vaultdweller
First Post
I know this is nitpicking, but I just feel I have to take issue with a recurring example in this thread.
The Greatbow is not the ranged Superior Weapon of choice for ranged Warlords from an optimization perspective. The Superior Crossbow is. Warlords don't care so much about a bigger damage dice - that isn't strong role-reinforcement. They do care about a higher proficiency bonus, because Warlords do need to be very accurate for the awesome Leader riders on their powers to work.
{Edit}
As for the discussion around optimization being a moot point in a game with a DM... I disagree.
When I DM, I don't pull punches. The players aren't in kindergarten (well, unless they are), and I won't insult them by acting like they're pre-schoolers and throwing an Easy Mode at them. Neither will I play in any game where the DM is so patronizing. If the party is highly optimized I may increase the difficulty to maintain the challenge, but I don't do this by "cheating" the monsters in a way that invalidates their accomplishment. If the L1 party is butchering goblins too easily, fudging the rolls on the goblins to maintain challenge is stupid when you can instead give them hobgoblins or bugbears. I'll give them more enemies, or more dangerous enemies. Their optimization isn't made moot, it's made visibly successful by allowing them to be the Big Damn Heroes that can tackle greater threats and feel awesome about it.
The Greatbow is not the ranged Superior Weapon of choice for ranged Warlords from an optimization perspective. The Superior Crossbow is. Warlords don't care so much about a bigger damage dice - that isn't strong role-reinforcement. They do care about a higher proficiency bonus, because Warlords do need to be very accurate for the awesome Leader riders on their powers to work.
{Edit}
As for the discussion around optimization being a moot point in a game with a DM... I disagree.
When I DM, I don't pull punches. The players aren't in kindergarten (well, unless they are), and I won't insult them by acting like they're pre-schoolers and throwing an Easy Mode at them. Neither will I play in any game where the DM is so patronizing. If the party is highly optimized I may increase the difficulty to maintain the challenge, but I don't do this by "cheating" the monsters in a way that invalidates their accomplishment. If the L1 party is butchering goblins too easily, fudging the rolls on the goblins to maintain challenge is stupid when you can instead give them hobgoblins or bugbears. I'll give them more enemies, or more dangerous enemies. Their optimization isn't made moot, it's made visibly successful by allowing them to be the Big Damn Heroes that can tackle greater threats and feel awesome about it.
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