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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
The Problems With Modularity
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<blockquote data-quote="Alzrius" data-source="post: 5809352" data-attributes="member: 8461"><p>I think the OP makes some very good points regarding his worries for a new edition.</p><p></p><p>As he notes, it will be interesting to see how they can balance having a 1E-style simplistic character playing alongside a 3.X-style "tricked out" character that uses many of the modular rules. Even beyond issues of trading power for versatility, there are issues such as how to resolve a situation where the latter character has some abilities related to a situation (e.g. skill ranks) that the former character doesn't.</p><p></p><p>To put it another way, if both characters come to a wall, and the 3.X-style character has ranks in the Climb skill, what does the 1E-style character - with no ranks in skills - do? Just because he doesn't use the skill rules doesn't mean he's unable to do anything outside of combat, it's just that he doesn't use those rules for resolving non-combat actions.</p><p></p><p>That's where the problems come in. Because depending on what the GM does, the 1E-style player either gets screwed compared to the 3.X-style player (who just makes a check), or gets a much easier time of it - actually balancing the challenge of having both climbing the wall will be difficult.</p><p></p><p>That's without even going into the question of how published NPCs will be statted up. Presumably the easiest way is to write them up using all of the modular rules, and then you can just ignore the parts you don't use (since <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-horizons-upcoming-edition-d-d/317354-subtraction-easier-than-addition.html" target="_blank">subtraction is easier than addition</a>), but it could still be tricky depending on just how "modular" the rules really are (to say nothing of having new module rules sets come out later).</p><p></p><p>Making a "fractured" set of mechanics in order to appeal to a fractured fan base is understandable, as it seems like the best way to appeal to them all. But it could very well solidify those fractures among the fans, rather than healing them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Alzrius, post: 5809352, member: 8461"] I think the OP makes some very good points regarding his worries for a new edition. As he notes, it will be interesting to see how they can balance having a 1E-style simplistic character playing alongside a 3.X-style "tricked out" character that uses many of the modular rules. Even beyond issues of trading power for versatility, there are issues such as how to resolve a situation where the latter character has some abilities related to a situation (e.g. skill ranks) that the former character doesn't. To put it another way, if both characters come to a wall, and the 3.X-style character has ranks in the Climb skill, what does the 1E-style character - with no ranks in skills - do? Just because he doesn't use the skill rules doesn't mean he's unable to do anything outside of combat, it's just that he doesn't use those rules for resolving non-combat actions. That's where the problems come in. Because depending on what the GM does, the 1E-style player either gets screwed compared to the 3.X-style player (who just makes a check), or gets a much easier time of it - actually balancing the challenge of having both climbing the wall will be difficult. That's without even going into the question of how published NPCs will be statted up. Presumably the easiest way is to write them up using all of the modular rules, and then you can just ignore the parts you don't use (since [url=http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-horizons-upcoming-edition-d-d/317354-subtraction-easier-than-addition.html]subtraction is easier than addition[/url]), but it could still be tricky depending on just how "modular" the rules really are (to say nothing of having new module rules sets come out later). Making a "fractured" set of mechanics in order to appeal to a fractured fan base is understandable, as it seems like the best way to appeal to them all. But it could very well solidify those fractures among the fans, rather than healing them. [/QUOTE]
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