Lanefan
Victoria Rules
I kind of agree with this - as lingering effects should in theory work pretty much the same for all characters their impact on overall class balance should be about zero.I think the issue of lingering consequences is different from the issue of class mechanical balance on a per-encounter (short rest) or per-day (extended rest) basis. For instance, Cortex+ Heroic and HeroQuest revised both have lingering consequences although they have no "per day" mechanic at all.
They will, however, greatly impact character balance within an encounter if one or more PCs carry lingering effects into said encounter and are thus weakened somehow. This is not a bad thing.
Yet another difference in our philosophies, I guess; as I've no problem whatsoever with rather severe class imbalance in an encounter.I am not saying that "per encounter" balance is a sufficient condition of mechanical balance between classes. (How could it be?)
I'm saying that "per-encounter" balance is a necessary condition of a game allowing events to unfold in the way I describe, while also achieving mechanical balance across classes. Whereas "per day" balance is at odds with this, because in order to achieve that sort of balance across classes it requires the GM to treat the "future" of play as in some sense fixed or foretold (so as to generate the pressure and consequences that in turn will yield the balance).
Sometimes an encounter's setup favours the casters and blasters (1). Other times it best suits the front-line tanks (2). Other times, the stealthies and sneakies (3). Yet other times, the talkers and thinkers (4). And in each of these cases those who the particular encounter doesn't suit can either try to find ways to contribute as best they can or just leave it to the trained professionals.
Examples:
(1) An enemy physically separated from the PCs yet able to affect them e.g. a squad of arbalestiers across a canyon taking target practice on the PCs. Casters and shooters, open fire.
(2) A close-quarters battle in a narrow passage with poor visibility and no room to cross through or skirt around the fighting. Front-line tanks, this is all yours.
(3) You need to cross a cavern, but it's full of giants who are 99% likely to smear the PCs across the walls in any sort of fight. Sneakies and stealthies, find us a way around this please.
(4) The dragon whose lair you've just crept into wakes up, but in a good mood as she's well-fed and happy. Diplomatic types, use your brains and silver tongues to get us out of this one.
It's on the DM to at least vaguely try to ensure each type of encounter comes up more or less regularly, along of course with other more-conventional encounters where everyone can weigh in.
Lanefan