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<blockquote data-quote="Dragonblade" data-source="post: 4125266" data-attributes="member: 2804">I don't agree that background is irrelevant. Just doesn't need mechanics to describe it.On your second issue, I think you make a valid point. However, I think this is a problem that afflicts all RPGs, not just D&amp;D. Many games handle it in different ways with, IMO, equally unsatisfying results. All games systems have to decide how they want to handle character advancement.Unlimited advancement eventually leads to deity level characters. Ok if you want to run a D&amp;D epic game with PCs going up against other deity level opponents or if you want to play Exalted. Unstatisfying for games that weren't intended for such power levels.Putting a hard cap leads to characters becoming forever frozen at a certain point with no further outlet for character growth. Again, equally unsatisfying.Putting a cap on going up but encouraging breadth ultimately creates cookie-cutter characters where eventually every PC can do everything every other PC can do. Ok in the short run, but not really ideal in the long run.Or no growth at all. Ok for one shots but I would not want to play a long term game this way.So what do you do? Players like to improve their character over time. So no matter what style of advancement system you go with, eventually it breaks down. For what it is, I think the D&amp;D system works ok.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Dragonblade, post: 4125266, member: 2804"] I don't agree that background is irrelevant. Just doesn't need mechanics to describe it. On your second issue, I think you make a valid point. However, I think this is a problem that afflicts all RPGs, not just D&D. Many games handle it in different ways with, IMO, equally unsatisfying results. All games systems have to decide how they want to handle character advancement. Unlimited advancement eventually leads to deity level characters. Ok if you want to run a D&D epic game with PCs going up against other deity level opponents or if you want to play Exalted. Unstatisfying for games that weren't intended for such power levels. Putting a hard cap leads to characters becoming forever frozen at a certain point with no further outlet for character growth. Again, equally unsatisfying. Putting a cap on going up but encouraging breadth ultimately creates cookie-cutter characters where eventually every PC can do everything every other PC can do. Ok in the short run, but not really ideal in the long run. Or no growth at all. Ok for one shots but I would not want to play a long term game this way. So what do you do? Players like to improve their character over time. So no matter what style of advancement system you go with, eventually it breaks down. For what it is, I think the D&D system works ok. [/QUOTE]

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