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General Tabletop Discussion
D&D Older Editions
1e-3e vs. 4e: The inverted difficulty curve in D&D 5e design
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<blockquote data-quote="Dragonblade" data-source="post: 5786650" data-attributes="member: 2804"><p>Well yes and no. I meant the design intent was there to reverse the power curve and to some extent they succeeded when you compare 4e to prior editions.</p><p></p><p>But I don't think WotC anticipated the unforeseen synergy bonuses that comes in at high level play with so many options and powers interacting in unforeseen ways. I personally am a fan of the emergent complexity that came from high level power combos in 4e. I think the tactics and strategies it engenders makes the game more enjoyable to me.</p><p></p><p>But yes, in practice the monsters as they were originally designed did too little damage and had too few HP to be the challenge they needed to be at higher levels. Essentials and post MM3 monster design did help remedy this some. You can see the intent in the design, though.</p><p></p><p>Playing a 1st level PC in 4e is actually enjoyable for me. The first edition of the game I can say that for. The amount of options available and the level of threat faced is at the level I intuitively expect it should be at. Whereas in earlier editions, I hated playing or running low level games with a passion. I found the lack of options for a low level PC in 1e-3e equal parts boring and limiting. And when combined with the fragility of those low level PCs, the game always became an exercise in frustration.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dragonblade, post: 5786650, member: 2804"] Well yes and no. I meant the design intent was there to reverse the power curve and to some extent they succeeded when you compare 4e to prior editions. But I don't think WotC anticipated the unforeseen synergy bonuses that comes in at high level play with so many options and powers interacting in unforeseen ways. I personally am a fan of the emergent complexity that came from high level power combos in 4e. I think the tactics and strategies it engenders makes the game more enjoyable to me. But yes, in practice the monsters as they were originally designed did too little damage and had too few HP to be the challenge they needed to be at higher levels. Essentials and post MM3 monster design did help remedy this some. You can see the intent in the design, though. Playing a 1st level PC in 4e is actually enjoyable for me. The first edition of the game I can say that for. The amount of options available and the level of threat faced is at the level I intuitively expect it should be at. Whereas in earlier editions, I hated playing or running low level games with a passion. I found the lack of options for a low level PC in 1e-3e equal parts boring and limiting. And when combined with the fragility of those low level PCs, the game always became an exercise in frustration. [/QUOTE]
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Community
General Tabletop Discussion
D&D Older Editions
1e-3e vs. 4e: The inverted difficulty curve in D&D 5e design
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