Quote Originally Posted by Cheesegear View Post
The magic system needs to be neutered. First thing that needs to done is to hard limit each individual character to particular schools of magic, so that spellcasters can do anything, but they can't do everything.
Schools of magic are a horrible way to balance anything, as I've discovered. They're already so far out of balance as to be meaningless.

I think there's even a threshold question before that--

What shouldn't spells be able to do at all? Ie what are the limits of magic?

Because if the answer is "within D&D's magic system, there is nothing you can't write a spell to do, then you're fighting a losing battle here. It is impossible to balance "can only do a few things" against "can do anything". Unless, of course, you make everyone spell casters. Which is an option, of course, but not one that would get widespread acceptance. Because, in essence, that's what 4e did. Those "powers"? Those are more similar to spells (minus the 9-level system) than they are to how martials played before. Individual, self-contained units that have a specific effect, often supernatural in nature. That's a spell, just without the wording.

As it stands, there isn't any room for "you need to do that with mundane means". Everything that can be done mundanely can be done as easily, usually more powerfully, and certainly more reliably by a spell. And if there isn't an exact spell yet--just wait. Each new book brings dozens of new spells. Spellcasters all get new options, often without even leveling up, whenever a new book is published. Non-casters (and non-casting options)? No. Usually only at most a feat. Or something where they'd have to take a new subclass.