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Okay, so I'm in the camp, too, that like the idea of skill challenges but has been unsatisfied with their implementation. First, a digression of what makes the mechanics of combat and exploration similar and different: 4E Skill Challenges and rolling skill checks is the equivalent of just...

But... it should be strictly worse. I actually expected it to be worse than that. TWF allows you to take out twice the "minions." TWF allows you to inflict twice the conditions (poisoned, magic effects, etc). TWF gives you versatility (slashing and bludgeoning, melee and ranged) Minus 0.5...

I do need to preface this with the statement although I've glanced through the recent playtest document, it has not been a thorough analysis. 1) I believe in the "three pillars" philosophy, as Grydan explains. Every class should be balanced within each pillar rather than across pillars, that...

Son't say this too loudly - the Christmas layoffs are coming up soon...

I started my recent 4E Eberron campaign like this, recently. Starting with a dragon attack, but on the lightning rail! My group started at 1st-level, got acquainted on the train when it was attacked from above. They had to figure out what was causing it, temporarily held it off with other...

I'd like to return to a a couple ideas up-thread that I would like to see incorporated into skills: Ie, using Str or Dex or Con for Climb, depending on the situation. Although I would like to add that the player can "present a case" if they feel the situation warrants it. As always, DM...

Well, here's my unsolicited, uninformed feedback on what I think the wizard might look like with an interchangeable magic system... I agree that the "spellcasting system" does not define the wizard. Vancian, AEDU, spell points, spontaneous, recharge.... My concept of the wizard is independent...

I haven't seen any specific confirmations, yet, but it sure seems like Forgotten Realms is gearing to be Next's default setting. I don't have anything in particular against the Realms, it just has never caught my interest. I would not look forward to FR being the default, and would prefer...

Wow, this thread degenerated quite a bit over the past day. For siloing to work well: Background/Traits/Talents must be robust. "Specialties" and "Backgrounds" can easily be removed or added in. Backgrounds need to provide more options as well provide choices when leveling up. You should be...

Argh, true, true. Unless there's an intrinsic limit. You cannot cast the same spell twice until after the first expires, or the second casting replaces. It would solve this problem, and others.... But it might be changing the mechanics too much...

I also think a blanket ritual option would be cool, too. Any spell from your spellbook can be cast as a ritual, but it takes 5 continuous rounds of concentration in combat to cast it (or something). I kind of like this idea, as it reminds me of Fizban attempted to cast fireball while battle...

Something like this is what I hope for. The use of spell slots as "currency." I like the idea of choosing how to prepare fireball on a daily basis as either 3d6 or 6d6, or either as a daily or an encounter. I also think permanent sacrifice should also be an option. Lose two or three or four...

Perhaps, what if cantrips were also dailies, and there were a few limited attack spells among them? A 1st-level wizard has 6 0-level daily slots, 3 1st-level daily slots. Choose a 0-level spell, sacrifice two 1st-level spell slots. You can now cast magic missile at-will and deal 1d4+Int...

Which is why I'm not a game designer and why I said it all depends on the actual mechanics. Maybe you sacrifice one slot from every spell level? I don't know, but some sort of trade. And it might be a tough choice if there were only three daily spell slots to start with. Somehow, I believe...

I think this is what I'm actually trying to get at. So many people expect different mechanics from the one class, and WotC seems to be trying to cram all those mechanics in. I get both sides. The original goals of Next classes seemed to be: give each class a story hook and mechanical shtick...

I definitely see what you're saying here: why limit it when each of the three pillars are ripe for ideas and can contribute to each other? Feats are a cool design mechanic, why restrict it to combat? I think ease of use is not to be underestimated. Saying "create a character without...

Another point: the separation does not prevent the character you want to build. If the DM runs a combat heavy game and suggests no backgrounds: tack on a background anyway to develop your character. If the DM runs a roleplay heavy game and focuses must on skills and traits and never resorts to...

A very succinct description of what should happen. Having a "minimum competency" in each pillar implies the siloing of the three pillars. If you lump combat, exploration, and social abilities in the same structure, as feats, then you end up with players focusing on different pillars and not...

I am looking forward to the implementation of Next's laudable goals of modules, options, and making it customizable. But with expertise die, at-wills and recharge spells for the wizard, and more, it seems like the designers are trying to satisfy everyone within the mechanics in each class. Not...

I'm going to jump in here, without reading the whole thread. Skimmed, but not every line or every post. Yes, I will be that guy. The simplicity of 3E multiclassing is definitely appealing. It takes up no rules "brainspace," it's a straightforward concept, and easy to implement. Having a...