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Game Balance - A Study in Imperfection (forked)
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<blockquote data-quote="Alaxk Knight of Galt" data-source="post: 5143167" data-attributes="member: 4129"><p>This topic fascinates me, especially as it relates to character creation and advancement.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange">First Edition</span>:</p><p>Edit: Take the 1E section with a grain of salt as I did not do my research <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> I do know there was a first edition of DnD (I think <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />)</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Stats 3d6 in line</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Random HP</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Death at 0</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">XP through wealth acquired</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Different XP tables</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Multi-Classing (don't know)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Base classes were it</li> </ul><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange">Second Edition</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Stats 3d6 in line</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Random HP</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Death at 0</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">XP through overcoming monsters and bonus XP based on class type (fighters per HD defeated, thieves per gold gained, Wizards for overcoming challenges with their magic, Clerics for furthering their faith)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Different XP tables</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Demi-human multiclassing, human dual-class</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Base Classes and character kits</li> </ul><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange">Third Edition</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Stats 4d6 drop the lowest, arrange as you like</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Max HP at first level, random after that</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Death at -10</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">XP through overcoming monsters based upon CR level and Party Level</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Unified XP table</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gain a level, pick any class you'd like</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Base classes and Prestige classes </li> </ul><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkOrange">Forth Edition</span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Point buy stats</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Static HP per level</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Death at -1/2 Hit Points or 3 failed death saving throws</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Static XP based upon monster type (minion, standard, elite, solo) and level</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">unified XP table</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Multi-classing is done via feats or hybrid classes</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies</li> </ul><p></p><p>What do these shifting paradigms mean to me?</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Balance shifted from the player to the character</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Balance shifted from a seat at the table for a player to characters becoming statistically balanced (note the total lack of random elements in character creation in later editions). Additionally, because character turn over becomes less common, it becomes more important to make sure everyone is playing with the same numbers.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Different levels among the PCs is against the social contract of later editions. This reflects the balance between characters instead of players.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Overcoming challenging monsters as means of gaining XP has shifted the focus of the game to combat. Being clever and avoiding a big fight (which often comes from player creativity) is rewarded less and less as editions change (the default assumption being the PCs wade into combat).</li> </ol></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Alaxk Knight of Galt, post: 5143167, member: 4129"] This topic fascinates me, especially as it relates to character creation and advancement. [COLOR="DarkOrange"]First Edition[/COLOR]: Edit: Take the 1E section with a grain of salt as I did not do my research :D I do know there was a first edition of DnD (I think :D) [LIST] [*]Stats 3d6 in line [*]Random HP [*]Death at 0 [*]XP through wealth acquired [*]Different XP tables [*]Multi-Classing (don't know) [*]Base classes were it [/LIST] [COLOR="DarkOrange"]Second Edition[/COLOR] [LIST] [*]Stats 3d6 in line [*]Random HP [*]Death at 0 [*]XP through overcoming monsters and bonus XP based on class type (fighters per HD defeated, thieves per gold gained, Wizards for overcoming challenges with their magic, Clerics for furthering their faith) [*]Different XP tables [*]Demi-human multiclassing, human dual-class [*]Base Classes and character kits [/LIST] [COLOR="DarkOrange"]Third Edition[/COLOR] [LIST] [*]Stats 4d6 drop the lowest, arrange as you like [*]Max HP at first level, random after that [*]Death at -10 [*]XP through overcoming monsters based upon CR level and Party Level [*]Unified XP table [*]Gain a level, pick any class you'd like [*]Base classes and Prestige classes [/LIST] [COLOR="DarkOrange"]Forth Edition[/COLOR] [LIST] [*]Point buy stats [*]Static HP per level [*]Death at -1/2 Hit Points or 3 failed death saving throws [*]Static XP based upon monster type (minion, standard, elite, solo) and level [*]unified XP table [*]Multi-classing is done via feats or hybrid classes [*]Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies [/LIST] What do these shifting paradigms mean to me? [LIST=1] [*]Balance shifted from the player to the character [*]Balance shifted from a seat at the table for a player to characters becoming statistically balanced (note the total lack of random elements in character creation in later editions). Additionally, because character turn over becomes less common, it becomes more important to make sure everyone is playing with the same numbers. [*]Different levels among the PCs is against the social contract of later editions. This reflects the balance between characters instead of players. [*]Overcoming challenging monsters as means of gaining XP has shifted the focus of the game to combat. Being clever and avoiding a big fight (which often comes from player creativity) is rewarded less and less as editions change (the default assumption being the PCs wade into combat). [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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