How much are spells, a class feature?

[CyberThread]

Many a prc suck, but still get spells; I would like to ask folks, what they feel about spells as class features, do they make up much for PRC'sthat suck as far as features go?

[AmberVael]

You can make a potent, tier 2 character out of a level 20 Sorcerer- Sorcerer gets no features besides spells after level 1.

In short, so long as you're getting spells everything else is really just icing. Given that most heavy spellcasting classes don't have significant features beyond spells, a prestige class that fully advances casting and gives something else is generally just handing extras to casters.

So... really, advancing spellcasting doesn't have to make up for anything. It's the other features that have to make up for losing any spellcasting.