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The way I see it, page 42 is simply providing challenge-setting advice. However, for whatever reasons (brevity, clarity, or the assumption that the readers would be able to connect the dots themselves) it does not give sufficient nods to the world-building or simulation perspective.

Just a few random thoughts on this issue: 1. If 4e had not been released as a version of D&D, it might have languished in obscurity. As it was, although its prominence made it the target of criticism from several quarters, it also won it many fans. 2. Many of the criticisms of 4e are not...

A bit of a side-point, but magic items are never mandatory if you select your monsters appropriately. In 1e/2e, it means avoiding creatures that can only be damaged by magic weapons and are immune or resistant to spells (creatures that can only be damaged by magic items but lack spell resistance...

What I would suggest is to introduce the concept of vigor points. Vigor points work exactly like temporary hit points, except that they don't go away until the character takes an extended rest, or they are lost through damage. Like temporary hit points, vigor points don't stack with each...

For the record, I'm working on something which I'm planning to call 4E Extended (I wanted to get a 5th "E" in there :p). The idea is to fix the "problems" of 4e through additional material instead of re-writing the base rules (e.g. Want an archer fighter? Here's an archer theme with a variety of...

I think the latter happens more often than we think. It's just that nobody notices when everyone is working off the same flawed model of reality.

I think 5e should not assume that the PCs will acquire any treasure at all, and hence, things to spend money on should be in an optional module.

Evil "paladins". I can live with neutral paladins if they serve a principle or a virtue (e.g. valor).

I guess the fact that I've been playing the game for almost thirty years now means that I'm getting something out of it. ;) And it definitely helps you imagine. Why, sometimes I've imagined as many as six impossible things before breakfast. I imagine it's possible for mortal beings to reach...

It's still there. Click on the star to the right of "Blog this Post". (At least, that's how it shows up on my screen).

How about: When you parry with a small shield, you reduce the damage by 1d8 per expertise die spent. When you parry with a large shield, you reduce the damage by 1d10 per expertise die spent.

Ever since the Edition Wars started, nobody cares about the moderates. :p

You know, I could probably combine an AEDU-type fighter and a straightforward "just use basic attacks" type fighter under the same umbrella class. All you need is a class structure where the fighter gets a benefit once per level. You can even call them feats, if you want, as a nod to 3e. So...

I was thinking something along the lines of: Cure light wounds heals 20% of full hp plus 1d8 plus caster level hit points. Cure serious wounds heals 40% of full hp plus 3d8 plus twice caster level hit points. Cure critical wounds heals 60% of full hp plus 6d8 plus three times caster level hit...

I would say that it's weak-tier simulation design instead. Game design is much broader than simulation.

The balance in chess arises more from the fact that each side has exactly the same number of pieces of each type than the individual balance between pieces. Or would you consider a game in which one player has substituted his eight pawns for eight queens to be balanced?

I tend to prefer the "fatigue" explanation: a martial encounter (or daily) power is tiring, and the PC can't pull it off again without taking a short rest (or an extended rest for a daily power). The usual criticisms of this approach are: 1. For characters with more than one encounter (or...

Simple question: Let's say a high-level fighter with 20 Strength and a longsword (d8 weapon dice) deals 100 points of damage (possibly over two or three hits in a fight). Of that 100 points of damage, how many points should ideally come from : 1. His raw Strength bonus (+5)? 2. His weapon dice...

I should point out that even if a game is designed mechanics first, it does not necessarily mean that everything else is neglected. Ideally, of course, mechanics and flavor support each other and work towards the same end, so it doesn't matter which came first. The real trade-offs take place...

Sorry, but I don't get the four rounds bit. Spending healing surges between fights requires a short rest, which is 5 minutes by the rules. Also, non-magical hit point recovery does not mean regeneration. The mechanical effect may be similar (back to full hit points), but narratively, the cuts...