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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Benjamin Olson" data-source="post: 8513477" data-attributes="member: 6988941">I think realizing they could make more extensive use of the proficiency bonus a couple years back initially was inspiring to WotC designers in giving another option with how to balance abilities. It gave a number that scaled with level, other than level, that didn't require extra math and was great as a new balance option. But now they've just gone off the deepend in making it the preferred balance option for everything. I'm usually on board with WotC changes and adjustments, but I think they've just lost the plot here in terms of using the proficiency bonus for everything all the time, as if by compulsion.They've basically used "proficiency bonus per day" to eliminate racial short rest abilities now. This isn't a problem if short rests are phased out entirely in some future 5.X edition or 6th edition; I think they are a game mechanic with good potential that was never implemented very well and while I'd hate to see them go, I can accept that it might make for a better game in some future iteration of D&D. But at the moment we are still in 5th edition, the 5th edition PHB is still the core game, and there are 2 and a half short rest dependent classes, and I would like more, not fewer, incentives for other party members to want to short rest with them. I think some of these once per short rest to proficiency bonus per day changes are probably necessary to make the abilities available often enough the players remember to use them or that they feel meaningful (goliaths being able to use Stone's Endurance multiple time in a fight where they are taking lots of damage really makes the ability much more meaningful and less of a ribbon). But the extent of changes seems to undermine the game balance overall.And then there's just some silly, "proficiency bonus used for the sake of using proficiency bonus" things. Goblin "Fury of the Small" doing proficiency bonus damage rather than level damage nerfs an already minor ability that could at least occasionally shine at the right moment with a noticeable and narratively compelling effect down to a meaningless amount of damage per turn that's just another tedious thing to track. If it weren't for the once per turn limitation it could at least still feel meaningful for characters with many attacks. Now it potentially does more damage with less fun and more book-keeping.There are lots of changes I do like here, and lots that I'm ambivalent about, but I think the "everything must equal proficiency bonus" trend (which I initially liked) is now doing more harm than good.</blockquote>

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