Hmm. I think 4e is structured a lot more like an anime than previous versions were.
For example, reading a "One Piece" fight as a 4e encounter:
Luffy might start out with his Gomo-gomo-no Pistol power, which is clearly an At-Will. He might also try the Gatling fist power, which is also pretty clearly an At-Will. These powers are pretty low in terms of his damage output, but he can keep them up all day without really breaking a sweat.
Gear Second, well now he's getting serious, he's breaking out his Encounter powers, etc, and the anime represents that by having him breathing heavily, sweating, etc.
Gear Third, well, now he's getting serious. He's reaching deep into his Dailies. When he wins the fight, we often see him collapse in a state of near-exhaustion, and he's always starving from the caloric output of the battle .. and we do, occasionally, see his crew whisk him away to rest before another fight can break out. In other words, he needs an extended rest before he's in fighting shape again.
That's how I envision the Dailies working in D&D, too: its not that my fighter's "Rain of Steel" is this natural thing he can do any time he feels like it: no, its this amazingly graceful, tiring, dance of death which requires superb concentration ... But when he's done, he's tired, sore, etc, and can't just get back into that state until he's had some significant downtown.
For example, reading a "One Piece" fight as a 4e encounter:
Luffy might start out with his Gomo-gomo-no Pistol power, which is clearly an At-Will. He might also try the Gatling fist power, which is also pretty clearly an At-Will. These powers are pretty low in terms of his damage output, but he can keep them up all day without really breaking a sweat.
Gear Second, well now he's getting serious, he's breaking out his Encounter powers, etc, and the anime represents that by having him breathing heavily, sweating, etc.
Gear Third, well, now he's getting serious. He's reaching deep into his Dailies. When he wins the fight, we often see him collapse in a state of near-exhaustion, and he's always starving from the caloric output of the battle .. and we do, occasionally, see his crew whisk him away to rest before another fight can break out. In other words, he needs an extended rest before he's in fighting shape again.
That's how I envision the Dailies working in D&D, too: its not that my fighter's "Rain of Steel" is this natural thing he can do any time he feels like it: no, its this amazingly graceful, tiring, dance of death which requires superb concentration ... But when he's done, he's tired, sore, etc, and can't just get back into that state until he's had some significant downtown.
