What are the relative power scales of the different class spell lists?

[Mok]

One of the more nuanced elements of the system is that the class spell lists are not all created equal. Each class has a list that is tailored to the class, both in terms of content but also in quantity of spells.

In the core book the quantities are:

Bard 164
Cleric 233
Druid 169
Paladin 43
Ranger 51
Wizard/Sorcerer 388

And of course part of that is the difference in how many spell levels the class gets. The nine level casters have 388/233/169, while the six level caster gets 164, meanwhile the four level classes have 43/51.

However, just looking at the full casters there is a huge volume disparity, which is definitely going to be playing into the overall value of the class spell list.

I guess what I'm interested in hearing is less in the "quantity" factor, and more in the "quality" factor. Druid spells are focused on a specific theme, and tend towards buffing/controlling and less on raw attack power. Meanwhile the Wizard list has an abundance of ways to cause a bad day to someone.

Has anyone looked at this in detail?

[Stabbington P. Carvesworthy]

A lot of this disparity, I think, comes from other options available. For the most part, all arcane casters get are their spells. Sure they get some other utilitarian things, but nothing terribly impressive. Other casting classes, on the other hand, get a multitude of other things that they can do. Referring specifically to the 9-level classes, druids get wild shape, an animal companion, and medium bab with L+M armor and shield proficiencies. Add in the ability to cast their spells in armor and you can see why they might get the short end on spell options. The same holds true for the cleric. Medium BAB, L+M armor with shields, domains (plus their domain spells), not needing rest to prepare spells, and other options all combine to make a larger spell list unnecessary.

The second consideration is that while the wizard can hypothetically learn every wizard spell in the game, clerics and druids have full access to their entire spell list when they prep. That alone is worth good deal in my opinion, as they do not have to waste time or resources in expanding their pool of spells that they can prepare, and can find just the right spell for any situation if they know what is coming.