Keep it simple. That's a large motto of 4e. And I agree entirely. However, it begs the question... why give one action point every other encounter with a maximum usage of 1 action point per encounter and a reset to 1 action point after an extended rest? Okay, you start with one, get in two encounters and now have 2, you use one during the 3rd encounter and are down to 1, but after the fourth, you get another and are up to 2 unless you used one there also are are then only to 1. Why not just say "you get one action point to spend during each encounter. Action points do not accumulate." Seems so much easier and I don't think it really gives away THAT much power. It's the only thing we've seen so far that doesn't stick to the "at will" "per encounter" "per day" mechanic.
Action Points
- Thread starter DSRilk
- Start date
Mouseferatu
Hero
Accumulating action points means that the party can continue to progress even after they've used up their daily powers. It rewards those who press on, rather than stopping to rest the instant they're not at full strength.
Zaruthustran
The tingling means it’s working!
The question is:
"Which is more valuable: pressing onward and receiving one action point, or camping and getting back all of our HPs, healing surges, and Daily powers (as well as one action point)?"
I'm not sure action points are much of an incentive. Maybe if you could stock them up, and use more than one per encounter...
"Which is more valuable: pressing onward and receiving one action point, or camping and getting back all of our HPs, healing surges, and Daily powers (as well as one action point)?"
I'm not sure action points are much of an incentive. Maybe if you could stock them up, and use more than one per encounter...
Having played in Eberron with action points, I've noticed that some players hoard them like they do their spells: anxious whether they'll "need them later", or when the chips are seriously down.
Meanwhile other players spend them like they're water.
I think this is part of the middle ground.
Meanwhile other players spend them like they're water.
I think this is part of the middle ground.
Mouseferatu
Hero
Zaruthustran said:
Well, if you're playing with a group that refuses to take another step if they're not MAXIMUM POWAH!!
, then no, action points aren't going to change that. But then, these are the same groups around which the "15-minute adventuring day" was coined.For groups willing to press on, however, when they're down somewhat, the enticement of extra action points can make a difference. (And let's not forget that in 4E, even when you're out of dailies, you're far from helpless. I've played entire sessions without a single daily ability, in a game where we picked up in the middle of an exploration from the past weekend. They'd have been nice to have a time or two, but I certainly wasn't useless.)
lkjopajdowma
Explorer
I've never personally encountered the "15-minute adventuring day" problem.
My group presses on until we feel we cannot press on any more without seriously being in danger of getting killed. I play a wizard, and I've never found myself using all my spells from the top down at the hint of an encounter. I tend to use my useful mid-low level spells until things start to get dicey. Sometimes I do use high level spells from the get go if the foe appears ridiculously dangerous, though. It could be my character design, in that I'm a specialist Transmuter without access to Evoc/Conj, so I do have to be a little more creative.
So, are APs a huge incentive? No, but my group has been pressing on with no metagame incentive for years without issue, so even a small bonus is welcome to me.
Oh, and I much prefer the "take an extra action" to a +1d6 to a roll. I started playing an Eberron game a couple months ago, and I've never used an AP...they've just never seemed that useful on a regular basis to me.
My group presses on until we feel we cannot press on any more without seriously being in danger of getting killed. I play a wizard, and I've never found myself using all my spells from the top down at the hint of an encounter. I tend to use my useful mid-low level spells until things start to get dicey. Sometimes I do use high level spells from the get go if the foe appears ridiculously dangerous, though. It could be my character design, in that I'm a specialist Transmuter without access to Evoc/Conj, so I do have to be a little more creative.
So, are APs a huge incentive? No, but my group has been pressing on with no metagame incentive for years without issue, so even a small bonus is welcome to me.
Oh, and I much prefer the "take an extra action" to a +1d6 to a roll. I started playing an Eberron game a couple months ago, and I've never used an AP...they've just never seemed that useful on a regular basis to me.
TwinBahamut
First Post
I am willing to bet that there are many racial abilities and feats that will remove the limitations on action points and open up new uses for them. All the new action point mechanic does is provide a great alternative to basing action points on gaining levels (an unpopular concept as far back as I can remember). Also, I like the idea of spending action points to get new actions a lot better than the Eberron adding to d20 rolls mechanic.Zaruthustran said:
Lord Xtheth
Explorer
I've run into the 5 minute work day in D&D on several occasions. Theres a hoard of whatever in front of the party, so off goes a million 9th level spells, a few hundred thousand 8th level, so on (exaggurated of cource). The whatever that was in front of them is toast and the wizard and cleric start setting up camp.
Literally, 5 minutes passed, it was horrid.
Literally, 5 minutes passed, it was horrid.
Ravingdork
Explorer
I heard that AP could only be used once per encounter. 
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