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<blockquote data-quote="mmadsen" data-source="post: 4541996" data-attributes="member: 1645">Like many people, I think 4E's designers took a wrong turn when they decided that all characters would have at-will, encounter, and daily powers.&nbsp; I can understand the decision, but it rubs me the wrong way.For martial exploits, I would much prefer to see potent options limited by conditions that rarely come up, rather than having an explicit once-per-encounter or once-per-day limitation that can only be explained outside the game.&nbsp; Some of the 3E feats already worked this way, and Complete Warrior's &quot;tactical&quot; feats did as well -- with one feat actually buying you multiple &quot;tactical maneuvers&quot; that shared a theme.Yes, simple resource management is easier to design for, but tactical challenges are more fun and less &quot;meta&quot; -- or at least than can be.For magical powers, I can rationalize encounter and daily powers needing time to &quot;recharge&quot;, but I much prefer powerful, infrequent magic to cheap, easy magic.I think the designers should have gone in the other direction entirely, with once-per-adventure powers, more like potions and scrolls.&nbsp; Granted, this still leaves us with the problem of giving spellcasters something to do, but I much prefer the flavor.Everyone hates the problem of the &quot;out of spells&quot; spellcaster, but GURPS introduced a fascinating alternative in its <a href="http://www.io.com/~sjohn/unlimited-mana.htm" target="_blank">Unlimited Mana</a> option: let the spellcaster cast as many spells as he wants, but going beyond his limits risks terrible side-effects.&nbsp; That makes for some interesting decisions and dramatic consequences.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="mmadsen, post: 4541996, member: 1645"] Like many people, I think 4E's designers took a wrong turn when they decided that all characters would have at-will, encounter, and daily powers. I can understand the decision, but it rubs me the wrong way. For [b]martial exploits[/b], I would much prefer to see potent options limited by conditions that rarely come up, rather than having an explicit once-per-encounter or once-per-day limitation that can only be explained outside the game. Some of the 3E feats already worked this way, and [i]Complete Warrior[/i]'s "tactical" feats did as well -- with one feat actually buying you multiple "tactical maneuvers" that shared a theme. Yes, simple resource management is easier to design for, but tactical challenges are more fun and less "meta" -- or at least than can be. For [b]magical powers[/b], I can rationalize encounter and daily powers needing time to "recharge", but I much prefer powerful, infrequent magic to cheap, easy magic. I think the designers should have gone in the other direction entirely, with once-per-adventure powers, more like potions and scrolls. Granted, this still leaves us with the problem of giving spellcasters something to do, but I much prefer the flavor. Everyone hates the problem of the "out of spells" spellcaster, but GURPS introduced a fascinating alternative in its [url=http://www.io.com/~sjohn/unlimited-mana.htm]Unlimited Mana[/url] option: let the spellcaster cast as many spells as he wants, but going beyond his limits risks terrible side-effects. That makes for some interesting decisions and dramatic consequences. [/QUOTE]

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