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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ProfessorPain" data-source="post: 4716814" data-attributes="member: 82012">This problem is sometimes overblown, but it definitely existed. However, I think there are things people sometimes forget: -Fighters and Clerics were an important duo in 3E. A fighter, paired with a cleric with good buffing spells, was a potent force. Also; spellcasters, because of their low HP, poor ACs, and terrible melee ability, needed combat classes around them to survive, even at higher levels. -Power over time and DM Management. In 4E, the everything is equally balanced at every point in the game. And this is a fine approach. In 3E, there is more of a balance over time that some people dislike and others are fine with (I was always fine with it). Wizards trade being weak early on, for having all kinds of super cool powers later on (of course in most campaigns later on never happened, because storylines tend to collapse before you reach 14th level). Fighters start out solid, and end pretty solid, but don't get the cool powers wizards acquire at higher levels.  But there is still an important balancing feature many forget. Wizards have a limited number of spells per day; and a good DM knows how to get them to use up their abilities over the course of each day. Sure a wizard have a number of real mindblowing spells; but he needs to reserve those for the right moment. This boils down to DM management. At first, I had trouble keeping wizards balanced at high level in my games. But I learned over time, how to pace encounters, and what kinds of encounters to throw, that ensured everyone participated, and that wizards had to pay attentiont to spell management at higher levels. Eventually a wizard only has low level spells to throw at his enemies; but a fighter always has the same high Base Attack and feats to use.  -Magic Items. Fighters need magic items to shine. A fighter with the right magic item, is just as cool at higher levels as a wizard.  -Power Attack. Fighters that learn to use power attack effectively, do pretty well at higher levels.  All that said, 3E is not balanced in the way 4E is. But I don't think it is broken when it comes to fighters; just more easily strained. It isn't the same kind of balance found in 4E (which is a pretty absolute balance-- and there is a trade of there in terms of how cool the spellcasters end up being); but it has a balance in the long duree thing going that works for lots of people.</blockquote>

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