Mantle Erudite vs. Spontaneous-variant Druid

[Vrock_Summoner]

Which is a more effective character for overcoming the challenges one would expect them to overcome? Which one is better at adapting to curveballs? And for kicks and giggles, which one would win in a fight at levels 5, 10, and 20?

The Mantled Erudite (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a) vs. the Spontaneous Divine Caster variant of Druid (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/spontaneousDivineCasters.htm). Begin!

[Komatik]

Which is a more effective character for overcoming the challenges one would expect them to overcome? Which one is better at adapting to curveballs? And for kicks and giggles, which one would win in a fight at levels 5, 10, and 20?

The Mantled Erudite (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070629a) vs. the Spontaneous Divine Caster variant of Druid (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/spontaneousDivineCasters.htm). Begin!

I would imagine a hell of a lot depends on whether the Erudite gets 1-11 UP/D or 1-99 UP/D, and stuff like book access (liberal UP/D interpretation + PP recharge => goodbye problems. But SNA does that pretty damn well too...)

[TrueJordan]

If you're trying to make a more powerful druid using variants, consider the point-buy spell system, it's pretty great.

And to answer your question, at later levels at least and with the normal optimized equipment, the answer is 'whoever wins initiative.'

[Vrock_Summoner]

If you're trying to make a more powerful druid using variants, consider the point-buy spell system, it's pretty great.

And to answer your question, at later levels at least and with the normal optimized equipment, the answer is 'whoever wins initiative.'

Oh, no. The Druid using the Spontaneous Divine Caster variant is meant to be a limiter, not a boost. Spontaneous Druid is T2, like the Mantled Erudite.

I'm not much of a "RAW vs RAI" guy but just use whichever reading of the erudite's Unique Powers per Day happens to serve your argument best at the moment.