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<blockquote data-quote="Snarf Zagyg" data-source="post: 8070349" data-attributes="member: 7023840">Even that level of modularity (which ... I wouldn't call modularity- usually, when people refer to things being &quot;modular&quot; they mean they they can swap things in and out, not that they have multiple choice points at a given level for a class, but that's neither here nor there) causes severe design problems.The thing is, if you're talking about D&amp;D, especially a book that purports to have &quot;crunch&quot; and be &quot;Advanced D&amp;D,&quot; it's going to attract optimizers. So you're going to need to make sure things are balanced. Which gets into the whole issue of choice, as opposed meaningful choice (I think this came up in another thread with Morrus discussing the product).The reason 5e has the system it does (with usually a baked-in ability per level, and a very limited subclass design space) is because it makes balance that much easier. As soon as you start providing multiple choice-points per level, the amount of possible issues begins to increase at an exponential rate; and then you have to worry about multiclassing, feats, and other unforeseen interactions. Which means that you either have to balance those choice points so that they are limited and almost mechanically identical (fighting style) AND can't stack with further choice points later on (because of BA), or you start running into serious issues. Anyway, I really hope that this project works, but I also have some severe misgivings about the overall conception of the product. The foremost is that they are going about it using the WoTC method of public feedback and consensus. That is a great method to use- if you are the market leader or in a strong position, and you are trying to appeal to the mass audience. But ... again, IMO, they aren't. They need to have a strong vision that appeals to a narrower audience that will pay for it. But maybe I'm wrong. After all, I thought no one would see Titanic- WE KNOW HOW IT ENDS!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Snarf Zagyg, post: 8070349, member: 7023840"] Even that level of modularity (which ... I wouldn't call modularity- usually, when people refer to things being "modular" they mean they they can swap things in and out, not that they have multiple choice points at a given level for a class, but that's neither here nor there) causes severe design problems. The thing is, if you're talking about D&D, especially a book that purports to have "crunch" and be "Advanced D&D," it's going to attract optimizers. So you're going to need to make sure things are balanced. Which gets into the whole issue of choice, as opposed meaningful choice (I think this came up in another thread with Morrus discussing the product). The reason 5e has the system it does (with usually a baked-in ability per level, and a very limited subclass design space) is because it makes balance that much easier. As soon as you start providing multiple choice-points per level, the amount of possible issues begins to increase at an exponential rate; and then you have to worry about multiclassing, feats, and other unforeseen interactions. Which means that you either have to balance those choice points so that they are limited and almost mechanically identical (fighting style) AND can't stack with further choice points later on (because of BA), or you start running into serious issues. Anyway, I really hope that this project works, but I also have some severe misgivings about the overall conception of the product. The foremost is that they are going about it using the WoTC method of public feedback and consensus. That is a great method to use- if you are the market leader or in a strong position, and you are trying to appeal to the mass audience. But ... again, IMO, they aren't. They need to have a strong vision that appeals to a narrower audience that will pay for it. But maybe I'm wrong. After all, I thought no one would see Titanic- WE KNOW HOW IT ENDS! [/QUOTE]

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