D&D 5E What is balance to you, and why do you care (or don't)?

[EzekielRaiden]

What is holding you back from running 4e or 13th Age?

I currently run Dungeon World and do not have the energy to run more than one game.

 

[Scribe]

Good luck. The designers themselves don't want that world. They haven't wanted it for over 20 years. I would argue they haven't wanted it since at least 2nd edition.

Be that as it may, prior editions still felt better in this regard, to me.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

View attachment 156638

that is Mongal not batman... and even not knowing what showing it is, I am sure Mongal attacked first not superman

 

[GMforPowergamers]

This shows well what should happen between Batman and Supes. If he knows there's Kryptonite, no reason to give Bruce a chance.

Seems a bit off topic though.

funny (I had a print out of this at a comic store once) but not at all in character

 

[Maxperson]

that is Mongal not batman... and even not knowing what showing it is, I am sure Mongal attacked first not superman

Dude. It shows that he is capable of moving very, very, VERY quickly in a fight when he wants/needs to. It's proof of what I am saying. He KNOWS Batman has kryptonite and is willing to use it. He won't just stand there and be kryptonited to death. He stands and sits there when he can rely on his strength and invulnerability, which is the vast majority of the time. He's lazy, not stupid.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Personally I would welcome further toning down of magic. Casters probably have too many spell slots, some utility spells are still too effective and I’m not that fond of endless attack cantrips either. Also, different classes should have more differentiated spell lists, and it is absolutely fine if every caster class has no perfect spell for every situation.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

As I've already pointed out, yes it is: when put in terms of the power level of the party as a whole, boosting the bottom tiers also boosts the overall average power level of the party. That's power creep, even if not every character gets to share in it.

Then frankly I don't care. There is no other option, other than continuing the crappy "casters rool, fighters drool" garbage. If some poor little DM occasionally needs to add an extra monster or three, so be it. It's not like they already didn't have to do it when the party is entirely comprised of the good classes.

 

[Willie the Duck]

Magic users should be more restricted, Bards shouldn't be full Casters, resting shouldn't be as easy, and without spells, full casters should be very weak in any combat scenario.

There are certain spells that don't need to exist (or exist as they do). Alternate resting rules* or DM guidance needs to enforce constraints on the 5 minute workday**. Casters in full-combat: it can go either way. 'Magic User casts his one sleep spell and then stands in the back lobbing oil flasks' of days gone by was (IMO) not actually good gameplay. 'Magic Users are fragile (unless they spend spells or built options to not be) and can't cast high-powered spells near enemies and thus have to think strategically if they want to do more than plink away with cantrips/crossbows (whichever you prefer in your design)' would be a solid compromise.
*Which the DMG has in spades, but as mentioned no one reads the DMG, but then complains about issues that it addresses.
**This is true for all recharge abilities (there is an intended pace of recharge, and breaking that disrupts balance between classes and between pc-vs.-challenges

There's fan arguments and then there's what's actually happens in the story. Nothing should be able to beat the Hulk because the more angry he gets, the stronger he gets with no upper limit and he can change retroactive to Banner being injured to the point of death.

Oh. My. God., Every. Single. Time. You'd think 'his strength has no upper limit' was some magical rhetorical I-win button. Even forgetting that Strength =/= winning in all situations, a lack of an upward boundary means nothing until/unless you're at the point of crossing where that boundary might otherwise be. If a fight ends before his anger reaches that point (let's say he's fighting Lex Lullaby, or the Beige Brawler, or Mr. Milquetoast), it is a completely meaningless factor.

No, hard disagree on the 'super' level threshold. It should be somewhere beyond ten. A lot of people want their martials to be mundane so this gives them half the levels to be that, and it also plays well with one of D&D's main appeals: "from zero to hero." You start out as somewhat gifted normie and end up as mythic hero. It doesn't work if you're a mythic hero from the get go.

Exact numbers probably don't matter much*. The issue for me is that each phase of character advancement should feel like a full chapter in their development as adventurers. There should be a time when the PCs feel like a squad of goblins is a challenge not to be faced head-on; a time when getting across a pit/up a slick wall**/through a portcullis should be the challenge of the scene; a time when an ogre seems scary; a time when 4 ogres seems like an annoyance; and a time when they are seen as saviors of the realm.
*early D&D treated 8th level as quite high, but then AD&D made 1-20 a standard just by having 20 levels per chart; BECMI worked fine with 36 (although honestly everything past ~18 for L9 spells seemed same-y); 4e's shift to 30 levels seems the least controversial part of the edition, etc.
**Honestly I think some spells like Spider Climb and Knock have come on too early since near the beginning of the game, since they can obviate entire modes of gameplay by level 3! This made sense when level 4 was seen as quite high, but never since.
Regardless, I think at each of those points, the martials and casters should be on a similar level of 'epic-ness,' and if they are, the game is probably fine regardless of what level of superherioc-ness a given level represents.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Dude. It shows that he is capable of moving very, very, VERY quickly in a fight when he wants/needs to.

and that isn't in disbute. the arguement and dispute is not his speed or strength... but his lack of blitzing weaker targets. He has never in character just started at full power attacks and speed. He ALWAYS stands there and takes the first shot or two... and if the person has a way to hurt him they do.

now you can say that isn't the smartest move, but considering the level of invulnerability he has I'm not 100% sure it is unreasonable

It's proof of what I am saying. He KNOWS Batman has kryptonite and is willing to use it.

and every time he does he stands there and lets him... even when Poison Ivy had him under control he let him...
the only time I can remeber him useing the tactic you suggest is when he thought he was fighting doomsday and lois was in trouble (BTW he STILL had to be holding back some what because somehow batman survived)

He won't just stand there and be kryptonited to death.

okay... so

Redirect Notice

and

https://comicbookclog.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/oh-yeah-doomsday.jpg

https://media.comicbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/batman-vs-superman-frank-miller.jpg

He stands and sits there when he can rely on his strength and invulnerability, which is the vast majority of the time. He's lazy, not stupid.

he is neither lazy or stupid... his default is to tank the hit and talk... "WHat did they call you agian... DOOMSDAY?" even if it puts him in danger.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

As I've already pointed out, yes it is: when put in terms of the power level of the party as a whole, boosting the bottom tiers also boosts the overall average power level of the party. That's power creep, even if not every character gets to share in it.

if this is true (and I am not even 100% saying it isn't) then a party of a hexblade a druid a wizard and a bard is how much more powerful then a party of a fighter a rogue a ranger and a artificer?

now how does 'power creep' effect sawpping the ranger for the bard?