Quote:
Originally Posted by mearls  I think you're overstating the DMG's approach to things. There's a world of difference between game balance, and running a dangerous campaign.
Balance makes options equivalent in power for a player. All things being equal, you can build a rogue or a wizard without worrying about playing a lame class. |
One important part of old school play was that balance was achieved by a good DM throughout the campaign as a whole. A character who was not
the pinnacle of effectiveness in combat did not have to be lame.
I see the round by round balance of
4E as a response to the " all me, all now" mindset that comes from instant gratification entertainment such as a videogame. Mature players are not in a competition with each other to see who can dish out the most pwnage in every combat.
Equal does not have to mean the same. In a GURPS game, players can all start out with the same number of points to spend and yet create characters that are vastly different with regard to both combat and noncombat effectiveness.
If balance for the game as a whole is to be determined solely by what takes place on the tactical grid then we have lost precious elements that separate roleplaying games from skirmish games.
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