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Anyone else tired of game mechanic freebies?
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<blockquote data-quote="MrMyth" data-source="post: 5342513" data-attributes="member: 61155"><p>To copy my thoughts on the matter from the same thread on a different forum...</p><p> </p><p>For myself, I think Backgrounds and Themes are brilliant mechanics that are a great help to roleplaying. </p><p> </p><p>I think it would have been nice if they were there from the start, yes. But I wouldn't want WotC to avoid them as options simply because they weren't there in the core design. The game evolves and the designers learn they can do more with it. That isn't a bad thing. </p><p> </p><p>Especially since they are basically optional. There is no power imbalance - a DM will choose to allow themes or not. If a DM not running Dark Sun right now wants to use themes, then yes, he'll need to do some work to come up with his own themes or convert the Dark Sun ones. Or wait for the upcoming book that will almost certainly have a more diverse range of them. </p><p> </p><p>If a group has some PCs with Themes and Backgrounds and others without, then yes, that's a problem. </p><p> </p><p>As for Backgrounds, I think the current approach to them is decent - they are a way to flesh out a character and to help fit them into concepts that aren't as easy to build. I do wish the more powerful ones floating around from early on were gone because I think you do have a point there - some players will always veer towards the background which provides a few extra hp, rather than the one that might be more appropriate for them. </p><p> </p><p>Still, the boosts provided by them are small. I don't think they are harming the game by their existence, or breaking the balance of characters in any way. I think it will be nice when we have a rule-set where they are fully codified it as part of it, rather than loosely floating about here and there, but I'd much rather have them exist in scattered places as they are now, rather than not exist at all. </p><p> </p><p>If you don't like them, don't use them. But please, please don't tell WotC that innovation is bad and something to be avoided!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MrMyth, post: 5342513, member: 61155"] To copy my thoughts on the matter from the same thread on a different forum... For myself, I think Backgrounds and Themes are brilliant mechanics that are a great help to roleplaying. I think it would have been nice if they were there from the start, yes. But I wouldn't want WotC to avoid them as options simply because they weren't there in the core design. The game evolves and the designers learn they can do more with it. That isn't a bad thing. Especially since they are basically optional. There is no power imbalance - a DM will choose to allow themes or not. If a DM not running Dark Sun right now wants to use themes, then yes, he'll need to do some work to come up with his own themes or convert the Dark Sun ones. Or wait for the upcoming book that will almost certainly have a more diverse range of them. If a group has some PCs with Themes and Backgrounds and others without, then yes, that's a problem. As for Backgrounds, I think the current approach to them is decent - they are a way to flesh out a character and to help fit them into concepts that aren't as easy to build. I do wish the more powerful ones floating around from early on were gone because I think you do have a point there - some players will always veer towards the background which provides a few extra hp, rather than the one that might be more appropriate for them. Still, the boosts provided by them are small. I don't think they are harming the game by their existence, or breaking the balance of characters in any way. I think it will be nice when we have a rule-set where they are fully codified it as part of it, rather than loosely floating about here and there, but I'd much rather have them exist in scattered places as they are now, rather than not exist at all. If you don't like them, don't use them. But please, please don't tell WotC that innovation is bad and something to be avoided! [/QUOTE]
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Anyone else tired of game mechanic freebies?
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