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Yes, I am a fan of running multiple characters.

Yeah, he was rather full of himself! ;)

What constitutes "effectiveness?" Damage exclusively? Can the Rogue be effective without dealing damage? If a game included environmental elements that the Rogue could interact with using a universal mechanic, would that be acceptable? Forex, a game may include rules on how to use nets to...

I'm not sure how people stating the techniques that they are using, and having others probe the impact of those techniques on game balance, equates to "talking past each other?" In my opinion, the last few pages of discussion between Ahnehnois and Majoru Oakheart is exactly the sort of...

Even if two people agree that a system doesn't work, they may still disagree about why that system doesn't work; and thus how to go about fixing it (i.e. making it 'better').

I have no doubt that you can achieve a balanced game at epic levels in 3.x. I have some thoughts on that which I may or may not get to at a later time. However, Ahnehnois, I am curious about the makeup of your 37th-level characters. Could you give an example of what a typical 'mundane' and...

I think the spell component pouch should have worked like the Disguise Kit or the Healer's Kit. That is, it is exhausted after ten uses. Now I have a resource that puts (mild) tension on my ability cast.

The 3.0 Dungeon Master's Guide labeled miniatures as an optional consideration (page 13, considerations for running the game - miniatures). The 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide specifically stated that miniatures were assumed (page 4, how to use this book - playing on the battle grid).

Does the assisted living facility have space? A lot of these facilities (especially the newer ones) are designed to have recreational facilities for use by their occupants. Plus, I am certain that they are fine with the risk.

How does this not exacerbate the wizard dominance problem in 3.x/PF? Wizards are already mechanically encouraged to spend most of their ranks in Knowledge (xxx) skills, in particular, the six monster identification skills. Allowing these skills to also override other skill checks appears to be a...

I've never played in a game where 'evil' immediately meant 'bad guy.' Bad guy is simply the person whose agenda you are opposing. That could just as easily be a cleric of Trithereon as it is a cultist of Orcus! So, Detect [Alignment] has never been a big problem in my games.

Oh, I'm not disagreeing on Collegiate Wizard - it's a fantastic feat. Spontaneous Divination saves me spell slots. I can memorize more broadly useful combat spells, and reassess as the game progresses. Swings and roundabouts. My point is: There are more ways to optimize and play a wizard...

It's not. It's also a feat that I am very glad my players forgot about. Maybe. I am a big fan of Mage of the Arcane Order (Complete Arcane, Page 48) and Spontaneous Divination (Complete Champion, Page 52). Combined I have access to nearly every arcane spell in the game. 750gp upfront plus...

It was free pre-UA. Post-UA it comes with an opportunity cost - the fighter bonus feat list ACF.

Indeed. It's a matter of valuations and opportunity costs. For my part, I find using Unearthed Arcana's Wizard Variant to trade Scribe Scroll for Improved Initiative to be a very good trade. Casting first wins combats! And I'm not alone in that opinion. It was also advocated in Treantmonk's...

IMHO, most spells labeled 'problematic' should more accurately be labeled 'situationally problematic.' That is to say their valuation varies wildly depending on basic assumptions of the campaign. Knock is a perfect example. Its valuation depends on the frequency of locked/trapped doors in the...

One interesting idea I saw with regards to 3.x proposed on another site was to limit the number of levels a mundane class can advance before requiring a Prestige Class. So, for example, a Fighter might be only a five-level class; then, for level six, you go into Cavalier, or Knight of the...

Like D&DNext? ;) I don't know if it is possible to merge what I like best about AD&D with what I like best in 3.x and 4e? Can a game system allow for organic character growth, be highly customizable, have multiple subsystems differentiating each class, and be tightly balanced? Edit: Can a...

As a person who played a lot of battlefield control-type wizards in 3.5, moving to 4e and having each of the available at-will, encounter, and daily spells (save sleep) in the Player's Handbook deal hit point damage was jarring. Ultimately, nearly everything dealing damage is what caused the...

Incenjucar is mostly correct. The definition of damage is 3.x and 4e is pretty clearly laid out in the 3.5 Rules Compendium, page 17; and in the 4e Player's Handbook, page 276. Damage typically refers to the reduction of hit points, but also includes ability damage and energy drain. Sorry...