This isn't a post about Martial/Magic Balancing (not directly at least).
I was thinking about Divine vs. Arcane casters the other day and got to thinking how there isn't a true Cleric analogue on the arcane side. D8, 3/4 BAB and 9 level casting. Then I got to thinking about the other classes (just looking at core/confirmed for PF2).
Divine
Cleric D8/9 Level
Druid D8/9 Level
Paladin D10/4 Level
Ranger D10/4 Level
Arcane
Wizard D6/9 Level
Sorcerer D6/9 Level
Bard D8/6 Level
"Other"
Alchemist D8/6 Level
So since spell lists are sounding like they are getting shuffled around, maybe the classes themselves could get a little balancing to allow some more varied playstyles?
IIRC Rangers were Arcane casters back in the day. Maybe they could flip back? That would give both Divine and Arcane one D10/4 class. Alchemist formulae list always felt more like the Cleric list than the Wizards, so if that continues, then there would be one Arcane and one "Divine-ish" D8/6 level.
That leaves the Cleric, Druid, Wizard and Sorcerer. So, the Cleric and Wizard are basically sacred cows. The changes to them will likely be minimal.
That leaves druid and sorcerer. So what if the sorcerer got a bump up to a D8? In terms of flavor it makes sense (their abilities are more natural, allowing for the study of other things unlike wizards).
Druids probably would stay as is, but maybe drop the Oracle down to a D6 down the line and make it a more dedicated caster. This would give "divine" 2 D8/9 and 1 D6/9 and Arcane 2 D6/9 (assuming Witch) and 1 D8/9.
Extrapolating past the oracle and witch gets a little more complicated (most of the other classes past core were more 1 and 1 anyway), but it would balance out the casters across flavor, style and such a bit more.
The reason Arcane Casters get worse Martial abilities is because that spell-list is a lot more powerful in combat than the divine one. Has many attack spells, while Divine is mostly martial buffs.
Thus, for balance, they are weak martially. It's never been about "filling roles", both types of casting are very different in application.
Does anyone really consider a Sorcerer close to the equal of a Cleric? With the redo of the spell lists (going into quadrants) there might be room to to have a D8/9 Arcane now.
Put another way, with no other change, if a Sorcerer were D8 tomorrow, would they vault in power over Clerics? I don't think they would...
