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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 6643067" data-attributes="member: 2011">This is not true for all groups or all players. Some players are content to use the same tactics over and over again and are totally satisfied with that.To me, the GWM issue has nothing to do with using the same tactics over and over again. The reason players do it and DMs of higher level campaigns find it problematic is because GWM is TOO potent. It's 10 extra points of damage multiple times per round, the equivalent of the extra damage done by a Rogue 6 levels higher once per round, a Rogue 12 levels higher twice per round, or in the more typical high level or more obnoxious case, a Rogue 24 levels higher when done with Hold Person (autocrit, 4 times per round for a 11 to 19 level fighter, level 20 doesn't matter since player rarely play at that level).This is why I picked "Rewrite the feat: you can do -5/+10, but once per turn only" in the poll above. It allow GWM to be nice, but it doesn't allow it to be spammed multiple times per round. Once the option to spam an overpowered ability goes away, the desire to use that one and only tactic every time also diminishes.The issue is one of abilities being too effective and this encouraging players to become "groups of optimizers" as you put it. That is when players re-use the same tactic (or play on Easy mode as you stated). For similar powered tactics and abilities with minor pros and cons for each choice, many players mix it up a lot more and this concept of "groups of optimizers/easy mode" fades away a bit.In our party, if our Paladin or Cleric cast Bless in a first level slot, it's a choice. The Fighter has GWM (once per turn version), the Druid often has multiple attacks per round with wild shape, the Rogue does solid damage, the Cleric does only 1 or 2 less damage as the Rogue (due to a magic item) but Bless helps on Concentration CONS saves, and the Paladin can nova. When casting a first level Bless, it becomes a decision as to which 3 of these 5 PCs will gain the most in this particular combat (the other 2 PCs in our group would typically not gain as much from Bless, so they would rarely be considered). If we used the standard GWM, then Blessing the Fighter would be an even stronger incentive for that PC over other PCs. It no longer becomes a choice, but more of a "must do" in many player's minds.The imbalance of GWM is what is creating the issue IMO. Balance out the few 5E outliers, most of these types of problems go away.</blockquote>

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