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So we might mess up, so what? Forked Thread: Fudging the Numbers in 3ed
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<blockquote data-quote="timbannock" data-source="post: 4620840" data-attributes="member: 17913"><p>Not sure the context of the original quotes, but I'll say that fudging a couple points in the midst of combat wasn't a problem. In fact, I found that not fudging in the midst of combat led to combats that weren't fun at all.</p><p></p><p>However, fundamental changes like stat boosts from buff spells and such like that caused WAY bigger problems on the fly. Moreover, fudging a number for some kind of lasting rule -- i.e., I think Lightning Reflexes should give your REF saves a +4 bonus instead of a +2 bonus -- was difficult because it factored into so many other things (in this case, every NPC and monster in every scenario with that feat).</p><p></p><p>3.5's approach to monster rules = character rules made it difficult to change something for the players without it rippling over to monsters, too. Then balance was called into question. I'm not saying it's better, but 4e's monster rules =/= character rules means that you can balance the two without worrying about ripples across when a rule is changed. So, if I house rule that Feat XYZ gives a +4 instead of a +2, well then no monster has Feats in 4e, so I don't care. Balance might still be an issue that I have to think about, but there's a certain separation between character and monster rules that helps better define where changes are being made.</p><p></p><p>Moreover, "monster mathz" are spelled out explicitly in the 4e DMG (with ideas and notes on variation from this). 3.5 is really all over the board with its math, which is why some believe it is "swingier" or why they think many monsters don't accurately stack up to the CR they've been given.</p><p></p><p>Personally, I think 3.5 works swimmingly up until the teen levels. The problem is partly that a lot of +1s and +2s get factored into stats that are multiplied to get something else (hit points, skill points) and thus you have to figure out not that you gave a Naga a +2 to Int, but that you also gave him a +1 to all Int-based skills, a +X skill points to spend on skills, and a +Y to other abilities, attacks, special powers that operate off of Int. It's kind of tough without some planning time.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="timbannock, post: 4620840, member: 17913"] Not sure the context of the original quotes, but I'll say that fudging a couple points in the midst of combat wasn't a problem. In fact, I found that not fudging in the midst of combat led to combats that weren't fun at all. However, fundamental changes like stat boosts from buff spells and such like that caused WAY bigger problems on the fly. Moreover, fudging a number for some kind of lasting rule -- i.e., I think Lightning Reflexes should give your REF saves a +4 bonus instead of a +2 bonus -- was difficult because it factored into so many other things (in this case, every NPC and monster in every scenario with that feat). 3.5's approach to monster rules = character rules made it difficult to change something for the players without it rippling over to monsters, too. Then balance was called into question. I'm not saying it's better, but 4e's monster rules =/= character rules means that you can balance the two without worrying about ripples across when a rule is changed. So, if I house rule that Feat XYZ gives a +4 instead of a +2, well then no monster has Feats in 4e, so I don't care. Balance might still be an issue that I have to think about, but there's a certain separation between character and monster rules that helps better define where changes are being made. Moreover, "monster mathz" are spelled out explicitly in the 4e DMG (with ideas and notes on variation from this). 3.5 is really all over the board with its math, which is why some believe it is "swingier" or why they think many monsters don't accurately stack up to the CR they've been given. Personally, I think 3.5 works swimmingly up until the teen levels. The problem is partly that a lot of +1s and +2s get factored into stats that are multiplied to get something else (hit points, skill points) and thus you have to figure out not that you gave a Naga a +2 to Int, but that you also gave him a +1 to all Int-based skills, a +X skill points to spend on skills, and a +Y to other abilities, attacks, special powers that operate off of Int. It's kind of tough without some planning time. [/QUOTE]
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So we might mess up, so what? Forked Thread: Fudging the Numbers in 3ed
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