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<blockquote data-quote="MrMyth" data-source="post: 5274750" data-attributes="member: 61155"><p>From the sounds of it, isn't the book with 'non-combat skills' and the like going to be having elements presented as entirely optional?</p><p> </p><p>I mean, I think that the previous situation - of having non-combat skills and combat skills competing for the same resources - was a terrible situation, and moving away from that was a good thing. </p><p> </p><p>I think that the default for 4E - that the DM basically decides how to handle non-combat skills - is functional, but what the game could really use is some suggested systems so that the DM has some guidance for doing so. </p><p> </p><p>Prior to now, I've used backgrounds to fill that role in some games, handwaved it whenever character appropriate in others, and I've recently looked at implementing something along the line of the "<a href="http://hastur.net/wiki/Traits_(4E)" target="_blank">Traits</a>" system I saw linked from Enworld.</p><p> </p><p>It sounds like that's the sort of thing this book will be doing - providing several possible approaches for DMs that <em>do</em> want to codify that. For those who don't... it remains much easier to those who don't want these rules to not use them, than it would be for those who do want them to create them on their own.</p><p> </p><p>I mean, we'll have to wait and see the final product to be sure. And I do get what you are saying - they could end up setting a bad precedent, and making it harder for people to flesh out their backgrounds if they feel they <em>have</em> to represent it mechanically, and need to meet annoying prereqs to do so. If, as giant.robot fears, you have to spend a feat or skill slot to become a Blacksmith... then yeah, the system will be an utter failure. I always will be <em>very </em>surprised if that's the case. </p><p> </p><p>WotC has already moved away from those sort of limitations, and if they can produce a refined and robust system of themes, backgrounds, and non-combat skills and options, I think that can be an excellent tool for the DMs who want it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="MrMyth, post: 5274750, member: 61155"] From the sounds of it, isn't the book with 'non-combat skills' and the like going to be having elements presented as entirely optional? I mean, I think that the previous situation - of having non-combat skills and combat skills competing for the same resources - was a terrible situation, and moving away from that was a good thing. I think that the default for 4E - that the DM basically decides how to handle non-combat skills - is functional, but what the game could really use is some suggested systems so that the DM has some guidance for doing so. Prior to now, I've used backgrounds to fill that role in some games, handwaved it whenever character appropriate in others, and I've recently looked at implementing something along the line of the "[URL="http://hastur.net/wiki/Traits_(4E)"]Traits[/URL]" system I saw linked from Enworld. It sounds like that's the sort of thing this book will be doing - providing several possible approaches for DMs that [I]do[/I] want to codify that. For those who don't... it remains much easier to those who don't want these rules to not use them, than it would be for those who do want them to create them on their own. I mean, we'll have to wait and see the final product to be sure. And I do get what you are saying - they could end up setting a bad precedent, and making it harder for people to flesh out their backgrounds if they feel they [I]have[/I] to represent it mechanically, and need to meet annoying prereqs to do so. If, as giant.robot fears, you have to spend a feat or skill slot to become a Blacksmith... then yeah, the system will be an utter failure. I always will be [I]very [/I]surprised if that's the case. WotC has already moved away from those sort of limitations, and if they can produce a refined and robust system of themes, backgrounds, and non-combat skills and options, I think that can be an excellent tool for the DMs who want it. [/QUOTE]
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