D&D has always struggled with balance. They make something too powerful and then they nerf it into oblivion. 4th edition was the exception. It started so balanced that playing any clasܫs was identical to the others making character creation an exerc🐻ise in name only.

If you arꦰe willing to play as a sidekick using Tasha’s rules, this opens even larger or smaller options. You could play as a sprite, pixie, or wynling and be tiny. You could also play as an awakened horse or Worg and be a large creature.

5e but I still like the simplicity of 1e and 2e. 4e was a nightmare at first. I heard it got bet꧅ter but like most D&D players I stuck with 3E. I still hate the CR rules and D&D has never figured out how to deal with higher levels past 10th.