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4e needs a Definitive Guide
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<blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 6368358" data-attributes="member: 82106"><p>I agree about the backgrounds that were in Dragon early on, some of them were just out of whack, though for a starting group it isn't too bad. It was mostly an optimizer problem. Still, I'd just stick to what is in the PHB2 and whatever the player wants to make up that is in a similar vein. That's how I've handled it. If a player asks me for a background with a benefit I just give it to them if its in line with the '+2 to a skill or ability to train that skill' benefit that you normally get.</p><p></p><p>I've just left off themes entirely. I think there were many good ones and it was fun using them sometimes, but the added complexity was never good for the game and currently I'm setting up a game for some new players and some people that haven't played 4e yet. I'd just as soon leave off that level of stuff for them to sort through. Plus there is a really large disparity in power level between themes and its actually not too hard to end up with one weaker PC that then picks a lemon theme and another stronger PC that happens to pick one of the themes that is overpowered AND synergizes with their class well. All of a sudden things get a little off kilter. It won't wreck a game, but clearly they didn't spend a huge amount of time vetting all the themes (the ones in HotFW particularly are very strong).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="AbdulAlhazred, post: 6368358, member: 82106"] I agree about the backgrounds that were in Dragon early on, some of them were just out of whack, though for a starting group it isn't too bad. It was mostly an optimizer problem. Still, I'd just stick to what is in the PHB2 and whatever the player wants to make up that is in a similar vein. That's how I've handled it. If a player asks me for a background with a benefit I just give it to them if its in line with the '+2 to a skill or ability to train that skill' benefit that you normally get. I've just left off themes entirely. I think there were many good ones and it was fun using them sometimes, but the added complexity was never good for the game and currently I'm setting up a game for some new players and some people that haven't played 4e yet. I'd just as soon leave off that level of stuff for them to sort through. Plus there is a really large disparity in power level between themes and its actually not too hard to end up with one weaker PC that then picks a lemon theme and another stronger PC that happens to pick one of the themes that is overpowered AND synergizes with their class well. All of a sudden things get a little off kilter. It won't wreck a game, but clearly they didn't spend a huge amount of time vetting all the themes (the ones in HotFW particularly are very strong). [/QUOTE]
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