Changing the "Caster beats Mundane" paradigm

[PhoenixPhyre]

5e spellcasters have an entire Chapter, page 201 through 289, devoted entirely to them in the Player's Handbook. That's 27% of the entire book. That's a HUGE chunk of exclusive content.

But in fairness, 5e suffers a lot less from caster vs martial due to other changes; also, anyone with a feat can get some spells; also only 6 subclasses (out of ~40) in the PHB don't get access to spells automatically--

* Berserker Barbarian
* Champion Fighter
* Battlemaster Fighter
* Open hand Monk
* Thief Rogue
* Assassin Rogue

Several don't use spell slots, sure:
* Totem Barbarians get one spell as a ritual
* Shadow Monks cast some spells as class features using Ki
* Four Element Monks cast some spells as class features using Ki

Every other subclass has access to spells (and spell slots) by level 3. Of the subclasses, the spell-casters break down as:

* Barbarian: 1 of 2, single spell access (so basically not a spellcaster)
* Bard: All are full-progression casters
* Cleric: All are full-progression casters
* Druid: All are full-progression casters
* Fighter: 2 non-casters, 1 1/3-caster (can cast up to level 4 spells, first spell at level 3)
* Monk: 1 non-caster, 2 special casters--basically fixed list spell points casters with very restricted lists. Explicitly magical throughout.
* Paladin: All 1/2 casters (cast up to 5th level spells, first spell at level 2)
* Ranger: All 1/2 casters (cast up to 5th level spells, first spell at level 2)
* Rogue: 2 non-casters, 1 1/3-caster (can cast up to level 4 spells, first spell at level 3)
* Sorcerer: All full-progression casters
* Warlock: All full-progression* casters (very strange casting that doesn't stack, but they cast 9th level spells and start at 1st level, so...)
* Wizard: All full-progression casters

That makes fully 1/2 of all base classes as full-progression casters, with another 2 half-casters and 2 1/3 casters. That makes only 2 classes (barbarian, monk) that can't get at least 1/3-progression, spell-slot casting that stacks with full casting for multi-classing spell-slot progression.