I'm not talking about the # of spells known (which you're correct, that's the Sorcerer's MO). I'm talking about the actual full spell list they can choose from as a class. In 3.0/3.5E and all the games we've had (BG2, NWN 1/2), the Sorcerer/Wizard spell list is basically one and the same.
However, in 5E, they've separated and shrunk the Sorcerer's spell list compared to the Wizard's. In the Player's handbook (what BG3 will have), there are 129 Spells in the Sorcerer Spell List, vs. 230 Spells in the Wizard's.
The gap has only grown with more supplements (it's something like 214 vs. 359 up to Tasha's Cauldron of Everything).
Sorcerers in 5E do not get access to:
- 95% of Summoning Spells (They literally got their first 1 in a book published October THIS year)
- 80% of Wall spells (especially the best ones, i.e. Wall of Force / Force Cage)
- Anything that allows for pre-planning - i.e. Contingency, Glyph of Warding, Symbol
- Anything that is slightly "ritualistic" - i.e. Planar Binding, Magic Circle, Scrying
- Any spells in pursuit of immortality - i.e. Clone, Magic Jar, etc.
- Most travel utility spells - i.e. Tiny Hut, Magnificent Mansion
- Tons of iconic high-level spells - i.e. Shapechange, True Polymorph, Weird, Prismatic Wall, Imprisonment, Maze
Etc etc.
I'm fine with Sorcerers knowing less spells (cause that's their schtick). But the issue is they're actually quite pigeonholed in terms of what they can do with magic.
It's not TOO bad in BG3 yet, but once more spells/levels are implemented, especially if they continue to keep providing creative options, we'll likely see the gap.
