Balance: How important in your game?

[iwatt]

A general issue in most discussions about changes to the rules revolve around what "balance" issues it has. Personally balance is usually the last factor in my mind when I wish to introduce a change into my games. My all-important opinion not withstanding , what do you guys think.

 

[Crothian]

The only balance I care about is PC to PC. As long as PC A does not make PC B feel uselss, I'm fine with it.

 

[diaglo]

4 characters go down into the sewer system of a small city.

they encounter....

a horde of rats.

flotsom and jetsom.

a tentacled trash monster.


....balance schmalance... they need to survive.

 

[Crothian]

a tentacled trash monster.

Is that the great and all knowing Trash Heap??

 

[MonsterMash]

The only balance I care about is PC to PC. As long as PC A does not make PC B feel uselss, I'm fine with it.

I agree with you on this Crothian, I find things like the CR system are not really all that effective for balancing encounters, and it definitely tends to break down at higher levels as parties capabilities can vary widely. Also the CR system tends to assume the iconic party with the four 'real' core classes (fighter, cleric, wizard and rogue) are there. Tactics in encounters can also make huge differences, particularly at low levels where one crit can change a situation drastically.

 

[diaglo]

Is that the great and all knowing Trash Heap??

the players in the campaign read these boards.

they never actually identified the monster.

just got a hint at what it could be from the hobbit in the party

 

[Psion]

I think balance is important, but don't think the RAW themselves define balance. Further, I think you can only balance a game so far before the mere "noise" of campaign variations makes nitpicky balancing efforts pointless.

AFAIAC, there are two primary forms of balance:
1) PC vs. PC: Balance considerations of these sorts minimize player jealousy and spotlight stealing, and help mantain variety in the game by ensuring that there are a variety of viable options for any character design choice the players may make. If a certain feat or class comes along that is clearly the best, one should not be surprised when every sensible player takes that option.
2) PC vs. GM: Balance considerations of this choice help to ensure that it is not too difficult for the GM to challenge the party without negative consequences (e.g., excessive work on the GMs part, unbeleivable "metagaming" NPC behavior, killing half the party while leaving the rest unscratched.)

 

[A'koss]

Balance is important to me and I think Psion pretty much nailed my feelings on the matter. I'm willing to experiment a lot though and that can create some balance oddities which I have to smack down later.
Story or Setting balance might be another kind of balancing act that can be important to maintain the integrity and verisimilitude of your campaign overall.

Cheers!

 

[Kanegrundar]

Balance is important to me, but not so much that I'll disallow things outright. I've played around and created several races, classes, PrC's, and such that may not be balanced in many campaigns, but it works for our group. I've also allowed some things initially that I've removed later.

All in all, as long as everyone is having fun and everything seems to work, I don't care.

Kane

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

What Psion said in #1.