How do sorcerers differ from wizards?

[Quadsword]

(Assuming the sorcerer class is included)

I get that a sorcerer's magic abilities are inherent rather than learned (in fact, their description sounds a lot like how Sourcery in the Divinity universe works), but what exactly sets them apart from wizards in gameplay?

[Hobocop]

They use Charisma as a casting stat, and have access to sorcery points, which is a wellspring of magic within themselves that they can use to apply metamagic to their limited spells known.

They can also convert sorcery points into spell slots and vice versa.

So, in concept, they can do things with their spells that nobody else can through metamagic, and also are potentially able to use said spells more often than most.

Starting with Constitution save proficiency is also a nice bonus.

[Eguzky]

I believe Sorcerers learn spells as they level up, and have more Spells Per Day, but only know <x> spells per level. No extras.
But Wizards have a spellbook, so they may have 3 readies spells, but each day, they can go through their spellbook and ready different spells, where Sorcerers would have the same spells day after day.

Plus, Wizards can take spell scrolls and scribe the spells into it, giving them MORE options at the start of every morning.

So basically Sorcs can cast more, but Wizards will have more options.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Opossum]

because of 5e changes to prepared caster the differences are more minor.
Basically Soccerer gets most spells per day but they only know spells while Wizards have to prepare spells which can give them less known but can more easily be changed out. Because the changes to prepared casting though works off spell slots not # of X spell the sorcerer which used to be a more versitile in combat is now a more of a more spell casts. However the class feats the Sorcerer can do a LOT of really cool things with Sorcery points and Metamagic

[Smugass Braixen-Chan]

Wizard: I can learn every single arcane spell in the world!

Sorcerer: *Shoots 21 fireballs at the wizard*

[Pozhinateli]

Once upon a time some idiot was not able to accept concept the spells can be casted only by intelligence. So created concept that will please the mob. That is how borned a mage that can be dumb, does not need to prepare speels and can spam it.

[Smugass Braixen-Chan]

Originally posted by Pozhinateli:

Once upon a time some idiot was not able to accept concept the spells can be casted only by intelligence. So created concept that will please the mob. That is how borned a mage that can be dumb, does not need to prepare speels and can spam it.

Sounds like somebody wants to be shot by 21 fireballs

[RocketMan]

So wizards are just warlocks.

Seems like 5e really favors charisma builds.

[Opossum]

Originally posted by Mail me to the Moon:

So wizards are just warlocks.

Seems like 5e really favors charisma builds.

na warlocks are soccerers who use 1 spell mostly, basically no spell slots but they come back after a short rest

[RocketMan]

Originally posted by Tesla:

Originally posted by Mail me to the Moon:

So wizards are just warlocks.

Seems like 5e really favors charisma builds.

na warlocks are soccerers who use 1 spell mostly, basically no spell slots but they come back after a short rest

who needs spells when you have eldritch blast!

[Smugass Braixen-Chan]

In seriousness.

I'd say 5e Sorcerers have the following advantages over 5e Wizards

• Sorcery Points can be used to restore Spell Slots (which are used to cast spells) up to Lvl. 5 spells
  
• Metamagic, which allows you to alter the effects of certain spells. (Wizards do get Spell School Specialization, but those abilities only work on the specific spell school, and you gain them in a specific order as you level up. Where as you choose Metamagic and you can use them on most spells)
  
• Cantrips. Sorcerers know more Cantrips than Wizards. This can actually be pretty useful, especially at lower levels.
  
• Charisma Based Spellcasting. Synergizes well with certain other classes, (Make a Sorcerer/Bard if you want more cantrips than what you can fit on your character sheet, or a Sorcerer/Paladin if you want to go full-on Gish, or a Sorcerer/Bard/Paladin if you want everybody else at the table to hate you) if you're interested in multi-classing, and also all the talky Role-Play skills (Persuasion, Deception and Intimidate) all run off Charisma. Intelligence, on the other hand, will most likely be the dump stat for everybody who isn't a Wizard.
  
• The Sorcerer's Level 20 Captstone ability allows them to restore 4 Sorcery Points on a short rest. Sorcery Points are used to restore Spell
  
  In other words
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_DqV1xdf-Y

The pay off is that you have a VERY limited number of spells, compared to the Wizard (You can cast ALL the spells that you know, but a Wizard can just memorize more spells than you know...)

So the Sorcerer has to focus on learning spells that they will use all the time (Like Fireball) where as a Wizard can afford to have a lot more situational utility spells that they might only ever use once in an entire campaign.

Honesty, as much as I love the Sorcerer. I would generally recommend going Wizard unless you know EXACTLY how you plan to take advantage of the Sorcerer's kit.

[Opossum]

Originally posted by Smugass Braixen-Chan:

In seriousness.

I'd say 5e Sorcerers have the following advantages over 5e Wizards

• Sorcery Points can be used to restore Spell Slots (which are used to cast spells) up to Lvl. 5 spells
  
• Metamagic, which allows you to alter the effects of certain spells. (Wizards do get Spell School Specialization, but those abilities only work on the specific spell school, and you gain them in a specific order as you level up. Where as you choose Metamagic and you can use them on most spells)
  
• Cantrips. Sorcerers know more Cantrips than Wizards. This can actually be pretty useful, especially at lower levels.
  
• Charisma Based Spellcasting. Synergizes well with certain other classes, (Make a Sorcerer/Bard if you want more cantrips than what you can fit on your character sheet, or a Sorcerer/Paladin if you want to go full-on Gish, or a Sorcerer/Bard/Paladin if you want everybody else at the table to hate you) if you're interested in multi-classing, and also all the talky Role-Play skills (Persuasion, Deception and Intimidate) all run off Charisma. Intelligence, on the other hand, will most likely be the dump stat for everybody who isn't a Wizard.
  
• The Sorcerer's Level 20 Captstone ability allows them to restore 4 Sorcery Points on a short rest. Sorcery Points are used to restore Spell
  
  In other words
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_DqV1xdf-Y

The pay off is that you have a VERY limited number of spells, compared to the Wizard (You can cast ALL the spells that you know, but a Wizard can just memorize more spells than you know...)

So the Sorcerer has to focus on learning spells that they will use all the time (Like Fireball) where as a Wizard can afford to have a lot more situational utility spells that they might only ever use once in an entire campaign.

Honesty, as much as I love the Sorcerer. I would generally recommend going Wizard unless you know EXACTLY how you plan to take advantage of the Sorcerer's kit.

Really good breakdown but would also add for the end. we dont know how much those utlity skills are going to come into play in BG3 so being versitile may not be great . Capstone wont be there sadly so Warlock will be the king of the short rest (espically how BG3 is doing short rests)

[Dragon Master]

It's really simple.

It comes down to a competition between Tiberius Stormwind and Caleb Penterghast. One will fireball you forever and the other will use his transumtation stone to run away and cheese you with fire spells and cat paws.

[Dr.Gloom]

Wiz VS Sorc debate Simply put:

*Wizards, utility casters, jack of all trades, INT based spell casting, they can specialize in a school of magic, not sure if this is the case in 5e, but they are not very good for multiclassing, it is always better to go pure Wiz they are one of the most versatile classes in the game imo.

*Sorcerers, specialized casters, a limited number of spells they can learn, CHR based spell casting, they are very good for multiclassing. If you don't know what you are doing, go Wiz.

[Space Dog]

Sorcerer seems really forced as a class after Wizards became more flexible in 5e. They should've just merged Sorcerer with Warlock for the natural / demonic / draconic type of spell caster.

The one thing Sorcerers do have, metamagic, also seems conceptually more like a Wizard / science thing to do, altering the spell formulas. So imo that's a miss, too.

So instead of arbitrarily juggling some spell casting traits back and forth between three arcane classes.. just get rid of one already.

[Coldhands]

Originally posted by Space Dog:

Sorcerer seems really forced as a class after Wizards became more flexible in 5e. They should've just merged Sorcerer with Warlock for the natural / demonic / draconic type of spell caster.

The one thing Sorcerers do have, metamagic, also seems conceptually more like a Wizard / science thing to do, altering the spell formulas. So imo that's a miss, too.

So instead of arbitrarily juggling some spell casting traits back and forth between three arcane classes.. just get rid of one already.

5e Wizards and Sorcerers seem like WotC saying, "Well, we've always had these classes. That's how we've always done it in past editions, so we're not going to worry about whether its the right call for this new one."
There's a fair amount of that in 5e, really.