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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Olgar Shiverstone" data-source="post: 3118606" data-attributes="member: 5868"><a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=177398" target="_blank">Driddle's latest poll</a> got me thinking about PC ability design -- specifically, those PC abilities that are DM-dependent, rather than player dependent.  That is, they come in to play only when the DM sets conditions that allow them to be used, rather than when the player wants them to be used.  The quintessential example is Favored Enemy, which only comes in to play when a certain type of creature is encountered.  Other examples might include Wild Empathy and Turn Undead.  I don't consider abilities like Bardic Knowledge to fall into this category -- a player caqn always choose to make a bardic knowledge check, though the DM still adjuducates its results.- What are some other DM-dependent abilities?- Do DM-dependent abilities make for good design?- Are character classes better off with more or fewer of these abilities?  For example, is the ranger worse off with two of them, or are these good benefits that are more easily balanced.- How might you create player-initiated substitutes for these types of abilities?  A good example here might be the use of "Turn Undead" to power other feats or abilities when the player wants.Discuss.</blockquote>