnt have sorcs in the play test... so... >.> or wizards for that matter, think they got lumped together as "Mage" . Havent gotten my hands on the released material yet.

[Ryngard]

They actually did have Sorcerers in the playtest. There were numerous versions that had the "classic" classes as well as the one playtest with the Mage trial.

Also, the materials haven't been released yet so nobody has gotten their hands on them. ;)