Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 holiday_hawk Feb 02, 2015 12:07:55	I never really play as a magic-heavy character, but I'm thinking about doing a one next time I'm a PC instead of the DM. I've been looking over the rules (5e) and I notice that the druid is free to change their spells anytime they long rest, while a wizard has only the spells they've copied into their spellbook. Someone I play with once played as a druid and it did seem nifty that she was able to change her spells depending on what she thought we would be up against. So, what's the defense of the wizard? Are their spells just that much more powerful? Do their sub-classes give them a much better bonus than the druid's? Can someone sell my the wizard over the druid?
#2 slumgum Feb 02, 2015 12:28:13	Both classes have to prepare a spell list every day, and it is possible for a wizard to obtain every wizard spell (this really depends on the DM).  Even without a DM that makes spell scrolls readily available you get 2 spells per level up, and your spell prepared list is equal to your INT mod + Wizard level... which makes it obvious even with extremely high INT you will have more spells in your book than you can prepare for a day.   The spell lists between druids and wizards have some overlap, but there very greatly overall.  Wizards are much better at damage and have more varied control spells.   The druid class is split into two subclasses, Druids of the Moon who focus on shapeshifting, and Druids of the Land who focus on spellcasting.  Druids of the land also have a specializing based on region (Swamp, Plains, etc).  But these specializations don't really change the druid very much.  Wizard subclasses on the otherhand shape the class significantly.  An Illusionist won't play like a Transmuter, etc.    But despite these points I'm not trying to sell wizard over druid.  They're both really fun.
#3 holiday_hawk Feb 02, 2015 14:46:20	I guess what I saw as a HUGE advantage of the druid class is that they have their entire spell list available to them everytime they long rest, but a wizard who can't find spell scrolls might have a small pool of total spells to select from.
#4 Tempest_Stormwind Feb 02, 2015 15:04:58	holiday_hawk wrote:
#5 Ashrym Feb 02, 2015 19:02:35	The ritual casting feature on a wizard is much better than a druid, and the wizard tradition features work better with the spells cast on top of the range of available spells.
#6 mellored Feb 03, 2015 6:02:23	Wizards are more about utility (including ritual casting). Druids are more about control (and healing).   Though there's plenty of overlap.
#7 QwertyAzerty Feb 03, 2015 10:48:19	comparing druid and wizard is like comparing a defender build fighter to a offense build barbarian, yes they work in a similar fashion, but there function are completly different and cannot be compared.   The wizard have to be a full spell caster (no real melee option without multiclassing) then you can take spell with a wide array of versatility: single target damage, AoE damage, spell against AC, against all 6 different save (strenght, dex, Con, Int, Wis and Cha, control spell, buff spell, but NO HEALING spell.   While the druid is a able to go in melee combat without multiclassing (specially moon druid) they are very limited in offensive spells at low level they have almost no offensive spell. (comparing call lightning to lightning bolt, moonbeam to scorchiing ray ect...) but the druid got healing spell that the wizard will NEVER get. Druid got a lot more support and control spell.  The ddruid can be a extremly good controller castig his spell, then cast some buff spell on himself and wildshape and becoming an extremly powerfull martial character.   Then the wizard sub class add a total new light on the wizard class, making each sub class unique.   While the druid moon circle sub class make it overpowered and the land circle is negligeable (land druid is suppose to be the full spellcaster sub class, but even land druid still take moon druid because they gain versatility while sacrificing nothing (since the land circle is almost empty, void, blah.
(Reply to #7) Ashrym	QwertyAzerty wrote:
#9 Saelorn Feb 03, 2015 15:09:55	holiday_hawk wrote:
#10 mellored Feb 03, 2015 15:25:08	Wizards have a larger spell list.  With more types of spells to chose from.
#11 WizardV Feb 04, 2015 1:05:16	The feedback I have often seen of druids is that they are one of the strongest low level characters in the game. Especially moon druids. Wizards by contrast, both historically and in this edition become immensely powerful late in the game.   Playing either well requires you to study the spell list and synergize your choices with your party composition.
#12 Kennethray Feb 05, 2015 9:31:40	I would suggest figuring out what you would want your charc to do. You can then look at the Druids abilities and spells vs the wizards and decide which one fits that idea better. They are both great charcs and each give bonus to certain aspects of their build.   My way of going about it is diffrent though. I think of a charc concept, like how am I, where did I come from, what are my likes/dislikes, what do I want and how am I willing to get it? Then I build from there picking my Race, Class, Features etc that fit with that idea. But that is just me. K-Ray