First Level Powers at Epic Levels?

[Voss]

The two aren't identical, of course. One reason not to have scaling powers is what happens right now in D&D spellcasting with multiplying complexity of spell lists. I'd love a system in which PCs swap out powers for better versions rather than having both side by side.

Eh? The lack of scaling is one of the biggest flaws in third edition. Its one of the major reason many classes, prestige classes and feats are out and out horrible, except for flavor. As soon as you step off the level-appropriate train, your character instantly becomes less useful and begins to suck.

Among other things, if spells actually scaled, multiclassing spellcasters could actually work. And there wouldn't be any need to swap things out if what you had stayed useful.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'complexity of spell lists', though.

 

[Stalker0]

The other possibility for scaling is that there are high level feats that allow you to turn a per encounter ability to an at will one, or per day to per encounter.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Eh? The lack of scaling is one of the biggest flaws in third edition. Its one of the major reason many classes, prestige classes and feats are out and out horrible, except for flavor. As soon as you step off the level-appropriate train, your character instantly becomes less useful and begins to suck.

Among other things, if spells actually scaled, multiclassing spellcasters could actually work. And there wouldn't be any need to swap things out if what you had stayed useful.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'complexity of spell lists', though.

I agree with you about scaling being a problem in 3e, though not entirely (there are plenty of scaling low-level spell effects that are a real issue in 3e, though mostly in 3.0; 3.0's divine favor comes to mind.)

I'm talking about the fact that as casters gain access to higher-level spells, they also retain a boatload of low-level spell effects and even increase access to said spell effects, creating the (IMHO) undesirable consequence of having 50 or more listed spell effects, many of which end up being itty-bitty buffs that make for long daily prep time and (once dispel magic is applied) screw up combats. I'd rather see casters have roughly the same number of available powers as they go up levels, with lower-level powers being swapped out for higher-level ones. A gain in versatility + power + daily endurance is too much, and that's what 3e yields.

 

[FireLance]

I'm talking about the fact that as casters gain access to higher-level spells, they also retain a boatload of low-level spell effects and even increase access to said spell effects, creating the (IMHO) undesirable consequence of having 50 or more listed spell effects, many of which end up being itty-bitty buffs that make for long daily prep time and (once dispel magic is applied) screw up combats. I'd rather see casters have roughly the same number of available powers as they go up levels, with lower-level powers being swapped out for higher-level ones.

One way to achieve this is to have a powers known/powers readied mechanic like we saw in Bo9S. Powers known can increase with every level, but powers readied goes up at a much slower rate, perhaps 1/tier or 1/5 levels. So, at 1st level, you might know 2 encounter powers and be able to ready both of them, but at 5th level, you might know 6 but only be able to ready 3.