Wiseblood
Adventurer
Please allow me to explain...
Many of you have experienced D&D in a number of incarnations. Coming all the way up from OD&D. Today the latest versions of games within our hobby have lifted the restrictions that we may have chafed at in bygone years. Have these changes, that allow you to do things you were prohibited from doing, diminished your fun?
Limitations have been lifted or entirely erased. This has a profound effect on power. Racial level limits and class restrictions were included before to balance out races that were considered more powerful. This created a type of racial identity that still lingers in our thoughts today. The races of today's games still carry bonuses but many if not all of the restrictions have been relaxed. Ability scores have been revamped and codified and again the limits have been lifted. The result has been that ability score bonuses have increased both in value and quantity.
Niche protection (though I doubt that's what it was called) was one of the motivations behind classes. Skills have emerged as an important part of the experience. They have grown from the void and transformed. Their beginnings were with the thief class and, were so well liked and envied they have been assimilated into all classes to various degrees. Fighting has always been in D&D. Classes have drifted towards each other in combat efficacy. Classes that were once considered somewhat pathetic in battle have been reshaped into combat classes.
I believed I wanted these changes. I wonder now if these things have contributed to the aspects I like least about our evolving hobby. The erosion of niche protection, power creep, more maths and balance issues have been my bane. I would like for them to go away. Will getting what I want ruin my fun?
Many of you have experienced D&D in a number of incarnations. Coming all the way up from OD&D. Today the latest versions of games within our hobby have lifted the restrictions that we may have chafed at in bygone years. Have these changes, that allow you to do things you were prohibited from doing, diminished your fun?
Limitations have been lifted or entirely erased. This has a profound effect on power. Racial level limits and class restrictions were included before to balance out races that were considered more powerful. This created a type of racial identity that still lingers in our thoughts today. The races of today's games still carry bonuses but many if not all of the restrictions have been relaxed. Ability scores have been revamped and codified and again the limits have been lifted. The result has been that ability score bonuses have increased both in value and quantity.
Niche protection (though I doubt that's what it was called) was one of the motivations behind classes. Skills have emerged as an important part of the experience. They have grown from the void and transformed. Their beginnings were with the thief class and, were so well liked and envied they have been assimilated into all classes to various degrees. Fighting has always been in D&D. Classes have drifted towards each other in combat efficacy. Classes that were once considered somewhat pathetic in battle have been reshaped into combat classes.
I believed I wanted these changes. I wonder now if these things have contributed to the aspects I like least about our evolving hobby. The erosion of niche protection, power creep, more maths and balance issues have been my bane. I would like for them to go away. Will getting what I want ruin my fun?
