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One might think WotC would fix problems through errata rather than feats, but they did create the Expertise feats which are, compared to Pre-PH II options, more overpowered than the FRW boosting feats. As I have said repeatedly, the untyped bonus on Epic FRW, like the untyped bonus on the...

I think this is backwards, actually. Many characters who get third +1 attribute boost at 4/8 levels will end up using it on an attribute that doesn't add to many relevant abilities, but does provide a bonus to your weak FRW. By comparison, a Paladin might take advantage of this change to...

Really? No one responds to those posts of mine :D Though I didn't specify this at the time, I think that post is relevant as a counterexample to the idea that if epic level combats aren't too tough, FRW doesn't need to be fixed. Karinsdad used Doresain in his test fight, and he was 60% of the...

Soldier AC-level is 1.7 points higher than Skirmisher AC on average (from kerbarian's excellent thread of statistics), and Fort-Level is 2.2 points higher than Skirmishers, which is the biggest relative Defense disparity. Kerbarian doesn't have statistics on to-hit by role, but we can assume...

Very similar level/role monsters have a wide range for how powerful they are. I've already mentioned Bodak Reavers vs. Death Hags at level 18 Soldier. Looking to epic, compare the Swordwing and Dragonborn Champion (which is 1 level higher). The Dragonborn Champion has 1 worse AC for its level...

A (level 18) Bodak Reaver can hit on a 2 using its death gaze attack vs. a dazed/weakened level 18 PC with weakest defense Fortitude (+22 to hit with CA, vs. weak Fort defense going by PH of around 24; 10 base + 9 levels + 1 ability + 4 magic). It's not just a higher level solo. More...

Indeed, there's already a thread where someone has done this, and the average attack in the MM against FRW is level+3. The average attack against AC is level + 4.5. See http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-4th-edition-rules/229092-lots-statistics-monster-manual.html

We can pick some stronger tests of "the game's math doesn't work well" than "is the game too hard at high levels?" Suppose that FRW attacks were incredibly rare; then since AC scales well no amount of messing up FRW defenses would noticeably impact the game, yet the math could still break down...

Looking at the Monster Manual, the Medusa Shroud of Zehir is a level 18 skirmisher but has an attack bonus of +15 vs. AC with its short sword. This is likely an error, as this is way too low for a level 18 creature and is the same bonus as a Medusa Archer, so it was probably repeated by...

I think you're right that monsters with status effects are stronger. I haven't played at epic, but looking at level 15-25 creatures in the MM I'm struck by how much better some of the ones with status effects or other special abilities are. This is because monsters aren't given enough damage...

You could, for example, say "All monsters of level 5-14 get -1 to defenses and attacks vs FRW; make this -2 for levels 15-24, and -3 for level 25 up." This would be similar to giving the benefits to PCs directly. Two problems: 1) It's way too much work unless you're building your own...

It is very easy to reconcile these two perspectives. Those threads: at low levels, encounters at your level are too easy. This thread: as you gain in levels, the math goes against the PCs, which means PCs who are only slightly optimized will fall behind relative to where they were. Done...

Part of the point of building these fixes into the rules is to avoid having players who don't take certain overpowered feats be underpowered relative to the other party members who do. You've got that backwards- the character who benefits most from building these fixes into the rules isn't the...

I think the reverse is true: giving set bonuses at certain levels is simpler in general than using newfangled feats to try to fix the math. You're already getting a +1 bonus on even levels, so now you have to add a few more +1s over your character's lifetime (though these +1s don't add to...

Your weak FRW defense gets much worse over time losing 7 points over 29 levels, with your stronger two FRW defenses (assuming you spread ability boosts to 2 stats that boost different saves) losing 4, just like to hit. In general, losing FRW is more bearable than to-hit in that a large...

You seem to be forgetting that going by PHII, the Robust Defenses feat means that, at epic, characters only need 1 feat to get the benefit of the 3 PH feats. So if you give characters +2 to FRW by epic levels, as the original poster does, then taking Robust Defenses and one Epic [FRW] feat (for...

The Expertise feats are not a good method of giving players bonuses to hit. This has been gone over many times in other threads, but problems include: it doesn't apply to powers like a Dragonborn's Breath; characters with both an implement and weapon face a feat tax (and a character like a...

Thinking about it some more, adding +1 to three ability scores has other nice effects: you can play a Con/Cha warlock who stays in light armor without having your AC scale terribly to higher levels, since you'll be able to boost Int as well. Likewise, the Con Shaman can stay in light armor; his...

This solves the "decreasing weakest defense" problem, but could present a host of other issues. It makes qualifying for feats much easier and removes the tradeoff between boosting AC and a secondary attribute for some classes (melee rangers who stay in light armor). However, some of this...

I haven't played at anything near epic, so here's a question. Assume you have an encounter of 2 Pit Fiends, who use their summon ability on the first round of combat for 2 War Devils each, plus 3 Ice Devils. Do you think that a typical level 22 party straight out of the PH, without taking...