Tony Vargas
Legend
Yeah, that's what 4e did: balanced the classes and gave them role support both primarily in the combat arena. But thats just on the assumption that D&D, if not all-combat, was most critically concerned with combat resolution.What I want is a game that offers balanced classes if the focus is on combat, since that is by far the most important pillar (regardless of what WotC is trying so say).
But, like the assumption that play doesn't progress to high level, it's self-fulfilling. Little system support for non-combat means DMs and players emphasize combat.
yep, that's what I'm getting at with "balanced w/in each pillar."If that game can ALSO offer balanced classes if the focus is on either of the two other pillars, or even classes that remain balanced for those of you that really spend 1/3 of mechanical effort on combat, 1/3 on social and 1/3 on explor.
True, theyre balanced across pillars - being meh in combat is balanced by being great at dungeon crawling or diplomancy - you notice how badly that has worked put for the rogue, but it's bad for the fighter, ranger - anyone but the full casters who can prep tons of combat spells in combat-heavy games, or non-combat/utility spells if it tends otherwise.But neither 3E, PF or 5E delivers or comes even close, I'm afraid.
Yes. (Well, roughly similar in overall effectiveness & value of contribution to the party - they might be very different mechanics or effects.)So if by "classes should be designed to work well in each pillar" you mean that each class should represent a balanced choice if each pillar is viewed in isolation (so the explore abilities of any two classes is roughly similar), then I agree.
D&D suffered from lack of choice/differentiation when it was poorly balanced in the original game, and, later, was choice-rich/differentiated in both 3e & 4e, even though they were wildly different in terms of class balance.Up to a point, since I remember the sameness that easily can befall D&D.
(Though that doesn't even get into the chilling effect imbalance has on /meaningful/ choice.)
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