D&D 4E Nerfing Essentials++ Wizards.

[Garthanos]

The introduction of certain cantrips (essentials and post essentials) in effect allowed a Wizard to Dramatically toe step... trading out a resource that was previously a flavor element which could be leveraged with cleverness and DM buy in to accomplish interesting but not particularly potent things. I generally l do not like nerfing things, but if I feel a need I prefer doing so in ways that maintain flavor the following I extended the requirements built into the trigger conditions narrowing their context. To my thinking it is far far too easy to build an Arcana Skill monster and far far too likely a given skill may be used once per encounter for this to feel like anything but a straight up power grab for wizards. They may be a bit too practical.

(spook doesn't actually inhibit an intimidation monster build so perhaps I should reverse the context of saying you need to be outside of battle so as to surprise the subject or some such rational)

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

I'd rather have more out of combat powers than fewer.

Lame out of combat abilities is my #1 grief with 4e.

 

[Garthanos]

meh

 

[Garthanos]

If someone gave martial types a useage once per encounter of using bulging muscles Athletics for the fighter to do Intimidation and Diplomacy checks for basically a free flavor cost and let him use Endurance on a history check and similar things with virtual free of cost price tag... I suspect there would be complaints but Wizards get a by on it.

If they did that anyone want to bet It would end up way more restricted than what the wizard recieved?

In fact you can find their cost various places including magic items and skill powers.
These things are not freebie class benefits they need more restriction.

 

[Garthanos]

Speaking of that various people at one time postulated cantrips for everyone.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Speaking of that various people at one time postulated cantrips for everyone.

I think utility abilities along these lines for all characters would be a very good addition to 4E. These are bit cheesy but not likely to break things, because all they really do is temporarily make the Wizard equal with another class for a single roll. Yeah, as a Wizard, you'll have a high Arcana - inevitably - you may even boost it further with Feats and so on, but these are once an encounter, and most important social encounters aren't determined by 1-2 rolls - if they are, they were inconsequential. It's more a really cool flavour thing that makes the player feel good than anything else.

But yes I do think all classes should have these kind of powers - the balancing we should be doing here. Sometimes it's right to nerf down, but with this, it's something that so many classes could benefit from, could feel better because of, I think the right thing to do is buff generally (which is an unusual situation I think).

 

[Garthanos]

I think utility abilities along these lines for all characters would be a very good addition to 4E. These are bit cheesy but not likely to break things, because all they really do is temporarily make the Wizard equal with another class for a single roll

I see the frequency as every single skill challenge a wizard could have 3 more very primary skills...

But yes I do think all classes should have these kind of powers - the balancing we should be doing here.

The skald was given what could have been identified as a handful of martial practices in place of rituals, rituals are basically situational pumps. (I would say they are more limited than the Cantrips the wizard got)

Sometimes it's right to nerf down, but with this, it's something that so many classes could benefit from, could feel better because of, I think the right thing to do is buff generally (which is an unusual situation I think).

It's my general preference to give instead of take but dramatically imbalanced gifting for the wizard class only is very much on a not acceptable list.
Fire away gunga din... Could theoretically make some of them a function of martial practices.